COHSE - Glen House, High Street, Banstead, Surrey
To; All COHSE Branches, NEC Members and Officers
11 January 1979
NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE DISPUTE - SPECIAL NEC MEETING
10 JANUARY 1979
A special meeting of the National Executive Committee was held yesterday
at which detailed consideration was given to the form of industrial action to be taken by COHSE members in furtherance of the dispute in the current pay round for ancillary staff and ambulance staff, and in support of the claim made on behalf of nurses and midwives for special treatment on pay.
The following decisions were taken
Day of Action -
This action is not intended to be confined to the grades referred to above. Our membership in all disciplines should take part wherever possible in accordance with the previous instructions issued to branches, as it is of vital importance that the demonstration be well supported.
Subsequent industrial action
It was agreed that after the 22nd January there should be continued industrial action on a selective basis organised locally and approved nationally. This action should be co-ordinated at local level to ensure that all trade unions involved are taking the same action.
The forms of action approved by the NEC are as follous;-
Ancillary Staffs
a) Ban on overtime working
b) Laundries: The action recommended to be taken in laundries shoud be - control from within; i.e. a limitation on through putt o be agreed locally. Total closure may be recommended in some cases but essential services must be maintained.
c) CSSD (Sterile Supplies) Again essential services should be maintained and the same principle as laundries apply. Industrial Therapy Departments should be asked to co-operate where they carry out CSSD work
d) Catering: All special catering should cease; i.e. official functions etc.
e)Cleaning Services All -clinical areas should be cleaned – Non clinical areas; i.e. corridors, offices, etc.
f) Post: Only patients' mail and pharmaceutical supplies should be delivered. Official mail should not be sorted or delivered.
g) Transport: This can be left to local discretion, but arrangements must be made for carrying of clinical needs, food, drugs and fuel.
h) Telephonists; Restrictions should be applied. Only emergencies should be dealt with. The same arrangement should apply to bleeps.
i) Porterinq Services: No movement of non-essential materials should take place. Delivery of food, pharmaceutical and sterile supplies is regarded as essential, as is movement of patients. Infected materials should be collected and disposed of. All other refuse should be removed from clinical areas but not disposed of. No collections whatever should be made in respect of non-clinical areas.
j) Volunteers: There should be no co-operation with voluntary labour.
k) Stores: No movement of non-essential supplies. Food, pharmaceutical and surgical supplies to be regarded as essential.
l) It is proposed that no action be taken in respect of boilerhouses, plaster rooms, operating theatres and casualy departments for the time being.
Ambulance Service
a) To operate a 999 Emergency Service only,
b) Banning of overtime.
c) Work to Rule; i.e. operate strictly in accordance with the Road Traffic Acts.
d) Selective strikes may be considered.
e) Revert to pre-1974 boundaries.
f) All ambulances to be fully equipped before leaving station.
Nursing Staffs
a) Ban on overtime uorking.
b) No clerical work will be undertaken by nurses unless associated with the direct care of the patient; e.g. prescriptions, diet sheets.
c) Limited selective withdrawals of labour will take place on the authority of the Regional Secretary. These uill operate on agreed days for short periods only at this stage provided the branch membership is agreed that this type of action takes place.
d) No nurse will carry out any domestic or non-nursing duty.
e) With the exception of 'acting-up' during a meal break, there will be a complete ban on 'acting-up' to cover annual leave, sick leave or off duty periods UNLESS the employing authority agrees that the nurse be paid for each shift during 'acting-up'.
All the above action will be reviewed at frequent intervals by the Action Committee of the NEC and will be escalated if considered necessary.
Dispute Pay
Dispute pay of £2.50 per day will be paid to members who have been officially called out by the authority of the National Executive Committee.
Finance
It was agreed that branches be strongly recommended to make a voluntary contribution of 10% of branch administrative expenses to a National Dispute Fund.
It was also agreed that branches be invited to make further contributions to this Fund by voluntary collections organised by them amongst the membership.
Vote of NO CONFIDENCE
It was agreed that a telegram be sent to the Prime Minister conveying a vote of 'NO CONFIDENCE' in Mr David Ennals, Secretary of State for Social Services.
The text of the telegram is as follous:-
THAT THIS NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE EXPRESSES NO CONFIDENCE IN THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES. IT CONSIDERS THAT HE HAS FAILED TO SUPPORT THE SERVICE AND HAS DESTROYED THE MORALE OF STAFF.
Branches will be advised of all developments as they occur, and in all cases of doubt should seek guidance from their Regional Officers.
E.A.G. (Albert) SPANSWICK
COHSE General Secretary
