CAB128-94_A1b — Page 245

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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT

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CABINET

LIMITED CIRCULATION ANNEX

CC(89) 38th Conclusions, Minute 2

Thursday 14 December 1989 at 10.30 am

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR HEALTH said that the situation on the ground in the Ambulance Service dispute continued to vary. The Armed Forces were providing an accident and emergency service in six areas,

while in a few others ambulance staff were working almost nome

In other areas the position varied between these two extreres. The Armed Forces continued to cope very well, althougficulties were presented for them by the Union tactic of frequently varying the level of industrial action being taken by itsabers.

Following their region for negotiating purposes of the Association of Professional Ambulance Personnel (APAP), National Health Service (NHS)acement had made a final offer to the Association which hade recommended to members by the Association's negotiator his involved a minimum increase of 9 per cent over 18 morens 1.8 per cent in London), with additional payments of up to £500 for fully trained paramedical staff. This would give a tencrease for a fully trained paramedic in London of 16.3 per bent The offer was designed to enhance the Ambulance Service-medical capacity, so that it could in the future focus is activities on providing an improved accident and emergency service, leaving scope for the more routine tasks it at present performed to be contracted out. APAP was currently balloting its members on the offer, and in spite of media reports of membership unrest, the Association's leaders claimed to be confident of gaining majority for the offer's acceptance. The result was expected

The result was expected be announced the

course mean

following Monday.

Its acceptance wou

substantial back payments to staff returning to amal working.

the chief UPE), Mr

In an apparent attempt to disrupt the APAP ballo negotiator of the National Union of Public Employees Poole, had asked for a meeting of the National Whitley Council, which would take place that day. NUPE was still clan a pay increase of 11 per cent over 12 months, together with the introduction of pay review machinery on the lines of that Fire Service - demands which NHS management could not The meeting was therefore likely to end in deadlock.

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