The Scottish Trades Union Congress has joined with Unison in condemning the approach taken by the largest health authority in Scotland to managing sickness absence management within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
Grahame Smith, STUC General Secretary said
“We share the concerns of Unison and it is extremely disappointing that any employer in the 21st Century believes that it is acceptable behaviour to develop policies that do nothing more than bully, threaten and intimidate hard working, lower paid but extremely committed workers.
“It is ludicrous that employers can even consider dismissing employees even when the illness or condition may have been caused by the employer’s failure to protect their staff.
“Recent reports show that attacks against health workers continue to increase and many responsible health service employers are working with trade unions to ensure more accurate reporting procedures are in place.
“This nonsense from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde appears to suggest that it is acceptable to discipline those made ill or injured by their work.
“It is clear that this employer is prepared to jeopardise the livelihoods of their workers including the ones they fail in their duty to protect from to protect occupational injury or ill-health. This proposal by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde makes it more important that the Scottish and Westminster Governments act quickly to extend the protection for all NHS workers against bullying, intimidation, physical and verbal abuse including that perpetrated by employers.
ENDS
For further information contact Ian Tasker 0141 337 8100
To access the UNISON news release on this issue follow this link http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/news/2007/novdec/0211.htm