A Midwife's Tale
A group of midwives from Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board has been in touch recently with a tale of meanness and mendacity - at the way they have been assimilated onto Agenda for Change.
Apparently, the midwives were placed on Band 5 (from October 2004) with the expectation that they would progress seamlessly onto Band 6 after a further year's service - i.e. from October 2005.
But - and there always seems to be a but with Agenda fo Change - the local NHS management now say that the midwives are stuck on Band 5 for the foreseeable future - for reasons that no one seems able or willing to explain.
The midwives go on to say that their trade unions - Unison and the RCM - are about as much use as a chocolate teapot! And what can they do?
Well, what they should do are two things.
Firstly, they should appeal their Agenda for Change grades - which are ridiculously low at Band 5. We have examples of midwives being placed at Band 7 in other parts of the country - and Agenda for Change is supposed to be a national framework that is implemented fairly and consistently across all NHS employers (see previous post dated 12 July).
Secondly, they should register a separate equal pay claim with the Employment Tribunals - as this takes the issue outside of the all too cosy relationship between NHS management and the trade unions.
The reality is that NHS staff are being kept in the dark about gradings within their own health board and across other NHS employers - yet this information is crucial to convince people that the process of change is being implemented fairly and consistently across the country - the employers and the trade unions stubborn refusal to share the details with staff speaks for itself.
Our view is that Agenda for Change is letting NHS staff down very badly - and this tale from midwives in the front line certainly seems to back that up.
Apparently, the midwives were placed on Band 5 (from October 2004) with the expectation that they would progress seamlessly onto Band 6 after a further year's service - i.e. from October 2005.
But - and there always seems to be a but with Agenda fo Change - the local NHS management now say that the midwives are stuck on Band 5 for the foreseeable future - for reasons that no one seems able or willing to explain.
The midwives go on to say that their trade unions - Unison and the RCM - are about as much use as a chocolate teapot! And what can they do?
Well, what they should do are two things.
Firstly, they should appeal their Agenda for Change grades - which are ridiculously low at Band 5. We have examples of midwives being placed at Band 7 in other parts of the country - and Agenda for Change is supposed to be a national framework that is implemented fairly and consistently across all NHS employers (see previous post dated 12 July).
Secondly, they should register a separate equal pay claim with the Employment Tribunals - as this takes the issue outside of the all too cosy relationship between NHS management and the trade unions.
The reality is that NHS staff are being kept in the dark about gradings within their own health board and across other NHS employers - yet this information is crucial to convince people that the process of change is being implemented fairly and consistently across the country - the employers and the trade unions stubborn refusal to share the details with staff speaks for itself.
Our view is that Agenda for Change is letting NHS staff down very badly - and this tale from midwives in the front line certainly seems to back that up.
