This SLT Advisory Committee welcomes union policy of opposing the implementation of Agenda for Change if adequate funding is not obtained and if full pay protection is not achieved for members who may lose out.
We note that the current draft profiles would lead to substantial pay cuts for many of our members. We therefore call on the SLT NAC to reject these job profiles. Acceptance of some job profiles would be divisive (and would also risk members being matched against inappropriate profiles). Reliance on recruitment and retention premia would leave many of our members at risk, as these payments are not secure.
We support all attempts to amend the draft job profiles to achieve a more satisfactory outcome. However, we note that the profiles for SLTs are in line with those for other Allied Health Professionals, that the 'Knowledge, Training and Experience' factor is the only one that carries significant weight, and that it will be almost impossible to avoid pay cuts simply by amending profiles.
We believe - in line with many reports from Amicus MSF - that Agenda for Change is seriously under-funded. We are opposed to pay cuts for our members, and therefore call on the SLT NAC to reject these profiles until a satisfactory outcome is achieved for all SLTs. We urge the SLT NAC to call on the union leadership to publicise and implement union policy on Agenda for Change. We also urge the SLT NAC to make common cause with the other groups of Amicus members facing substantial pay cuts - particularly clinical psychologists, operating department practitioners, and pharmacists - and to invite representatives from these professions to the next SLT NAC.
We further believe that the union must ensure that the fullest possible consultation with SLTs nationally takes place, given the severity of the threat to our profession. We hope to see the draft profiles distributed to every SLT member , consultation meetings open to all SLT union members taking place in every region, and the next SLT NAC to be opened up to as many SLTs as possible.
London SLT Advisory Committee
10th July 2003