Dangerous reductions in staffing levels scrapped after worker action but Tower Hamlets GP Care Group refusing guarantees to fully align with NHS pay structures

Nearly 120 East London health visitors and support staff are balloting for strike action over a service restructuring after their employer failed to give guarantees it would fully align for NHS Agenda for Change structures.

The workers have already forced Tower Hamlets GP Care Group (THGPCG) to scrap plans that included dangerous reductions in staffing levels for the borough’s zero to five years old health visiting services, which covers nearly 20,000 patients.

During consultations with Unite, however, THGPCG has failed to give commitments that all staff contracts will fully align with NHS Agenda for Change pay, terms and conditions.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “By failing to commit to NHS Agenda for Change for all workers, THGPCG is all but admitting that it is planning to create a two-tier workforce on inferior pay, terms and conditions. Unite will not allow this to happen – these workers have Unite’s full support.”

THGPCG is undertaking formal consultations for a full-service restructure. After protests by the workers last month, THGPCG rowed back on plans that would have resulted in redundancies and staff being reinterviewed for jobs they already hold. These plans would have resulted in unmanageable increases in workloads for remaining staff and put patients at risk.

However, THGPCG is refusing to commit to fully retaining NHS for Agenda for Change pay, terms and conditions for all staff. Unite is demanding that support staff, who are not on Agenda for Change contracts are brought onto them.

The dispute is also over the THGPCG’s failure to commit to reviewing health visitor roles under the NHS Agenda for Change job evaluation scheme, after the NHS Staff Council recognised health visitor pay banding is incorrect for many roles.

The workers are being balloted for industrial action until 2 September.

Unite regional officer Gary Boodna said: “These are hard-working staff dedicated to providing the best possible care to thousands of young families across Tower Hamlets. They are being forced down the road of taking strike action to prevent THGPCG from turning them into second class employees.

“Strikes can still be avoided but this will require THGPCG to fully commit to Agenda for Change for both health visitors and support staff.”

ENDS

For media enquires ONLY contact senior Unite communications officer Ryan Fletcher on 07849 090215 or 020 3371 2065.

Email: ryan.fletcher@unitetheunion.org

Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest union with members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.