Victory for health workers in Lincolnshire

The long-running Lincolnshire health visitors’ dispute is coming to an end with a pay victory that sees the vast majority of the workforce being upgraded.

Unite, Britain and Ireland’s largest union, today (Thursday 5 December) hailed the victory, which will see most of the union’s members move onto the grade 10 pay scale, as ‘highly significant’.

Unite regional officer Steve Syson said: “Thanks to the tremendous solidarity that our members have shown since this dispute started in the summer, we have achieved a highly significant and welcome victory.

“The health visitors’ determination against what they considered as a gross pay injustice was buttressed by the firm backing from the people of Lincolnshire and from supporters across the UK.”

The dispute had centred on the council’s insistence on different contracts for grade 9 and grade 10 health visitors, while Unite has consistently argued that as all health visitors have the same qualifications they should be paid the same.

The health visitors have now suspended their month-long strike action while the authority upgrades the health visitors; however, Unite reserves the right to reinstitute strike action if the council does not abide with the agreement. Besides the grade 10 job roles, the health visitors will receive between £2,000- £6,000 in a one-off transitional payment.

More than 70 Unite health visitors voted for the month-long, now suspended, strike that started on 18 November. Of those about 58 will now be fast tracked to the grade 10 posts with 16 further Agenda for Change AfC) staff awaiting confirmation; about 13 have left or are departing to take up alternative employment within nursing, which leaves a handful of relatively new health visitors on grade 9.

Unite pledged today that it would explore every avenue to get those still on grade 9 uplifted to grade 10 as soon as possible.

Unite regional secretary for the East Midlands Paresh Patel added: “I think that a number of factors contributed to this positive outcome, including the fact that the council was, and even now, is continuing to lose highly skilled health visitors at the rate of knots, as our members are offered alternative roles elsewhere in recognition of their experience.

“There was also the stark realisation by council bosses that our members were prepared to take further strike action on top of what they had already taken in the summer, after a second ballot confirmed they were prepared to continue on with further industrial action.

“This victory should be seen in the context of a broader campaign for a fully-resourced health visiting service across England – that fight will continue across the country in 2020.”

London Rank & File meeting Thursday 7 November

Site icon, reads Unite rank & file - solidarity across our union

Members of Unite Rank & File in London are next meeting at the following time and place:

7 pm Thursday 7th November at The Dame Alice Owen in Clerkenwell The Pearl & Feather, 360 St John Street, Clerkenwell

This follows a successful meeting earlier this month at which decisions were taken to work with trade union activists involved in the current Extinction Rebellion protests and plan for solidarity around a possible strike by Royal Mail over the autumn.

The forthcoming meeting will allow people to review progress so far and think through the next steps.

We look forward to seeing you there!

As we are meeting in a pub, food (slightly pricey) and drink will be available. If you are planning to attend please email londonurf@gmail.com to let us know you are coming.

London members to meet 5 October

Site icon, reads Unite rank & file - solidarity across our union

Following two initial meetings over the summer, London Unite Rank & File will be holding a further meetup for all members in the London area.

It will take place at 2 pm on Saturday 5th October at The Dame Alice Owen, 292 St John St, Clerkenwell EC1V 4PA.

The meeting will be an opportunity for members to raise and discuss issues of importance to them that Unite Rank & File members in London can take on to campaign. It will also enable us to discuss how to build among Unite members in London.

The current political situation is very fluid and the meeting will follow the conclusion of the Labour Party conference. One key topic of discussion is likely to be whether and how Unite Rank & File can best take advantage of the current situation.

As we are meeting in a pub, food (slightly pricey) and drink will be available.

Any members planning on attending are asked to please email londonurf@gmail.com to let us know you are coming. Also email that address if you have any agenda items.