Duty Systems

This Conference notes with concern the findings of the recent Audit Commission study with regard to duty systems. Proposed changes to duty systems, particularly the 5 watch system, are mechanisms to reduce establishment levels and achieve financial savings. They do not represent any improvement to our members conditions and furthermore compromise current conditions of service. Conference calls on the Executive Council to initiate a national strategy, which will be underpinned by education, information sharing and campaigning in order to coordinate a consistent approach and achieve this unions aim of a reduction of the current working week. We ask Conference to support all members who are under threat of these detrimental changes.