A robust checking system for people
working with vulnerable groups, through
the Protection of Vulnerable Adults (PVG)
scheme is essential, but employees, many
of whom are low paid worker in the care
and education services, should not be
made to pay for these themselves.
The STUC will lobby employers, CoSLA
and the Scottish Government to ensure
that employers meet the cost of PVG checks
and don’t pass this cost on to
their workers.
Supporting the motion, UNISON's Marie
Garrity told the STUC: "I don’t
think I’m
being controversial when I say that there
is
a basic idea
about work that most people would understand.
That’s
the idea - that you go to your work and
you get paid for doing
it.
"The idea that being at work is
something that costs you – is a
bit bizarre. It’s also as good
an example of why workers need strong,
effective trade
unions as you’re likely to see."
UNISON campaigned hard on this issue last year and in December Health Secretary
Alex Neil wrote to STAC - that’s the committee which administers terms
and conditions for Scottish NHS staff.
Asking them to ‘put in place a system where, NHS employers will pay the
PVG registration
for all staff’
"So when it comes to the NHS -
This shouldn’t
still be happening", said Marie. Anyone
having problems in the NHS should be
gently reminding their employers of
Alex Neil’s commitment
… incidentally the details are up on the UNISON Scotland Website.
"…and if its good enough
for NHS staff, the Scottish Government
should be making sure it’s good
enough for everybody.
"Congress, all politicians
, of every party are keen to shout about
how they
want to ‘Make work pay’. This composite is about getting them to
that by ending the situation where people need to ‘pay to work’.
Let's get this sorted", saiud Marie.
17 April 2013
