FOUNDATION TRUST COUNCIL ELECTION 2010 - VOTE FOR UNISON ACCREDITED REPRESENTATIVES
The Conservative government (its clear there are now no longer any Liberal values or policies even in pretence within parliament)has now made it explicit that they are out to make major changes to the NHS including introducing the private sector on a huge scale. The risks of local pay bargaining and the break up of national terms and conditions are a receipe for major industrial unrest both with the Government and the Trust.
There is a growing realisation of the scale of this attack on NHS staff and services; we will grow stronger, more united - and in the best position to oppose privatisation,the cuts and to fight for jobs and services.
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LATEST NEWS:
19.7.10 SUI Panels - Advice to members
14.7.10 Newham PCT merger with East London NHS FT Trust delayed until 1st April 2011
12.7.10 - Threatened at work - UNISON advice
3.7.10 UNISON Affilated Fund Payers to be balloted in Labour leadership election
28.6.10 Pay freeze announcement does not apply to increment points - Mike Jackson UNISON Senior National Officer.
14.6.10 “If Nick Clegg comes for our pensions, as he boasted only yesterday, then we will ballot for national strike action,” D Prentis
NHS WHITE PAPER = NHS PRIVATISATION
This Conservative gov are a dangerous and destructive force let loose on the country. The farce over the schools rebuilding reversals shows that they are desperate to undemine good public services.
Todays announcements that GPs can suddenly manage 80 billion pounds of nhs expenditure is barmy, how do GPs do that? Are they not clinicians with case loads? yes they are, so there is going to be a vast army of private management consultants employed to replace the vast army of NHS managers to comission services. This is suppose to produce savings !!!? It is nothing but a direct attack on the principles and structures of the NHS that will result in large amounts of money going out of the NHS into private sector hands.
The principle of Foundation Trusts being more independent can mean only one thing, the break up of national standards, terms and conditions and all subject to local managerial & political whims.
Todays proposals have no basis in principle, they have not been tested, no-one has been consulted and it is tempting to think this government don't think they will be around long so they want to cause as much damage and confusion in the service quickly so that should the Librals wake up from their nightmare and come to their senses they will hand over a failing service that in the current economic climate would be near impossible to recover from.
UNISON members will have to face this particularly spiteful set of proposals and consider their responses, its clear the Conservatives are out to destroy the NHS as we know it for no other reason than ideology, they do not like good public services, the lie about not cutting frontline services is now demonstrated across the country, our Trust like many others still refuses to publicize the details of its 9 million pounds cut this year yet we know a large number of important posts have been lost. There is less transparancy now in the way the Trust operates than at any other time since the 1940s, this white paper will reinforce that by claiming commercial sensetivities regarding all things financial.
Todays announcements that GPs can suddenly manage 80 billion pounds of nhs expenditure is barmy, how do GPs do that? Are they not clinicians with case loads? yes they are, so there is going to be a vast army of private management consultants employed to replace the vast army of NHS managers to comission services. This is suppose to produce savings !!!? It is nothing but a direct attack on the principles and structures of the NHS that will result in large amounts of money going out of the NHS into private sector hands.
The principle of Foundation Trusts being more independent can mean only one thing, the break up of national standards, terms and conditions and all subject to local managerial & political whims.
Todays proposals have no basis in principle, they have not been tested, no-one has been consulted and it is tempting to think this government don't think they will be around long so they want to cause as much damage and confusion in the service quickly so that should the Librals wake up from their nightmare and come to their senses they will hand over a failing service that in the current economic climate would be near impossible to recover from.
UNISON members will have to face this particularly spiteful set of proposals and consider their responses, its clear the Conservatives are out to destroy the NHS as we know it for no other reason than ideology, they do not like good public services, the lie about not cutting frontline services is now demonstrated across the country, our Trust like many others still refuses to publicize the details of its 9 million pounds cut this year yet we know a large number of important posts have been lost. There is less transparancy now in the way the Trust operates than at any other time since the 1940s, this white paper will reinforce that by claiming commercial sensetivities regarding all things financial.
Lansley puts business at the centre of NHS, not patients. 12.7.10
Responding to today's publication of the NHS white paper, the health pressure group, NHS Support Federation, accused the government of favouring commercial business over patients and cast doubt on plans to save money by restructuring.Federation director Paul Evans said:"Patient power will be overwhelmed by the influence of unaccountable companies. No matter what individual patients want, profit-motivated firms will now have a huge say in what care is available and much of the fairness, value and public trust in the traditional NHS will be lost."
PAY AWARD 2011/12 - ANNOUNCEMENT:
We have sought and obtained clarification from the Department of Health yesterday on a range of issues concerning next years pay.
1. The government’s announcement on a public sector pay freeze in the emergency budget does not extend to increments. The Treasury in a note of clarification to all departments has said that ‘those staff who are entitled to pay progression will continue to receive it.’
2. There is confusion as to the position of those who earn less than £21,000 p.a.
The Chancellor in his budget statement said:
“Today, because we have had to ask for a two year freeze, I extend the protection to cover the 1.7 million public servants who earn less than £21,000.
Together they make up 28 per cent of the public sector workforce. They will each receive a flat pay rise worth £250 in both these years, so that those on the very lowest salaries will get a proportionately larger rise."
The Treasury’s Budget Red Books says: “The Government announces a two-year pay freeze for public sector workforces, except for workers earning less than £21,000 a year who will receive an increase of at least £250 per year in these years.”
We have sought clarification as to whether government policy is for a flat rate or a minimum £250 pay rise. The DH has confirmed that the Chancellors statement was ‘an error’ and that the statement in the Red Book that it is ‘at least £250’ is the policy.
This of course impacts on the role of the NHS Pay Review Body over the next two years. It is now likely that it will continue to receive evidence. We expect an announcement on this next week.
Mike Jackson
UNISON Senior National Officer
Lead Negotiator NHS Terms & Conditions.
1. The government’s announcement on a public sector pay freeze in the emergency budget does not extend to increments. The Treasury in a note of clarification to all departments has said that ‘those staff who are entitled to pay progression will continue to receive it.’
2. There is confusion as to the position of those who earn less than £21,000 p.a.
The Chancellor in his budget statement said:
“Today, because we have had to ask for a two year freeze, I extend the protection to cover the 1.7 million public servants who earn less than £21,000.
Together they make up 28 per cent of the public sector workforce. They will each receive a flat pay rise worth £250 in both these years, so that those on the very lowest salaries will get a proportionately larger rise."
The Treasury’s Budget Red Books says: “The Government announces a two-year pay freeze for public sector workforces, except for workers earning less than £21,000 a year who will receive an increase of at least £250 per year in these years.”
We have sought clarification as to whether government policy is for a flat rate or a minimum £250 pay rise. The DH has confirmed that the Chancellors statement was ‘an error’ and that the statement in the Red Book that it is ‘at least £250’ is the policy.
This of course impacts on the role of the NHS Pay Review Body over the next two years. It is now likely that it will continue to receive evidence. We expect an announcement on this next week.
Mike Jackson
UNISON Senior National Officer
Lead Negotiator NHS Terms & Conditions.
CONSERVATIVE Emergency Budget: the scale of the public cuts announced by Osbourne does not refer to the additional cuts being planed by East London NHS Foundation Trust and other Trusts across the country, although the government are 'protecting' the NHS funding it has been made very clear by our Employers that the savings plans for 2011/12 are premised a total pay freeze including incremental freezes.
The two year national pay freeze is not surprising and the gesture towards £250 pay rises for staff earning less than £21000 is a minor concession. For staff living in London this means real pay cuts as inflation in currently 5%, in two years time that would equate to a pay cut of 10%! UNISON will oppose any attempt to freeze incremental points and would be a source of a serious dispute should the Trust attempt to impose it.
For many other Government Departments cuts of 25% in 4 years is a reckless and damaging attack on many services provided with thousands of job losses affecting colleagues in Local Government, Probation, Prisons, Police Fire Service and Education.
There will be further news leaking out as the Trust announces its own cuts plan. Its very clear that the Trade Union movement needs to collectively respond to these proposals even before they announce the attack the pensions of NHS staff.
UNISON in conjunction with the TUC will be considering its response. In preparation for the possibility of Industrial Action all members are asked to ensure we have your correct workplace and home details.
The two year national pay freeze is not surprising and the gesture towards £250 pay rises for staff earning less than £21000 is a minor concession. For staff living in London this means real pay cuts as inflation in currently 5%, in two years time that would equate to a pay cut of 10%! UNISON will oppose any attempt to freeze incremental points and would be a source of a serious dispute should the Trust attempt to impose it.
For many other Government Departments cuts of 25% in 4 years is a reckless and damaging attack on many services provided with thousands of job losses affecting colleagues in Local Government, Probation, Prisons, Police Fire Service and Education.
There will be further news leaking out as the Trust announces its own cuts plan. Its very clear that the Trade Union movement needs to collectively respond to these proposals even before they announce the attack the pensions of NHS staff.
UNISON in conjunction with the TUC will be considering its response. In preparation for the possibility of Industrial Action all members are asked to ensure we have your correct workplace and home details.
Under current anti trade union laws any industrial action ballot needs to meet very strict criteria,both the RMT and UNITE unions have had cause to defend their rights to strike through the courts. It is important UNISON has your up to date contact details and home address. Please use the link here to update and ensure your right to vote.
Trade Unions Response to Con Dem Budget
RMT’s Bob Crow calls for emergency meeting of Trade Union Congress to plan co-ordinated action against Government attacks on jobs, pay and pensions.
:FBU REACTION TO BUDGETCommenting after today’s budget address by the chancellor of the exchequer, George Osborne, the Fire Brigades Union’s general secretary, Matt Wrack said:
“A two-year pay freeze for public sector workers, a massive VAT rise and a three-year freeze in child benefits, accompanied by cuts in corporation tax, leave little doubt who is to pay for the crisis under Mr Osborne. It is modestly-paid public sector workers like firefighters who are being made to pay for the failures of the banking system.
GMB On Lib-Tory Budget
IT HAS TAKEN THE TORIES A MERE SIX WEEKS SINCE TAKING OFFICE TO BEGIN THE DEMOLITION JOB ON PUBLIC SERVICES AGAIN SAYS GMB
The Tory claim that there is an economic necessity to make these savage cuts is to turn the truth on its head as the fragile recovery underway places a duty on Government to sustain demand to ensure growth says union.
Unite emergency budget reactionHurting the needy and vulnerable is vintage Thatcher
Commenting on the Con-Dem coalition’s emergency budget, announced today (Tuesday), Unite joint general secretary, Derek Simpson said: “Osborne and Cameron’s talk of financial Armageddon is not because they have the solution to the deficit but to scare the British people into accepting the biggest attack on essential services for a generation. Today the mask slipped to reveal this government for what it is – Tory slashers of services and friends of the rich and powerful.
RMT’s Bob Crow calls for emergency meeting of Trade Union Congress to plan co-ordinated action against Government attacks on jobs, pay and pensions.
:FBU REACTION TO BUDGETCommenting after today’s budget address by the chancellor of the exchequer, George Osborne, the Fire Brigades Union’s general secretary, Matt Wrack said:
“A two-year pay freeze for public sector workers, a massive VAT rise and a three-year freeze in child benefits, accompanied by cuts in corporation tax, leave little doubt who is to pay for the crisis under Mr Osborne. It is modestly-paid public sector workers like firefighters who are being made to pay for the failures of the banking system.
GMB On Lib-Tory Budget
IT HAS TAKEN THE TORIES A MERE SIX WEEKS SINCE TAKING OFFICE TO BEGIN THE DEMOLITION JOB ON PUBLIC SERVICES AGAIN SAYS GMB
The Tory claim that there is an economic necessity to make these savage cuts is to turn the truth on its head as the fragile recovery underway places a duty on Government to sustain demand to ensure growth says union.
Unite emergency budget reactionHurting the needy and vulnerable is vintage Thatcher
Commenting on the Con-Dem coalition’s emergency budget, announced today (Tuesday), Unite joint general secretary, Derek Simpson said: “Osborne and Cameron’s talk of financial Armageddon is not because they have the solution to the deficit but to scare the British people into accepting the biggest attack on essential services for a generation. Today the mask slipped to reveal this government for what it is – Tory slashers of services and friends of the rich and powerful.
Public sector pension costs are being presented in a highly selective way Posted at 9:27 am on 15 Jun 10 by Brendan Barber TUC General Secretary Looking at the papers today, Ministers are presenting the costs of public sector pensions in a highly selective way. They aren’t comparing like with like, and have not been clear that a main cause of the increased net cost of public sector pensions is their decision to freeze public sector pay.
The cost of public sector pensions they talk about is the difference each year between how much it costs to pay pensions to staff who have already retired and the contributions that current staff and employers are making – even though contributions are to pay tomorrow’s pensions not today’s.
As ministers have decided to freeze pay, contributions – a straight percentage of pay – are also frozen. As pensions rise with inflation, inevitably the gap between pensions and contributions will grow even though the cost of pay and pensions will fall as the freeze bites.
The cost of public sector pensions they talk about is the difference each year between how much it costs to pay pensions to staff who have already retired and the contributions that current staff and employers are making – even though contributions are to pay tomorrow’s pensions not today’s.
As ministers have decided to freeze pay, contributions – a straight percentage of pay – are also frozen. As pensions rise with inflation, inevitably the gap between pensions and contributions will grow even though the cost of pay and pensions will fall as the freeze bites.
This idea that the country can give 1.3 Trilllion pounds to the banks and then cut essential public services under the guise of efficiency savings needs to be clearly called shameful and typical of Con-Dem class politics
Its time the banks were told to hand it back.
Attacks on public services and public sector staff are unfounded, misinformed and malicious. Details about East London NHS Trust Cuts can be found on the cuts page.
Its time the banks were told to hand it back.
Attacks on public services and public sector staff are unfounded, misinformed and malicious. Details about East London NHS Trust Cuts can be found on the cuts page.
As you can see East London NHS FT UNISON reps are kept busy;
This does not include the hundreds of situations where UNISON advice is given to members in response to their questions.
It also does not record the amount of time taken up by UNISON reps involved in various committee's, JSC/LJSC, policy subgroup, improving working lives, Trust Training Strategy Group, H&S committee, FT Council & the Admin review fiasco.
This does not include the hundreds of situations where UNISON advice is given to members in response to their questions.
It also does not record the amount of time taken up by UNISON reps involved in various committee's, JSC/LJSC, policy subgroup, improving working lives, Trust Training Strategy Group, H&S committee, FT Council & the Admin review fiasco.
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When efficiency means health service cuts - John Lister, Morning Star
Health minister Mike O'Brien has said he believes health bosses such as NHS London should keep a veil of secrecy over their discussions on how to impose wholesale changes to the service's operation.
If information leaked out, he told MPs this week, opponents of the plans could "attack them over their lack of evidence."
Health minister Mike O'Brien has said he believes health bosses such as NHS London should keep a veil of secrecy over their discussions on how to impose wholesale changes to the service's operation.
If information leaked out, he told MPs this week, opponents of the plans could "attack them over their lack of evidence."
DEPT OF HEALTH INFORMATION
Quality and productivity Investment in the NHS in England in 2010/11 will be £102 billion. The NHS Operating Framework, which sets out the priorities for the year ahead, confirms that in the 2010/11 financial year healthcare spending will increase by 5.5% - but after that financial growth will be limited for the foreseeable future. We will use this year of guaranteed growth in spending to prepare for the years ahead by focusing on quality and identifying big efficiency savings
Quality and productivity Investment in the NHS in England in 2010/11 will be £102 billion. The NHS Operating Framework, which sets out the priorities for the year ahead, confirms that in the 2010/11 financial year healthcare spending will increase by 5.5% - but after that financial growth will be limited for the foreseeable future. We will use this year of guaranteed growth in spending to prepare for the years ahead by focusing on quality and identifying big efficiency savings
| speakuppay.pdf |
Site news
The website has been designed and is run by local UNISON reps and will develope along with our skills!!!
We would welcome your feedback in the comments page.
The Branch position on a range of issues can be found in the news section.
Please forward ideas or articles for the site to Sandra Payne.
We would welcome your feedback in the comments page.
The Branch position on a range of issues can be found in the news section.
Please forward ideas or articles for the site to Sandra Payne.
More Organisational Mergers..
NEWHAM PCT- Provider Services
East London NHS Foundation Trust has been designated as the preferred provider for the Newham PCT and the timetable for expected transfer if all goes to plan is1st April 2011
A number of senior staff from the Trust are actively managing this process.
The original breakup of primary care community services away from the Borough Trusts, which then created a 3 borough Mental Health specific Trust and individual PCT Trusts was never fully supported by a number of organisations including UNISON at the time so it will be good to welcome back colleagues into a seamless service.East London has sufferred excessive multiple re-organisations over the years, anyone taking bets on how long this one will last?
Tower Hamlets PCT Having failed to convince the staff that the social enterprise was a good 'opportunity' the SHA have backpeddled with some strange decision making that allowed them to carry on being the direct provider as well as providing commisioning; the Con Den Gov have now reversed that decision and insists they seperate out provider services by April 2011, staff will be under significant pressure to do what they never wanted and go into a social enterprise or private sector organisation..
A number of senior staff from the Trust are actively managing this process.
The original breakup of primary care community services away from the Borough Trusts, which then created a 3 borough Mental Health specific Trust and individual PCT Trusts was never fully supported by a number of organisations including UNISON at the time so it will be good to welcome back colleagues into a seamless service.East London has sufferred excessive multiple re-organisations over the years, anyone taking bets on how long this one will last?
Tower Hamlets PCT Having failed to convince the staff that the social enterprise was a good 'opportunity' the SHA have backpeddled with some strange decision making that allowed them to carry on being the direct provider as well as providing commisioning; the Con Den Gov have now reversed that decision and insists they seperate out provider services by April 2011, staff will be under significant pressure to do what they never wanted and go into a social enterprise or private sector organisation..
Do you know about your Annual Leave entitlements?
That you can carry up to 5 days Annual Leave over to the following year? It is so widely accepted that only in the most usual of circumstances should a manager reject such a request, anyone who makes such a request and is denied it should contact their UNISON representative immediately.
Also there is a 'Holiday of a lifetime scheme' negotiated by UNISON reps, this allows staff to' bank' up to 5 days Annual Leave up to a maximum of 50 days over 10 years. If you want to take advantage of the policy please write to your manager informing them that you are going to bank a number days. The policy and forms for this are on the Trust Intranet.
Also there is a 'Holiday of a lifetime scheme' negotiated by UNISON reps, this allows staff to' bank' up to 5 days Annual Leave up to a maximum of 50 days over 10 years. If you want to take advantage of the policy please write to your manager informing them that you are going to bank a number days. The policy and forms for this are on the Trust Intranet.
STAFF BREAKS -
UNISON ADVICE TO ALL STAFF:
The scale and quantity of nursing staff who are not able to take breaks is excessively high according to our reports, this is disputed by various managers; we advise all staff who work without a break or an interupted break to complete a datix incident report. This is very important.
The JSC will be addressing this with the trust and ensuring that staff are either given time off in lieu or paid overtime rates in accordance with the Agenda for Change National Agreement.
Any areas were local managers try to discourage this should be reported to your local UNISON rep.
The scale and quantity of nursing staff who are not able to take breaks is excessively high according to our reports, this is disputed by various managers; we advise all staff who work without a break or an interupted break to complete a datix incident report. This is very important.
The JSC will be addressing this with the trust and ensuring that staff are either given time off in lieu or paid overtime rates in accordance with the Agenda for Change National Agreement.
Any areas were local managers try to discourage this should be reported to your local UNISON rep.
UNISON backs Ed Miliband for Labour Leadership
UNISON’s national political committee today (21 July) gave Ed Miliband its backing in the forthcoming ballot for Labour leadership.
The decision was taken after consultation throughout the affiliated members of the union. Hustings at UNISON’s national political conference, attended by 200 UNISON Labour Party members representing the regions, were held in early July. All the candidates were present and the hustings were broadcast over the union’s website.
There will be an OMOV ballot of UNISON’s affiliated members, conducted by the Electoral Reform Society. Affiliated trade unions make up one-third of the electoral college. The ballot closes on 22 September.
The decision was taken after consultation throughout the affiliated members of the union. Hustings at UNISON’s national political conference, attended by 200 UNISON Labour Party members representing the regions, were held in early July. All the candidates were present and the hustings were broadcast over the union’s website.
There will be an OMOV ballot of UNISON’s affiliated members, conducted by the Electoral Reform Society. Affiliated trade unions make up one-third of the electoral college. The ballot closes on 22 September.
Well, thanks for the memories.........
BED MANAGEMENT
UNISON ADVICE TO ALL STAFF: It is clear that the trust lacks adequate in-patient beds and this has caused numerous difficulities, the scale of the problem and the issues faced by staff is not always made clear to the powers that be; Trust policy is clear that patients should not sleep on settee's if they do an incident form should be filled out( its not clear if this applies to overcrowded wards were patients sleep during the day time on the settee's because they have no bed allocated). The use of flexi beds can only be authorised by the Duty Director and we would advise an incident form be logged for this also as there is a claim by that no such request has been made to the on call director for the past two years!.
Any and all sleep outs should also be logged as an incident form, particularly where younger adults are sleeping in MHCOP wards.
If in doubt complete an incident form, again any manager that discourages that practice should be reported to your local UNISON rep.
We understand the culture of fear caused by intimidation & bullying, stewards also experience it, but in the interests of service users, your colleagues and according to your professional obligations these problems need to be identified before they can be resolved.
Any and all sleep outs should also be logged as an incident form, particularly where younger adults are sleeping in MHCOP wards.
If in doubt complete an incident form, again any manager that discourages that practice should be reported to your local UNISON rep.
We understand the culture of fear caused by intimidation & bullying, stewards also experience it, but in the interests of service users, your colleagues and according to your professional obligations these problems need to be identified before they can be resolved.
Billy Bragg speaks about the defeat of the BNP
| speakingupforpublicservices.pdf |