Agenda item

John Drake, Unison made a statement to the Select Committee on the subject of Sirona. A copy of the statement can be found on the Select Committee’s Minute Book, a summary is set out below.

Since the Council meeting on July 12^th 2018 discussions have taken place and currently Sirona have agreed to postpone their proposal to dismiss and re-engage staff on new contracts. As a result of this decision Unison has agreed to cancel proposed strike action.

Extensive consultations have taken place between UNISON representatives and those workers who would be affected and the decision was taken to reject the proposals from Sirona on the basis that members would be impacted in one of two ways:

Individuals would lose 30 minutes pay per shift, which for someone working 6 shifts per week is a loss of income of 3 hours per week. Or alternatively individuals could remain on their current income but would accrue hours which they would then owe Sirona and then be forced to work additional shifts per month to make up the shortfall in hours for the same pay.

UNISON believes that the Sirona Board and Senior Leadership Team are well intentioned in their efforts to provide quality care but our experience is of an organisation that is poorly managed, unable to retain & recruit staff in its CRCs and Extra Care.

UNISON believes that the Council could and should instruct Sirona to halt all plans for a reduction of pay for its front line care staff.

This matter will fall into the lap of the Council sooner rather than later and we feel the Council should step in and tell Sirona that their actions are unfair.

Councillor Robin Moss commented that the current Council administration will state that this is an independent contract and therefore the Select Committee and the Council itself have little to no power to act. He added that he felt it was important for the Select Committee to take further action and to request that Sirona’s decision remains suspended until a full discussion on the matter has been had by the Select Committee.

Councillor Lin Patterson said that she agreed totally with the comments made by Councillor Moss.

The Director for Integrated Health & Care Commissioning said that if the Select Committee were minded to they could discuss that matter further at a future meeting. She added that as previously confirmed, the Select Committee do have limited powers to intervene in this matter and could refer the issue back to the Council, Cabinet or the Cabinet Member for further consideration.

However, as previously stated the Council is not in a position to intervene directly in this matter, which is a dispute between an independent organisation and its staff group. She clarified that neither the Council nor the Select Committee can instruct Sirona to halt its plans as proposed by UNISON in the statement to the Select Committee.

Councillor Vic Pritchard, Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Health & Wellbeing commented that for the Select Committee to gain a better understanding a discussion could be had at a future meeting.

Councillor Lizzie Gladwyn said that there were potentially a large group of people to hear from on this matter.

Councillor Tim Ball stated that he would like to see no further adverse action from either party until a discussion can be held.

Select Committee members agreed that they did want a discussion to better understand the issues and hear from all parties.  They also wished to receive specific advice on what the Select Committee or Council can and cannot do to help resolve the dispute. 

The Director for Integrated Health & Care Commissioning confirmed that officers would seek advice on how quickly a special meeting can be arranged and what format that meeting could follow.

The Select Committee unanimously RESOLVED to:

i)  Hold a special meeting to discuss and understand the issues relating to the Sirona dispute and what powers the Select Committee or Council may have to intervene in this matter.

ii)  Recommend to Sirona that until this meeting is held that their decision to postpone their proposal to dismiss and re-engage staff on new contracts is maintained.