Secretary's Corner
January 2008
Welcome back to another New Year which in Ambulance
terms, promises to be no less difficult and challenging than
the last. I hope you all managed to find some time to spend
with your families and friends to enjoy the festive season.
We now must look ahead to another year of working together
to defend our NHS and fight for the best conditions
we can for our Staff and Patients.
Following the recent news of Chris Carney’s
departure and having worked with many Chief Executives
over the past 26 years, I can honestly say that it has been a
privilege to work with Chris.
He took over what was a failing Trust in 2000 that had
been the subject of a Public Inquiry, and turned it into one
of the most modern and forward thinking Trusts in the
country.
Over the years we have seen improvements in
Training, Patient Care, Uniforms, vehicles and equipment,
the early implementation of AFC, and all standards reached
in IWL, to mention but a few. Some of these journeys have
not always been easy, and some difficult and forthright
meetings have taken place, but it has been Chris’s willingness
to listen and work with the Union, managers and Staff
that has helped get us through some difficult and uncertain
times.
Chris’s departure is a great loss to the Trust, his
sense of humour around the board table and the ability to
get the best from his team will be sorely missed.
I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of all staffside
colleagues and the staff in general to wish Chris all the
very best of health and success for the future in whichever
path he may take.
Negotiations have taken place on the cost of living
pay increase for the non AFC Contract holders, the agreement
reached is that those staff on non AFC contracts will
receive an uplift of 1.5% from April 1st 2007, and a further
1% from November 2007. These are in line with the pay
increase’s awarded nationally to AFC Staff. It is hoped
that the increase will be added to the January salaries.
Election forms for Stations and departmental UNISON
representatives will be arriving on stations soon.
Please ensure that these are clearly attached to notice
boards and I urge everyone to elect a local rep for their
department, there is much to do and many changes
ahead, and it is only by getting involved and working
together that we can hope to achieve the best outcomes
that we can.
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