U magazine, winter 2010

WINTER 2010

2010

ices v r e s c li b u p r fo r a e y Key

FOR UNISON MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

MillionVoices join our campaign

Public services

to the rescue in

WIN

a digital radio

2009 REVIEWED | U@WORK | CROSSWORDS | LETTERS

UNISON

Cockermouth

8

13

WELCOME TO from Dave Prentis UNISON’s general secretary

2010 is set to be a pivotal year for public services.

David Cameron’s plans for a public sector pay freeze shows that the Tories haven't changed – they are still on the side of the haves. And as the general election battle cranks up, public services are set to become the political battleground.

Public services and public service workers deserve the support of all politicians.

Every day of the year, public service workers keep our heating and lighting on, care for our children, our sick and vulnerable, keep our roads and streets clean and safe, deal with the aftermath of events such as the recent floods in Cumbria (page 8) – you should not be made to pay the price of the bankers’ folly.

But instead, your reward is uncertainty about your future – your pay, your pensions and your jobs are under threat.

In the difficult times that lie ahead, your union is committed to making sure that your contribution to our society is recognised, respected and valued.

And we’ve set out what we’re looking for from politicians in our own UNISON manifesto (page11).

UNISON will stand up for our 1.4 million members and the essential jobs you do in our communities – members like the homecare staff featured on page 15 and Jane Oates (page 23).

Together, we will raise a Million Voices for Public Services (page 13) and we will make sure your voice is heard at every level in our society as we approach a general election.

It’s up to all of us to make 2010 a happy new year for public services and the dedicated workers who provide them.

And in particular, a happy new year to UNISON Welfare, which is 100 years old in 2010 (page 18).

THIS ISSUE 8 After the deluge Two UNISON members talk about the f looding in Cumbria this winter 11 What UNISON wants in 2010 What we believe the political parties should be fighting for 13 Public services touch everybody Rickly Tomlinson explains why his is one of the million voices 15 Who cares for the carers?

18 100 years of help The centenary of UNISON Welfare 23 Me and my job Jane Oates talks about her job 26 Equal pay – do you want to claim?

29 The cultural year to come A preview of 2010 36 Looking back at 2009

REGULARS News U @ work Crosswords Letters

Bouquet

to a member see page 35

VOLUME 18, NUMBER 1 U is published by UNISON – the public service union – and distributed to every member. Non members pay £30 a year.

EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES The Editor, 1 Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9AJ Tel: 0845 355 0845; Textphone 08000967968 Email: u.magazine@unison.co.uk

ADVERTISING Redactive Media Group, 17 Britton Street, London EC1M 5TP 020 7880 6200; info@redactive.co.uk While every effort is made to ensure the reliability of advertisers, UNISON cannot accept any liability. Inclusion of advertisements does not imply any recommendation.

DESIGN www.design-mill.co.uk COVER PHOTO Steve Forrest/Workers’ Photos

Talk to us: phone 0845 355 0845 Monday to Friday 6am to midnight and Saturday 9am to 4pm If you want to change membership details, call this number, visit the website or get in touch with your branch or region. Calls may be recorded for training purposes.

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4 20 32 34

A BUDGET ALTERNATIVE

FIND OUT MORE unison.org.uk

PHOTO: MARK THOMAS

UNISON launched a no-cuts recovery budget in December – and showed just how £74.195 billion could be made this year.

It’s a clear alternative to all the Tory talk of slashing public-sector spending, which would cause long-term damage and send the UK into a “lost decade” of severe depression.

General secretary Dave Prentis called for fairer taxes, a curb on tax relief for the rich, a levy on financial transactions and a diet for the fat cat bankers and their bonus cheques.

Cancelling Trident, levying a tax on empty properties, improving occupational health in the NHS, getting rid of central government private consultants, and bringing PFI schemes back in house would also help to save billions.

UNISON’s recovery budget includes: ● £4.7bn that could be raised every year by introducing a 50% tax rate on incomes over £100,000; ● £14.9bn could be raised every year by using minimum tax rates to stop reliefs being used to disproportionately subsidise incomes over £100,000; ● £500m could be saved every year by eradicating healthcare acquired infections from the NHS – the extra cleaners would cost half this; ● £495m could be saved every year by adopting measures to improve the health and well-being of NHS staff, thereby reducing sickness absence; ● £5bn could be raised every year with an empty property tax on vacant dwellings. This only exaggerates housing shortages and harms neighbourhoods.

For more information on UNISON’s alternative budget visit unison.org.uk/asppresspack/pressrelease.asp

LIBRARIES

UNISON represents librarians who are vital during times of trouble – in Cumbria library membership applications have gone up by 38% over the previous year

TEACHING ASSISTANTS

UNISON represents teaching assistants – it is estimated that we will need an extra 100,000 education workers by 2017 to continue to make progress in education

ADULT EDUCATION A day at the races UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside region’s annual Positively Public race day takes place on 31 July 2010 at Doncaster racecourse.

You can join UNISON friends for a good day out to publicise UNISON’s Million Voices for Public Services campaign.

As a UNISON member, you can get the special offer of two for one grandstand tickets – buy one ticket at £15 and get one free.

Tickets go on sale from 8 February and the offer closes at 5pm on 23 July.

To book your tickets, call 01302 304200 and quote ‘UNISON raceday offer’, together with your UNISON membership number or UNISON branch code.

4

UNISON represents people working in adult education – we believe we need to reverse the decline in general and adult education places, 2m of which have been lost in the last three years

SOCIAL WORKERS

UNISON represents social workers – the LGA says we need around 10,000 more social workers to fill vacancies and deal with rising child protection caseloads

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

●

UNISON’s two-year migrant workers participation project concluded in January – and we’re starting to sum up the achievements.

Migrant workers can be particularly vulnerable in the workplace, but are a crucial part of our public services: around one in five care workers and one in three nurses looking after the elderly are migrants.

General secretary Dave Prentis says: “This is the beginning of a long-term engagement with migrant workers. Without migrant workers, many of our public services would collapse.”

Are you missing out?

HM Revenue and Customs has set up an online calculator at: http://taxcredits.hmrc.gov.uk/HomeNew.aspx to help people find out what tax benefits they are entitled to.

The government reports that many people are not claiming employment support benefits, such as Working Tax Credit.

Many of those who fail to claim are: ● in the 50-plus group; ● do not have dependent children; ● have experienced a fall in income.

Check now to make sure you’re not losing out.

PHOTO: ANDREW WIARD

●

Project ends

FIND OUT MORE

Taking the message to MPs

unison.org .uk/ million

UNISON took its message to the heart of Westminster in December as part of its Million Voices campaign.

More than 100 MPs accepted the invitation to hear from our members just how important the work they do is, and why investment in these services is vital during a recession.

Introducing seven UNISON members, who had travelled from around the country to tell their stories to the Westminster MPs, general secretary Dave Prentis explained that: “Everyone’s got something to say about public services.

“But unfortunately it’s not often we hear the voices of those who actually provide the services.”

Sue Warner, a cook supervisor from Matlock, won cheers as she told the audience about the organic beef and pork her kitchen serves.

Other members speaking up included a child social worker who had recently had to rescue a four-week-old infant from the ice box of a fridge, a psychiatric nurse and a ward housekeeper.

Children, schools and families secretary Ed Balls thanked members, saying: “Your words speak more powerfully than we ever could.”

He also praised all members “working behind the scenes, making a massive contribution.”

TALK TO US: 0845 355 0845

●

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.UNISON.ORG.UK

5

IN THE SWIM

FIND OUT MORE

HOSPITAL CLEANERS

unison.org.uk

UNISON represents hospital cleaners – Department of Health data shows we need 50,000 more hospital cleaners to bring staffing back to levels before the outbreak of MRSA and C Difficile

CARERS UNISON represents carers – the Audit Commission estimates we will need 350,000 more care workers over the next 10 years to meet the needs of a growing elderly population

UNISON recently announced a three-year sponsorship of London’s regional disability swimming squad – just days before members of the squad were due to compete at the National Disabled Swimming championships in Sheffield.

Members of the 31-strong squad racing at the Ponds Forge pool in Sheffield proudly sported a new range of kit including swimsuits, hats, t-shirts and shorts, as part of the sponsorship.

And the new kit clearly helped, as the squad came away from the championships with 33 medals.

“UNISON has always been very supportive of programmes that help the disabled,” said national executive member Irene Stacey.

“It’s about giving the disabled a voice and helping them say ‘I may be disabled but I am the same as everyone else.’ I’m absolutely proud of what UNISON has done to get disabilities on the agenda.”

UNISON joined more than 60,000 people in London, Glasgow and Belfast on 5 December to demand action on climate change at The Wave, the biggest ever UK climate change march, which was organised by Stop Climate Chaos.

On the eve of the Copenhagen climate summit, The Wave called for the government to take much more urgent and effective action.

Not only did climate change secretary Ed Miliband hear us, but Gordon Brown invited 24 Wave supporters to 10 Downing Street after the event to hear their demands.

UNISON then took its message to Copenhagen, ensuring that the voice of working people was heard by those around the negotiating table.

We called for a ‘just transition’ to a low carbon economy. What this means is that governments, trade unions and employers together should map out a route to a low carbon economy that guarantees green and decent jobs and recognises the importance of public services unison.org in helping people around the globe adapt to .uk/ green the consequences of climate change.

PHOTO: STEVE FORREST/WORKERS’ PHOTOS

UNISON on a Wave to Copenhagen

HOUSING UNISON represents people who work in housing – we’re calling for a commitment to deliver 1m affordable homes by 2015

SCHOOL MEALS WORKERS UNISON represents school meals workers – we believe we need to bring school meals provision back in-house and ensure there are enough staff and resources to deliver improved nutritional standards

FIND OUT MORE

6

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

A N

E X C L U S I V E

O F F E R

F O R

U N I S O N

M E M B E R S

See what you could save with UNISON home insurance As a member of UNISON you are entitled to exclusive prices on home cover from UNISON Insurance.

In fact, according to online research by Consumer Intelligence, you could save on average £127 compared to First Direct, as the table below shows.*

Insurance Provider

Average saving made with UNISON Insurance

Although you could save as much as‡

First Direct RBS Halifax Cornhill Direct L&G

£127 £120 £83 £82 £72

£256 £261 £200 £171 £195

Figures are from Consumer Intelligence 01 September – 30 September 2009 for prices of buildings and contents insurance using a representative sample of the British population.

If you prefer to buy your insurance online, you’ll qualify for + a generous 15% discount . Plus, there’s 5% off if you combine buildings and contents insurance. And you have the option of paying in easy monthly instalments by Direct Debit at no extra cost.

However, getting the best home insurance is not just about price. You also need a good level of cover. Should you ever need to make a claim, we provide up to £75,000 for contents and up to £1m for buildings cover.

We’ll even refund any fees up to £25 if your current mortgage lender charges you a transfer fee.

And you can be prepared for the compared to First Direct. worst with our optional Home Emergency Protection. You’ll know that practical help is just a phone call away should your home be damaged in a storm or icy weather causes a pipe to burst.

We’ll also take away the worry and hassle by providing reliable tradespeople and we’ll cover the costs (within policy limits) by paying their bills, including parts, labour and call out charges. We’ll take care of it all quickly and painlessly without complicated forms and procedures.

So why not find out how much you could save on home insurance and ask us about Home Emergency Protection?

Cover to give you peace of mind • Up to £75,000 to cover your contents and up to £1m for rebuilding costs • Cover automatically increases for gifts in your home during specified religious festivals and weddings

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We also offer a first class service, which means your calls will be handled quickly and efficiently at UK based call centres. Our claims service operates 24 hours, 7 days a week and we deal with every claim as fairly and as fast as we can.

* Based on independent online research by Consumer Intelligence during 01 September to 30 September 2009. ‡ Based on 10% of consumers achieving this saving with UNISON Buildings and Contents Insurance. †

Call free for a quote

0800 66 88 55

Ref Public 110 (Lines are open 8.30am-8pm Mon-Fri, 9am-1pm Sat)

when you buy online at

www.unisoninsurance.co.uk UNISON INSURANCE IS O WNED BY AND RUN FOR THE BENEFIT OF ITS POLICYHOLDERS, SO WE CAN GIVE YOU A BETTER DEAL +Compared to the standard price you would be quoted if you called us. † Lines are open 8.30am-8pm Mon-Fri, 9am-1pm Sat. For quality and protection purposes, your call will be recorded. We exchange information with other insurance companies and the police to prevent fraud. UNISON Insurance is a trading style of UIA (Insurance) Ltd. UIA (Insurance) Ltd is a member of the Association of British Insurers and is registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act – No. 2898R. UNISON is an Introducer Appointed Representative of UIA (Insurance) Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. UIA Home Emergency Protection is administered by Arag plc and is underwritten by Brit Insurance Limited.

FLOODS AFTER THE

DELUGE This winter floods in the Lake District brought devastation to thousands of homes and businesses. U talks to two UNISON members who kept those homes and businesses safe

PHOTOS: STEVE FORREST/WORKERS’ PHOTOS

T

8

hink of the Lake District and you may think of summer holidays, idyllic villages, and, of course, lakes. But at the end of last year the Lakeland villages were in the news for very different reasons.

On 20 November it started to rain, it didn’t stop and, by the evening, the town of Cockermouth had a river where its main street should be, roads and bridges were closed and a mass rescue operation was beginning for the hundreds trapped in their homes and workplaces.

We went to meet Hilary Dandy and David Farrar, to hear their stories about when the floods came.

Hilary was born and bred in Cockermouth and David has lived in nearby Workington, and worked for Allerdale council, for the last nine years.

Hilary works on the front desk of the local police station, a job she enjoys – “I should

‘It started to rain, it didn’t stop, and by the evening the town of Cockermouth had a river where its main street should be’ do, I’ve been here 38 years.” Cockermouth has flooded before, so when on the morning of the deluge they got a call from head office about sandbags, Hilary didn’t think too much of it. Although the town had flooded before, the police station never had.

But as the morning went on, things got worse. “It was awful; windy and rainy. People were looking for sandbags, worried about people stranded in out

of the way places, it was very busy.”

“As things went on, one of my colleagues said: ‘Get your things out of your locker’ I grabbed my jacket and bag and started moving what I could upstairs.” Hilary was worried about her mother and contacted her to make sure she could safely get to her sister’s. She took one or two more calls and then the phones went and she was by herself, trapped in the station.

Listening to her radio she was aware of how dangerous the situation was becoming – there was a heavily pregnant lady trapped in her home, a disabled man was in trouble. Although she felt alone, she knew that they had to take priority. And she knew that her colleagues, and others including the fire services, local government workers, and even the mountain rescue service were doing the best they could.

She stayed in the station all night,

Life is gradually getting back to normal after the floods caused enormous damage, and cut off one part of the town from the rest

‘Families arrived, some in great distress, unsure of what would happen to their homes and possessions and of what had happened to friends and relatives’

with “nothing to drink or eat.” A boat came by and then returned with food and drink, which the crew winched up to her on a rope, but still she waited.

Eventually the next morning she was rescued by helicopter. She describes having to lean backwards out of the window and then being lifted away, and would particularly like to thank the helicopter pilot for doing such a good job! But what really matters to her is the way the whole community has come together to make sure Cockermouth recovers. “We’re all making sure we shop locally, we want to keep our businesses going, that’s important to the whole community.

“Within a few days of the police stations being flooded, I helped set up a temporary police station in a building not affected by the flood, providing the community with a front-counter service and giving them a point of contact with

their local neighbourhood police officers providing reassurance and assistance.”

While Hilary had been trapped in the police station, David – by day a housing benefits officer – had found himself a new role managing an emergency housing centre for those who’d been forced from their homes by the floods.

He describes a hectic and stressful time as families arrived, some in great distress, unsure of what would happen to their homes and possessions and of what had happened to friends and relatives.

One elderly lady arrived without vital medication, which David managed to access for her; a Lithuanian family without English needed help and support; a single mum with four children needed looking after.

“There were so many questions, I hadn’t even got my coat off before they started, certainly at first there was a lot of uncertainty,” he explains.

Cumbrian flood victims receive Christmas present from UNISON UNISON members in Cumbria who were left homeless after the recent floods received a special Christmas present from us to help them over the festive season.

The North West region delivered 25 food hampers in the Cumbria area to bring a smile to the faces of those members most affected by the recent bad weather.

Frank Hont, regional secretary for the North West, explained: “UNISON is extremely proud that, despite the problems of being made homeless and the continuing adverse weather conditions, our members are still carrying out their duties on behalf of both the public and their communities.”

9

FLOODS

“All our members, in health, local government, social services, education – everyone went out of their way and did more than could ever have been expected of them” The moment when he felt really frightened was when he switched on the news and saw that one of the bridges had gone. “You don’t think a stone bridge will collapse, one that’s been there for decades, I’d driven over it just a few hours before.”

Now when it rains, David says: “I lock myself up nice and tight and hope it never gets like it did last November again.”

But most of all, when he looks back,

*

Hilary and David by the river in Cockermouth

David feels proud of the work he and the community managed to do during the floods. “I’m not old enough to remember the Blitz, but I think it’s Blitz spirit. Clothes were donated, money, everything. People would say: ‘I don’t have much – but if someone just wants to get out of the temporary housing for a day, they can come and just sit and I’ll cook them dinner’.”

The massive scale of the event brought a massive response from public service

workers, he says: “All our members, in health, local government, social services, education, utilities and the environment agency – everyone went out of their way and did more than could ever have been expected of them. At the moment people are talking about cutting public services because of the recession – but there’s no way we could have coped with this flood without them.” U Diana Harrison d.harrison@unison.co.uk

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S T N A W N UNISO

As political parties prepare to battle it out in a general election, UNISON lays down what we believe they should be fighting for

IN 2010 ed

provid s ublicly e p c d i n a v lic sere – properly fundefadcilities and staff are workers b u p y alit nal Health Servic ll, with first-rate ial workers and c opportunities u q r o F for a Natio end d soc ildcare vices pporte and ext ld class

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I

n the coming months Gordon Brown will call a general election – arguably the most important election since Tony Blair’s New Labour swept aside John Major’s ailing Tories in 1997.

Today, Labour is the party in government, struggling to convince

the country that it can still do the job.

Alistair Darling’s December pre-budget report with its two year 1% pay cap and pensions cap for public sector workers enraged UNISON’s general secretary Dave Prentis who condemned the announcement, saying: “Our members feel betrayed and let down.”

PUBLIC SERVICES

WHAT

And while the parties prepare to battle it out, UNISON has launched its own agenda, in a bid to ensure that the election campaign is fought – and won – on the right issues.

“We are going into this election year with a clear and demanding agenda,” says Dave Prentis. “And we 11

WHAT

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Britannia is a trading name used by The Co-operative Bank p.l.c., part of The Co-operative Financial Services. The Co-operative Bank p.l.c., Registered office: P.O. Box 101, 1 Balloon Street, Manchester M60 4EP. Registered in England and Wales No.990937.

The Co-operative Bank is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (No. 121885), is a member of the Financial Services Authority and is licensed by the Office of Fair Trading (No. 006110)

12336/12/09

UNISON WANTS

IN 2010

continued from page 11 will be measuring the parties and politicians against that agenda, as they develop their own manifestos and policy positions.

“It’s about building a stronger and more sustainable economy on the basis of our values of fairness, equal opportunities, and giving everyone a say. And it’s about supporting public services and the people who work tirelessly to deliver them.”

The union has been promoting its message since spring last year, when it embarked on its Million Voices for Public Services campaign, for a strong economy and fairer society. The ongoing campaign covers jobs, pensions, fair taxation, mortgages, homebuilding, and the regulation of the financial world.

In December the union launched its no-cut recovery budget, which could raise more than £74 billion in 2010 and offers a clear alternative to the rhetoric of slashed public sector spending.

The budget calls for fairer taxes, a curb on tax relief for the rich, a levy on financial transactions and an end to bonuses in the financial sector. Other measures include cancelling Trident, getting rid of central government private consultants, and bringing PFI schemes back in house – all of which would save billions.

The UNISON election agenda relates directly to those initiatives.

Its demands range from the right to flexible working and time off for parenting and caring, fair pay and pensions for all public service workers, to more affordable social housing; from a properlyfunded NHS, to the prioritisation of public sector investment and inhouse improvement, over cut-price privatisation.

“Since we launched the Million Voices campaign last year the response has been absolutely tremendous,” said Mr Prentis.

“UNISON members up and down the country have been telling

us about the vital work they are doing to help people through this recession, and to make our society fairer. And more public service workers have been joining the union because they see we are standing up for them and the services they provide.

“Most encouragingly, service users and members of the general public have been coming forward to tell us how much they value those services. And that’s showing up in the opinion polls, too.

‘UNISON will be working hard this year to make sure public service workers’ voices are heard’ “We’ve been taking those messages – and those voices – into the political debate, to make sure that the politicians know that there is huge support in the country for our vision, of a fairer society with public services at its heart.

“And they’ve certainly heard us.

I know that our work has already made MPs rethink some of their plans and policies. But there’s still a way to go, and we have to keep the pressure on.”

It remains imperative that the next government treat all public service workers fairly, and not see their jobs, pay or pensions as a soft target for cuts. And by that, Mr Prentis added, he means all public services workers – including those in lesser known, but no less vital roles, who are too often dismissed as ‘back office’ or ‘support’ staff.

“UNISON will be working harder than ever, through the general election campaign and after it, to make sure public service workers’ voices are heard,” he said. “But the more people get involved, the more noise we’ll make. So talk to your branch, visit the website or contact UNISONdirect to find out how you can help us make a difference in 2010.” U Demetrios Matheou d.matheou@unison.co.uk

Actor Ricky Tomlinson explains why his is one of the Million Voices for Public services

PHOTO: ALEX GRACE

PUBLIC SERVICES

Public services touch everybody

P

ublic services mean a lot to me.

They’re part of the community, something that everyone gets involved with or uses in one way or another. Public services touch everybody.

You take the National Health Service for instance: The NHS is a wonderful institution, it’s the best in the world and we should encourage and build on it. It belongs to the people, it’s for the people.

I’ve been very lucky and, until 68 years of age, I’d never had to bother with the NHS. But then I needed a fourway heart bypass, and the NHS was absolutely amazing.

I went into the Broad Green Cardiothoracic Centre, here in Liverpool, and was operated on by a man called Dr Who! Really, that was his name. He was Burmese and, like all the staff, was superb. The service I got was first class and it’s probably extended my life – not only extended my life, but given me a better quality of life.

“I think that politicians are bonkers to slash public services” Sometimes people say to me, “But you can afford private medicine”. I tell them that I don’t think money should buy you privilege. We have the NHS. And if all the money that was put into the private sector was put into the NHS, then it would be even better than it is.

I think the Million Voices campaign is really, really important. Sometimes we become blase about public services, because familiarity can breed contempt.

So it’s vital that we are reminded how important they are. They encompass so many things in our lives.

For example, we take our grandchild to school in the morning. Some people can only take their child part of the way, so it’s so reassuring to know that there are lollypop men and women to make

Add your voice to our Million Voices campaign unison.org.uk/ million

sure they arrive safe and sound.

They’re an integral part of our society.

So well done to UNISON. It’s great to see that the union has so many members and such tremendous support, because whether we like it or not, the old slogan still stands: unity is strength. And that’s much more relevant today, because we’re being attacked from all sides.

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.

The politicians attack the most vulnerable in society, once again.

With an election coming, people should be asking their MP what they’ll do when it comes to a vote on cutting public services. And if their MP is going to cut public services, then don’t vote for them. U Ricky Tomlinson was interviewed

by Alex Grace u.magazine@unison.co.uk 13

PUBLIC SERVICES

Ricky’s not alone in his support of UNISON’s million voices campaign.

Other famous faces signing up include children’s writer Michael Rosen, Helena Kennedy QC, boxers Chris Eubank and Amir Khan, comedian Eddie Izzard, singer Kate Jackson and DJ, former Pop Idol judge and Dancing on Ice contestant Neil (Dr) Fox, who says: “I have nothing but praise for public-service workers. All three of my kids were born in an NHS hospital and the staff there made each birth a wonderful experience.

“I regularly witness this level of dedication across the workforce.

On my way to the studios each morning I drive past a local fire station and often see the firefighters on night duty putting the engines away after a job.

“Public services are always important

and definitely so in hard times such as these.

“All our public service workers do an amazing job and we need them so badly. I think they are rarely in it for the money. They aren’t looking for fortunes and sometimes this is used against them. I don’t like hearing people talk about cutting their pay “I think British society is a caring society. Public service workers are at the heart of this. Unfortunately it’s not always recognised. This campaign calls for that to change.” U Interview by Rachel Voller u.magazine@unison.co.uk EL VOLLER PHOTO: RACH

Add your voice to our Million Voices campaign – sign up online at:

unison.org.uk/million

PUBLIC SERVICES

Homecare workers stand between a dignified, comfortable old age and squalid neglect for millions of people – but they often have to work in shocking conditions

R O F S E R A C WHO THE CARERS?

U

nderpaid, overstretched, contracted out and unable to meet the needs of our elderly population. That is the experience of thousands of UNISON members who struggle daily as homecare workers, to give vulnerable people, living alone, a decent life. Some only earn the national minimum wage by doing the bare bones of the job and packing in the calls. But many put in extra time, for no pay, to help the people they care for.

These frontline staff stand between a dignified, comfortable old age and squalid neglect for millions of people.

UNISON believes the needs of the elderly and the committed staff who care for them are closely linked. It has written directly to health secretary Andy Burnham calling for urgent action and an open-minded review of policies.

UNISON members also believe that the new policy of personal choice – being asked to spend a personal budget

and choose who your provider is – has baffled some older people.

Head of local government Heather Wakefield says women who do the job and the people they care for have both drawn a short straw.

“The underfunding of home care by local authorities has reduced pay and conditions to a bare minimum and casualised a job that requires continuity of care. Many visits are just 15 minutes, the national minimum wage is the going rate for highly skilled work, while many staff pay for their own travel and are unpaid for journeys between visits.

“Yet the prime minister has lauded the millions saved by councils through privatisation and called for further ‘savings’.”

UNISON has been recording the experiences of its members working in home care. For some, there is chaos as one poor contractor is replaced by another company. For others, there is the winding down of local authority

LAURA

Poor service by the company We had a lady in her nineties, who cannot walk, who was left five times, cold and soiled all night.

Agency staff went in but they did not know what to do – they made her a cup of tea and left.

In one case, a carer wrote that she visited and all was well – but the person concerned was actually in hospital at the time.

I visited a man who was diabetic who had not been seen all weekend. He does really well, taking care of himself but he can’t get into the bathroom to wash. When he tried to empty his commode he had to balance on one leg.

15

PUBLIC SERVICES

provision and the loss of decent terms and conditions and long-term relationships with clients.

For everyone, there is a belief that their goodwill and passion for care work are being exploited.

One care worker, Danielle, says: “In a typical half-hour call you have to get someone undressed, shower them and get them dressed, make breakfast, empty the commode, and make a sandwich for lunch.

“A 15-minute call typically would mean making a cup of tea, heating up a microwave meal, emptying the commode, giving medication and making a sandwich and flask for tea.”

Another worker, Tracey, says she loves the job, “but it’s completely ruined by the poor terms and conditions.

“It can take between 20 and 50 minutes to get from one client to another. No one pays you for that – it’s daylight robbery.

Only two of my calls are regulars. I do a lot of holiday cover. I would prefer to see the same people – I know their problems and I know how to help them.”

And one anxious relative who contacted UNISON explained: “My mother who is 85 and has Parkinson’s, broke her hip and was almost totally incapacitated. She wanted to stay at home and a care plan involving three visits a day was put in place. But the time allocated was so limited it was really pointless – 30 minutes for feeding and cleaning.

GLENDA

Recruitment and training They would recruit staff and they would leave after the first pay packet.

We are paid per call, with new staff on lower pay compared to those who TUPE transferred. With just five minutes allowed for travelling, you could do a maximum of three calls in an hour but that meant you were paid less than the minimum wage. Often the travel took much longer. You might get two calls in the same sheltered housing unit and then the next one takes 20 minutes to reach.

They rely on staff ‘call cramming’ which means clients do not get the assessed time.

We have to do our NVQs in our own time and they gave us an enhancement that worked out at less than 20p an hour. Fuel allowance is just 25p an hour – but new staff get 30p a mile. But at least we now get mileage for attending appraisals and training. With our previous employer, we had to pay for our own phone calls.

16

‘There is a belief that their goodwill and passion for care work are being exploited’ “The high turnover of staff was a problem. She was becoming mentally incapacitated and she was disturbed by strangers coming into the house. There was no continuity.

“The company cut the hours at Christmas and Easter so there was no cleaning done. They were told to do the bare minimum. The standard of cleaning was pretty bad and mum had continuous infections.”

JACKIE

Shattering hours In Northumbria, workers are witnessing the dismantling of a high standard local authority care service.

One UNISON member, now facing redundancy, said: “We have a minimum number of hours guaranteed, but it is still a lot less than we used to work. These have been taken over by a range of companies including charities. For some of the younger staff with mortgages, the cut in hours is a real hardship. They have two or three jobs and they are struggling to pay the bills.

“We were a good workforce and we are very disillusioned and upset.”

Ms Wakefield warns: “The job is being reduced to piece work by some agencies, training provision is minimal and turnover high. That’s a very bad deal for home care users and our members. It’s time to say ‘enough is enough’ – UNISON is doing just that.” U Laurence Pollock u.magazine@unison.co.uk

Add your voice to our Million Voices campaign unison.org.uk/million

I need to work full time – I work mornings, and three evenings and every other weekend. I’m just so tired.

On Saturday, I start at 7am and finish at 2pm, start again at 4pm and work to 9.30pm. On the Sunday, I start at 7am through to 3pm and then 4pm to 9.30pm.

Weekends are shattering.

They take someone on and they say ‘yes you can do 40 hours a week’, then they cut you back. But some people have given up good jobs to do this.

This jobs allows elderly ladies to stay in their own homes and that is so important – We get them washed and dressed, change their pads, check they have taken their medication and do stoma care. Yet we get paid less than cleaners.

Improvements? One previous company I worked for made us pay for our uniform, charged us for sewing on the company logo and the cost of delivery. We had to pay for our Criminal Records Bureau checks. Some of our costs can be offset against tax, but that is no use for those who do not earn enough to pay tax.

All names of careworkers have been changed

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100

UNISON WELFARE

unison.org .uk/ welfare

P L E H F O S R A YE

2010 is the 100th anniversary of the union’s registered charity rs, UNISON Welfare. Over the yea ed help has UNISON Welfare g thousands of people experiencin g ctin affe s live ir pressure in the both work and home. ice The help we offer ranges from adv ilies fam ing send to s around finance away on a much needed break. And you can see from the words and pictures here how much happiness a getaway can bring.

Rebecca, a council worker from Lancashire, has benefited from UNISON Welfare. She suffered an industrial accident at work which Her meant she was off long-term sick. t den acci the e sinc and daughter is 13 ’s ecca Reb me beco less she’s more or carer – Rebecca finds it hard to walk e. without crutches or a zimmer fram to st adju to hard it d Rebecca foun ind living without a wage and fell beh

ed on her bills. UNISON Welfare help new a out with practical things like adjust fridge freezer, a grant to help her es and tanc to different financial circums tricity elec some money towards her gas, ecca and council tax bills. As Reb explains “I really appreciated that – grant. It came at just the right time e.” erat when we were absolutely desp But Rebecca says one of the best things was that UNISON Welfare funded her and her daughter to get away on a break. “It was great, the y for weather was good, so we were luck g alon r care a England, and I could take and k brea a so my daughter could have . we could spend quality time together . rent diffe It was nice to do something is fund “I think it’s great that this available for UNISON members ’re because you never know when you N ISO UN going to hit rock bottom – U ” Welfare really helped us out.

Diana Harrison d.harrison@unison.co.uk

“This was the first time in years that we were truly able to relax and reconnect as a family” Natalie Jones, age 10: Me at the beach

18

Arianne Macey-Mornix, age 6: Benny Bear Club World

“Thank you so much. We could never have afforded a holiday without your help. We can’t stop talking about it”

“I would like to thank you so much. Words cannot express how wonderful it is to be able to spend quality time with my daughter in a pleasant atmosphere”

Sam Smith, age 11: Camping with grandad, nanny and alfie-dog

Georgia Ann Bishop, age 12: Georgia having a fun time surfing

“I am truly, truly grateful.

This holiday is just what my family needed after what has been a very difficult year”

NISON U e th , s u p to c Play O prize draw ly th n o m e r a lf We

Instruction to your Bank or Building Society to pay Direct Debits Name and full postal address of your Bank or Building Society.

Originator’s Identification Number

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If you’d like to support UNISON Welfare then Octopus, our new monthly prize draw, provides a way to do just that as well as offering the chance to win great cash prizes.

Half of all the money from tickets will be paid out in prizes and 40% will go to UNISON Welfare.

Only 10% is used for administration costs.

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You can buy up to 10 numbers per month at just £1 each. Just fill out the application form and direct debit instruction and we’ll collect the money from your bank account and enter your numbers in each draw. You can cancel or change your direct debit at any time.

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Please pay UIA Lottery Management Services Ltd. Direct Debits from the account detailed in this Instruction subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee.

I understand that this Instruction may remain with UIA Lottery Management Services Ltd. and, if so details will be passed electronically to my Bank/Building Society.

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Branch Sort Code Banks and Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit Instructions for some types of account.

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Return to: Freepost RSAE-BEHJ-XTXB, Octopus Lottery, Kings Court, London Road, Stevenage, SG1 2TP NO STAMP REQUIRED

PHOTO: GRETA HOLMES

U @ WORK

On the picket line in Leeds

Leeds members beat off attack on wages Leeds refuse workers and street cleaners have seen off a council attempt to slash their pay.

The workers, who stayed solid during 11 weeks on strike, voted overwhelmingly in favour of a new deal securing their wages and returned to work on 25 November.

The Tory/Lib Dem council had planned to cut average salaries by up to a third, from £18,000 to £13,000, using the excuse of equal pay.

“This is a tremendous victory and I congratulate UNISON and GMB members who stood firm and determined during 11 weeks,” said general secretary Dave Prentis. “I know how much hardship they and their families faced. But their fight was worth it.

“Employers everywhere must know that we will not hesitate to take whatever action is necessary to protect our members against savage attacks on their livelihoods.

“Leeds members have shown the rest of the union what can be achieved by old-fashioned solidarity and discipline. I am proud of them.”

Pay claims submitted UNISON has put in its 2010 pay claims for more than 800,000 members working in local government across the UK. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, all the unions represented on the national joint council have put in a claim for a 2.5% rise, or £500, whichever is more, from 1 April 2010.

In Scotland, unions have put in a claim for 3% or £600, which ever is greater, at the end of the current three-year deal on 31 March.

“Local government workers are playing a vital role in helping communities through the recession,” noted UNISON head of local government Heather Wakefield.

UNISON members get top awards Two UNISON members were recognised in the new year’s honours list for their contributions to their communities in the north west.

Jean Atkinson, an auxiliary nurse employed by Mersey Care NHS Trust in Liverpool and a longstanding UNISON activist, has been awarded an MBE. Jean has worked in the NHS for 28 years and during most of that time has been active in the Liverpool Community & Hospitals Branch, firstly as a steward in NUPE and later in UNISON, becoming branch secretary until standing down earlier this year.

Jean, who was also chair of the staff side at Mersey Care NHS Trust said: “I joined the union as soon as I started work, I have always been an activist and I am still working for the branch. I am very proud to accept this MBE – which I see belonging as much to my colleagues in Mersey Care and the UNISON trade union members, as to me.”

20

Ghulam Rasul Shahzad has been awarded an OBE for his work in his community in Rochdale.

Shahzad – a retired member who used to work for the council, had been given the Community Crime Fighters Award by prime minister Gordon Brown in December and, in 2004, was presented with UNISON’s Bob Cotton Citizenship Award.

He said: “I am particularly thankful to UNISON for supporting me during all the previous years and hope that this support will continue in the years to come.”

General secretary Dave Prentis: “It is a proud day for Jean and Shahzad for the union to see their names included in the new Year’s honours list.

“They truly deserve to get this very special recognition for all their years of commitment.”

Equal pay for Christmas

NHS staff passport launched

Up to 900 members in Cumbria celebrated after receiving offers averaging £9,000 to settle their long-running equal pay claims, with money in time for Christmas for those who accepted.

The offers, which add up to around £9m, are the first phase of a proposed settlement for claims against the county council, lodged by UNISON and others, on behalf of more than 2,000 women.

The full settlement offers in the case of Joss v Cumbria Council, which has been running since 2003 – largely due to council appeals against a number of union successes at employment tribunal hearings – will add up to £39m.

Individual offers ranged from £100 to £34,000 (with the average around £9,000), and covered from 21% to 100% of members’ claims.

A number of those who received offers had retired from the council in the intervening years and in seven cases, the money will be paid into the estates of women who unfortunately died before receiving equal pay.

Do you have an equal pay claim?

See p26–7 for important information on time limits.

The NHS Social Partnership Forum has launched a new “staff passport” for health workers facing transfer.

The passport comes in the form of a toolkit which gives NHS staff facing transfer an easy-to-use, practical guide to the employment standards and rights they can expect when being transferred, either within the NHS or to third parties working under contract to the health service.

“The staff passport ensures that staff are aware of their rights on and following transfer,” commented UNISON lead negotiator Mike Jackson. “Knowledge is the key to ensuring those rights are embedded by commissioners and respected by future employers.”

Find out more about the NHS staff passport at socialpartnershipforum.org/StaffPassport/

FIND OUT MORE

unison.o equalpay/i rg.uk/ ndex.asp

HE members accept pay deal

UNISON organised meetings throughout the county to explain the offers

Higher education members across the UK voted to accept the 2009 pay offer of 0.5% in the late autumn.

The offer also included a commitment to set up national working groups to improve equality, work on the financial stability of universities and colleges and ‘bring the pay framework up to date’.

“Staff accepted this offer through gritted teeth,” commented UNISON head of higher education Jon Richards. “The worst effects of the recession are hitting home and people are worried about keeping their jobs.

“But they will not put up with this bargain-basement treatment for long and will not rush to pick up such a low settlement again – the employers will have to think long and hard about next year’s offer.”

PHOTO: IAN ENNESS

Welcome to the UNISON family UNISON welcomes a new group of members into the family this year, after signing a partnership deal with the British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists.

The new relationship means that around 800 members of the association will become members of UNISON as well, and the union is excited about this new, and unique, partnership.

BAPO members will now be able to take advantage of the broad range of benefits, the experienced officers and increased influence that comes with being linked to a large union.

“I am proud that UNISON will be able to represent such a unique and valued group of professionals in the health service,” said general secretary Dave Prentis. “Prosthetists and orthotists play a vital role, helping many severely disabled and injured people, giving them hope and enabling them to get on with their work and lives.

“We will be stronger together and I look forward to working with BAPO and its members for many years to come.”

BAPO chair Steve Mottram added: “Our combined efforts will ensure that it will strengthen our ability to offer the treatments and services that our members can offer.

We believe that this will be the start of an exciting period of development as the profession faces the challenges of the future.”

21

PHOTO: ALBERT AMPOFO

Sacked – for eating garlic bread

U @ WORK

Hamid Elkhiyari has received £25,000 compensation after being sacked for eating garlic bread – thanks to UNISON’s legal help.

Mr Elkhiyari left home at 5am on 2 February 2009, when much of London ground to a halt because of heavy snowfall, to struggle in to work at Kingston Hospital in west London, and was praised by his employers for his “outstanding and special effort in exceptional circumstances�.

But later that day, he was sacked.

The catering department was understaffed because of the record bad weather and Mr Elkhiyari did not take a lunch break – but later in the day he ate some garlic bread which was left over because there were fewer staff in the hospital than expected, and which was due to be thrown out.

His line manager Jose Ribero and general manager Alain Ilunga, who like Mr Elkhiyari worked for ISS Mediclean, promptly accused him of theft and dismissed him.

With UNISON’s help, Mr Elkhiyari took his case to an industrial tribunal, which awarded him £25,000 compensation in December and offered him reinstatement.

But Mr Elkhiyari, who had worked for the company for 23 years, declined to go back to his job, saying: “ISS Mediclean is the worst company you could ever work for. I will never go back.�

ISS manager Alain Ilunga did not give evidence at December’s tribunal. Along with another employee of the company at Kingston Hospital, he was arrested in November on suspicion of blackmail and was due to appear in court again in February.

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ˆ 3YV ,SQI 7IPPMRK 4PER TVSZMHIW E JVII XSXEPP] MRHITIRHIRX IZEPYEXMSR SJ XLI QEVOIX TSXIRXMEP SJ ]SYV TVSTIVX] ER IWXMQEXI SJ MXW ZEPYI LS[ UYMGOP] ]SY GER I\TIGX XS WIPP MX ERH [LEX ]SY GER HS XS QE\MQMWI MXW ZEPYI -J ]SY XLIR GLSSWI XS TVSGIIH ERH WIPP ]SYV LSQI XLVSYKL )EW]QSZI ]SY [MPP FI GLEVKIH E GSQTIXMXMZI ½\IH IWXEXI EKIRG] JII SJ [LIR ERH SRP] [LIR XLI TVSTIVX] WIPPW ˆ %R]SRI WIPPMRK XLIMV TVSTIVX] MW VIUYMVIH XS TE] JSV E ,SQI -RJSVQEXMSR 4EGO ,-4 3YV PS[ GSWX WIVZMGI MRGPYHIW JYPP PIKEP HSGYQIRXEXMSR ERH WIEVGLIW VIUYMVIH JSV ]SYV TVSTIVX] XVERWEGXMSR TPYW LIPT GSQTPIXMRK XLI 4VSTIVX] -RJSVQEXMSR 5YIWXMSRREMVI 4-5 ERH SFXEMRMRK ]SYV HIIHW JVSQ ]SYV QSVXKEKI PIRHIV [LIVI ETTPMGEFPI Easymove supports UNISON Welfare with a ÂŁ20 donation for every HIP purchased.

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ME AND MY JOB

Jane Oates W

The biggest challenge is…

We do get elderly people who are quite upset that they have to move, often

PHOTOS: PAUL HERRMANN

Some might find telling people that their homes are about to be knocked down a tough job. But for Jane Oates, a clearance liaison officer, the knowledge that her clients will end up ‘happier and cosier’ makes it all worth while

hen Blackburn with Darwen Council agrees a regeneration programme for a certain neighbourhood, somebody has to go from door to door telling the inhabitants that their homes are going to be knocked down. That somebody is Jane Oates, who has worked for the council for 20 years, and for the regeneration department for five years.

It’s not everybody’s idea of fun, but Ms Oates remains amazingly upbeat.

23

ME AND MY JOB

“So when they finally move into their new homes, it’s nice to see their quality of life improved”

they’ve lived in a house all their lives.

But we want to give them as much help as possible. And we try and keep neighbours together when they relocate.

This is how I can help…

Private and council tenants are all entitled to compensation, disturbance allowance and home loss payments. We can help them to find a new home, and with our contacts in housing, we can often find a decent social landlord which will be an improvement on their previous situation. Owner-occupiers are equally entitled to compensation and support with finding a new home.

Usually it is the condition of the properties that’s the problem. It’s amazing how many homes don’t have central heating. So when they finally move into their new homes, it’s nice to see their quality of life improved.

Because of the compensation they’ve usually got brand new furniture. And they’re mostly much happier and cosier.

The good thing about regeneration is…

It’s interesting to see what happens to the land that’s been cleared, and what use it’s put to. In Darwen they’re just building a big academy on the land that used to be quite run down. So that’s a good thing that’s come of it.

The best thing about my job is…

While the process may start with a knock on the door and some bad news, it ends much more happily. Six weeks after being resettled, I’ll call on the household to make sure they’ve settled in nicely – and to give them a cheque for the remainder of their entitlements.

It’s lovely to see it through from day one to the end, when you see them settled. If we started off by upsetting them, by the end they’ve become like friends.

24

I’m committed to public services because…

I’ve always considered working for the council as a way of helping people.

With 20 years experience of working in frontline services it’s all about helping people.

I get job satisfaction from…

Doing lots of little extras for people, whether it’s re-registering them for voting, getting a disabled badge, street lighting, poll tax… there’s always something cropping up. It’s all the things they just go blank on, but after 20 years, I’ll always know someone who can help. It’s easy for us because we understand the system.

I can deal with disgruntled and abusive customers…

Fortunately I’m a very placid person!

I always just try and calm people down and get to the bottom of what’s making them angry. If you find that out, you’re half way to getting a satisfactory outcome for them.

“Working in frontline services – it’s all about helping people” The perks of the job are…

Being out and about, meeting people and being able to resolve their problems. You get to know so many different families, and they end up as good friends.

And at the end of the day I relax by…

Singing in a band – we’re called Recall. We’ve played at the mayor’s charity performance, at our local library theatre and recently at Darwen Live outdoor festival. But we’re sort of semi retired now. I like holidays, though. I go on cruises. I’ve got one booked in the Med for June.

I can’t wait! U Clare Bayley c.bayley@unison.co.uk

Accident?

An apology won’t pay the bills UNISON is here to get you compensation for everything your accident has cost you.

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Conditions apply. Accidents outside of the UK are covered where we can pursue the case through the courts in England/Wales. Family members are covered for accidents outside of the workplace.

EQUAL PAY

EQUAL PAY Don’t miss out on an equal pay claim by claiming too late

U

NISON is campaigning for equal pay for all members now and into the future – and for the past. Equal pay law allows you to claim loss of earnings and interest up to a maximum six years past – or five in Scotland.

If we can’t negotiate proper compensation with employers, we will have to ask an employment tribunal to award it.

As with all legal proceedings, that involves strict procedures and time limits – and claims can and will fail if these are not met.

The rules on time limits are very complicated and it is easy to slip up.

You need to claim within a fixed time of leaving the job you were discriminated against in.

Normally, that means when you leave employment, but it can also mean a change of job with the same employer or having your job transferred to a new employer.

In April last year, the law on time limits in pursuing claims against employers changed. The new time limit is now six months – you have to pursue your claim against your employer within that time period. There are now no extensions.

There is now no waiting period between submitting your grievance and lodging a claim with a tribunal, but lodging a claim with a tribunal must be strictly within six months, minus one day, after leaving the job or changing employer.

So the key is get help from the union as soon as possible.

You can fill in the enquiry form on page 27.

Should I worry about the time limits?

Are you still doing the same job as when the discrimination took place? Then the 26

do you want to claim?

clock is not ticking: you can pursue an equal pay claim at any time, but the later you leave it, the more chance there is that you may miss out on compensation for some past inequality.

Have you retired on or after 6 April 2009, or are you planning to retire?

We recommend you submit a grievance before lodging a claim with the tribunal, but both must be lodged within six months, less one day, of retiring. From 6 April 2009, there is no longer a waiting period between submitting a grievance and lodging a claim but submitting a grievance and lodging a claim with the tribunal must be done within six months less one day of your retirement.

Have you been promoted or changed to a different job with the same employer?

The time limits could be measured from the change, so we recommend that you submit a grievance before lodging a claim with a tribunal or risk losing compensation for losses before the change. From 6 April 2009, there is no longer a waiting period between submitting a grievance and lodging a claim but both must be lodged within six months less one day from the date of promotion or change to a different job.

In some cases, a job change won’t trigger a time limit, but the only safe thing is to assume that time has started to run. If in doubt, consult your union rep.

Have there been significant changes to your job, in, say, its responsibilities or the work you are required to do?

A significant change may also start time running. Again, if in doubt, consult your union rep.

Is your job the same, but your employer has changed through privatisation or transfer?

The time limits are measured from the date of the transfer: we recommend that you pursue a grievance with your old employer before lodging a claim with the tribunal within six months less one day from the date of transfer. For transfers that happened after 6 April 2009, there is no longer a waiting period between submitting a grievance and lodging a claim against the old employer but both must be lodged within six months minus one day from the date of the transfer.

Have you had some compensation already and signed a ‘COT3’ or Compromise Agreement?

Your claim, up to the date in your settlement agreement, has been concluded and can’t be reopened. But you may have a claim for losses after the date of the settlement the rules above will apply to that claim.

If you think you are out of time, contact the union immediately. We will do everything we can to help and may still be able to get some compensation for you.

For more information on time limits and extra copies of the enquiry form, contact UNISONdirect on 0845 355 0845, textphone 0800 0 967 968 or email direct@unison.co.uk. Lines are open from Monday to Saturday 6am-midnight and on Saturday from 9am-4pm.

If you think that any of these time limits apply to you and you want UNISON to represent you, you should complete this coupon and return it to: Member Liaison Unit, UNISON, Freepost (WC5652), London WC1H 9BR Surname

Job title

First names

UNISON branch

UNISON membership number

Name of employer

Address

Leaving date / transfer date / Leaving date / transfer date / date of promotion / or change date of promotion / or change of job (delete as appropriate) dd/mm/yy of job (delete as appropriate) dd/mm/yy Contact telephone Email address

Postcode

Signed

Date of birth

Dated

Gender

Date received (for official use only)

N O RS IS E N B U EM NLY M O

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britanniarescue.com/unison (Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat-Sun 8am-5pm) For various legal, regulatory and service requirements your telephone call may be recorded or monitored.

Britannia Rescue price based on comprehensive cover including Housecall compared to the nearest equivalent level of cover from the AA and RAC. Prices correct as at 16 December 2009 as quoted on providers websites. Prices quoted are for annual payment only and relate to vehicle only cover and not personal cover. All prices are based on continuous payment method and include insurance premium tax.

UNISON acts as an Introducer Appointed Representative to the Liverpool Victoria group of companies for General Insurance. 20912497 12/09

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Introducing the new energy price comparison service for UNISON members Save an average of £256 and up to £826 on your energy bills* Union Energy’s free 100% impartial energy price comparison service will find the most competitively-priced gas and electricity providers in your area to help keep your home energy bills as low as possible. And if you register for our Ongoing Monitoring Programme we’ll contact you again when energy prices change to ensure that you continue to save money in the long term.

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Visit www.unionenergy.co.uk or call 0800 094 9039 (Monday - Thursday 9am - 6pm; Friday 9am - 4pm; Saturday 9am - 1pm) *From 15 Oct - 13 Dec 2009 customers using our service saved an average of £256.43. The maximum saving was £826! NB: Union Energy’s service can be used by households in England, Scotland and Wales (mainland only).

Books U is for Undertow, the latest of Sue Grafton’s alphabetically titled hardboiled female private eye novels featuring Kinsey Millhone, was published on New Year’s Day, making the perfect start to the year for crime fiction fans.

The month continues in the same vein, with a Dashiell Hammett Omnibus, featuring four classic tales, including the iconic Maltese Falcon.

Talking of iconic crime fiction, An Autobiography by Agatha Christie gets a re-issue in September, complete with a CD of the crime queen dictating excerpts from her work more than 40 years ago.

For those wanting something a bit more literary, March sees the publication of Ian McEwan’s Solar, which deals with a scientist being taken to task by the media for commenting on differences between male and female brains.

Away from fiction, fans of film, opera and theatre will be jointly well served

by Allegedly: The Biography of Franco Zeffirelli, by Anna Kythreotis, due out in July.

In September über-chef Marco Pierre White follows the trend for easy

PHOTO: EAMON MCCABE

Here’s a look at what’s in store in the world of books, films and music for 2010

PREVIEW

l a r u t l u c The o come t r yea cooking with Marco Made Easy: A Three-Star Chef Goes Simple. And in October historian David Starkey gets his teeth into Henry VIII, in Henry: Model of a Tyrant.

Throughout the year, Naxos AudioBooks will be releasing a series of recordings of classic stories, from Tolstoy’s The Kreutzer Sonata to Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South. U Amanda Kendal

29

PREVIEW

Films

30

2010 in the cinema offers an exciting array of old favourites, some dusted off for the first time in the 21st century.

But first, January features two extremely original films. “Gorgeous” George Clooney gives one of his best performances to date in Up in the Air, as a man who has turned “living out of a suitcase” into an art form, and has lost his soul in the process.

Ryan Bingham’s job is to fly around America firing people, from companies who are too scared to do the dirty work themselves. He cares less about the people’s feelings, than his dream of amassing one million air miles. So, of course, Ryan has to be brought back down to earth. This is a dazzlingly funny comedy with a dark undertow.

Film critics are falling over each to commend the French prison drama A Prophet. The film follows the fortunes of a young Arab man, Malik (sensational newcomer Tahar Rahim), as he struggles to survive in a tough, raciallydivided prison. At first the 19-year-old innocent doesn’t look as though he will last five minutes, especially when the Mafia take an interest in him. But slowly he learns how to play the system.

Directed by Jacques Audiard, this takes a genre we think we all know, and redefines it. The film is not just a tense, violent thriller, but a tender, funny, culturally fascinating coming of age.

Every new film by Martin Scorsese is a must-see event. And so in February look out for the horror thriller Shutter Island. Set in the fifties, it features Scorsese’s favourite actor Leonardo DiCaprio, as a US marshal investigating the disappearance of a patient from an island hospital for the criminally insane.

Things get messy when a hurricane traps him on the island.

American director Tim Burton has a fondness for visionary British children’s writers. And having recently adapted Ronald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, he’s now turned his attention to Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass.

The combination of Carroll’s wonderfully-imagined world, Burton’s gothic imagination and Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter makes Alice in Wonderland a mouth-watering

prospect. It opens in March.

In April, 22 years after Michael Douglas’s gel-and-braces corporate monster Gordon Gekko declared that “greed is good”, Douglas and director Oliver Stone are back, for Wall Street 2.

Of course, today everyone knows about the venality of the financial world. So it will be interesting to see what new critique Stone and Douglas can present of the economic crisis.

In May, we get to see another old favourite, Robin Hood, leading his merry men onto the big screen. Robin Hood is the fifth collaboration between Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe – Gladiator still being the best – and they are likely to give us a similarly action-packed and stirring tale.

Film trivia: Crowe is not the first Aussie to play the folkloric hero. That would be Errol Flynn, back in 1938.

July sees the return of those endearing crowd-pleasers of the animated world – Woody, Buzz Lightyear and their toy box pals, in Toy Story 3. And in November there will be much frenzied excitement about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.

Harry, Ron and Hermione are entering the last round of their deadly battle with Lord Voldemort, but we’ll have to wait till 2011 for the climax. Ten years after it all started, the kids will almost certainly be able to take themselves to the pictures. U Demetrios Matheou

Music British electropop band Hot Chip will release their fourth album One Life Stand in early February. Following on from Made in the Dark, expect more broken electro with indie beats. The band also starts a UK tour on February 10.

One to see live has to be Pendulum. The Australian electronica/rock crossover act are well-known for their awesome live shows.

And they will be accompanying their new album Immersion with UK concert dates throughout the year.

Also in February, Massive Attack release Heligoland. Grant Marshall has suggested a return to the minimalist approach that made the band famous, with “sparse, lovely songs with simple production”. Their first record in five years boasts guest vocals from Damon Albarn, Hope Sandoval and Elbow’s Guy Garvey, among others.

One of the annual highlights of the music calendar, the Glastonbury festival, celebrates its 40th

anniversary in style, with U2 headlining. Bono and co will play the Pyramid stage’s top spot on Friday 25 June, in what will be their first ever appearance at the festival. “The 26-yearold rumour has finally come true.” At last, the biggest band in the world are going to play the best festival in the world.

Can’t decide where to go for your summer holiday? Why not try the Ibiza Rocks Hotel – holiday in the sun with live music under the stars. This year the fun begins in June, with Tuesday night gigs running through to early September.

If you fancy a more family-oriented musical summer, closer to home, check out the Big Chill festival, held in the grounds of Eastnor Castle during early August. Unlike many, this festival caters for all, with family camping, quiet camping and accessible camping. It also provides a diverse range of music from folk and jazz to African and dub, as well as art, films, poetry, cabaret and gourmet food.

And you could finish your summer in style, in September, with Bestival, a three-day music festival on the Isle of Wight. Besides being generally smaller, there are several qualities that make the Bestival different from many others. It is considered more alternative and diverse, and is often described as a “boutique festival” due to its noncorporate feel.

The festival, which takes place at Robin Hill Country Park, is also heavily involved in supporting social, political and environmental causes.

Towards the end of the year, the big-name bands expected to release new albums include Red Hot Chili Peppers, R.E.M. and Radiohead. U Rob Smith

PHOTO: STEVE FORREST

PHOTO: STEVE FORREST

31

CROSSWORDS

w

! n u f Puzzle

by Caper

Coffee time

Alphajig

Something easy to warm you up for the tougher challenges to follow.

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 M, P and the clues to them straight away – and now you know where U goes …

■ Piece of V (3) ■ Colour of blood (3) ■ Young bear, eg (3) ■ Used in stating a woman’s maiden name (3) ■ Martial art (4) ■ Fencing sword (4) ■ Bird of the poultry type (4) ■ Person who entertains guests (4) ■ Objects that are worshipped (5) ■ Fast (5) ■ Dim, like a muddy pool (5) ■ Poetry (5) ■ Type of bet or an American (6) ■ Fire-breathing creature (6)

n

z d

DOWN

1 Leafy green vegetable (7) 5 North American Indian woman (5) 9 Bunch of flowers (7) 10 Place for catching trains (7) 11 Laughs in a mischievous way (8) 12 Powerful (6) 15 Christmas entertainment (9) 16 South American dance (5) 17 Horns of an elephant (5) 19 Shells of wood dancers use for clicking (9) 21 Tool for digging (6) 22 High pitched singing voice (8) 25 Look over carefully (7) 27 Bravery (7) 28 Painting on a wall (5) 29 Device producing electricity (7)

1 Warn to take care (7) 2 The middle classes – seen as being capitalistic (11) 3 Work of art placed above the table in a church (10) 4 Simple (4) 5 Mineral spring (3) 6 Identifying set of clothes (7) 7 Vessel for drinking, rioja, say (9) 8 Long-billed bird (4) 13 Condiment for fish (6, 5) 14 Feline with long hair (7, 3) 15 Highly reactive metallic element, symbol K (9) 18 Support, financially (7) 20 Channel of water meeting the sea (7) 23 Small furnace for baking or roasting (4) 24 Wound with a knife (4) 26 Slippery fish (3)

S

z

m

b

32

ACROSS

■ Santa’s traditional home (7) ■ Something thus learnt is committed to memory (2, 5) ■ Postpone legal proceedings (7) ■ Rich (7) ■ Building in which plays are performed (7) ■ Italian astronomer (7) ■ Used a photocopier (7) ■ Pointed tower on a church (7) ■ Yearly (3 5) ■ Folk from Lusaka, eg (8) ■ Not changed (9) ■ Punishes by pulling under a boat (9)

d

Overlaps

f

TAL RADIIO !

Send to all your answ thr ers Fridayee puzzles b 1 y 9 M ar to the add ch below ress

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: 4 Each sprain hurts (5) Gives ACHES, which is defined by hurts, the consecutive letters of which can be found in EACH SPRAIN – all mixed up

h

e

b

w

b

W A DIGIN

Plain UNISON Across: 1 Stretch, 5 Prang, 9 Open air, 10 Pancake, 11 Outdated, 12 Bandit, 15 Perimeter, 16 Santa, 17 Sitar, 19 Artichoke, 21 Hurdle, 22 Paraffin, 25 Slender, 27 Trisect, 28 Elope, 29 Baronet.

Down: 1 Shelter, 2 Rear admiral, 3 Torrential, 4 Hope, 5 Pun, 6 Abandon, 7 Great Dane, 8 Yo-yo, 13 Association, 14 Protractor, 15 Posthaste, 18 Torpedo, 20 Offbeat, 23 Note, 24 Grub, 26 Dye. Overlaps Across: 2 Cat, 4 Canon, 7 Platitude, 10 Teacher, 11 Usher, 15 Firetrap, 17 Cinnamon, 18 Arctic Ocean, 19 Amended, 20 Carol, 22 Gin. Down: 1 Pan, 2 Castle, 3 Torte, 5 Electrician, 6 Odds and ends, 8 General, 9 Detains, 12 Sir, 13 Accordion, 14 Boa, 16 Price tag, 21 Rib. Alphajig Asked, Because, Cue, Donated, Exercise, Fish, Genuine, Handcuffs , IOU, Joggers, Knickers, Leeches, Mac, Numb, Oust, Poetesses, Quasars, Rum, Scandal, Tutored, Uneven, Verse, Whims, X-Files, Year, Zippy

a d

WIN a

ACROSS

DOWN

2 Teases a stupid fool (3) 4 Each sprain hurts (5) 7 A monarch identifies instrument (9) 10 Rinsed arctic fish (7) 11 Pale red jewel (5) 15 Retains rancid shoes for the gym (8) 17 Lord Adonis’ robots (8) 18 Blue Martian required deep blue (11) 19 Ogle Californian work of art (7) 20 Wanderer and monk (5) 22 Religious woman in nursery (3)

1 2 3 5

Chops hazel tree (3) Deduce man’s insightfulness (6) I see nice river (5) Fred lets Nick carry weapon in Cluedo (11) 6 Engineer serviced wrecked tool (11) 8 Rich bait lured edible fish (7) 9 Tenor or classical singer like Bing (7) 12 Collection of animals for a King (3) 13 Barracuda can’t ram a boat (9) 14 Tot ruined a dress (3) 16 Talon sliced horse (8) 21 Fool making music (3)

w

A DIGITAL RADIO!

For your chance to win a digital radio, kindly sponsored by UNISON Travel Club, 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 19 March.

The lucky winners from the last issue are: Mrs L Fraser. Leicester; P & SM Dalton, Lancashire; Ms Maggie Watts, Kent; Marion Dick, Fife; Mrs KE Lamont, Aberdeen; Eleanor James, Lancing; Mrs AE Crossland, Leeds; KM Cattle, York; Carolyn Emery, Somerset; Thomas Leach, Flintshire

Win a digital radio – sponsored

by UNISON Travel Club 33

AUTUMN 2009

MillionVoices join our campaign

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

Just a carer?

I read the article about carers Sylvia Dallimore and Margaret Anderson in U magazine (Autumn 2009) with great interest.

I was absolutely appalled to read that they were not being paid for their travel between clients, this is part of the working day.

Like Sylvia and Margaret I am employed with a very large city council as an independent living assistant. I must say at this stage it is a very good company to work for, but like all they have their downfalls.

I’d like to say, ‘Margaret, there is no such thing as JUST a carer, it is a very important job.’

Jeanette Maynard by email

Future of pensions I would urge all public service staff to contact the Conservative and Liberal parties to ask if their pension rights will be protected if either of those parties come to power after the next election.

From the response that I

Carers Margaret Anderson and Sylvia Dallimore offer a key public service in the Highlands

got, anyone who is going to depend on a public service pension would need to vote Labour whatever other issues might upset them.

As a nurse, I don’t earn enough for a massive pension so if even this is not safe I dread to think what other cuts might be planned.

Roger Weetch Bradford

Disability Living Allowance I’m writing to your readers in response to my own current experience and knowledge of how a great many individuals fail to make use of the Government’s Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Scheme.

Do you have various difficulties, need prompting or help with your personal care, or getting around outdoors, because of a physical or mental health problem, sight, hearing, or speech difficulties?

And, expanding on those details, many beneficiaries in the past have included those suffering extensive accident injury, cancer, MS, epilepsy,

FOR UNISON MEMB ERS AND THEIR FAMILI ES

Likemother likedaughter together inUNISON

a digital radio

U@WORK | REVIE WS |

Aspergers Syndrome, and many other conditions.

To make a DLA application, new applicants should be aware that there should be at least three months’ history of the problem plus the prospect that it will continue for a considerable time in the future.

Please don’t be put off by what seems like a lengthy and complicated form. This is not a test of your writing expertise or grammar.

For more information you should contact: Disability Living Allowance Tel 08457 123456 (option 2) or online: www.direct.gov.uk/ en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSu pport/DisabilityLivingAllowance /index.htm Attendance Allowance Tel 08457 123456 (option 2) or online: www.direct.gov.uk/ en/DisabledPeople/FinancialS upport/AttendanceAllowance/ index.htm Incapacity Benefit Tel 0845 6088630 Steve McDonald Edinburgh

Magda GillowEllershaw A vibrant socialite, trade union activist and mother of four has died at the age of 79. Magda Gillow-Ellershaw (nee Logan), who lived in Lancaster, died on 14 December at Hillcroft Nursing Home in Caton of complications following a stroke. She leaves behind four daughters: Anne, Judy, Tessa

34

WIN

CROSSWORDS | LETTERS

UNISON

LETTERS

Got something to say?

Magda Gillow-Ellershaw

and Laura as well as six grandchildren: Cara, Jennifer, Benjamin, Tym, Alexander and Claire.

From the mid 1960s until 1995, Magda was a member of NALGO and she was instrumental in the creation of UNISON. Initially she represented public sector employees in disputes and disciplinaries, then in the late 1960s she was elected to the national executive of NALGO. She travelled to France, Spain, Italy, Germany and Austria on trade union business, as well as investigating issues such as affiliation to the Labour Party.

I don’t know if anyone remembers my mum but she had many good friends at UNISON. My mother was a committed trade unionist and very proud of her service on the national executive. She regarded it as her most important occupation.

Anne Coles by email

A Million Barnsley Voices

Joining the Million Voices campaign in Barnsley

I wanted to write and tell you about how we’ve taken UNISON’s Million Voices for Public Services campaign to Barnsley. On Saturday we had a Million Voices stall in Barnsley town centre.

It was a joint effort between the health branch and the local government branch.

The objectives of the day were to engage with the public about the campaign, raise the profile of UNISON and take our antiprivatisation/pro public service message to the streets of Barnsley and ask members of the public to sign up to the campaign if they supported us.

To say we were overwhelmed at the support we received from the public is an understatement. We received 110 names and addresses of individual members of the public who wanted to add their support to our Million Voices Campaign.

And a jolly good time was had by all!

Tony Wright Barnsley

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 Cheryl Jones. Cheryl was nominated by her friend and colleague Carol Hughes.

Cheryl is a Cyngor Gwynedd council employee and has worked as a community carer for many years. Cheryl has also gone the extra mile for her clients, whom Carol explains “think the world of” Cheryl.

Now Cheryl is ill herself, earlier this year she was diagnosed with lung cancer and now she also has a brain tumour.

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<gZVi hVk^c\h dc V cZl KVjm]Vaa# Carol would like to nominate Cheryl and says “I’m sure all her friends and colleagues would love her to have a bouquet to show her how loved she is by us all.” We agree with Carol that Cheryl deserves a beautiful bouquet, and it’s 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.

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PHOTO: STEV E FORREST/W ORKERS’ PHOT OS

It was a year of challenges for everyone, but UNISON’s million voices were there to speak up for our members

REVIEW OF THE YEAR

LOOKING BACK AT

2009 C hallenging – if there’s one word that sums up the past year, it’s that. 2009 was challenging for you, for all our members, for the public services you provide and for the economy as a whole.

Because the last 12 months have been dominated by one thing: the financial and economic crisis that started the year as a “credit crunch” and ended it as a recession.

S ROSE PHOTO: MARCU

A Million Voices for Public Services For UNISON, the key theme of 2009 has been our response to that crisis: our Million Voices campaign – ● a million voices for public services; ● a million voices speaking out on behalf of our members;

36

a million voices calling for a fairer society to take us out of recession; ● a million voices saying we can’t go back to the same old ‘business as usual’, private is best, system of unregulated greed which created the crisis in the first place.

The year kicked off with the union’s executive – the democratic leadership representing every region and service group in UNISON – determined to meet that challenge.

It declared that “the time is right to stand up for workers” … in the words of general secretary Dave Prentis.

“It’s the workers, vulnerable people, pensioners and people living on benefits who pay the price of the crisis,” said Mr Prentis. “It’s our people who are suffering. ●

“This recession is so bad we need a voice speaking up for working people.”

And, he added: “We have an antiprivatisation agenda, but we do need to set out the case for the public service tradition and the maintenance of public expenditure.

“We know markets and competition have failed in the financial sector – why import them into public services?”

Marching for jobs, justice, climate As a first step, UNISON took the lead in organising the wider union movement to make sure workers’ voices were heard when leaders of the major economies met at the spring G20 summit in the UK to discuss how to deal with the recession.

We were influential in making sure the TUC took up the call and held a Put People First march on the eve of the summit, calling for jobs, people, public services and climate change to be at the heart of plans to deal with the crisis.

And UNISON members turned out in their tens of thousands on the streets of London to deliver a simple message to the leaders of the world’s 20 largest economies.

Beyond simply bailing out the banks who caused the crisis, they said, we need a new way forward focusing on: ● jobs – with decent work and public services for all;

justice – with an end to global poverty and inequality; ● climate – with a green economy to tackle the challenges facing this and future generations.

Governments and the economy face a simple choice, said Mr Prentis. “Do we want to keep on putting profits first, hedge funds first, bankers first?

Or do we want to put jobs first, justice first, our environment first? I know which side I’m on.” ●

Campaign launch The union kicked off the campaign when we formally launched A Million Voices for Public Services at June’s national conference.

This was a million voices speaking out for our members – but more than that, it was our members speaking out: ● speaking out about the economic crisis and the effect it’s having on you, your families and your communities; ● speaking out about the importance of your jobs; ● speaking out about the importance of the public services you provide.

Because it’s you, our members, public service workers, who pick up the pieces of families and communities facing the consequences of unemployment, family breakdown and ill health that follow recession as surely as night follows day.

And it’s you, and the public services you provide, that will lay the foundations for recovery in the future by keeping society and the economy working through the crisis.

Looking forward to 2010 And we’ll be taking the campaign forward into what promises to be an equally challenging year in 2010.

The economic crisis hasn’t gone away, across the political spectrum, politicians are talking about the need to make cuts – and we face a general election which could see the Conservative Party return to government.

“Challenging” looks like the word that will best sum up the 12 months ahead, as well as the 12 just gone. But it is a challenge that – with a Million Voices raised in UNISON – we can and will meet. U Tony Braisby t.braisby@unison.co.uk

Bringing your union nearer to you 2009 also saw the conclusion of a four-year long review of the way the union’s structures work, to make sure that they gave an equal voice to each and every member, no matter where they work – and especially when it comes to bargaining.

Our conference in June looked at the results of that review and agreed rule changes to make the union’s structures more representative of you and your fellow members.

The main changes were to set up a whole new ‘service group’ – the part of the union that negotiates for members, by their areas of work – giving those of you who work in the community and voluntary sector your own voice.

As well as this new service group – called community – two other broader service groups were created, based on existing ones: police and justice, and water, environment and transport.

Votes will take place this year for you to elect your representatives on the executives running these new service groups, as well as those for local government, health, energy and higher education.

PHOTO: STEVE FOR REST/WORKERS’ PHOTOS

Standing up for public services But it’s also you, public services and the public sector generally that are in the sights of rightwing politicians and the media wanting to make public services pay for a crisis caused by the private financial sector, with talk of cuts and redundancies, alongside attacks on pay and pensions.

And that’s why a large part of UNISON’s year was spent countering those attacks and putting the case for public services. The union’s General Political Fund agreed to provide up to £1m to fund our biggest ever campaign.

Throughout the year, the union has published fact sheets rebutting some of the myths about public services and their ‘affordability’ while

outlining a positive alternative: making the case for putting people first, making the case for public services, making the case for public spending, for housing, for the NHS, for education and children’s services, for libraries … and for a better way of running the economy and society.

And we’ve been taking that case – and our members’ voices – to those that matter: from building support across the trade union movement at the TUC Congress, through holding seminars for key ‘opinion formers’ and warning political party conferences of the risks in cutting vital public services and jobs to a Westminster launch giving MPs access to the faces and voices behind the figures in December.

These elections will take place in April, but you will be able to nominate colleagues to sit on the executives from early this year.

So keep your eye out for information on the elections – and get involved in making sure your voice is heard.

Find out more about the union’s Million Voices campaign, including downloadable factsheets and briefings, plus the voices of ordinary members speaking out for public services at unison.org.uk/million 37

Short breaks in North Devon from only £29.50 per person for 4 nights...

UNISON’s very own Croyde Bay Holiday Village is set in a stunning location on the unspoilt North Devon coast. Just a few minutes walk through the dunes will take you to the vast sandy beach of Croyde Bay, this is the perfect spot for surfing, families or just relaxing. We offer both self-catering and half board accommodation and a host of facilities for you to dip in and out of as you choose.

ROOM, DINNER AND BREAKFAST OR SELF CATERING COTTAGES CHOICE OF RESTAURANTS AND BARS INDOOR

NIGHT-TIME ENTERTAINMENT FAMILY ZONES & CHILDRENS ACTIVITIES SHOP LAUNDRETTE SURF SHOP BOOK ONLINE AT

www.croydeunison.co.uk 01271 890890 OR CALL

Self catering offer

£29.50

Prices are per person per break based on a minimum of 5 people and are inclusive of 10% UNISON discount.

Prices are inclusive of heating, linen and full use of the on-site facilities, which include an indoor pool, sauna, spa bath & gym. Offer available on the following dates – April Fri 16th

3 nights

Sat 24th

2 nights

Mon 19th

4 nights

Mon 26th

4 nights

Mon 3rd

4 nights

Sat 22nd

3 nights

Sun 16th

4 nights

Tue 25th

4 nights

Mon 5th

4 nights

Sat 24th

2 nights

Mon 19th

4 nights

May

July

Get your paws on this!..

Luxury cottages available for you and your 4 legged friends. Situated in Croyde Bay, North Devon, just a short walk across the ‘dunes’ from the beach. The surrounding coast and countryside is an area of outstanding natural beauty – part of a UNESCO World Biosphere. Excellent for ‘walkies’.

The newly refurbished, cottage style accommodation, can sleep 4/5 people, with a maximum of 2 dogs per cottage.

All of the cottages have two bedrooms, a lounge/dining area and bathroom. They each have a private courtyard and access to a front communal garden area. There is a laundry with washer and dryer and an area to hose off the dogs and your boots after a long walk in the superb surrounding countryside.

Easter offer – any 3 nights, room, dinner and breakfast ADULTS

CHILDREN 3-17yrs

£99 £50

Prices:

Prices are per person and include dinner, accommodation and breakfast and full use of all the on-site facilities and are inclusive of 10% UNISON discount.

24th July – 28th of August: £1,149 for 7 nights £599 for 4 nights (Monday – Friday) £569 for 3 nights (Friday – Monday)

SWIMMING POOL SPA, GYM AND SAUNA

1st March – 24th July: £685 for 7 nights £399 for any 3 or 4 nights

28th August – 18th December: £685 for 7 nights £399 for any 3 or 4 nights Plus April – October: FREE use of the adjoining Holiday Village Facilities* Pool, Gym, Sauna, Spa bath, Tennis Courts, Bar & Restaurant.

BIKE HIRE TENNIS, CRAZY GOLF AND MORE...

Prices are subject to availability and bookings are taken on a first come first served basis. Full payment must be made at the point of booking and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.

Offers may be withdrawn at anytime. Prices are subject to availability and bookings are taken on a first come first served basis.

Full payment must be made at the point of booking and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offers may be withdrawn at anytime.

Call 07810 185327 to book or for more information * Please note well controlled dogs are allowed in the Holiday Village Plaza Bar but not other facilities.