GMB UNION DOES NOT KNOW PENSION RULES

SAVOY VENTURES LTD.

NHS PATIENT TRANSPORT

PRESS RELEASE

September 29, 2010.

SAVOY VENTURES LTD. AND THE GMB UNION: SOUTH LONDON HEALTHCARE NHS TRUST PATIENT TRANSPORT.

The GMB Union has made statements, claims and allegations against Savoy Ventures Ltd., which provides ambulances and patient transport services for a number of South London hospitals:

http://www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom/latest_news/gmb_demo_savoy_patient_transp.aspx

A spokesman for Savoy Ventures Ltd. said:

"It is incredibly exasperating that the GMB has chosen to ignore or distort many facts, causing unwarranted concern to staff and patients alike. Many of the GMB’s claims and allegations are quite simply wrong, and we are advised by solicitors that allegations of a personal nature against Savoy Ventures Ltd. management are quite possibly actionable. We have met all obligations under TUPE, and the transfer of staff from the LAS is fully compliant with the procurement process.

“It is very telling that we have so far seen no evidence or intent of strike action or protest amongst our workforce. To the contrary, our staff have continued to provide a very important transport service to dialysis patients even though they have had to drive through the protest action to get patients to their appointments.

“Firstly, the GMB clearly does not know the facts – and law – with regard to pension provision. The GMB has accused Savoy Ventures Ltd. of driving a ‘dramatic’ pension cut for those staff moving from the LAS to Savoy Ventures Ltd.

“This is absolute nonsense. By law, in terms of pensions, those employees who are transferring cannot be worse off. An NHS pension is simply not available to non-NHS employees, but Savoy Ventures Ltd. will provide a Government Actuary’s Department (GAD)-approved, comparable scheme, which will match each individual’s NHS pension arrangement. This pension scheme will be managed by the Prudential, and is established as an accepted and comparable health sector alternative to NHS schemes across the UK. The pension scheme was discussed and agreed at a meeting attended by representatives of Savoy Ventures Ltd., the Government Actuaries Department, LAS and the South London Hospital Trust.

“The contracts for staff include a London weighting allowance scaled in relation to the location of their base. Strictly speaking, Savoy Ventures Ltd. has no obligation to provide any degree of London weighting because the base falls outside of London weighting territory, but once transferred to Savoy Ventures Ltd., staff will be paid the fringe London weighting, regardless. In line with its legal obligations, Savoy Ventures Ltd consulted with LAS representatives on this matter back in July 2010 before the likelihood of any dispute became apparent. Staff transferring to Savoy Ventures Ltd. will otherwise see no changes to their terms and conditions of employment.

“There will be no ‘downward harmonisation’ of salaries, and we have no plans to change shift patterns – but, having said that, it is far too early to say whether shift changes will need to occur to meet the demands of the new contract as we come to understand the requirements more clearly.

“A few staff will simply not move over from the LAS because they simply have not or do not work on the contract transferring from LAS.

“The unions have not approached us for recognition. We have invited the unions in for talks, at no point have they approached the company directly with their concerns and therefore the GMB are conducting this deplorable and potentially life-threatening campaign without consultation.

“Savoy Ventures Ltd. is a solid and decent company providing nearly 200,000 patient transfers a year across London, including blue-light movements. We have a 99.5% patient satisfaction rating. We operate the very latest vehicles and equipment, with a number of staff trained to ambulance technician standard.”

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.savoyventures.co.uk