AfC: Protection of hours
 The Department of Health is refusing to issue national advice to NHS trusts that they should be implementing every aspect of Agenda for Change, as per the agreement made between the unions and the government. A letter dated 22 March to radiography managers from the SoR’s Director of Industrial Relations, Warren Town, highlights failings by a significant number of trusts in England and Northern Ireland to implement protection of hours.
The letter says SoR is “issuing advice to both reps and managers to enable them to ensure that the interests of members and the service are protected in line with the national agreement.”
The letter sets out in detail what the agreement says that employers should be doing with regard to hours protection in a variety of scenarios including existing employees, promotions or job changes, and new employees.
The letter finishes by saying that either the agreement is honoured or “the trust offers to move all staff on to 37.5 hours with commensurate increase in pay for those extra 2.5 hours. This would be a win-win solution for both the trust (increase in hours immediately, decreased agency/overtime costs, resolution of supervision problem) and for members (increased pay for increased hours).”
A similar letter has also been circulated to SoR industrial relations’ and Agenda for Change representatives. Society members are being advised about possible local action against employers who are refusing to implement hours protection.
Click here for a PDF copy of the letter to radiography managers.
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