Emergency Care Support Worker Role

At recent Branch Meetings at Gateshead and Teeside it was decided unanimously by show of hands that an indicative ballot be taken of Unison members towards the possibility of some form of industrial action. This being the result of the NEAS Trust NOT following the recommendations by the National Ambulance Sector, after the independent report which states the current role is NOT fit for purpose.

The Sector recommended ALL front line ECSW staff be trained to a standard equivalent to the Miller Certificate and NO staff member working on the front line be paid less than A4C Band 4.

As yet, No guarantees have been forthcoming from the NEAS Trust Management in relation to this issue.

The ballot will also include the Trust’s unwillingness to allow existing ECSW staff the right (Under A4C conditions) to access the student paramedic courses by cancelling internal candidate courses, but allowing external candidate courses to proceed.

Ballot papers are due out imminently

Branch advice to all members is to support the proposal