Union calls for end to unpaid work by career-break nurses

Public services union UNISON is challenging the conditions under which nurses are re-employed after career breaks. They are often required to pay for their own retraining and work without pay for several weeks.

UNISON Scotland is pursuing an Employment Tribunal claim on the grounds that such practices indirectly discriminate against women as they mainly affect female nurses returning after having children.

Bridget Hunter, UNISON Scotland's lead officer for nursing said that the terms under which people return to the profession vary. Some trusts in Scotland require nurses to take a two-week theory course followed by up to 18 weeks' unpaid work on the wards. She says that in England and Wales the situation also varies although some trusts offer a £1,000 incentive to return to nursing in recognition of nurse shortages.

Hunter said of the situation in Scotland: "We have over 10,000 trained nurses currently out of the service and yet in the past year nurse vacancies have risen by 48%. We will never be successful at enticing them back if we expect them to pay for refresher courses and work without pay for a number of weeks before being allowed to return. This amounts to slavery and is daft, but the law makes it legal and UNISON intends to eradicate this practice with immediate legal action".

UNISON Scotland is meeting with Scottish minister for health, Susan Deacon, next month to raise its concerns.