Sunday 1 July 2012

UNISON members commence industrial action at Northumbria Healthcare Trust

UNISON members commenced industrial action last thursday, with a rally at Hexham General Hospital in a dispute over car mileage which sees the reimbursement rate drop from 47p to 24p per mile for vital community based staffs that use their own cars, resulting in financial hardship for many.

As a governor of the Foundation Trust, we have little say on the decisions which effect those staff concerned although I do empathise with their position as the Northumberland County Branch of UNISON to which I'm Joint Branch Secretary are going through a similar sort of consultation.


I find it difficult that the trust are in affect having a pay cut to many of these users as they use their own vehicles for the benefit of the trust, covering one of the largest geographical areas across Tyne & Wear and Northumberland.

George Barron, UNISON Branch Secretary said, “It is unfortunate we had to ballot our members but we do believe it was the right thing to do and we will not stand for attacks on our National terms and conditions.”

I will try to do everything within the little power trust governors have to retain the current arrangements and I send a message of solidarity to all concerned.

Thursday 28 June 2012

Campaign against sell-off starts in Northumberland


UNISON has launched a campaign against 'reckless' council plans to sell-off services and over 1,000 jobs. UNISON’s campaign material makes a mockery of the councils Love Northumberland – Caring for our Community logo stating it cares very much for Northumberland and it’s council services.
The "Northumberland is Not For Sale" campaign will work with other unions, community groups and the public to expose the dangers of the council's 'alternative business models'.
"Services like front line customer contact, revenue and benefits, catering, cleaning,  cleansing and vehicle and grounds maintenance, along with HR are all up for grabs with cultural services, transport and legal services also being primed for outsourcing through multi-million pound 'strategic partnerships' - privatisation, to you and me", said Joyce Guthrie, UNISON Joint Branch Secretary.
"UNISON's own studies have revealed that, at best, council claims about savings are wishful thinking. No credible evidence exists to support them. Worse still, the evidence that does exist points to failures, worse services, increased costs and huge bills to bring failed services back in-house.
To go ahead with this, in an exercise likely to cost hundreds of thousands of pounds wasted on consultants, without learning the lessons of the last attempt at the tendering fiasco when the Unitary authority was established was nothing short of reckless.
If services are delivered in-house with no need to make a profit, how can they be delivered more cheaply while making a profit on top? Something has to give and that is usually the quality of the service or indeed the whole service - along with any decency in the pay and conditions of those delivering the service", added Joint Branch Secretary, Joyce Guthrie.
"You still pay your taxes but instead of the money going on the service and those who deliver it, it goes to company profits. Like the banks, these companies will become 'too big to fail' and will have the council over a barrel. It is time for the council to abandon these plans and concentrate on efficient and quality services in-house".
UNISON’s other Joint Branch Secretary Ian Fleming said, "The union has stressed that it is always ready to fully engage with the council on better and more efficient ways of delivering quality services. "However, management seem to have dismissed the idea to seriously looking at in-house options and making no real attempt to look at improving services, just a headlong drive to privatise".
"Staff are demoralised at how they are being treated with their jobs and now to say they are potentially going to be privatised leaves even more uncertainty”

“It seems to UNISON that the council are moving at a rapid speed in order to implement their plans prior to the County Council elections in 2013” 

Thursday 21 June 2012

Linda Hobson, Speaking on Defeating the CONDEMS


Linda Hobson, Newcastle hospitals.

"This is a crucial motion for the union. The northern region has a clear regional political strategy, exerting our influence to support our members and the vital services they provide."

Linda successfully stood as candidate in the 2011 local election. "I'm proud to be part of a cohort of Labour councillors who returned Newcastle City to Labour.

"It's tough, but we have not closed a single library or sure start centre. And I am part of a Labour group working closing with trade unions to implement a living wage in Newcastle."

She says there will be many more women councillors. And she warned the Tories and Lib Dems: "If you're not at the table, you're probably on the menu."

Supporting Composite K - Tory Attack Group


I'm at UNISON National Delegate Conference and was supposed to speak on this issue but didn't get a chance as business moved on.

See below my speech

As you've heard the wide spread attack on facility time and trade unions. This attack has been headed by Tory MP, Aidan Burley - you know the man who is under investigation for reportedly attending Nazi themed parties and is part of the Coalition Government.

Facility time has also been attacked in the media, right wing Tory MP's, the Tax Payers Alliance and the new Trade Union Reform Campaign, which has been targeting our people as a waste of money and in some cases attacking individual reps through the media.

The Trade Union Reform Campaign is a well funded Tory front organisation which know very little about the work Trade Unions do.

This group wants to cut the union learning fund, facility time and anything to do with unions in the public sector.

Employers up and down the UK, recognise the value of working with union representatives amongst their own employees, who know the organisation inside out and are best placed in employee relation matters between staff, managers and HR staff.

If employers started negotiating with us outside office hours they would incur an enormous overtime bill for all staff greater than the value of the facility time.

Large and small private companies have come to the same conclusion that facility time is an efficient way of consulting and involving staff to improve decisions at all levels.

Union representatives are an important resource for employers. As well as making a significant contribution to increasing productivity we make workplaces safer, reducing the costs of recruitment and help the public sector and businesses become more responsive to change by helping staff acquire new skills.

We save this government million if not billions of pounds per annum, (as per report published by BERR) but this government seem to be that hung up by our relationship with the Labour Party, they loose sight of the benefits we bring to the workplace. We know that as reps we work hard and we also know how facility time is essential for smooth running of industrial relations.

It was well known before the general election that the tories wanted to smash UNISON, well lets turn that on its head and let us smash this government and elect a party that supports the TU movement.

UNISON working alongside the TUC has worked hard to rebut the myths and has been leading the fightback at local, regional and national level to fight this Tory led attack group. Its important we continue that the good work and support this motion.

Wednesday 20 June 2012

Solidarity with Burmese Trade Unions


Earlier this year, Mick Bowman of the UNISON, Northumberland County Branch visited South East Asia with other Trade Unionists.


Our branch UNISON Northumberland County Branch have a long established link with the Burmese Trade Unions.

The Burmese Unions are one of the main bodies who have been fighting for democracy and justice for decades. We have supported their struggles over the last 10 years.

For years, trade unions have been affected by the events in Burma and they were labelled terrorist organisations.

Those who engaged in trade union activity were liable to torture or execution. Mick said "being in that country was an amazing and fantastic experience. When we were there we met with the trade union group, the federation of Union Kawthalei which is for Karen people.

The people in the group were at great risk of personal sacrifice for giving their lives to the trade union struggle. Some had been subjected to terrible atrocities. Among them Paw Gay, a woman from the Karen state who was forcibly removed from her family.

For 20 years, she lived among 400,000 displaced Burmese people in the eastern regions and saw members of her family slaughtered during fierce battles. Eventually she fled to Thailand where she lived in a refugee camp before devoting her life being a paramedic with Medical Backpackers.

The organisation "smuggles" medical supplies across the border to help those exiled from their homes." Speaking about Aung San Suu Kyi Mick said "She's an inspirational woman and a powerful character, but her story is not a typical in that there are others who have been subjected to violence and forced to relocate.

It's important that people involve themselves in Burma at this time when it's in a period of change. For that process to continue it's vital that the trade unions play an important role because they have got links with the workers.

They were at the forefront of the human rights movement and providing welfare services.

Wednesday 4 April 2012

Mutuals, Cooperatives - Future for Councils or not?


Communities and Local Government select committee have called an inquiry into 'cooperative' council models.

The inquiry will look at the framework and operation of "not for profit businesses owned and controlled, in full or part, by people who work for them to provide local services that local authorities traditionally provide".

The committee has requested evidence before 11 May on advantages and disadvantages of service provision via a not-for-profit model and whether service users would experience any differences as a result of such a model.

Ironically the Trade Unions have been asking the same question with additional emphasis on the employee and what does it mean for the workforce.

The committee are set to look at the barriers to mutuals and other not-for-profit businesses. APSE have already produced a report, which I have highlighted the key points called 'Proof of delivery' which can be purchased via the link below.  

  • Uses systematic review methodolology to identify and analyse all the available evidence about the potential benefits or otherwise of co-ops and mutual in the delivery of core public services.

  • Identifies the three key conditions of success that need to be in place if co-ops and mutual are to contribute to effective public service delivery.

  • Takes an evidence based approach to setting out what co-operative and mutual forms of service delivery mean for the future of local public services.
  • Calls for a proper debate on how and whether co-ops and mutual can contribute to improving local public services and what their role should be – if any.

http://www.apse.org.uk/research.html


Saturday 4 February 2012

Fear for Ambulance Service in the North East


North East Ambulance Service were reported in The Berwick Advertiser on 5th February to be looking at axing one of two emergency ambulances which serve Berwick and the surrounding areas, leaving peoples lives at risk. This caused fury amongst organisations within the Berwick area but represents just one of a whole selection of cuts the North East Ambulance Service are expected to cutback on as they look towards saving £20m over the next five years under the government cuts.

Earlier in the week, Trevor Johnston, from UNISON, commented on the cuts right across the Ambulance service in the North East and said he was concerned 140 advanced technicians would be removed from the front line and feared that the North East Ambulance Service would look to replace those with drivers, he went onto to say this is a real worry in terms of safety for patients. "The other worry we have of course is they redesigned all the shifts, not in our view for a better service but to save money and I think most ambulance staff are going to take a cut in pay on the front line and that's going to have a terrible effect on morale." 

Talk about hypocrisy, local MP Sir Alan Beith, launched a petition, which urges bosses to re-think their proposal in Berwick despite the government he serves agreeing to a 20% cut right across the Ambulance Service nationally.

The Northern Public Service Alliance together with other local organisations will also be asserting pressure by asking people to take a strong stance against these cuts in the North East Ambulance Service.