U Spring 2010

SPRING 2010

P U D N T A T U S O K

D E T N U O C BE

A E SP

UNISON

FOR UNISON MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

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9

WELCOME TO from Dave Prentis UNISON’s general secretary

So, the general election is here. And over the past few months politicians have flipped this way and that way over what services to cut and when.

But UNISON’s agenda has always been clear. We know that our members and the services they provide are vital. To cut these services now would be madness.

Services provided by people like Mary Locke, Matt Lay and Siobhan McCullough. A ward housekeeper, a probation worker and a district nurse: can you imagine if their jobs were cut? On page 9 they talk about what they’ll be thinking as they go into the polling booth.

The same goes for all our members, from street cleaners to youth workers, from library assistants to PCSOs. The list of work they do is staggering, and all of it matters. Our campaign A Million Voices for Public Services (page 4) has been hammering home to the politicians that each one of our members is vital to our society.

I’m filled with admiration at the work that all our members do.

But never more so than with Louise Couling. Louise is a lollipop lady in the London borough of Barking and Dagenham, an area where the racist BNP are focusing their efforts. And Louise has decided to say ‘this far and no further’: she’s standing against them in her local election and I truly wish her the very best of luck. She and Barry Russell tell their stories on page 18.

However you vote at the election, please make sure that you do, and make your vote one for public services. There are 1.3 million of us in UNISON, if we all stand up for the work we do, the politicians will have to listen.

14 THIS ISSUE 9 Stand up, speak out, be counted Three UNISON members talk about the approaching election 14 Look back at Labour Our national secretaries give their verdicts on Labour’s three terms in power 18 STOP! With your support we can stop the BNP UNISON members are standing up to the BNP 26 Me and my job Dawn Lane talks about her job 28 Danger on the frontline The threat of violence for thousands of UNISON members

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to a member see page 37

VOLUME 18, NUMBER 2 U is published by UNISON – the public service union – and distributed to every member. Non members pay £30 a year.

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4 22 34 36

PHOTO: AMANDA KENDAL

Million voices for public services ADDING THEIR VOICE TO UNISON’S MILLION VOICES FOR PUBLIC SERVICES

ATHLETE COLIN JACKSON “Our services look after people in good times and in bad and are making our country a fairer place.”

COMEDIAN JO BRAND JANET IN NEWCASTLE

MAKING OUR VOICES HEARD Members all around the country are flocking to add their names to our Million Voices for Public Services campaign, as we take the word out to a new level.

From Black members’ conference to women’s conference to higher education conference, members are supporting our call for a fairer society and to protect our valuable services –

A million voices tell greedy bankers they’re welcome to leave

4

and make the bankers pay for the economic crisis that they’ve caused.

As Dave Prentis said of that financial chaos: “Never has so much injury been done to so many by so few.”

To find out more – and to add your name to our campaign – visit unison.co.uk/million.

AUTHOR MICHAEL ROSEN ACTOR DUNCAN POW

FIND OUT MORE

“The public services in this country are vital to the infrastructure and ethics upon which society in the UK is built. Without them we would struggle to maintain the values and identity they have brought us as a nation.”

unison.org .uk/ million

ED IN LIVERPOOL PHOTO: DEAN BEEVOR

General secretary Dave Prentis led a group of public service workers into the City of London in March to tell greedy bankers that they’re welcome to leave.

The group called on the government to ignore threats from bankers that they could leave the country – and impose a permanent windfall tax on their excessive bonuses.

They handed in a one-way air ticket at the Royal Bank of Scotland in the City, which was one of the banks that has been bailed out by the taxpayer.

“I’m disabled and family-less.

What and who will we have left when the people we need are taken away?”

“We need to save the people who save us.”

Add yours at unison.org.uk/million

TALK TO US: 0845 355 0845 ● VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.UNISON.ORG.UK

●

●

PHOTOS: DEAN BEEVOR

FOOTBALL MANAGER SIR ALEX FERGUSON “Everyone gets nostalgic when they think of their school dinnerladies or the lollipop ladies that made sure they got safely to school – and we have to make sure that the next generation of children, and the one after that and the one after that, don’t miss out.”

LEON FROM SOUTH LONDON

Time to speak up for public services UNISON launched the next phase of our Million Voices for Public Services campaign in March, with a whole range of publicity.

Films were projected onto key locations in Birmingham, London and Manchester, a new website’s been created and TV and newspaper advertising encouraged people to join our campaign and support local services.

General secretary Dave Prentis explained: “Politicians are talking about cutting public spending – cuts which could mean job losses for our members and cuts in vital services that support our communities.

“Why should hard-working public service workers pay for the recession, when the bankers who caused this crisis are still getting million-pound bonuses? It is not right for services to be axed when the super-rich can bend the rules and avoid paying their fair share of tax.

“Public-service cuts are not inevitable, they are a political choice. We need to show politicians that cuts are not supported by the voting public.”

As part of the campaign we’re asking people to: ● visit the new site at unison.org.uk/million to watch the film, add your voice and leave a personal message about why we should defend public services. ● Use the ‘Spread the Word’ link to add a campaign message to your email, Facebook, Twitter or other social networking sites.

TALK TO US: 0845 355 0845

●

“I am 11 and have aspergers – without my TA school would be unmanageable and scary – with her I am doing just great and even love school!”

BOXER CHRIS EUBANK “They are the backbone of our society.”

JULIA IN ST HELENS “The majority deserve to be protected rather than the minority of bankers who got us into the recession with their greed.”

Add yours at unison.org.uk/million

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.UNISON.ORG.UK

5

YOURUNION YOURVOTE UNISON prides itself on its democratic principles. Throughout the union, members have the chance to stand for election to a range of posts at national, regional and branch level.

But there’s no bigger role in the union than that of general secretary.

It’s one of the most high-profile jobs in the country – leader of the largest public service trade union in the UK and the leading voice of more than 1.3 million public service workers.

When the general secretary speaks, the government listens. In a poll for The Guardian newspaper, our general secretary was named the fourth most influential person in public services today – ahead of any government advisers.

Equal pay, a national minimum wage, increased funding for the NHS, increases in the basic state pension – UNISON was at the forefront of all this and more. But none of this would have happened without a general secretary elected by the membership.

When our general secretary sits down with government ministers, they know they’re dealing with someone with 1.3 million trade unionists behind them. It gives us political clout. It helps UNISON get things done. That’s why it’s vitally important all our members cast their votes.

According to the UNISON rule book, the general secretary is the “principal officer” of the union. He or she has the right to attend and speak at conferences of the union, meetings of the national executive council and meetings of national service group executives.

Voting is very important – you need to make sure your general secretary represents you. And making sure everyone in your branch votes is key.

It will have a tremendous effect on the future of our union – use your vote and encourage your colleagues to do the same.

Ballot papers will be sent out on 17 May and voting ends on 11 June with the results announced on 22 June.

In addition, there’s still time to vote in the service group elections and choose who you want to speak for you on pay, conditions and a whole host of work-related issues.

Voting is underway now for contested seats (see unison.org.uk/elections for more details).

If you haven’t received a ballot paper yet, call 0845 355 0845.

Each executive looks after industrial relations such as pay and conditions and is made up of lay activists elected by you, the members that they represent.

To make sure they’re as representative as possible, it’s vital that everyone votes before the ballot closes on 14 May. Results will be announced on 9 June.

We want your memories!

Did you ever work at, attend or visit the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson hospital?

The site of the old hospital on the Euston Road in London has now been acquired by UNISON and is currently being developed as our centre.

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson struggled to qualify as a doctor, as women were barred from the profession. She eventually became the first woman to qualify as a doctor in Britain.

In 1872 she opened the New Hospital for Women which moved to the Euston Road site in 1890 and was renamed the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson hospital after her death in 1917.

As part of the development of the new UNISON centre the entrance hall and ground floor will become a permanent gallery to commemorate Garrett Anderson’s life, drawing parallels with UNISON’s campaigns on behalf of health and public sector workers today.

UNISON is currently looking for personal recollections.

If you would be willing to share one particular memory of what made the hospital special for you, please contact the union by writing to: Recollections of the EGA Hospital, 1 Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9AJ or emailing EGAmemories@unison.co.uk

6

TALK TO US: 0845 355 0845 ● VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.UNISON.ORG.UK

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ADDING THEIR VOICE TO UNISON’S MILLION VOICES FOR PUBLIC SERVICES

SHOUTING FOR SURE START

KATHY IN WAKEFIELD “The public sector shouldn’t suffer because of the incompetence and greed of the bankers. These services benefit all companies and individuals.”

UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis joined families minister Ed Balls, children’s TV character Peppa Pig and TV personality and former ‘Mum of the Year’ Melinda Messenger, to launch Shout out for a Sure Start in February.

The aim is to give Sure Start centres a political voice in the run-up to the general election – Mr Balls promised to maintain and ringfence funding for three years if Labour wins the election.

Mr Prentis commented: “Our members provide a vital range of services under one roof, including health, social care, childcare and outreach services. A UNISON survey, carried out last year, saw 96% of staff stating that this joined-up service made a real difference.”

For more information on the campaign visit shoutoutforasurestart.org.uk

FILM DIRECTOR KEN LOACH “It is intolerable that services that were largely established

by Labour governments, particularly after the war, are now being privatised and dismembered.”

SUSAN IN POOLE PHOTO: AMANDA KENDAL

RIGHT: Dave Prentis met children at a Sure Start scheme in Islington after the launch of the campaign.

A voice for older people

Political fund launches in NI

Older people must continue to have a voice, Dave Prentis told the national council of the National Pensioners Convention (NPC) in January.

Mr Prentis spoke of the impact of the recession on older people, noting that the blame lay squarely with the private sector that had put profit before people.

The NPC is Britain’s biggest pensioner organisation, representing 1.5m members. In April UNISON joined the NPC rally in London to defend the welfare stage and public services.

UNISON launched its general political fund in Northern Ireland in February, with a pledge to fight cuts unison.org .uk/ gpf in the region.

Addressing activists in Belfast, Dave Prentis explained: “Our Million Voices campaign against cuts – that’s being funded by the general political fund” as he illustrated the link between the fund and the union’s vital work.

Regional secretary Patricia McKeown told the audience: “We’ve been accessing the fund for 16 years,” and said it was now time for the region to contribute.

8

FIND OUT MORE

“I have MS badly. My son is 36 and autistic. So we need good help from the services.

It’s bad enough having to pay £12 a day for his centre.”

WRITER VAL MCDERMID ACTOR RICKY TOMLINSON “I think that politicians are bonkers to slash public services. We should be spending more on public services, not cutting back as soon as there’s a crisis.”

COMEDIAN EDDIE IZZARD Add yours at unison.org.uk/million

TALK TO US: 0845 355 0845 ● VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.UNISON.ORG.UK

ALL PHOTOS: STEVE FORREST / WORKERS’ PHOTOS

STANDUP SPEAKOUT BECOUNTED

ELECTION

As the election approaches, three UNISON members tell us what will be on their minds as they enter the polling booth

9

ELECTION

“

I

t’s about fairness for people: families, for the young, for the elderly, for people who want to go to work, apprentices – all across the board,” says Mary.

“I think people sometimes don’t realise that’s what equality is about, but it is, and I’m going to be thinking about which party is the fairest for everyone – not just a few people, but everyone – when I go to vote.”

It’s a freezing cold day in south London, in a slightly less cold studio, where we’re gathered together for this issue’s cover shoot.

UNISON members Mary, Matthew and Siobhan have come from across the country to take part and, while they’re waiting for make-up and lighting and all sorts of other things – and that’s before our photographer even starts to take pictures – they’re sitting around with tea and biscuits, having a chat about the general election that isn’t far away and has been dominating the headlines for what already seems like months.

But this is miles away from any soundbites and the trio are far from bored by it all. They know this is serious stuff – and they’re discussing the real issues that they’ll personally be thinking about when they go to place their ‘X’ in the box on polling day.

Mary is a ward housekeeper in a Birmingham community hospital.

“Obviously the country is in a serious condition with the recession,” she says thoughtfully. “But ordinary people shouldn’t have to suffer because of how the bankers messed up.

“All that money that went to the banks – when it gets paid back, I really hope that some of it will go to employing essential support staff in the NHS.” Not that Mary thinks that everything’s doom and gloom. Far from it.

“Ordinary people shouldn’t have to suffer because of how the bankers messed up. All that money that went to the banks – when it gets paid back, I really hope that some of it will go to employing essential support staff in the NHS” 10

“We’ve had the minimum wage and Agenda for Change, and we’ve got decent pay and terms and conditions – those things have helped a lot of people, including me.

“But I don’t just want to think about me.

I want to think about what’s best for the community, for the whole country…”

Matthew Lay is nodding vehemently.

“It’s about having a society where we value each other’s membership of it, rather than having a collection of individuals,” he says.

“But I don’t just want to think about me. I want to think about what’s best for the community, for the whole country…”

“It’s about having a genuine interest in who your neighbour is and who is living in your community, as opposed to seeing everything in a competitive way and being fearful about all sorts of things.”

And Matthew is well aware of the fear factor. A duty officer with the probation services, he works in approved premises – hostels where prisoners convicted of a range of crimes go to complete their sentences before returning to the community.

“We’re monitoring them 24/7, so we’re protecting the community, and we’re also reinforcing pro-social attitudes – teaching them about how to live in society when they get out.”

And he adds, just a touch ruefully: “We’re doing our job well when you don’t hear about us – but you feel you’re making a difference.”

All our members have concerns – in this discussion, one thing that arises is the amount of paperwork that all of them have to do: something that reduces the time that they can spend doing what they see as their real work.

“We’re doing so much more admin,” says Siobhan – and even Mary has more forms to fill in for her work.

They agree that it’s about “legal safety”, as Matthew puts it. Managers, he explains, “are covering their backs in case people sue.

“We have to make the public understand that we will do the job the best we possibly can, but this culture of fearing that we’re going to be sued isn’t helping anyone.”

An ice cream van jangles past outside: the skies might be bright blue, but nobody’s got enough of a sweet tooth to be tempted 11

ELECTION

away from the studio’s radiator into the cold. Instead, they continue to muse.

Siobhan McCullough, a district nurse who even has to use maggots in her work (they’re specially bred in Wales and come in a ‘teabag’ that’s placed on the wound), says: “Obviously as a nurse I’ll be thinking about the future of the NHS. “I’m hoping that any government will honour the recent document that’s been put down by Labour, which says that the NHS will be the preferred provider and that privatisation won’t be an option for the future of the NHS.”

“I’m hoping that any government will honour the recent document that’s been put down by Labour, which says that the NHS will be the preferred provider and that privatisation won’t be an option for the future of the NHS” Recent years have seen big changes that have helped her personally. She explains: “There’s been general improvements in some areas, such as tax credits, which have helped younger mothers or lone parents to go back to work – that’s something that was really important for me, because I was a lone parent myself and I started work because tax credits enabled me to go back to work and start my career.

“That definitely helped in giving me the career that I stand in now, yes.

“But it’s what Mary said – you know, it’s not just about me. I want to see those sort of things in the future too, because they can help other people – not just me.

“It’s about fairness and yes, equality – that’s what fairness is, after all.

“So I suppose that’ll be central to me when I vote – who will do the most to make our society as fair as possible, for as many people as possible.”

Matthew’s nodding again. “Absolutely.

That’s the motivator for me in terms of how I will think about voting in the general election. It means a lot to me – the shape of society.” U Amanda Kendal a.kendal@unison.co.uk

12

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ELECTION

LABOUR Y R O T S THE . . .

R A F SO

UNISON has 1.3 million members, enough to swing an election. Here our national secretaries for health, education, local government and business and the environment give their verdicts on Labour’s three terms in power

T

he general election this spring will either bring a new Tory government or a fourth term for Labour. It is the most important election in the UK in two decades.

At stake, in a country picking itself up from recession, is the future of public services, and of the millions of dedicated public service employees, many of whom are UNISON members. What has often been a bruising battle between Labour and the trade unions – over privatisation, pay and conditions and pensions – could, with the Tories, become all-out war.

UNISON is entering the election period with its cards on the table. “We have a clear and demanding agenda,” said general secretary Dave Prentis.

“And we will be measuring the parties and politicians against that agenda.”

Ultimately, it’s the members, in their role as voters, who must decide who will make up the next government.

On these pages, UNISON’s national 14

secretaries for health, education, local government and business & environment, consider the significant successes and failures in their particular areas. They also suggest what we can expect if Labour retains power – and what we have to lose should the Tories win it.

THE VERDICTS KAREN JENNINGS, NATIONAL SECRETARY, HEALTH CARE Hope We felt we were going to enter a more decent phase of policy development, with a decent outlook on how we were going to make our communities and our public services a much better place for both users and, of course, the people who work in them.

Achievement I think health has been one of Labour’s greatest achievements. For a start they have invested record levels of money.

We’ve employed 80,000 more nurses, 40,000 more doctors, and increased the training places right across the health professions.

The greatest achievement of all has been to bring down waiting lists.

Before there were no beds. And people were actually cared for – for days – on trolleys. Ambulances had to drive the length of the country to find places for babies with head injuries.

Now a guaranteed waiting time is less than four weeks.

At the same time, we’ve had Agenda for Change. This was on the trade union agenda for a long time. And on the staff side it was a UNISON-led initiative. But the important point is that with the Labour government we were pushing at an open door.

We negotiated Agenda for Change.

And that means we now have over a million people who are on an equal pay

system, which has ended gender pay discrimination. It’s the biggest employer in the world and it’s achieved that.

Disappointment The biggest disappointment has been the marketisation of the NHS. The initiation of foundation trusts means that 50% of all our hospitals are now business entities.

What next for the health service?

The marketisation of the NHS has built an enormous bureaucracy and has created the opportunity for the private sector to come in.

But I think under a Labour government – if we retain a Labour government – that process will be limited, because Labour has started to listen.

CHRISTINA MCANEA, NATIONAL SECRETARY, EDUCATION AND CHILDREN’S SERVICES Hope When Tony Blair said “education, education, education”, we hoped that this would mean a greater investment in the infrastructure, in staff training, in

improving pay and conditions. And we hoped this would result in better outcomes for children, in particular children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Achievement There has, in fact, been a lot of money invested in education. Twelve years ago there were a lot of schools that still had outside toilets; staff used to joke that when it rained they knew exactly where to put the buckets, as the water came through the roof. That’s a thing of the past now. We might not have liked the way they did it, which was the PFI-style Building Schools for the Future programme, but the fact is they have transformed the nature of school buildings. It’s something to be proud of.

Another big positive has been Sure Start. I can’t recall a government ever taking early years education seriously, and funding it to the extent that they did.

The most significant achievement for our members working in education in England has been a huge increase in the number of support staff, along with investment in their training and the establishment last year of the School

“There has, in fact, been a lot of money invested in education. Twelve years ago there were a lot of schools that still had outside toilets” Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB).

We’re now in serious negotiations for a new national framework for pay and conditions.

Disappointment Negatives would be the academy schools, the fragmentation of the education system, the trend to increase delegation to schools of budgets, of responsibilities. There’s a lack of clarity of the role local authorities play in relation to education.

Elsewhere in education, there was huge funding in FE and HE in the early years of the Labour government. Because of the economic crisis those sectors are now taking a hit, and as a result we are facing significant redundancies, particularly in the FE sector.

We think that employers are either panicking unnecessarily (this is, after all, a cut

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ELECTION

from a huge increase), or deliberately using the crisis as an excuse to cut back on staff, many of whom are our members.

What next for education?

The big issue, depending on who gets in, will be to stop any further privatisation of education – this idea that you can bring in companies to run education, for profit, which the Tories won’t rule out. You’ve got academies, of course. But Labour have listened to UNISON, among others, and are backtracking on that now.

The Tories also want to get rid of Sure Start. They want to cut £200m off it.

They say Sure Start should be the first of their public sector co-operatives. If that happened they would drive down standards.

HEATHER WAKEFIELD, NATIONAL SECRETARY, LOCAL GOVERNMENT Hope The thing we were most looking forward to when Labour got into power, was an end to compulsory competitive tendering, which had been begun by the Tories, and which had resulted in most manual worker jobs in local government being privatised on a lowest price basis.

We very much hoped that would be stopped, and that Labour would look at innovative ways of making public services better, more efficient and more tailored to people’s needs.

Disappointment That hasn’t happened. In fact, there’s been an acceleration of privatisation, and it’s gone way beyond compulsory competitive tendering. CCT only applied to specified services, but privatisation is now being applied to the whole range of local government services.

The worst feature of all, for me, has been the privatisation of home care and social care. About 85% of home care is now privatised. And most of it is delivered via agencies and private companies, some of which are part of big multinationals. Most women providing that service – and 99% of home carers are women – are on extremely low pay, on very poor conditions, many are required to work 16

“Labour’s best achievement has been to be one of the first governments in the northern hemisphere to wake up to climate change” over the odds just to see the number of clients they’re given. It’s scandalous.

Achievement When Labour came into power in ‘97, the reputation of local government was at an all-time low. I think Labour has recognised that local government does have a key role to play in delivering to communities.

Central government grant to local government has increased, and been above inflation for the last 10 years. To that extent the government has shown some renewed faith in local government.

It’s an important shift. And UNISON continues to work to have this shift reflected in a greater respect for the workforce.

I think some of the emphasis on engaging service users in how services are produced, all the rhetoric of that, has been good. Unfortunately, it’s been undermined by the reality of privatisation, because it’s hard to hold private contractors to account.

What next for local government?

I think the thing that would most make a difference to our members would be to recognise that the local government pension scheme is a funded scheme that delivers very good value to the tax payer and to our members, and for the government – whoever’s in power – to leave it alone.

MIKE JERAM, NATIONAL SECRETARY, BUSINESS & ENVIRONMENT Achievement Labour’s best achievement has been to be one of the first governments in the northern hemisphere to wake up to climate change – and try to persuade other world leaders to get on board.

On energy and the environment, there’s a good, progressive agenda for green jobs, for the role of the public sector as early adopters of low carbon technology, as well as running the government’s own buildings and services in energy efficient ways.

I’d also give a big tick in the box for the fuel poverty strategy, even though the most recent figures are disappointing, largely as a result of the surge in energy prices. We’ve seen the implementation by the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency of the EU’s water framework directive, which has enhanced water quality. Under Labour, water companies are investing in renewing the system. Ofwat has been a much more socially aware regulator, less market driven than Ofgem.

Disappointment I think the failure has been to continue with the philosophy that the Tories introduced, that the market knows best and that energy supply is best left to markets. People are screaming out at the moment at the level of profits of energy companies like EDF, npower and British Gas, and we’ve had Ofgem – in a very public mea culpa – saying that it’s got it all wrong and that the market won’t deliver the investment.

UNISON has been saying this for years, so it disappoints us that the government has been timid, as it has in the financial markets, in letting the market get on with it.

From the membership point of view, the continued acceptance of the market philosophy, with its premium on competition, has led to cost-cutting, continuing pressure on jobs, off-shoring, a lot of members in British Gas and other utilities feeling pretty angry.

What next for business and environment?

We need much stronger state intervention in the energy industry, of the type which Ofgem is now calling for. A tighter regulatory regime.

We need greater stability, employment security, and services that are run by permanent staff on good terms and conditions, not run by operators who see their job just as the race to the bottom. Of course, the Tories have said they are not going to support greater regulation. U Demetrios Matheou d.matheou@unison.co.uk

ELECTION

!

P O T S ers are b m e m UNISON to the BNP up standing

PHOTO: DANNY FITZPATRICK

U

18

NISON has campaigned long and hard against the British National Party. The union’s general secretary Dave Prentis has said that the far-right party’s “nationalistic, xenophobic and isolationist policies would mean a loss of jobs, rights and prosperity.”

Such opposition is not decided in a vacuum. As the BNP has made serious strides in the country’s local councils, so UNISON members have experienced the detrimental effects that the party can have – in their communities and on their everyday lives.

As the BNP looks to improve on its fortunes in the upcoming elections – nationally, where it hopes to have its first MPs elected to parliament, and locally – we speak to two members who live and work in the party’s “strongholds”.

Louise Couling (right) is a lollipop lady in the London borough of Barking and Dagenham, where the BNP currently has 12 councillors and serious ambitions. Not only does its leader, Nick Griffin, intend to contest Labour minister Margaret Hodge’s Barking seat, but, says, Louise, “they are planning on taking over nine wards –

“Somebody has to say ‘this far and no further’”

WITH YO WE C AN UR SUPPOR T STOP TH E BNP

and control of the council. And that is really scary.”

A long-time UNISON branch activist and NEC member, Louise has observed the rise of the BNP in the six years since it first won council seats.

“The East End has always had a reputation for welcoming immigrants,” she says. “But it’s a socially-deprived area and people do feel disenfranchised.

And that seemed to get worse when the Ford plant in Dagenham closed down.

“That’s exactly the kind of thing that the BNP preys on. So they played on the unemployment, they played on the housing problems. You will always have disaffected people who want someone to blame. But I think racial tension has definitely increased due to the BNP’s propaganda, saying things like ‘the immigrants are taking all our houses’, and the problems will get worse if we ‘allow them to take over’. The typical scare tactics.

“The awful literature they put out is all geared towards this. At the last election they published a picture of Barking market 30 years ago, and then a picture of it today with lots of Asian women, some wearing burkas. That can only be construed in one way. A fortnight after they supposedly agreed to alter their constitution, to allow black and ethnic minorities into the party, a wretched thing was put through my door. It was a cartoon of a classroom.

The teacher is tearing his hair out and saying, ‘Does anybody here speak English?’”

Louise also has the misfortune of witnessing racism every day, while she’s working.

“I may be a little grandmother, but I would love to drive the BNP out of Barking and Dagenham” “My crossing is at a lovely school, whose pupils are predominantly black.

Unfortunately, we hear lots of racist comments from white people crossing at the same time as the parents and their children.

‘You might as well be in Africa… Are we in the right country?’ Little snipes. When I think of all the derogatory and hateful things they say about blacks and ethnic minorities, I find it so hurtful myself. How dare they do this to our community?

“The BNP don’t want individuals. They want to classify people into races. It’s anathema to me.”

With eight council seats, the BNP regards Stoke on Trent as another of its key areas – much to the dismay of UNISON convenor Barry Russell.

“The BNP is creating disaffection in the city.

And it’s getting worse,” he says. “I have been in a meeting when they have stood up and blamed ‘the Asians’ for everything. And there wasn’t a single Asian person living in that ward.

“While we do have an Asian population in Stoke on Trent, it is not a large immigrant population,” he adds. “But the city has the regional office for the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal Office, so there are a large number of asylum seekers. The problem for the BNP’s propagandists is that these people are mostly white, from Eastern Europe.

That doesn’t stop them pushing the image that we are being ‘swamped by Asians’.”

Along with the propaganda, is the occasional threat of violence, he says. “We have had incidents, especially around election time, when the traditional BNP support – the skinhead brigade – try to whip it up on the streets. And The English Defence League have jumped on the BNP bandwagon here and caused a lot of trouble. The violence really upset local people. Most people here deplore this racial hatred.”

WE HAVE ST THEM BEFO OPPED CAN STOP T RE AND WE HEM AGAIN But what do the BNP councillors actually do? Barry suggests the answer to that is, not much. “They don’t raise issues, or policy in the council chamber. Over the years they have never suggested anything.”

Nor, he says, would anyone play ball if they tried. “Every time a BNP councillor stands up to say something, 50 other councillors will crucify them. We at UNISON do a lot of negotiating with the council – and in this day and age, with massive cut backs, you go straight to the councillors to discuss your issues. The only thing we don’t do as a branch is work with the BNP, in any way, shape or form. We refuse to lobby them.”

Sadly, none of this seems to deter the BNP, which will be also be putting forward a parliamentary candidate for Stoke on Trent, in the coming general election.

Barry Russell and Louise Couling are preparing to fight back locally. In fact, Louise is prepared to turn her life upside down – and stand for the council herself. Not only that, she’s taking on BNP ‘star’ – and its current representative on the London Assembly – Richard Barnbrook.

“It’s breaking my heart, because you can’t stand for council in the same borough that you work in, so I will have to leave my school,” she says. “But somebody has to say, as UNISON’s previous general secretary Rodney Bickerstaffe once said, ‘this far and no further’.

“Labour chose me and I was delighted, to be honest. I may be a little grandmother, but I would love to drive them out. This is not just a battle for the hearts and minds of Barking and Dagenham. I think it’s the battle for Britain.

Because if they get a foothold here, if Griffiths gets elected as MP, it’s going to have serious ramifications for the ordinary people in this country, for years to come.” U Demetrios Matheou d.matheou@unison.co.uk

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Don’t let the k up our bresea BNPA m sage for s. icISse ONrv publUN mice embers Use your vote to keep them out.

As UNISON mem bers, we are all comm public services that itted to providing change people’s How can lives. Imagine how difficult we would find that if UNISON a large section of workforce disap the peared. members help ?

If the BNP had their way they’d order Make sure you non-white people out of the UK, leavin g our public servi are registered to ces to grind to a halt. vote – if you’re not registered, The NHS would collapse because your voice won’t 16% of nurses and 13% of non-medi cal staff are nonbe heard. Go to white. Other vital services would suffe r too, for example aboutmyvote. social care work 16% of our force were born co.uk outside the UK and significant numb ers of local gove rnment and scho staff in cleaning ol and catering, stree Vote against hate t cleaning and traffic wardens are nonwhite. In London, by voting against over 36% of the Met’s police comm unity support office the BNP rs are Black.

The BNP argues that Black and migra nt workers – many Get involved of whom are UNIS ON members – are in UNISON’s taking jobs from white Britons. In the real world, our campaign.

Black and migra members are essen nt tial people doing Visit unison.org. essential jobs. uk/stopthebnp Public services depe nd on all of us.Th to find out what at’s why, as UNISON members, is we believe that the happening in your BNP is a fight for fight against the public services. area. Organise activity through UNISON represents everybody – the your branch or BNP does not.

We are campaigni ng for a fairer socie region. ty that values all its members equa lly – good jobs and quali a society where social justice, ty public services For more come first, not racism, hate and fear. information call 0845 355 0845

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Local government anger Local government workers lobbied employers from England, Wales and Northern Ireland at the end of March over their refusal to offer a pay rise this year.

UNISON members were to the fore at the lobby of the Local Government Association headquarters in London.

The union has also been writing to and lobbying individual councillors and political groups to get them to return to the negotiating table and talk about a proper pay rise, after the LGA ‘offer’ of a 0% increase.

“The employer’s decision to cut our members’ pay without negotiation is a slap in the face for hard working council employees who have kept local communities together through the crisis,” commented UNISON head of local government Heather Wakefield.

UNISON says the pay freeze would mean workers will struggle to afford basic essentials, with nearly 3% inflation making it a real pay cut.

And the union points out that there is room in council budgets to give workers decent pay after the increases in local government grant and growing reserves.

But instead, councils – most of which are Tory controlled – have chosen to cut council tax, leading general secretary Dave Prentis to say: “Councils’ decisions to cut spending, freeze council tax and cut jobs are politically motivated – they have received an extra 4% from the government.

“And our members have helped save billions in efficiency savings over the past few years. Freezing council tax is a political gimmick.”

In Scotland, the union is consulting branches on the next steps after councils followed their English counterparts with a pay freeze – condemned by the union as “a high-handed dismissal of the pay claim”.

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HE staff ‘expect fair deal’ Members in higher education warned that they expect a fair deal on pay after the government announced £7.3bn funding for universities in England.

Last year, staff working in higher education only got a 0.5% pay increase, as university employers claimed there was not enough cash available to pay staff fairly.

But, on top of the new government funding, figures reveal that in recent years senior managers have been getting pay rises of up to 20%.

“Our members accepted their 0.5% increase through gritted teeth,” said UNISON head of higher education John Richards. “But they will not be fooled again. The employers should not get away with diverting the lion’s share of the pay bill to themselves this year.”

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Safer needles A new EU Directive will help protect healthcare workers from the agony of needle stick injuries and infections.

Up to 100,000 UK health workers are injured by needles every year and the new directive should make the use of safe needles routine across the EU. “UNISON has fought long and hard to bring in safer needles and we will continue working with hospitals and managers, to make this Directive part of day-to-day life for health workers,” commented UNISON head of health Karen Jennings.

could wipe out services Predicted job losses in the public sector could wipe out vital local services such as day centres, elderly care, libraries, meals on wheels and children’s services, UNISON is warning, after a report from the Chartered Institute of Personnel predicted heavy job losses in the public sector as politicians try to get it to pay for the economic crisis caused by the financial industry.

“UNISON has been ringing alarm bells for more than a year now about job cuts in the public sector,” said general secretary Dave Prentis.

“Birmingham City Council announced 2,000 jobs are to go and we are seeing cuts being made week by week across the country.”

Many Tory councils are using the recession as a smokescreen to cull jobs and privatise services. The choice to axe jobs is politically, not financially, driven and, once again, it is the public who will suffer as vital services are wiped-out.

“Many people rely on home care, day centres, meals on wheels, children’s services and it is economic madness to target them for cuts. It makes no sense to add public service workers to the dole queues.

“We are still in the grip of the economic downturn, which means that people rely more than ever on public services for help and support.

“No school cleaner gambled billions on the stock exchange,” added Mr Prentis. “No public-service worker created this recession. Why should they be expected to pay for it?”

And he warned of the wider economic consequences of public-service job cuts in a recession, noting that “for every £1 spent on public services, 64p goes back into the local economy.”

Working too hard, working too long A quarter of all workers in public services put in hours of unpaid overtime, worth more than £9bn a year, according to figures released by the TUC on ‘Work Your Proper Hours Day’ in February.

Yet, “despite giving away billions of pounds worth of work every year for free,” noted general secretary Dave Prentis, public-service workers “are being rewarded with spending cuts, pay freezes and job losses.

“Instead of cutting jobs, employers should be looking to fill vacant posts and make sure they have enough staff to do the job, without forcing workers to put in extremely long hours.

“These figures show that public service staff regularly put in more unpaid working hours than those in the private sector, in some cases ‘extreme’ overtime, of around 18 hours a week.”

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PHOTO: STAN GAMESTER

U@WORK

New FE redundancy deal for England UNISON has signed a new national agreement for England on avoiding redundancies in further education.

The ‘redundancy avoidance and handling’ agreement with the Association of Colleges recommends minimum standards and encourages colleges to engage unions in discussing alternatives to redundancy as soon as financial issues arise.

Equal pay boost PCSOs meet Brown Five Thames Valley members met Gordon Brown on a recent visit to Reading.

The five, who all work as police community support officers, talked to the prime minister as he launched the “safe and confident neighbourhoods strategy”.

The plan promises to secure funding for PCSOs and praises them for the vital role they are playing in deterring neighbourhood crime.

Realise your potential with UNISON Learning Opportunities I I I

Get back into learning with UNISON’s Membership Development Programme, including Return to Learn and Women’s Lives Courses Learn at Work with UNISON/employer partnerships Get discounts from leading distance learning providers

Your Union Learning Rep (ULR) or branch rep will help you find out more.

ULRs spread the word about UNISON’s fantastic learning opportunities and support and encourage potential learners.

Could you be a ULR? For information on courses or to find out about becoming a ULR I I I

Contact your ULR or your branch Visit www.unison.org.uk/laos Phone UNISONdirect on 0845 355 0845 for your branch and regional education team contact details.

General secretary Dave Prentis, welcomed two announcements set to boost local government finances.

Local government minister Barbara Follet announced that councils will get financial support to manage equal pay, which will mean tens of thousands of mainly low-paid women will be better off.

“This should galvanise into action those councils that still have to bring in equal pay,” said Mr Prentis.

Councils will also get a £50m grant to help with economic recovery.

FIND OUT MORE unison.org .uk

A fair helping

PHOTOS: MARTIN JENKISON

More than 100 Sheffield school meals workers rallied in the spring in the latest stage of their bid to get better treatment at work.

The women are demanding sick pay, nationally agreed pay rates, and an end to dangerous lone working. They are also calling for better equipment, including basics such as more cutlery, to improve school lunchtimes for children.

They launched a petition at their March rally, and handed it in on 7 April 2010, to Sheffield City Council, who commission the school meals contract with the employer, Chartwells.

“Many of Chartwells’ dinner ladies have been working in school kitchens for more than 20 years, and they say morale has hit rock bottom,” general secretary Dave Prentis said at the rally.

“Under national agreements, dinner ladies should get sick pay, but Chartwells refuses to pay some staff if they are ill.

“Dinner ladies are already on low wages and cannot afford to lose money when they are sick. Unlike other schools staff, they don’t get paid in the holidays. This means a tough choice between going into work unwell, or missing out on a precious day’s pay.”

O Has your council implemented Single Status? If it hasn't you may have an equal pay claim!

O Has your council implemented Single Status and given protection payments to people on the grade you've been been placed on, but not you? If it has you may have an equal pay claim!

O Do you have an equal pay claim? Make sure you check the time limit!

If you want to make an equal pay claim, you should contact UNISON as soon as possible.

There is a strict time limit on making a claim. You have only six months from any change in your employment situation.

So you must contact UNISON urgently if you have for example in the last six months: ended your employment (eg you retired or resigned); changed your contract or terms and conditions (eg the number of hours you work); changed job, but stayed with the same employer;

stayed in the same job, but transferred to a new employer (sometimes known as a TUPE transfer).

If you have already made a claim, you must tell us whenever your circumstances change (eg you move address or there is any change to your employment situation).

We cannot help you unless you register your claim and keep us updated.

For more information, or to request a claim form or fact sheet, call UNISON on 0845 355 0845 (textphone 0800 9 967 968)* or contact your regional office on: Eastern 01245 608 918 East Midlands 0845 355 0845 Greater London 0845 355 0845 Northern 0845 355 0845 Northern Ireland 0845 355 0845 North West 0161 661 6740 Scotland 0870 7777 006 South East 0845 355 0845 South West 0117 968 9479 Cymru/Wales 029 2072 9415 West Midlands 0121 685 3127 Yorkshire and Humberside 0845 355 0845 * lines are open 6am to midnight, Monday to Friday; 9am-4pm Saturday.

PUBLIC SERVICES

Dawn Lane Work in a Sure Start centre feels like home to Dawn Lane

I

’m a children’s centre coordinator in a Sure Start centre. It’s a onestop shop for families, and we run courses to promote health – like baby massage and ante-natal, and a breastfeeding support group. We also run educational programmes, like basic skills in English and Maths for parents, family learning, and a childminders’ support group. We have Citizens Advice Appointments and ConneXions.

Basically, we’re there to support families in whatever way we can.

The work I do is very close to my heart…

I am what my families are. I became a single parent at 23 with a one year-old and a two year-old. I’ve been single ever since. I wanted to be a good Mum, so I started off volunteering at my children’s playgroup. Then I did the training. And eventually in my mid 30s I became a mature student and did a degree. Now I’m in a position to help people who are in the situation I was in. I feel that I’ve found my place.

PHOTO: PAUL HERRMANN

I didn’t realise how important it was, the work I do…

But when you see people gaining confidence and getting on better as parents, it’s very rewarding. Recently my own kids said that they’re very proud of me. That meant so much to me.

26

It gives you a real buzz…

When you work on getting people back into education, there are some people and you can see them start to fly. That feels amazing. And when they do that, they come back and bring others with them.

Even though I’m a manager now I still shift tables around and chat to the mums. I bob in and out and I make sure I know my families. But I’m in a position to set up these centres and

ensure that they’re as they should be, that they do what they should do.

That’s very satisfying.

One of the lovely things about working here…

Is that it’s a cosy environment. I always say to the families who come, help yourself to toys and juice, treat it as your own. We have an open door policy, and it’s a mixed bag. That’s important.

People learn through observation. If someone’s not particularly brilliant at parenting, and they can observe someone who is, you can see the skills getting passed on.

children, let alone if you’re in a new country and don’t speak the language.

Sometimes all you need is one friend, and it all feels easier.

The most satisfying moment… …is when you see the families becoming proactive, and taking initiatives themselves. There was a mum recently who was struggling, but she decided to do one of our parenting courses. We could see her using the strategies she was learning, like getting down to the level of the children to talk to them.

And you could see it was making a difference straight away.

“I am what my families are. I became a single parent at 23. Now I’m in a position to help people who are in the situation I was in. I feel that I’ve found my place.”

The other day…

I was sitting in the sandpit playing with the sand with one of the children, and the mum was talking to me. And suddenly I found myself having a little thought that would help her. That’s what a place like this is all about.

When you work with children…

You get the laughter and the fun, as well as the more difficult bits. You might be holding hands and dancing in a circle while you’re talking to the mum – but the dancing is just as important as the talking.

You can do something which might seem like just a little thing… … but to the families it can make a big difference. The other day I introduced a Polish mum to another Polish family.

It can be very isolating having young

I relax…

By taking my dog, Jack, out. When I first got Jack I thought I’d made a big mistake. It’s a lot of work! But he does help me. Now I rush home from work to take him to the park. He’s very sociable. I text people to meet up in the park so our dogs have a good social life!

It’s been a very long journey for me…

I’ve grown and grown and grown on my own, both professionally and personally.

But now I can help my staff to grow like that. I feel that I’ve found where I need to be. U Clare Bayley c.bayley@unison.co.uk To add your voice to UNISON’s Million Voices for Public Services campaign go to unison.org.uk/million

PUBLIC SERVICES

DANGER on the

FRONTLINE The threat of violence is all in a day’s work for thousands of UNISON members

T

he front line can be a dangerous place to work.

And every day UNISON campaigns to protect the thousands of committed service providers who take risks to do their job.

The decades-long incestuous abuse of two sisters in Sheffield and Lincolnshire happened partly because social workers were intimidated by the father, a recent report stated.

Social workers on home visits can face not only evasion from clients with something to hide but bare aggression.

An attack may happen once in their working life or never, but they do not know what will happen at the start of each working day.

There is the right to say ‘no’ but highly professional, committed social workers often find the choices very difficult says UNISON national officer Helga Pile: “Where there are really acute pressures and referrals coming in they will go, out of a sense of duty.

“There is also professional pressure if they feel there is a child at risk.”

UNISON is campaigning for more thorough risk assessments and coworking where there is a risk of hostility.

28

A 2008 survey by the union found that two thirds of social workers had encountered verbal abuse, a quarter, physical threat, and nearly 10% violence in the last two years.

UNISON wants all work-related deaths, injuries and ill-health to be seen as avoidable – not just part of the job.

For Liverpool UNISON member and

“Social workers on home visits can face not only evasion from clients with something to hide but bare aggression. An attack may happen once in their working life or never, but they do not know what will happen at the start of each working day”

social care worker Billy Cleator, that change is urgent. Two years ago he was tracked down to his home and stabbed.

With a colleague, Billy was doing vital work, supervising parental access to children who had been removed from a sexually abusive family. He steadfastly enforced rules of access and worked to ensure that secret grooming messages were not passed on by the children’s mother. As a result he was followed and targeted by other family members who were part of a substantial paedophile ring in Merseyside.

His car was paintstripped and there were threatening calls made to the office. His home was put on red alert by police who would react immediately if he made an emergency phone call. But in the run-up to the trial of family members, on abuse charges, Billy was walking his dog, rescued from a shelter, near his home.

“I felt a thump on my back, turned round and saw this young man in a hood. I thought he had a problem and asked ‘Are you OK’. But he lunged at me with a knife and was saying ‘Stay out of other people’s business’. Another attacker with a gun hovered in the background.

“His car was paintstripped and there were threatening calls made to the office.

His home was put on red alert by police who would react immediately if he made an emergency phone call”

“The dog grabbed his leg and he ran away but when I felt my shoulder it was covered in blood.”

Billy’s attackers then contacted the police to say, maliciously, that the knife was infected.

It was six months before he was confirmed all clear. One, aged 19, was eventually arrested and last year received a nine-year prison sentence. For Billy, however the experience has been devastating.

Apart from stitches and a ‘glued’ shoulder he and his family had to move house, he has had months off work, struggled to sleep and needed medication. He believes he has not had adequate support from his employer and has been forced to accept a lower paid post because his front line job was no longer viable. But he points to the support UNISON has given him and particularly Babs Hennessy, the social care coordinator: “I can’t thank her enough she was brilliant.”

Not all public service workers face the threats Billy Cleator encountered. But there is still anxiety.

Elaine (not her real name) worked as a library assistant in a big southern England secondary school for six years. It is not the sort of job you might associate with hazards at work.

But for Elaine there were difficult moments and precious little support from management.

Elaine’s biggest fright came when a youth

PUBLIC SERVICES

FOR MORE INFO

30

on sa visit u fety at wor nison. k safetyorg.uk/

with behavioural issues ended up half way out of an open window on the second floor. She pulled him in and then reported the incident as a matter of urgency but management dragged their feet. She and her colleagues alerted UNISON, who advised them to keep a record and put their complaints in writing. Eventually the school put bars on the windows as requested.

Problems arose because teachers used the library as an unofficial holding pen for disruptive pupils. Elaine and her colleagues were neither trained to handle the malcontents nor professionally required to do so. But troublemakers still ended up there and staff struggled with low level aggression and children truanting within school.

“If teachers will not have these children in their classrooms why should we have to deal with it?” she asks.

“Ultimately we are not child minders.

No one asks why the kids are behaving badly – the approach is purely ad hoc.”

Again with persistence and written records the school responded and now all children leaving a classroom are issued with passes.

Some jobs are, of course, directly in the firing line and staff need all the protection they can get.

For instance, police community support officers (PCSOs) in the West Midlands have been campaigning for

“On one occasion a television was thrown at a member of staff from the top of a block of flats” anti-stab vests since 2003.

The vests are almost universal now for PCSOs but the West Midlands has resisted the trend. It has been a source of worry for PCSOs and UNISON has been active in challenging senior management’s reluctance to agree this vital protection. Previously, the force argued that PCSOs would not be sent to ‘confrontational’ incidents. But this offered little reassurance.

Jill Harrison, UNISON coordinator for PCSOs in the force says: “It’s a matter of walking round a corner and facing something unavoidable.

“There are drugs and alcohol, guns, gangs and mental health issues on the same streets as the PCSOs. You do not know what you are going into.

Members could be working alone with no body armour.

“We have raised issues around the risk assessments which were not sufficient from our point of view.”

Jill adds: “No one has been stabbed.

But we want to win this battle through campaigning – not in the wake of a tragic incident.”

Even straightforward service delivery puts conscientious staff at risk. In Bromley, south London, Ray Marien, an employee at Southern Gas does property surveys and tries to work daylight hours only, in some areas.

“On one occasion a television was thrown at a member of staff from the top of a block of flats,” he recalls.

He reports surveyors and fitters facing properties with dogs and residents who are angry that their gas has been cut, even though a worker has arrived to reconnect it.

One of the biggest worries is hygiene.

Surveyors and engineers find flats and houses filled with animal waste and cockroaches. They have to explain to residents that this must be cleaned up before they can work there.

UNISON members are in scores of occupations where they work alone, with the public and inside unwelcoming domestic premises. They do not see themselves as heros. They simply ask for the right equipment, back-up and risk assessment. No one should go to work every day wondering if they will finish up in hospital – or worse. U Laurence Pollock u.magazine@unison.co.uk

AGE 5–7

REVIEWS

NON-FICTION

Germania Simon Winder Published by Picador

Katie Morag and the Grand Concert Mairi Hedderwick Published by Red Fox

It’s not easy being a Germanophile.

While it might be understandable to most Brits for some of their fellows to be enamoured with France or Italy, to be so with Germany is considered pretty much impossible.

Simon Winder, though, has been travelling to Germany since his teens and loves the place. And Germania is his attempt to write a “personal history of Germans ancient and modern” that will “reclaim Britain’s weird twin” for his readers.

He’s got a stiff task. Browse in any bookshop’s history section and you’ll see plenty of books about Germany. But, unless you’re lucky, they’ll all be about the period from 1933-1945. The Nazis and WWII are a British obsession.

On Luther, Frederick the Great, Bismarck or Weimar: nothing.

Combining travelogue, anecdote and history, Winder weaves a story of fairytale castles, ancient forests and bratwurst.

This is a Germany that is every bit as eccentric as its English cousin – fun, quirky and with something of the mystical about it.

The book itself is a very refreshing change from all those tomes about a certain little Austrian and his followers.

This is the latest in Mairi Hedderwick’s clever and endearing series of picture books, featuring her young Scottish island heroine, Katie Morag McColl.

Katie lives on the Isle of Struay, in the sort of eccentric community that brings to mind the great Ealing comedy, Whisky Galore.

Here, any crisis can be resolved with a little calm and improvisation, and the prevailing attitude is summed up by the thought for the day hanging in the McColl’s post office: “Don’t sweat the small stuff – it’s all small stuff.”

This story involves Katie’s preparations for the annual concert, in which she plans to sing one of her grandmother’s songs, with the brilliant title You Cannae Shove Your Granny Off The Bus – but ends up helping her uncles Sven and Sean, identical twins and renowned musicians, one of whom has lost his voice.

While Hedderwick’s story-telling is top-notch, and more eventful than most in this age group, the real delight of the book lies in her drawings, each double page a panorama crammed with humorous background details.

AMANDA KENDAL

32

DEMETRIOS MATHEOU

COOKING

DVD

Gennaro’s Easy Italian Gennaro Contaldo Published by Headline Gennaro Contaldo is best known as the chef who taught Jamie Oliver.

Now, like his erstwhile student – and any number of celebrity chefs – he’s decided to put his culinary expertise on paper.

The result is a book of Italian recipes designed to be easy to make, and take less than an hour.

They certainly are easy. Gennaro himself admits of one recipe, a classic combination of spaghetti, garlic, virgin oil and red chilli: “I was almost reluctant to put this in the book, because of its sheer simplicity”.

This collection shows that Italian food can be not only simple, but also cheap and healthy – all without concessions to flavour.

Gennaro’s recipes use readilyavailable ingredients and pantry staples, such as pasta shapes and tinned tuna. There’s even a ‘credit crunch soup’, served in the traditionally rustic Italian way – not pureed – of potatoes, onions, stock, chilli, chives and virgin oil.

At a time when doctors and nutritionists are urging us to start cooking again, rather than rely on processed food and take-aways, this book seems very timely. With sections on baking and food for children, as well as main courses and salads, what’s not to enjoy?

AK

DVD

Séraphine Directed by Martin Provost

Humpday Directed by Lynn Shelton

Séraphine won seven Césars this year – the French equivalent of the Oscars. And its success confirms the enduring interest in stories about genius artists struggling against adversity. Séraphine de Senlis certainly had a rough ride to match her extraordinary talent.

It opens in 1912, in the town of Senlis, north of Paris. Here the dirt poor Séraphine is working as a maid and washer-woman, while secretly painting in her garret room at night. With her shambolic appearance and brusque manner, no-one suspects her artistic bent.

Then a visiting art critic (Ulrick Tukur) discovers one of her paintings, recognises her talent and becomes Séraphine’s patron. Sadly, WWI and then the Depression prevent this determined, but mentally-fragile woman from achieving the success she craves.

This film is traditional in the best sense: a straightforward story, beautifully shot and designed, superbly acted. Yolanda Moreau is mesmerising as the oddball artist, who believes she has been instructed by her “guardian angel” to paint, and breaks into song every time she finishes a work.

The skill of the performance is in showing, beneath the eccentricity, this woman’s resourcefulness and keen desire for fame. One can’t help thinking of Susan Boyle.

Two Seattle friends, happilymarried Ben and bachelor Andrew, haven’t seen each other for years. On their reunion night out, the pair go to a party, where they hear about an amateur porn festival in the city. Blind drunk, these two avowedly heterosexual men agree to star in their own – gay – porn movie.

Of course, as they sober up the next day, the reality of their pact dawns on them. Will one of them back down? And if they don’t, how will Ben explain it to his wife?

This is the starting point for a terrifically smart variation on that old staple, the buddy movie. The fact that it’s directed by a woman, Lynn Shelton, means that what ensues doesn’t descend into the usual laddish extremes, but remains intriguing, intelligent and well-observed.

With the help of her actors, Mark Duplass and Joshua Leonard (who improvise throughout), Shelton explores the complexities of male friendship, marital fidelity and sexual identity, in a way that is at once serious and highly amusing, daring and disconcerting.

At no stage do we know if Ben and Andrew will actually go ahead with it. Such ambiguity keeps us on tenterhooks till the very end.

DM

DM

33

CROSSWORDS

w

! n u f Puzzle

by Caper

Alphajig

Alphajig 2

Each of the 26 answers starts with a different letter of the alphabet – solve the easy clues and work out where the answers go – use the answer lengths to give you help. I’ve even given you two to start you off – so you can cross off B, J and the clues to them straight away – and now you know where U,O and Y go …

Clues are presented in alphabetical order of their answers and solvers are again asked to work out where they go. Notice that every answer shares a letter with the perimeter. The four six letter words forming the perimeter of the square are PUBLIC, SALARY, WORKER and UNISON – but you have to work out which one goes where (and I’ve put one in for you to get you going ! ) – there are no clues to those 4 words.

B Y R O N

J U J U

n

z d 34

■ Employ (3) ■ Make a mistake (3) ■ With for – to make a choice (3) ■ Rocky height (3) ■ Object of superstitious worship in W Africa (2-2) ■ Senior male member of nobility (4) ■ Quiet! (4) ■ Joint in the leg (4) ■ Iron with a little carbon (5) ■ British poet 1788-1824 (5) ■ Short witty remarks (5) ■ See-through snaps (1-4) ■ Wealthier (6) ■ Respect (6) ■ Rehearsals (3 4) ■ Explicit (7)

S

■ Person luring ships onto rocks (7) ■ Cloths (7) ■ Small block of frozen water for drinks (3 4) ■ Springy character in Magic Roundabout (7) ■ Any invertebrate with a soft body and, usually, a shell (7) ■ Posh room (7) ■ Carrion-eating birds of prey (8) ■ Prime number (8) ■ Expression of emphatic agreement (3 4 2) ■ Exactly (9)

a

■ Change (5) ■ Oil rich peninsula Lawrence fought in (6) ■ Colourful bird of North America - sad and 10th letter ? (4, 3) ■ Girl’s name – anagram of “Lacier” (6) ■ Gilbert and Sullivan work anagram of “To inhale” (8) ■ From Rome, for example (7) ■ Script of an opera (8) ■ Weaker type of anaesthetic or the nearest pub (5) ■ Tubes of tissue in the toilet (3,5) ■ Of sound, having more volume (6) ■ Move around slowly and aimlessly (4)

U

N

I

■ Thin (6) ■ Sharp piece of metal used for sewing (6) ■ From the upper point of the compass (8) ■ Author of 1984 (6) ■ More senior than in grade (7) ■ Animal hunted or caught for food by another (4) ■ Clergyman (6) ■ German measles (7) ■ Hearsay (6) ■ Arrogant types looking down on others or shoemakers (5) ■ Tough alloy of iron and carbon (5) ■ Large vases (4) ■ Second-hand (4)

S

O

N

w

d

f

Overlaps

e

4 5

6

h

Overlaps Across: 2 Ass, 4 Aches, 7 Harmonica, 10 Sardine, 11 Pearl, 15 Trainers, 17 Androids, 18 Ultramarine, 19 Collage, 20 Nomad, 22 Nun Down: 1 Ash, 2 Acumen, 3 Seine, 5 Candlestick, 6 Screwdriver, 8 Halibut, 9 Crooner, 12 Ark, 13 Catamaran, 14 Add, 16 Stallion, 21 Mug

7 8

9

10

11

12

13

15

16

14

17

Alphajig Adjourn, By heart, Cub, Dragon, Epee, Fowl, Galileo, Host, Idols, Judo, Keelhauls, Lapland, Murky, Nee, Ode, Per annum, Quick, Red, Steeple, Theatre, Unaltered, Verse, Wealthy, Xeroxed, Yankee, Zambians

18

a

Send to all your answ thre ers Friday e puzzles b y 1 8 Jun to the add e below ress

Coffee Time Across: 1 Cabbage, 5 Squaw, 9 Bouquet, 10 Station, 11 Sniggers, 12 Strong, 15 Pantomime, 16 Rumba, 17 Tusks, 19 Castanets, 21 Shovel, 22 Falsetto, 25 Inspect, 27 Courage, 28 Mural, 29 Battery Down: 1 Caution, 2 Bourgeoisie, 3 Altarpiece, 4 Easy, 5 Spa, 6 Uniform, 7 Wineglass, 8 Ibis, 13 Tartar sauce, 14 Persian cat, 15 Potassium, 18 Sponsor, 20 Estuary, 23 Oven, 24 Stab, 26 Eel

1

3

TAL RADIIO !

ANSWERS FROM LAST ISSUE

Each clue contains a definition of the answer as usual – but also a consecutive letter mix of the answer – straddling more than one word but never “touching” the definition – for example at 9 down 9 Flea left chickpeas (7) The answer is FELAFEL , the letters of which can be seen from the F in Flea to the F in left – all mixed up to give one spelling of the classic chickpea dish.

2

b

b

W A DIGIN

19

20

21 22

a

ACROSS

DOWN

2 See 8 Down 4 Performs a basic Brazilian dance (5) 7 Serenade the cockney ? (4,5) 10 Where to pick apples or hard cherries (7) 11 That one faints frequently (5) 15 Sell vile memoires of Herman the Whaler ? (8) 17 Bus lane traffic’s subject to change (8) 18 Saturate carp with this traditional accompaniment? (6,5) 19 Alert a general on the loose (2,5) 20 Bury aunt in Reading (5) 22 Hydrogen, say, is aglow (3)

1 Place for training my granny (3) 2 Might see a rock festival (6) 3 Some yob nicks tree with dark wood (5) 5 Drop bleach around gentleman’s flat (8,3) 6 Confident lads refuse sympathy (4-7) 8/2A See Variety purchase another magazine (7,3) 9 Flea left chickpeas (7) 12 The best maker of honey (3) 13 Owner insures places for rearing plants (9) 14 Vile apple beer (3) 16 Using a computer to contact judge in Lima (1-7) 21 Gordan then Brown (3)

z

WIN

e A DIGITAL RADIO!

For your chance to win a digital radio, please send your filled-in grids for all three of this issue’s crosswords in one envelope, together with your name and address, to U magazine crossword competition, UNISON, 1 Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9HJ, to reach us by Friday 18 June.

The lucky winners from the last issue are: Mrs Bev Bishop, Radstock; Mrs C Drury, Middlesbrough; Mrs S Forber, Billinge; Malachy Hart, Armagh; Chris Iredale, Pateley Bridge; Mary Pope, Ross-on-Wye; Geoff Scott, Bolton; Mrs M Simpson, Moulton; Mrs CM Stride, Wolverhampton; Penny Sunderland, Sheffield.

35

FOR UNISON MEMB ERS AND THEIR FAMIL IES

MillionVoices join our campaign

You must provide your full name and address although we will of course not print it.

STILL ACTIVE? This is a gentle reminder to all of our members who are taking retirement in the near future. UNISON is one of the unions that has retired members groups which it supports financially.

Each group is individual, ours is a great group that has monthly meetings, a lunch club and day trips, as well as a yearly holiday to Croyde Bay. UNISON supports us to attend the national pensioners’ convention parliament and to run a yearly retired members’ conference,

where issues pertaining to our age are discussed and reported to our MPs. General secretary Dave Prentis visited us at Scarborough and is lending his support to our NPC rally on Saturday 10 April.

The message I am trying to get over is: join the retired members groups, enjoy yourself and keep supporting our union UNISON. Janet Cullup Secretary retired UNISON members OCC and committee member of South East region retired UNISON members

Public services to the res

cue in Cockermou th

WIN

a digital radio

2009 REVIEWED | U@WORK | CROS SWORDS | LETT ERS

CARE FOR CARERS I must say I am in agreement with the content of the article ‘Who cares for the carers?’ published in the winter issue of U magazine.

My partner has been employed in this profession for several years and her experience backs up much of the comment which is expressed in this article.

I feel it would be of much use if you were able to apply any pressure you feel able to, in order to improve the working situation of persons involved in the caring profession.

Donald E Smith Mansfield

UNISON

LETTERS

Key year for public services

U welcomes readers’ letters (we reserve the right to edit contributions). Please send them to The Editor, U Magazine, UNISON, 1 Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9AJ or email them to u.magazine@unison.co.uk

I read every last word of your article ‘Who cares for the carers?’ Well here’s an answer to the question – I do, I’m married to one.

My wife has just spent the last month risking life and limb, slipping and sliding, all hours, day and night, from one service user to the next, in conditions which the safety men in white coats would throw their arms in the air and run round in circles about, to get a thank you letter from the chairman of her county council, not for her commitment, dedication or 36

WINTER 2010

2010

Got something to say?

devotion but for signing her single status contract!

Loving husband of a UNISON care provider.

Trevor Kohut Devon

MAGDA MEMORY I had the great pleasure of serving on NALGO’s NEC and subsequently UNISON’s NEC with Magda Gillow-Ellershaw and have fond memories of her. She was a lovely lady and I was deeply saddened to read of her death in U magazine (Letters, U magazine, Winter 2010).

Magda’s contribution to the union and its members was considerable. She was always a lady in the true sense of the word and I have particular fond memories of her humour and kindness. I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to her children and grandchildren.

Carol Lyle by email

CONFERENCE I have just returned from the Black members’ conference in Gateshead. I am a first time visitor to the conference.

I feel that I must write and tell you what a wonderful educational experience I had – I urge every Black member of

UNISON to get in touch with their region’s UNISON office and find out about their regional Black members’ committee.

There is so much going on.

Kevin Cole by email

MILLION VOICES IN WEST MIDLANDS I wanted to let you know about a very successful West Midlands campaign.

The campaign took place during a week in March and focussed entirely on the NHS. We wanted to recruit new members, new stewards, new contacts, improve the way we work in the NHS and raise UNISON’s profile. We also wanted to celebrate NHS workers, protect NHS services and say ‘no’ to cuts and privatization.

We invited various VIPs to attend our events, including general secretary Dave Prentis as well as our members on UNISON’s NEC.

“In just one week we recruited 517 new members and nine new stewards”

The campaign was a great success: in just one week we recruited 517 new members and nine new stewards, made 27 new contacts and got an amazing 2485 people to sign up to UNISON’s Million Voices for Public Services campaign.

It was such a success that we hope to repeat the campaign later in the year.

Jenny Harvey West Midlands

BUDGET I would like to comment on the proposed tax on empty houses in Dave Prentis’ ‘alternative budget’ (News, U magazine, Winter 2010).

I own such a house, which remains empty partly for personal reasons, and partly because it is a house

that would be difficult to sell for a decent price after the slump in the housing market.

In the meantime, I pay about £500 a year council tax, and I get nothing for this in the way of services. People who own two houses are not all profiteers.

Name and address supplied

UNISON SPONSORED TEAM REACH HIGHEST EVER FINISH I wanted to write and let you know that the London disability swimmers, sponsored by UNISON, finished fifth at the national junior championships. This is the highest finish they’ve ever achieved.

All of the 12 London swimmers finished the weekend with at least one medal. The team won 24

golds between them and set 42 new personal best times. Amy Marren of Havering SC was the most successful swimmer winning six events in S10 and taking three silvers.

But she wasn’t alone as JerryRay Pearce, Matthew Whyman, Scott and Leanne Harvey, Jessica Harper, Leonie Buck, Oscar Livesey, Sheik Sheik, James Naidoo, Thomas Urry and Callum Prout also took home medals as well as the team taking four silvers in the relay races.

The team also took time to add their voices to UNISON’s Million Voices campaign!

Irene Stacey London

Bouquet to a member We think all our members deserve a bouquet. And so every issue we give a bouquet of flowers to one member, nominated by friends and colleagues, as a token to all those members doing something special – or even something ordinary.

As always, we had lots of nominations for this issue – every one of whom deserves a bouquet. So we had to make a tough choice.

But the winner of this issue’s bouquet is Julie Harris. Julie was nominated by Jo Bodley, her friend and colleague at the British Home, an independent charity that provides specialised nursing and social care for people with long term medical conditions and severe disabilities.

Julie started working at the home many years ago as a porter, but as Jo explains, Julie’s “bubbly personality and popularity with the severely disabled residents meant that she took an increasingly active role in activities.” Furthermore, Julie has gone on to get an NVQ and is currently training in computer work.

Julie has recently suffered from ill health and Jo would like to nominate her as she thinks that to receive a bouquet would “hopefully make her day, as she has made so many other people’s.” We agree with Jo and so a beautiful bouquet is on its way to her now.

If you’d like to nominate someone, write to us, marking your envelope ‘Bouquet to a

member’, saying why your nominee deserves a bouquet, and giving their name and address and your contact number. We will pick out a lucky winner and send them the flowers. Write to Bouquet to a member, U magazine, UNISON, 1 Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9AJ. 37

UNISON MEMBERS CAN SAVE OR MORE WITH UNISONPLUS

www.unison.org.uk

Britannia offer mortgage and savings accounts for UNISON members. Tel: 0800 77 88 88*, call into your local branch or visit britannia.co.uk/unison @ Calls from landline phones are free however mobile providers may charge.

Telephone calls may be recorded and/or monitored. Lines are open 8am - 8pm weekdays and 9am -1pm Saturdays. Britannia is a trading name used by The Co-operative Bank p.l.c, part of The Co-operative Financial Services.

UNIBOND is a tax exempt with profits low risk savings plan. Starting from just ÂŁ10 a month.

Tel: 0800 083 3080 or visit www.unison-unibond.co.uk

Cheaper car insurance for UNISON members Â&#x2C6; ;SVOMRK [MXL 92-732 JSV SZIV ]IEVW Â&#x2C6; 92-732 I\GPYWMZI QIQFIVWLMT HMWGSYRX Â&#x2C6; 2S 'PEMQW HMWGSYRX Â&#x2C6; HMWGSYRX JSV WIGSRH ZILMGPI TSPMGMIW FSYKLX [MXLMR your household Call today for a quote: 0800 756 8159

UNISON Family Protection Insurance plus FREE ÂŁ2,500 cover. Apply today. Call 0800 072 4990 or visit www.UNISONprotect.org.uk

UNISON members could save money with UIA Insurance on home, travel and pet insurance.To obtain a no-obligation quote or further information call UIA free on 0800 66 88 55.

Receive up to 15% discount when you obtain an insurance quotation online at www.unisoninsurance.co.uk

Holiday discounts and value added benefits for all UNISON members. Exclusive savings on package & tailor-made holidays, flights, cruise, ferries, UK breaks, coach holidays + much more! Call 08705 50 50 00 or book online at www.unisiontravelclub.co.uk

Independent Financial Advice â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Making sense of your Finances.

Free initial consultation Tel: 08000 85 85 90 Personal loans between ÂŁ500 and ÂŁ15,000 with repayments over 12 to 60 months.

Call 0845 1117 113 or visit www.moneyway.co.uk

Nearly 50% of UNISON members could be due a tax refund. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss out! Call UNISONdirect for more details and claim form on 0845 355 0845 or click on www.taxbuddies.com/pts/unison.htm

Not a credit card or a debit card, with this card there is no risk of debt and no credit checks.

Call 0800 107 8065 or visit www.unisonprepaid.com

Receive a 10% discount on all self catering and half board holidays and short breaks at UNISONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own holiday village in beautiful North Devon.

Tel: 01271 890890 or visit www.croydeunison.co.uk

You and your family can make substantial savings on all your eyecare requirements at Vision Express. To find out more call 01159 882167/ 07719332158 or to locate your nearest store call freephone 0800 738 090 or visit www.visionexpress.com

Free impartial energy price comparison service to help you keep your home energy bills as low as possible.

Call 0800 094 9039 or visit www.unionenergy.co.uk

UNISON members and their family can receive: Â&#x2C6; SJJ I\MWXMRK GYWXSQIV WXERHEVH TVMGIW* Â&#x2C6; Â&#x2020; GEWLFEGO MJ SRI SJ SYV EKIRXW HSIWR´X VIEGL ]SY within 1 hour Â&#x2C6; Â&#x2020; HMWGSYRX [LIR FSYKLX SRPMRI Call today for breakdown cover: 0800 756 8707 or go online at BritanniaRescue.com/UNISON * Discounted Britannia Rescue Service for standard cover which includes roadside assistance and nationwide recovery based on a continuous method of payment.

Affordable health and dental cash plans. Get money back for everyday expenses. All claims are paid at 100%.

For more information call 0800 037 0753 or visit www.youbenefit.co.uk/unison

For more information on these services and other great offers visit www.unison.org.uk and click on the unisonplus logo

NEW ‘Easymove’ service makes life easier for home movers UNISONplus Membership &IRI½XW MW TPIEWIH XS announce the launch of a brand new home selling service for UNISON members called Easymove, reducing the cost and hassle involved in moving house.

8S ½RH SYX QSVI ZMWMX www.unison.org.uk and go to the the UNISONplus 1IQFIVWLMT &IRI½XW TEKI

This service is provided by Totemic Ltd. Totemic Ltd is a limited company registered in England and Wales. Reg Number 2789854. Kempton House Kempton Way, Dysart Road, Lincs, NG31 7LE

Catch the action this summer with FREE tickets to the LV= County Championship LV= Frizzell is delighted to offer UNISON members a pair of free tickets to the county of their choice to watch one day of a LV= County Championship match during the 2010 WIEWSR %PP ]SY LEZI XS HS MW ½PP MR ERH return the response voucher on this page, stating in order of preference the three counties you would most like to visit in 2010. Subject to availability you will receive two ticket vouchers for a county of your choice valid for one day of a LV= County Championship match. The vouchers are valid only for matches played at the First Class County Ground (see list) – festival and secondary grounds are NOT included MR XLMW TVSQSXMSR %PP ½\XYVIW GER FI found at: www.LV.com/cricket Please allow 28 days for receipt of your tickets, and note that tickets are subject to availability and it may not be TSWWMFPI XS JYP½PP ]SYV ½VWX GLSMGI MR EPP GEWIW

PLEASE RETURN COMPLETED FORM TO: UNISON CRICKET PROMOTION, LV=, FREEPOST, COUNTY GATES, BH1 2NF. I would like to receive a pair of First Class LV= County Championship tickets to one county ground for a day’s cricket of my choice (maximum 2 tickets per household).

(Please state county in order of preference)

My insurance policies are due for renewal on: Motor:

M M

Breakdown: M M Name

1st Address

2nd 3rd See article for list of 18 First Class County Grounds

Postcode

By supplying an email address below; I agree to you contacting me by email with information about other products and services.

Tel (home) Tel (mobile)

Your information will be held by the Liverpool Victoria group of companies and added to our marketing databases. It may be used to keep your records up to date, for business analysis and market research purposes and to advise you by post, telephone and/or electronic methods about any products and services that may be of interest to you. We may pass your details to other carefully selected organisations but only for the purposes mentioned above.

If you do not want to receive such marketing information, please tick this box Subject to payment of a fee, you can ask for a copy of the personal information we hold about you by writing to the CCA Department, Liverpool Victoria, County Gates, Bournemouth, BH1 2NF. For details of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies please refer to www.LV.com.

21013764 03/10

First Class County Grounds included in this promotion: Bristol, Gloucestershire CCC Edgbaston, Birmingham, Chelmsford, Essex CCC Warwickshire CCC Chester-le-Street, Durham CCC Headingley, Leeds, Yorkshire CCC Canterbury, Kent CCC Hove, Sussex CCC Derby, Derbyshire CCC Leicester, Leicestershire CCC

Lord’s Cricket Ground, London, Middlesex CCC Northampton, Northamptonshire CCC Old Trafford, Manchester,

Lancashire CCC Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, Glamorgan CCC Taunton, Somerset CCC The Brit Oval, London, Surrey CCC

The Rose Bowl, Southampton, Hampshire CCC Trent Bridge, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire CCC Worcester, Worcestershire CCC

Pick one. Just one.

Save their life for £150. You’ll end up smiling too.

Anu, 2 years, India

Eduardo, 6 months, Peru

Nisa, 4 years, Indonesia

Kabir, 7 months, Nigeria

Guo Sen, 6 months, China

On Sokhorn, 13 months, Cambodia

The Smile Train provides life changing free cleft surgery for children in developing countries which takes as little as 45 minutes and costs as little as £150.

It gives desperate children not just a new smile – but a new life.

I £150 towards surgery for one child I £30 towards medications for one surgery I £75 could cover half the cost of one surgery I £ We’ll gratefully accept any amount Mr/Mrs/Ms Address Postcode Email

Telephone Send this coupon with your donation to:

Charge my gift to my: I Visa I Master Card I Maestro Card No. Valid From

Exp. Date

Issue No.

Signature

I My cheque is enclosed, made payable to The Smile Train UK

The Smile Train UK, PO Box 910, Northampton NN3 0BG

Donate online: www.smiletrain.org.uk OR call: 0870 127 6269

I want to give a child a second chance at life.

I Tick the box to make every £1 of your gift worth at least 25p more for FREE. I am a UK taxpayer. Please treat all donations I make or have made to The Smile Train as Gift Aid donations for the past four years until further notice. You must pay an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax at least equal to the tax that The Smile Train reclaims on your donation in the tax year. Currently 25p for every £1 you give.

These details, including your email address / telephone number, may be used to keep you informed about our future developments. If you do not want to receive such information please tick this box I

Registered Charity No. 1114748

Z10051U369FIY16

© 2010 The Smile Train.

A healthy diet is a crucial part of pregnancy for every woman and it can help to prevent birth defects. Make sure you eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and take a multivitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid every day for a month before conception and throughout early pregnancy. Folic acid has been shown to reduce the risk of neural tube defects of the brain and spinal cord (such as spina bifida) in unborn children by between 50 and 70% when taken before conception and during the first trimester, and it could also help to reduce the risk of cleft lip and palate. It is also important to stop smoking when you are pregnant and to avoid foods such as raw or smoked seafood, raw shellfish and eggs, soft cheese, unpasteurized milk, and pâté. Speak to your GP for further advice about having a healthy pregnancy, and if you would like any more information about why clefts occur, how clefts can be repaired with surgery, or about caring for a child born with a cleft, please visit www.smiletrain.org.uk today.