RepsDirect No 105 5th October 2000



From
Head of Health, Roger Kline General Secretary, Roger Lyons

1. NHS Agenda for Change talks on again. The Agenda for Change talks on a new pay system for the NHS are on again. For the second time in three months they were halted because of management's failure to give assurances on linkage. For the second time they have now restarted though without any final agreement on linkage.

MSF argued that the crucial issue to make progress on at this time was the job evaluation scheme whose timetable is already delayed. It is the job evaluation scheme above everything else that will tackle key anomalies in pay.

This has now been agreed and the Job Evaluation Working Party starts its work again next week. Members of MSF's Health National Advisory Committee have commented on the draft Factor Plan and these comments have been fed into the discussions on finalising that so it can be "road tested".

Other key issues including PRB status, terms and conditions, and pay progression can also now be addressed.

2. Joint agreement crucial on all pay issues. Concern has been raised by the Joint NHS Unions about continued claims by local employers that they will be so-called early implementers. Can all MSF reps please ensure:

3. Market forces Supplements and "non consolidated team bonuses". Both of these were announced in the NHS Plan for England without any agreement with the trade unions or any discussion on what they mean. Both proposals raise important issues:

  • how do we ensure team bonuses don't degenerate into a crude form of group PRP with all the attendant unfairness and discrimination they involve.
  • how do we ensure Market Forces Supplements are not simply a way of tackling some pay hot spots at the expense of gradually depressing national pay rates or of bumping up some favoured groups' pay and not others.
  • In addition for both proposals, there are technical issues such as whether they are superannuable, when can they be taken off staff, and possible equal pay effects.
  • Do they apply beyond England as the NHS Plan is for England only?

Local representatives are asked to ensure that no local development or implementation of either proposal takes place until there is national agreement and guidance.

4. Cancer services modernisation. MSF has welcomed the plans announced but has reminded Ministers that unless there are sufficient biomedical scientists, technologists, physicists, biochemists, radiographers and therapists in post then the planned expansion of services will not succeed. Meanwhile discussions are taking place with management within the National Advisory Group for Scientists and Technicians, arising out of the PTB Council settlement this year on what improvements could be made to the PTB pay rates.

5. MSF Health Service Advisory Committee. A gentle reminder to OAC Chairs that not all Occupational Committees have yet submitted their one page annual report for the NAC. Please ensure a report is sent by e:mail asap to evans@msf.org.uk

The NAC is on 1-3 November 2000 and final details will be sent out in two weeks' time.