Pay Award

At a meeting on 12 March 2025, representatives from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) confirmed that the Pay Review Body (PRB) will now not be submitting their report to the Government until May 2025. This pushes the Government’s decision back to June 2025.

More information can be found here: https://gmbemas.org/another-delayed-pay-round-what-you-need-to-know/

Category 3 Incidents

Please be reminded that when responding to a Category 3 call, the use of blue lights/sirens/exemptions is at the discretion of the crew/driver. Section 7.2.5 of the Dispatch Protocols states:

Following review of the Releasing Time to Care Strategy guidance has been provided to all Operational Resources in relation to the use of lights and sirens when responding to a Category 3 Incident. The below advice commenced 21.04.21 following discussions with Trade Union Colleagues.

▪ Crew/Driver discretion applies on the use of the exemption for speed limits and use of lights/sirens based on the information available. (such information may relate to patient/s being exposed to the elements, road and traffic conditions, patient condition, environment and length of wait)

▪ If claiming speed limit exemptions emergency visual and audible warning equipment should be utilised as appropriate.

▪ If the information available identifies that the exemption to speed is not necessary or valid then emergency visual and audible warning equipment should not be used.

▪ These are emergency calls and patients may have had to wait longer than higher priority calls (Cat 1&2)

GMB Credit Union

Are you aware that the GMB has a not-for-profit financial institution called the GMB Credit Union? I have had a GMB Credit Union account for 9 years and I pay £10 every month into it. Over the years, unlike a savings account, I have not accrued interest on my money. Instead, I have been paid dividends on my account balance each year that have exceeded what I would have earned if my money had been in a savings account. The aim of the GMB Credit Union is to promote regular savings, responsible lending and improved financial literacy. They can provide ethical loans exclusively to GMB Credit Union Account Holders.

More information can be found at: https://www.gmbcreditunion.com

Retrospective Representation

We are unable to provide representation for members who join the GMB after the incident has taken place for which they require our help. Like an insurance policy, GMB are there for you from the start, but you are not covered for something that has already happened. Please advise your colleagues that are not GMB members of this. To join, please follow this link: https://gmbemas.org/dashboard/

Right of Representation or to be Accompanied

You have the right to be represented or accompanied at any formal meeting held with an EMAS manager or HR. Such as:

• Disciplinary meetings.
• Investigation meetings.
• Dignity and Respect meetings.
• Capability meetings.
• Probationary reviews.

You are also entitled to bring a GMB rep to any informal meeting. Such as:

• Fact find meetings.
• Sickness meetings (excluding welcome back to work meetings).
• Informal clinical case discussions.
• Flexible working meetings.
• And many more

If you are not offered to be accompanied by a GMB Representative, you have the right to request a GMB Representative be present, and meetings can be postponed until it has been arranged.

Please contact us to seek Representation as soon as you are invited to any meeting.

If in doubt, please contact either your local GMB Representative or email enquiries@gmbemas.org

Information about your GMB Union can be found at:

• gmbemas.org
• Follow the link to the Dashboard for contact information and news etc.
• Facebook GMBEMAS
• Please like and follow.
• Or by email at: enquiries@gmbemas.org

Moved house, new phone number, changed job roles?

Advise us of your new details by emailing: enquiries@gmbemas.org

If you have any other queries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Kind Regards on behalf of GMB@EMAS