Care Plus staff urged to attend Unison meeting before signing contracts
UNISON officials are urging nurses and other staff members not to sign a contract detailing changes to their terms and conditions before consulting with them first.
All employees at Care Plus Group, which provides adult health and social care in North East Lincolnshire, have been handed new contracts to sign and accept by 5pm on Thursday, February 28.
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Paul Swarbrick, area organiser for Unison Yorkshire and Humberside
However Unison say these have been handed out to their members without them seeing it first, something they claim is unacceptable.
Paul Swarbrick, area organiser for Unison Yorkshire and Humberside, said: "We need a mandate from our members on this so we have organised a meeting to take place this Thursday evening, 5.30pm, at the Royal Humber Hotel, Littlecoates Road, Grimsby.
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"Our 200 members are invited to attend and we strongly urge they do in order for us to give them a voice over these changes.
"We know some staff are stuck in limbo and are not sure if to sign the contracts or not.
"Discussions and feedback from this meeting will allow us to decide what action if any we take in response to the altered terms and conditions."
Management at Care Plus claim national funding reductions and an increase in general costs due to inflation have left them with no choice but to change employees' terms and conditions.
Care Plus must make between £800,000 and £1 million in savings from April 1 this year to March 31, 2014.
This is on top of £865,000 successfully saved in this financial year, which ends on March 31 – with even more cuts promised in future years.
No job losses are planned but Mr Swarbrick, said: "Bosses at Care Plus say there are no cuts to staff wages but many of our members rely on their enhancements as they're on low pay band.
"This is now one of many things being changed as overtime payments are being cut from time and a half to time and a quarter - this is a very worrying time for a lot of people.
"If many of our members are against agreeing to these new terms and conditions then we will confront Care Plus.
"Care Plus can extend their deadline for staff to sign and I hope they will to allow us enough time to consult with our members."
Jane Miller, Care Plus group chief operating officer, said: "This is not an easy time for anyone, but doing nothing is sadly not an option for us.
"We hope that staff will understand the context in which we are having to do this and accept these changes.
"As a social enterprise we very much want the views of all our staff on these important issues and this is why we have sent the offer directly to them."
5 Comments
by elmswood33
Tuesday, February 19 2013, 8:32AM
“BROKEN BRITAIN UNDER TORIES –AMERICAN INFLUENCE/WELFARE/HEALTH/WARS/EMPLOYMENT
The American dream - that's what the USA population are told to believe in because they cannot believe in anything else and what their Politicians say and do influences the British Establishment – much to our detriment .What has it got to do with America about our membership of the EU .How many wars have we been involved in concerning the Yanks .We have only just finished paying them back for WW11 – Allies ,we paid dearly for their involvement .Where did we get Welfare Reform from UNUM American not fit for purpose insurance con .Successive Governments in the UK haven't a brain between them they have followed the American Model – much to the British Public cost .We the British Public have not been taken in by the Yanks but those in charge of us have and we have to pay for it ."It's not what Britain can do for you but how you can line Government pockets " http://tinyurl.com/9ssygmt”
by plonker04
Monday, February 18 2013, 8:48PM
“Unison can't lose people their jobs the CPG are hell bent on doing that. Unison and the other unions involved have tried to negotiate with the CPG management and even suggested that ACAS be asked to mediate, but the CEO refused this. Unison is member led and can only do what their members mandate them to do, hence the meeting on Thursday. The national terms and conditions were hard fought for and should not just be thrust aside to ensure that the senior team keep both their pay and positions, this is not and must not, become a 'race to the bottom'. It is absolutely disgraceful that the management refused to have the full three months consultation and are now trying to railroad through these savage cuts. There will be job losses because the mgt team have not gathered the business they were hoping for. The contract is up for renewal next year and who will put money on the fact that another private organisation will be the 'provider of choice' and the care to patients will deteriorate. This is the sole result of Cameron and his cronies.”
by scoopaloof
Monday, February 18 2013, 4:44PM
“as a social enterprise ALL staff are entitled to become members / shareholders. once they have done this they should instigate a vote of no confidence in the board and sack the lot of them as they have been very badly misled and let down by Lance and his gang of yes men”
by scoopaloof
Monday, February 18 2013, 4:40PM
“what a sad state of affairs an employer driving through contract changes which will seriously impact on staff's standard of living. Care plus became a social enterprise at managements initiation at a time of severe economic pressure yet they now expect staff to sacrifice what little they have to 'save' the managers hides.
though if its a social enterprise then all the staff should make sure they are shareholders/members and then instigate a vote of no confidence in the board and sack the lot of them as they are clearly incompetent and have sold there staff out”
by Deafman
Monday, February 18 2013, 4:30PM
“And what exactly will UNISON do... Lose these people their jobs by telling them not to sign the contracts... UNISON (all talk and no action)!”