Unison East Lancs Health Branch

18/02/2026

All Unison East Lancs Health Branch Members Affected by the Atlas Announcement
Say No to Atlas - Keep NHS Jobs in the NHS

Dear Member,

You may have seen the joint email from Chief Executives about the proposal to move Estates and Facilities and Procurement leadership into Atlas, a wholly owned subsidiary company.

Let’s be clear - this proposal changes who ultimately controls NHS Estates and Facilities and Procurement services in Lancashire and South Cumbria.

The bosses say that only a small number of managers would transfer, the structure being created moves services into a “subco” model and tries to introduce a complicated secondment arrangement for everyone else.

Staff are being told they may need to go through a complicated “opt out” process - opting out of transferring under TUPE to remain technically employed by the trust while being managed by Atlas.

UNISON has not been consulted on this and is seeking legal advice on what this means for your employment.

At this point in time, you should not be making any decisions about your future. Please contact your UNISON branch if you feel pressured to make any decisions.

There is a simpler way to stay in NHS employment – keep your jobs employed and managed in the NHS.

You are told this is about improving operations and VAT efficiency.

There are no operational benefits to this arrangement that could not be achieved through existing OneLSC structures. This is what OneLSC was supposed to be for.

If the trusts are now saying that OneLSC has failed on that, then why should staff trust them that it will work better in Atlas?

Alternatively, if this is simply about tax arrangements, then why does the trust think it’s okay to gamble the long-term job security of ordinary staff to balance their budgets in the short term?

Once services sit inside a subsidiary company structure, they are no longer meaningfully NHS jobs. Future workforce decisions become easier to separate from direct NHS accountability.

That is why this proposal is wrong. This isn’t about day-one terms and conditions, it’s about the long-term security of your jobs.
NHS Estates and Facilities and Procurement staff are rightly proud to work for the NHS. These are NHS jobs and they should remain directly employed and managed by the NHS.

UNISON members in Dorset and Wigan resisted similar proposals and they won.

If you all stand together, the same can happen here.

UNISON organisers will be organising meetings across all sites soon.

If you want to get involved and help to organise these meetings, or any other action in the future, then please fill in this form and somebody will be in touch.

If people in your department are not members, then now is the time to join – join.unison.org.uk

NHS jobs belong in the NHS.

Yours,

Fiona Wild
Branch Secretary
East Lancashire Health UNISON
Unison East Lancashire Health Branch

31/01/2026

10/09/2025

💜 There for You – UNISON’s charity – is here to help
Seasonal Food Fund 2025 opens soon! Keep the date 📍
https://unsn.uk/4noavvh

🗓️ Opens 12 noon, Tue 30 Sept – 24hrs only
💷 £30 voucher per eligible household member
🧺 For those on low income/in financial difficulty

05/06/2025

Pease note that UNISON officers and representatives work varying hours between 8.30 and 6.00pm Monday to Friday. We do not work evenings or weekends.
Please refrain from contacting us via Facebook or on our personal mobilenumbers as these will not be responded to. If you email us on unison@elht.nhs.uk or call the office on 01254 733044, please remember that we will respond on our next working day.

We appreciate that at times, people require support outside these hours and if that is the case, please contact UNISON Direct on 0800 0857 857.
Like all staff, we strive to maintain a healthy work-life balance, ensuring that when we are available, we can provide you with the best possible support and attention.
Remember, we are always here to assist during our working hours, and your concerns are important to us. We encourage you to continue reaching out to us with any questions or issues you may have, knowing that we will address them promptly during our available times. In the meantime, please feel free to explore our online resources and policies on OLI which might offer immediate assistance or answers to your queries. Once again, thank you for your understanding and support in helping us foster a positive and productive environment for everyone involved.

27/05/2025

Get help with school uniform costs 🏫

UNISON’s charity, There for You, is offering help for members on a low income with a one-off, non-repayable grant of £75 per school-aged child.

Applications open for 24 hours from midday tomorrow.

Check eligibility here:

Need help with the cost of kids' uniforms? Apply for a £75 voucher per school-aged child. Applications open 12 noon on 28 May 2025.

27/05/2025

Great turnout this afternoon

Domestics and Domestic Supervisors working for private contractor Mitie, in health centres across East Lancashire, have walked out on their usual duties and are taking their first day of strike action. The UNISON members are striking following non payment of the Covid bonus payment and non payment of wages. Ongoing inaccuracies in wages has unnecessarily pushed them into significant financial hardship and had a detrimental impact on their mental health.

It's time for and the commissioners of the service, Community Health Partnership (CHP) to sit down, discuss and resolve this issue.

22/05/2025

Please come and support the Mitie Members 💪🏼

20/05/2025

‼️NHS 2025 PAY AWARD ‼️


HAVE YOU MISSED YOUR VOTING EMAIL
SEARCH YOUR INBOX FOR EMAILS@UNISON.ORG.UK
YOUR VOTE ON NHS PAY - ARE YOU WILLING TO TAKE ACTION

https://unison.tfaforms.net/286


AT EAST LANCASHIRE NHS TRUST WE HAVE WON MILLIONS OF POUNDS IN BACK PAY FOR HCAS THAT WERE UNITED AND VOTED FOR WHAT THEY DESERVE, THIS SHOWS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE STICK TOGETHER AND MAKE OUR VOICE HEARD

IF YOU DON’T VOTE YOU CAN’T HAVE YOU SAY ON THIS YEARS PROPOSED 2.8% PAY AWARD

12/05/2025

🌍 Today on International Nurses Day, we celebrate the dedication, compassion and skill of nursing staff across the UK.

💜 UNISON is proud to stand with our members - it's time nurses were valued properly – and paid for the work they do every day.

12/05/2025

# Attention NHS Staff: Have You Voted in the Unison Consultation for Industrial Action?

Only 13.5% of our members at ELHT have participated in the vote, and this is **not acceptable**.

Did you know that the national minimum wage rose to £12.21 in April? Meanwhile, Band 2 staff and those at the entry point of Band 3 are now earning £12.36.

The government has informed NHS Employers that starting April 1, 2025, staff in Agenda for Change (AfC) pay bands 1 (closed spot salary) and both pay points of Band 2 will receive an **advance** towards the 2025/26 pay award. Additionally, the entry point of Band 3 will also see an increase of 28p per hour to maintain the pay differentials with the top of Band 2.

*Yes, you read that correctly – this is an advance on your pay rise!**
Unfortunately, those expecting a significant back pay in October may find themselves disappointed.

Keep an eye out for an email from Unison’s Helga Pile; it may already be waiting in your inbox as these were sent out a few weeks ago.

We must improve our efforts in fighting for what is rightfully ours: **better hourly rates!**

Nicky
Unison East Lancs Health
Branch Chair

Unison East Lancashire Health Branch

08/05/2025

Come along and join us at one of our events, members and new joiners will get a lunch bag and water bottle 😊