Protect Our TOIL & Meal Break Agreements – UNISON Ambulance Sector Update

Over the coming weeks and months, UNISON branches will be engaging with members regarding proposed changes to terms and conditions. We have already been involved in national discussions with employers about public holidays and TOIL arrangements for staff who work on those days. Employers have indicated that, based on their interpretation of Section 13 of Agenda for Change and recent NHS Employers guidance, which was not developed in partnership with trade unions, ambulance branches currently have more generous arrangements compared with other NHS staff groups.

TOIL and public holiday arrangements within each Trust have been long established since the introduction of Agenda for Change, and UNISON believes that these existing arrangements should remain unchanged. We are not seeking additional provisions; rather, we are asking for current agreements to be maintained as they have been jointly agreed in true partnership. We fundamentally disagree with NHS Employers interpretation of Section 13 as stated in their recent guidance paper.

Additionally, employers have expressed a renewed interest in revisiting the meal break (rest Break) agreement. As you’ll be aware, this has already been the subject of extensive and challenging discussions between the trade unions and the Trusts in previous years. We fully recognise the importance that members place on their meal break (rest break)arrangements.

UNISON remains firmly opposed to any changes to ambulance members terms and conditions that are imposed without genuine partnership working. We strongly encourage members to stay updated with communications from your branch and to share your views on these matters, so that we can ensure your voices are heard as national discussions continue.