The trade unionist beaten for his beliefs
What difference does UNISON make to Labour?
WINTER 2012
All the news and pictures from 30 November
THE MAGAZINE FOR ALL UNISON MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES
New faces on the picket line
‘why we had to do it’
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Welcome to
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WINTER 2012
Entering the New Year, I feel so proud of UNISON members. I’m proud of the stand you have taken in defence of your pensions. And I’m proud of the extraordinary public services that you continue to provide, despite personal pressure and hardship. November 30 was an historic day. By taking strike action, you made your presence and your feelings felt across the country. I want to say a personal thank you to everyone who took part, or provided emergency cover on the day. Many of you had never taken strike action before, and I know it was a hard decision to make. But your courage was inspirational – with literally thousands of new members queuing up to join UNISON as a result. Your show of strength has also forced ministers to engage in serious negotiations over public service pensions. We remain determined to win a fair deal for all of you. Of course we face other challenges this year, with continued threats to jobs and conditions, and to the services you provide. Your commitment and resolve are as vital as ever. And please keep talking to your colleagues – the more members we have, the stronger our voice. Here’s to a successful 2012.
DAVE PRENTIS UNISON GENERAL SECRETARY
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. Textphone 08000 967 968
VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.UNISON.ORG.UK
Features 4
Pensions day of action What next for UNISON members and their pensions 5 Enough is Enough Strike coverage from the 12 regions 19 The struggle will be heard Quinton Dlamini, a Swazi trade unionist, tells of his hopes for a better future 22 Murder maybe, divorce never The relationship that’s sometimes stormy but always there 26 Meals on wheels service saved When 100% price rises are hard to swallow
Regulars 28 31 32 36
Me and my job Bouquet to a member Letters Puzzle fun!
Volume 19, number 4 U is published by UNISON – the public service union – and distributed to every member. Non members pay £30 a year. Editorial enquiries The Editor, UNISON centre, 130 Euston Road, London NW1 2AY 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 Paul Box/Report Digital Print TU ink Paper 100% Post-consumer waste Polywrap Oxo-degradable polythene U magazine is available in audio format by contacting Pat Payne, UNISON communications, at the address above.
WINTER 2012U MAGAZINE
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STRIKE
WHAT NEXT?
Pensions day of action WHAT NEXT FOR UNISON MEMBERS AND THEIR PENSIONS?
he 30 November was an historic day – millions of public service workers united to say: “Enough is enough” in reply to the attack on their pensions. From midnight onwards picket lines were set up, and as dawn broke the strike was well underway. In a mood of calm determination, thousands of members – many of whom had never taken strike action before – took a stand for their pensions, and the pensions of future generations. Around midday, the strikers joined sympathetic members of the public to march together to rallies in city centres all over the country. UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “The day will go down in history as the largest coordinated industrial action, the biggest demonstration of determination and defiance, that this country has witnessed for almost a century. It was a great day for UNISON and my proudest day as general secretary.” Thousands of new members joined UNISON in the run-up to the strike, and even on the day itself, as they realised that they needed protection from the attacks on their terms and conditions.
T
But where do we go from here?
The strike achieved its aim of getting ministers back into meaningful negotiations. Since 30 November, central negotiations, led by Dave Prentis, have resumed and negotiations are taking place around the specific schemes. The TUC public sector liaison group met in December to plan the way forward, and it decided that sector negotiation is the best way forward, 4
U MAGAZINEWINTER 2012
with unity within sectors being crucial. UNISON’s service group executives hit the ground running after the New Year, meeting to decide the next steps to take, and holding the union’s third pensions summit on 10 January. All agreed we need to keep the momentum going, keep campaigning, build on our recruitment successes and prepare for further action if necessary. The situation changes from day to day, so keep checking the UNISON website at unison.org.uk but here are the broad areas of progress to date. Local government
Negotiations over the Local Government Pensions Scheme (LGPS) for England, Wales and Northern Ireland are continuing. The Local Government Association (LGA) and Local Government Employers (LGE) have agreed principles and a timetable for negotiations to defer any change within the LGPS until 2014. These negotiations cover both short and longterm changes to the LGPS in order to find solutions that are appropriate to the LGPS membership and the structure of the scheme itself. UNISON and the other 10 LGPS unions have managed to reach a consensus with the employers, actuaries and fund managers that the coalition’s demand for £900m short-term savings from the LGPS could not be met without harming the scheme. Alternative ways of realising the ‘savings’ are being looked for. Both the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and LGA proposals contain changes to the accrual rate to achieve this. The longer-term changes to all public
sector pensions from 2015, put forward by Danny Alexander, calls for an accrual rate of 1/60 – the same as the current LGPS – linked to a career average scheme. It also provides for protection of benefits and retirement ages for those within 10 years of retirement and some tapered protection for those just outside the 10-year limit. Health
After the success of 30 November, talks on the health service pension scheme resumed. A Heads of Agreement – a framework for talks – was reached. This is not a deal – it simply paves the way for detailed negotiations to take place. Formal negotiations on the NHS pension scheme in Scotland have not yet started with the Scottish government. The government seems intent on moving from final salary to career average (CARE) schemes across the public sector. UNISON does not oppose CARE schemes in principle as they often benefit women and lower-paid members. However, the type and value of the CARE scheme is important, and various models are being considered for the NHS. For all members, your elected representatives will continue to meet to discuss the way forward and any final decision will be made through the union’s democratic structures. To keep up to date with events and talks as they take place, stop off at the UNISON website at unison.org.uk to check the latest news. U Clare Bayley c.bayley@unison.co.uk
STRIKE
WEST MIDLANDS
‘Enough is enough’ Dave Prentis, UNISON general secretary in Birmingham
Dave Prentis addresses Birmingham rally
MARK CHILVERS
UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis brought a packed National Indoor Arena to its feet in Birmingham on 30 November as he praised workers from across public services for taking action to protect their pensions. And on what he described as an historic day, he reiterated the call to make the bankers pay for the financial crisis that they caused – not those people providing vital public services. Mr Prentis told the packed meeting in Birmingham that, since early in the morning, he’d been “touring workplaces and receiving reports from around the country. The day is still unfolding, but it’s already clear that it will go down in history as the largest coordinated industrial action, the biggest demonstration of determination and defiance, that this country has witnessed for almost a century.” He told them that history was being made, “not by politicians – not by bankers and business leaders, but by the millions of ordinary men and women; few of them militants or hardened activists, many thousands who have never taken industrial action before, who, with courage and quiet resolve have said: ‘enough is enough’.”
Mr Prentis condemned the bankers, and the way in which they are being handed the reins of power in countries such as Greece and Italy. And he had a simple message for the government: “Hands off our pensions, hands off our public services and, while you’re at it, you can hand back the keys to Downing Street. “Be in no doubt,” he told his audience, “that day will come.
I can’t give you an exact date, but I know that today, with this magnificent show of spirit and strength, you’ve certainly brought it closer.” And saying that “this is the day we turned the tide”, he urged them to “take heart, take courage”. U Amanda Kendal a.kendal@unison.co.uk
MARCUS ROSE
International friends
UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis got on the UNISON bus at 5.45am to visit hospital workers striking at Guys and St Thomas’ hospital
US nurses led protests outside British Embassies in Washington DC and five Consulates. UNISON members were also sent messages of support by trade unions in Canada, Bangladesh, Holland, Russia, Spain, Ireland, Nicaragua, France, Australia, the Philippines, Norway, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, Croatia, Korea and Bermuda amongst others.
WINTER 2012U MAGAZINE
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STRIKE
EAST MIDLANDS
‘I worry for my children’ Andrea Hallam, a healthcare worker in Nottingham
PETE JENKINS
Andrea Hallam fears for the future of her family. The mother-of-three is already holding down three jobs and still life is a struggle. She took her very personal message to the picket line at Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham. Andrea is a phlebotomist working for GP practices, a health care assistant and takes out-of-hours calls for emergency medical services, yet still her annual earnings only come to £17,000. With her 19-year-old daughter at university and sons aged 17 and 15, the bills are just getting higher. “I’m really feeling it now,” Andrea said, “more than ever. Everything is going up. I’m on really hard times now, every penny matters and it is only going to get worse. “The other workers at my surgery have been very supportive of my action today. I am here now because it is affecting my life. I’m working full time and getting less money.” Everyone that walked past Andrea as they went into the hospital took a leaflet from her, many giving a smile and saying they would read about her message. “I don’t agree with what the government want to do,” Andrea said: “If we have to work until we are 68, I don’t know if I will be able to do all my jobs then.” Now aged 46, she fears that her long
Andrea Hallam in Nottingham
term prospects are bleak. “I just don’t know about the future. I worry for my children. My daughter is at uni and my son is at college but he cannot get a part time job – there is nothing out there for them. It is a frightening future, I just don’t know what will happen.” Andrea gets support from her children’s father and her fiancé but money is still tight.
She is angry with the government over the pension proposals. “Before they got in, they said they would not touch public workers but that is exactly what they have done and I cannot see how it will get better. It is totally wrong what they are going to do.” U Anne Dixey u.magazine@unison.co.uk
Everyone deserves a decent pension
No ‘wild demands’
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CHRYSSA PANOUSSIADOU
Bronwyn McKenna, UNISON assistant general secretary, denounced Michael Gove’s attack on union members at a rally in Cardiff, saying: “UNISON members are on strike today not because they are making wild demands. Our members do the jobs which make our society decent. All they want is dignity in retirement.”
STRIKE
SCOTLAND
‘I think people have had enough’ Craig Mooney, a support worker from Lanarkshire Craig Mooney joins the picket line at 7.30am
public sector, like Craig and his colleagues, will depend on a decent pension scheme to stop them having to claim benefits when they retire. For them the struggle for a decent public sector pension, is directly a struggle for a decent pension in the voluntary sector too. U
ALAN WYLIE
Craig Mooney is an assisted living support worker with two disabled clients. He has been doing the job with VAMW (a Lanarkshire-based voluntary organisation) for 10 years after seven years with the ambulance service. At 7.30am on 30 November he was on a picket line at his organisation’s headquarters in Motherwell, striking for the first time, along with some of his colleagues. They are part of a number of nonpublic sector workers whose pensions are part of the local government scheme. He fully supported the strike and the fight that UNISON and the other unions are putting up. He said “I think people have had enough. They are tired of being pushed around, and made to carry the can for a crisis they didn’t cause. Voluntary sector workers are poorly paid – we haven’t had a pay rise for five years, and even before that average pay was only £14,300 a year – and we cannot accept further cuts to our pensions. The banks caused the financial crisis, and they should stop raiding public services to subsidise their bonuses.” Later U magazine caught up with Craig at the 1,000 strong rally outside Motherwell Civic Centre. He had been pleased with the support in his organisation, with the numbers on the picket line growing over the morning. Many low-paid workers outside the
Chris Bartter u.magazine@unison.co.uk
Media blitz
In Newcastle nurse Maddy Nettleship said: “as a nurse that works in the community, I know that the patients I see in their own homes appreciate the care that they receive from the NHS and I am the person that delivers that care to them. They have told me that they support the reason why I am on strike today.”
Public service workers are taking action in a week when bankers’ bonuses are running at £4.5 billion, the government has announced another pay freeze and that a total of 710,000 public service jobs will go, Dave Prentis told the Radio 4 Today programme, in a day on which the UNISON general secretary took part in a media blitz.
PAUL BOX/REPORT DIGITAL
Patient support
Child social worker Ann Harrington taking action in Cardiff
WINTER 2012U MAGAZINE
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STRIKE
YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE
‘This cannot be fair’ Sue Highton, a nurse from Sheffield
On the picket line at Sheffield health and social care headquarters
accept that. It is public service and we all love doing it. But you knew you were getting a proper pension and they are trying to take it away. Our people work from 18 to 60 and they walk away with a £7,000 lump sum and a £2,000 a year pension. “Compare that to the pensions Nick Clegg and David Cameron will get. Yet their ministers say their offer is generous. This cannot be fair.” U Peter Lazenby u.magazine@unison.co.uk
‘Go in peace’
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Rory Mountford Lisle, aged 3, enjoys the free kids’ activity session run by UNISON members in Nottingham
‘’ Everyone – working in public service and the private sector – should be entitled to a fair pension
PETE JENKINS
“There are nearly three million people across this land out doing the same as you,” UNISON assistant general secretary Karen Jennings told a rally in Brighton. And the crowd were further buoyed by her parting message: “Go in peace – and I’ll see you again if this government doesn’t come to heel!”
MARTIN JENKINSON
Among those taking action for a decent pension was nurse Sue Highton, on the picket line at Grenoside Hospital outside Sheffield in South Yorkshire. Sue, 58, has worked for the NHS for 36 years. “I started off as a domestic, then as a support worker,” she said. She believes the attack on pensions left public service workers with no choice but to strike. There are the changes planned for increasing retirement age. “Now people can retire at 60 but they will have to work until they are 66,” she said. “Over the next two years they will also have to pay another 3% of their earnings, and their pensions will be reduced. “Even people on decent wages will think twice about joining the pension scheme. It will become unaffordable – pay the mortgage or rent, put food on the table, or pay for your pension. They will just stop paying it. Even now people are paying 6% of a low wage. It will go up to 9%. That’s a lot of money.” She believes everyone – working in public service and the private sector – should be entitled to a fair pension: “We should be fighting for a fair pension for everybody.” And of her public service colleagues she said: “People go into the public services. It’s 24-hour services, 52 weeks a year. We
STRIKE
SOUTH EAST
‘It seems like the right thing to do’ Alix Brodie-Wray, research office worker from University of Brighton
Claire Bayley u.magazine@unison.co.uk
‘
I’m happy to talk to members of the public about it because it’s easy to explain – basically it’s wrong
’
Alix Brodie-Wray at Brighton University
CHRYSSA PANOUSSIADOU
“People are going to realise what public services really are today,” announced Alix Brodie-Wray at the University of Brighton on 30 November. The research office worker reflected that there’s a tendency to think public services are made up of “people in suits, but today they’ll see who we all are.” Alix had never been a union member, but she decided to join UNISON about a year ago and now she thinks that there are “a lot of threats at the moment, so it’s a good idea for me to have representation for the things that are coming.” The university had picket lines organised for all the entrances to its many different sites, but when the student union advised students not to go in on the day of action, the decision was taken to close the whole university. But Alix still turned out with her UNISON flag at 8am to give a public show of support for the strike. “It seems like the right thing to do, and it’s good to be doing something. I’m happy to talk to members of the public about it because it’s easy to explain – basically, it’s wrong,” she said. U
Look out for pension robbers in the West Midlands
Boris bashed
MARK CHILVERS
GLA workers defied Tory London mayor Boris Johnson to take action. “These are key workers for the mayor of London, a high profile Tory politician in the frontline of Tory policy. Boris was determined to keep City Hall open today. We have effectively ensured that 90% of staff joined the strike. It shows how determined these people are to protect their pensions,” said London regional secretary Linda Perks.
WINTER 2012U MAGAZINE
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NORTH OF ENGLAND
‘We should all have dignity in retirement’ Josie Bird, a finance assistant from Newcastle Josie Bird, a finance assistant at Newcastle city council, was showing her support for the day of action despite being on maternity leave: “I couldn’t miss being on the picket line with my son Joseph (six months), wearing his t-shirt saying ‘My Mummy deserves a decent pension’. “As a new mother who will be returning to work in January, my pension is really important to me,” Josie continued, “but I worry about the increased contributions that I am being asked to pay, because with a young family every penny will count.” Josie worried about paying 50% more into her pension every month. As she explained: “I don’t earn much but I work hard, and I believe that the services provided by me and my public sector colleagues are an essential part in creating a civilised society where the vulnerable are protected. Our employment and our pensions are not a drain on society.” “My husband works in the private sector. So for me this fight is not just about public sector pensions but private sector pensions too. We should all have dignity in retirement.” U MARK PINDAR
Ruth Berkley u.magazine@unison.co.uk Joseph and Josie Teaching assistant Debbie Theuma: “We are being asked to pay for what the bankers did and that is wrong”
10 U MAGAZINEWINTER 2012
Flying the UNISON flag for fair pensions in Cambridge
In Nottingham a 62-year-old auxiliary nurse, who did not wish to be named, described how she cried as she left her night shift to join the strike. “I made sure there was cover for the patients and then left. I was crying at having to do it but I felt so strongly. The government had promised people who don’t get good wages a good pension. It’s just dreadful.”
PAUL BOX/REPORT DIGITAL
PETER SMITH
‘I was crying’
STRIKE
GREATER LONDON
‘In my old age I don’t want to live off the state’ Eddyna Danso, an operating theatre practitioner from London UNISON had worked with hospital managers to ensure that emergency services would not be affected along with London ambulance staff who had also made sure that there was plenty of cover for emergency calls. David Lang, the UNISON rep for 150 members at three stations explained: “We could not just walk out and leave Londoners without an ambulance service. We have a duty of care. We do this because we love it. Although we had Eddyna Danso at St Thomas’ Hospital
‘’ Mr Cameron talked about fairness and how we are all in this together. But this isn’t fair
reduced cover, we still had enough people to answer calls.” Mr Lang says he and his colleagues were united in their surprise at the ministers’ assertions that the NHS pension scheme – £2billion in the black – was in need of extra contributions. “I now have got to work till I’m 66. Apparently, younger members are going to have to work till they’re 69. This is a tough job, with a lot of lifting of patients. As far as I’m concerned paramedics should be given the same consideration as police and firemen, who retire at 60. This is putting us at risk, and patients at risk. A 69-year-old hauling a person up the stairs is absurd. No-one has thought about that.” U Demetrios Matheou d.matheou@unison.co.uk
MARCUS ROSE
Eddyna Danso from London’s St Thomas’ hospital has been an operating theatre practitioner for 37 years. On 30 November she said she felt “passionate and angry” about the attacks on her and her children’s futures. “I’ve paid my pension all these years because in my old age I did not want to live off the state. Now I don’t know what will happen, but I do know that I’m going to have to work longer and that everyone coming after me will have to work longer and get less.” Ms Danso said that for her whole life she has worked “non-stop, really hard. In the 1970s and 80s when I had my three children you only had six weeks maternity leave so I was back in the operating theatre six weeks after having each of my three babies. “But I had a work ethic. I did not want to be a single parent living on benefits – I wanted to keep working. “Mr Cameron talked about fairness and how we are all in this together. But this isn’t fair.” Ms Danso said that one of her children now works for local government and is also on strike today. “His pension will also be affected. He will have to work longer before he can get it. But there’s also no way he can afford to buy a home or anything like that in this climate.”
Listen to the people
On the picket line at the University of Brighton
CHRYSSA PANOUSSIADOU
Speaking at a rally in Swindon UNISON assistant general secretary Roger McKenzie urged members to “stand strong, stand tall and stand firm” so that “together we will win this battle.” He had a clear message for chancellor George Osborne: “Listen to the people. We demand the right to decent pensions, we demand the right to decent services and we demand the right to decent terms and conditions in the workplace.”
WINTER 2012U MAGAZINE 11
STRIKE
NORTHERN IRELAND
‘The largest gathering since the peace rallies’ 15,000 on the streets of Belfast
MARIUSZ SMIEJEK
The day of action on 30 November produced a solid strike across the public services in Northern Ireland. Hundreds of venues were picketed as plenty of members of the public showed support to public service workers. A portable stove top meant bacon butties were on the go at the health and social care board at Linenhall Street in Belfast, while greedy looking bankers threatened to take away hard working UNISON members’ pensions at the Belfast rally. In terms of the media, UNISON led against the CBI on the morning’s main live BBC radio programme, came out trumps on a UTV anti-union radio show, and saw members featured on BBC and ITV, with extensive local press coverage in all counties. A rally at Belfast city hall was the largest since the old trade union peace rallies, with UNISON playing the leading role as 15,000 people came together to voice their opposition to the attacks on their pensions. U U magazine u.magazine@unison.co.uk
MARTIN JENKINSON
Piper’s picket
12 U MAGAZINEWINTER 2012
A pensioner of tomorrow believes everyone deserves a decent pension
Action in Scotland started early, with a piper and reception committee welcoming the security guards at Glasgow Caledonian University who walked out on strike at midnight. Pickets were also out at midnight at Tayside Police HQ, and many other 24 hour services. As the morning unfolded, pickets from Stornoway to the Borders raised the UNISON flag at council offices, health centres, hospitals, police headquarters, universities and colleges, including Glasgow’s iconic Rennie Mackintosh School of Art.
STRIKE
SOUTH WEST
‘What we want are fair pensions for everyone’ Phil Chan, a consultation and research officer from Bristol
‘’ The scheme is sustainable at the moment – the concern is that will change if more people leave the scheme
“We’re not doing this lightly – strike action is not something that we do,” said UNISON president Eleanor Smith joining workers at Birmingham hospital as they began the strike at midnight.
Health worker Rachel Noble: “It’s unfair that we are being penalised for other people’s mistakes”
PAUL BOX/REPORT DIGITAL
MARK CHILVERS
Steve Baxter u.magazine@unison.co.uk
Phil Chan outside Bristol city council early on 30 November
SIMON CHAPMAN
“The message has got through that we’re going to have to work longer and pay more,” said council worker Phil Chan, 45, out on strike at Bristol city council and one of many with fears about the future uppermost in their minds. The consultation and research officer added: “If these changes go through it’s a threat to the pension fund. The scheme is sustainable at the moment – the concern is that will change if the added contributions mean more people leave the scheme. “The government ministers aren’t interested in providing pensions for the public sector. What we want are fair pensions for everyone.” He was joined by council conservation officer Liz Smith, who stated: “I’m here to support the union and to support a demonstration against the effect of government ministers’ decisions on us. “It’s the paying more contributions that will really affect us. We’ve had a pay freeze and we’re not expecting another pay rise for some time after yesterday’s announcement by George Osborne.” Ms Smith noted that many members of the public had been supportive as “the public are realising more and more just what’s going on.” U
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STRIKE
NORTH WEST
‘15,000 march in Liverpool, 35,000 in Manchester’ Members come out for decent pensions in the north west Pickets appeared from 6.30am outside hospitals, health centres, town halls, libraries, schools, police stations, and courts, in every town and village in the north west from Crewe to Carlisle. The mood was determined and optimistic as torrential rain and gale force winds swept across the region on Tuesday night but gave way to sunshine on the day. There were 12 marches across the region. The two largest were held in Liverpool, where 15,000 marched through the city. In Manchester one of the biggest demonstrations the city has seen in years saw over 35,000 walk from Liverpool road in the city centre to Whitworth Park opposite the region’s biggest hospital. The marchers’ ranks were swollen by large numbers of doctors and nurses from the hospital who wanted to show solidarity with our cause. There was a massive display from UNISON branches and members. U
Bacon rolls Political support came in from councillors and MSPs across Scotland. Strathclyde Police Staff were joined on the picket line by Chair of Police Board, Labour Cllr Stephen Curran – bearing bacon rolls.
Everyone deserves a fair pension in Manchester
Ambulance workers at Middlewood ambulance station
MARTIN JENKINSON
14 U MAGAZINEWINTER 2012
’
PAUL HERRMANN/REPORT DIGITAL
Paul Foley u.magazine@unison.co.uk
‘
Pickets appeared in every town and village from Crewe to Carlisle
STRIKE
WALES
‘We are being asked to pay for what the bankers did and that is wrong’ Debbie Theuma, Ann Harrington and Lynn Landeg in Cardiff For Debbie Theuma, a teaching assistant in Cardiff, it was the first time on strike. “We are being asked to pay for what the bankers did and that is wrong. People are being asked to work longer to 67, pay more and get less at the end of the day.” She was outside county hall in Cardiff early in the morning of 30 November with Ann Harrington, a social worker in children’s services, who has worked for Cardiff council for 27 years.
‘’ The government should be hitting the bankers hard
Phillip Nifield u.magazine@unison.co.uk
In addition to not being charged in McDonalds at Liverpool Hope University the pickets were fed by local nuns. The West Midlands Police HQ pickets had tea, coffee, toast brought out by police officers working inside. Members of the public at Wishaw hospital in Lanarkshire kept picketers warm with a delivery of hot sausage rolls. UNISON staff delivered chocolates to picketers at Camden council.
Rallies across Northern Ireland Northern Ireland took strike action for the second time in eight weeks. Hundreds of venues were picketed as UNISON officials and reps spoke at rallies in Derry, Omagh, Newry, Downpatrick, Ballymena; thousands gathered outside Belfast city hall; and there was a total shutdown of rail and bus services.
ALAN WYLIE
Nuns on side
Lynn Landeg at county hall in Cardiff
PAUL BOX/REPORT DIGITAL
“I think it is important that we are taking this action. If these government ministers think they are pushing at an open door then they are going to make it even worse.” School worker Lynn Landeg said that she expected to receive only a pension of £3,000 a year. “The government should be hitting the bankers hard. I don’t think the government is looking at all the alternatives to cutting the deficit. With the pay capping announced yesterday, it is not going to get any better.” U
Three generations take action in Scotland: Christine Calder, her mother Catriona Mason and her daughter Rachel Calder
WINTER 2012U MAGAZINE 15
STRIKE
EAST OF ENGLAND
May Smart, a receptionist at Addenbrooke’s hospital in Cambridge
‘I don’t want my kids to have to bail me out’ May Smart, a hospital receptionist from Cambridge was a hard decision, but the best decision to make. We need to make a stand.” Also at the rally was Richard Johnson, a student at Jesus College Cambridge, and a member of Cambridge University Student Labour Club: “The reason I am doing this is I have family and friends who work in the public sector.” Charlotte Garrard, care manager of the social care team for older people in South Cambridgeshire, explained: “I am on the demonstration today because I feel strongly that all people’s pensions should be protected. They were joined by Carol Procter: “I retired on my gold-plated pension and had to come back to work again because it is not enough to live on. After 15 years as a medical secretary my pension is just over £250 a month – that plus my state pension just about pays my rent.” The NHS worker explained she was “angered that MPs’ pensions after 15 years are over twice as much as a band 6 nurses’ pension after 40 years.” All the main entrances to Addenbrooke’s hospital were picketed this morning, except for A&E and oncology, which the unions agreed not to picket. Ms Proctor added: “We regret having to take action, but no way is this aimed at the patients.”
‘’ The pensions pot I have paid into is being raided to pay off bankers’ debts that are nothing to do with me
PETER SMITH
May Smart, a receptionist at Addenbrooke’s hospital Cambridge is angry. “I’ve another ten years to work at least and there’s not going to be a lot of pension when I retire. I just want to survive – I don’t want my kids to have to bail me out. And then who will bail them out? Because the youths don’t have jobs. It just keeps going on and on. It’s an upside down pyramid.” May was one of several NHS workers gathered outside the entrance to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge on 30 November. She was joined by Helen Innes, a medical secretary and her partner Andrew, a nurse, who were there from 7am. “The pensions pot I have paid into is being raided to pay off bankers’ debts that are nothing to do with me,” Helen said. Andrew, who joined the demo on his day off to lend support, agreed: “I am angry that they are continuing to give bankers bonuses at Christmas.” Marching on to the Cambridge rally were teaching assistants Elaina Petrovich and Sammie Byrne. “I’m here to protect our pensions, which will be worth a pittance by the time we are allowed to retire, and to protect the pensions of future generations,” Elaina said. “I’ll be nearly 70 before I can retire.” Her colleague Sammie, aged 19, said: “I’ve never been on strike before and it
16 U MAGAZINEWINTER 2012
‘We see through you’, radiographers’ message to David Cameron and George Osborne
MARTIN JENKINSON
PETER SMITH
All in it together? at a rally in Sheffield
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Quinton Dlamini speaks at UNISON’s national delegate conference in June 2011
STEVE FORREST/IWORKERS’ PHOTOS
‘The struggle will be heard’ Quinton Dlamini, a Swazi trade unionist threatened and beaten for his beliefs, hopes for a better future
B
ritain’s trade unionists have good reason to feel under the cosh: they are currently experiencing attacks on pay, on their pensions, on the very services that they’ve devoted their lives to providing. Austerity Britain is a tough place to be a public service worker. Yet we should spare a thought for colleagues in other countries, where not only are basic living conditions much worse than those in Britain, but the freedom of trade unionists doesn’t come close. In countries as far afield as Burma and Colombia, Zimbabwe and Iran,
trade unionists are either banned outright, or repressed – intimidated, jailed, even killed. For workers and their representatives, there was a crisis long before the financial one that has crippled the west. Swaziland, Africa’s last absolute monarchy, is a case in point. King Mswati III has presided over the complete economic collapse of his country. While the king’s wealth is estimated at between $100m and 200m, most of the 1.4 million population live in absolute poverty. Swaziland doesn’t have enough money for wages, health
care or fuel. Unemployment is around 45%. The king and his ministers are doing nothing to combat the HIV pandemic in their country. To make matters worse, political parties are banned and trade unions forbidden to discuss public policy. “The government is demonic – and you can’t even respond,” says Quinton Dlamini, the president of Swaziland’s public service union NAPSAWU, whose members struggle with very low pay and poor conditions, feeling the brunt of the worst economy in the region. “Journalists have been told that if they print or say WINTER 2012U MAGAZINE
19
‘
’
anything negative about the king, they will be crushed”. Last year was particularly tough for the Swazi trade union movement. The unions increased their campaign for the democratic reform that is the necessary first step in solving their problems. But the more vociferous they became, the greater the crackdown against them. Mr Dlamini has felt the cold hand of the government’s repression himself, notably during what was meant to be a national day of peaceful protest, last spring. The union leader expected to play a key role. But before he could even reach the demonstration in the town of Manzini, he was ambushed by police, beaten, and thrown into a solitary confinement cell. Instead of being on the streets with his compatriots, he recalls, “I didn’t see the sun for two days.” Mr Dlamini, who was an international guest at UNISON’s national delegate conference in Manchester last year, told U magazine that soldiers and police erected road blocks two days before the protests. Buses carrying demonstrators were turned around, individuals were “thrown into the bush” and union leaders jailed. “When I arrived in Manzini, the first thing I had to do was meet with my son Thulani,” he recalls. “He was not going to participate in the demonstration because he had a college exam. He just wanted to get some money from me. “Looking back, they were obviously following my car. Because as I was getting out, Thulani called out to me, and suddenly about 20 police officers pounced on me. They were pushing me with the backs of their guns – I was flying all over the place.
20 U MAGAZINEWINTER 2012
JINTY JACKSON/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
They were trying to instill fear in all of us. Many were detained. People were beaten to a pulp, either by the military or by the police
‘
’
We are optimistic. We are determined. There is no struggle without casualties. They may kill us, but the struggle will be heard
About 1,000 protesters march toward the center of Manzini, Swaziland's main city, on 7 September 2011. Protesters were blocked by a police cordon from reaching the city center.
“At the same time as they arrested me, my son was put into a very big truck with some other people. They were driven 80km away from town, dumped on a mountain, and told to walk back. After they’d been walking for a while, the truck returned, chased them, and took them to another mountain. “They were trying to instill fear in all of us,” he adds. “Many union leaders were detained, in different places. People were beaten to a pulp, either by the military or by the police.” While continuing to lead the high life with his 13 wives, the king has turned a criminally blind eye to the HIV pandemic that is devastating the country. Swaziland has one of the world’s highest rates of HIV/AIDS, with the pandemic affecting more than 25% of the adult population. “I have lost a number of relatives from AIDS, as well as colleagues in the trade union movement and in my own union – that’s how widespread the situation is,” Mr Dlamini laments. “But the money for HIV treatment and prevention measures comes from global funds. Little is put in by our own government.” As if that wasn’t bad enough, in November the IMF revealed that the country has failed to pay more than £6m in grants to AIDS orphans. Such horror stories explain why the unions remain undeterred in their fight for democratic reform. And in the absence of political parties, unions are leading that struggle. Last year continued to see unprecedented streets protests. Where once hundreds took to the streets, now it is thousands. “People are just fed up,” says Mr Dlamini. “We’re saying, enough is enough.”
Mr Dlamini is very aware of the problems faced by UK workers. But he also notes the difference in trade union rights. “You are challenging your government on the pension issue. We can’t do that in Swaziland. We can’t say anything about public policy. And we certainly can’t go on strike over it.” He and his fellow trade unionists are working hard to change that. Swaziland currently has two trade union federations, with the government creating divisions between the two. With the help of the TUC, the individual unions plan to launch a single federation. NAPSAWU is also continuing to fight against salary cuts imposed on all public service workers. And it is making its voice heard in negotiations over potential loans to their country, insisting that they come with political conditions. Quinton Dlamini is undeterred. “We are optimistic. We are determined. There is no struggle without casualties. They may kill us, but the struggle will be heard.” U
Demetrios Matheou d.matheou@unison.co.uk
act now
For more information on UNISON’s international work go to unison.org.uk/international WINTER 2012U MAGAZINE
21
PA PHOTOS
‘MURDER MAYBE DIVORCE NEVER’ LABOUR’S GENERAL SECRETARY AND UNISON LABOUR LINK’S CHAIR ON THE RELATIONSHIP THAT’S SOMETIMES STORMY BUT ALWAYS THERE
I
n the last years of the Labour government, the relationship with the trade unions became increasingly strained, as rifts widened over privatisation and marketisation, foundation hospitals and academy schools. Turning a deaf ear to their union members, the Labour leadership was unwittingly opening the door for the Tories and Liberal Democrats to unleash their
22 U MAGAZINEWINTER 2012
unprecedented attack on public services, education and the NHS. More recently the party failed to offer full support to UNISON members taking action to defend their pensions – waiting for the day of the strike for Ed Miliband to comment “I’m not going to condemn public servants who feel they’re in an impossible position. It is the government’s failure that has led to today’s strike.” Nonetheless, under Ed Miliband,
Labour has immersed itself in a “listening exercise” on a grand scale, with the aim of addressing the weaknesses that led to its election defeat, refashioning itself as a campaigning, community-based party and, most of all, reconnecting with its members – many of whom are UNISON members. It seems a good time, then for UNISON and Labour to reflect on the relationship between the two organisations.
‘’ There’s always going to be differences of opinions – that’s politics
Above: Jack Jones, general secretary of the TGWU and Vic Feather, general secretary of the TUC pictured with Harold Wilson at Congress House.
“To be fair, we always have to understand that when the Labour Party is in government, it has to run the country,” says Steve Warwick, who has been chair of UNISON’s Labour Link for eight years. “And they did some good things, for example on the minimum wage. “But I think the fundamental mistake that the last Labour government made was that they became arrogant, they began to believe that they knew best. PFI is a cracking example of that. It was a huge mistake. But Labour did not listen, they had this idea that they could run the market. And suddenly these mistakes dawned on them, when it was too late. “I’ve said to Ed Miliband that when our members are angry, they’re angry not just for themselves but also for the services and the people they serve, in hospitals, schools, local government, the police. But it was so difficult to convince a lot of Labour politicians in government that we weren’t talking from vested interest, we were talking about concerns that often the public was conveying to us.” Mr Warwick says he has been encouraged by the new Labour leader, not least his speech at the Labour conference, “where he talked about what I saw as ending the neo-liberalist, market-knows-all attitude. That’s why the press attack him so much, because they’re frightened by what he might actually come out with. I just think he needs to have more courage in putting some meat on those bones”. The Labour Party’s new general secretary, Iain McNicol, who was formerly the national policy officer of the GMB, is optimistic that the party and the unions can move on. “Jack Jones had the famous quote from the seventies: ‘Murder maybe, divorce never’. The Labour Party and the trade
unions have had a long and strong history. When you’re in government there’s always going to be differences of opinion. That’s politics, I think it’s healthy. What is important is having shared values, and agreement on the priorities for our society. And I believe many of those are shared across the labour movement. “How bad did it get? It was definitely not irreparable. The relationship can be worked on and can be rebuilt. And I think we’ve seen that happen over the last 18 months, in terms of the engagement between the party and the unions, and the discussions and shared campaigns on issues such as education and health.” Both men agree that, as Mr Warwick puts it, “Sometimes there is a reluctance from the union and the Labour group to talk to each other. “This is where Labour Link should be playing an important role, in trying to connect the dots,” he adds. “Where Labour Link is effective at the moment is nationally and regionally, where we are very involved with local MPs and constituencies. Our important goal is to have a Labour Link officer in every branch. “Most of the time MPs are very accessible. And there are a lot of Labour councillors and Labour groups, who would welcome our input. Where there are difficulties, Labour Link should facilitate that contact.” Says Mr McNicol: “Labour is just short of three million political levy payers in the UK. I know many MPs who really want to get in touch with those members. But there are many hurdles put in the way of that. It’s going to take a shift in terms of how the Labour Party engages, but also a shift in how the unions engage, for example by simply getting the branches to invite MPs along
What is important is having shared values, and agreement on the priorities for our society
and talk about the issues. It does happen now, just not as much as it should.” Mr McNicol adds that one of his personal priorities is to return “trust, respect and engagement” into the heart of the party. “The only way we are going to get the most, the best from our members is if we listen to them, and we engage them – not just in policy, but on campaigns, on how we develop and work with them locally, across the whole country. “There’s been a lot work across the union movement and across the Labour Party in terms of how we organise, with a focus on community organising. And community organising is not about asking our activists and members to hand out leaflets, but engaging them in changing the opinions of others, both within the workplaces and the local communities.” Concludes Steve Warwick: “Labour Link shouldn’t just be about getting the Labour Party reelected, because at the end of the day we need to know what Labour government we’re going to have. So we need to get into the constituencies and make sure that the policies and the manifesto are ones we can support. “Also, Labour Link should never be seen by the rest of the union as the protectors of the Labour Party. That’s not our role. Our role is to push UNISON’s policies and the interests of UNISON’s members within the party. “So it shouldn’t be about grace and favour. It should be businesslike, constructive, with both sides getting something out of that relationship.” U Demetrios Matheou d.matheou@unison.co.uk
act now
For information on UNISON’s Labour Link and how you can make your voice heard within the Labour Party go to unison.org.uk/labourlink WINTER 2012U MAGAZINE
23
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DAY 1: Arrive at Croyde Bay for evening meal and welcome/briefing*. DAY 2: Walk from Lynmouth to Combe Martin 14 miles. DAY 3: Walk from Combe Martin to Woolacombe 14 miles. DAY 4: Walk from Woolacombe for the final 7 mile section to Croyde Bay All accommodation, meals and transport during the event are included. Collection can be arranged from Tiverton Parkway Train Station.
‘There for you’ is the working name of UNISON Welfare the charity providing welfare services to UNISON members and supported by UNISON the trade union. Registered charity number 1023552/SCO38305
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MEALS ON WHEELS SERVICE SAVED 26 U MAGAZINEWINTER 2012
A
nn Smith’s daily visit from Meals on Wheels doesn’t just provide her with a well-balanced hot meal each day. “I look forward to it. It’s somebody to talk to, and one of the young ones takes my garbage down at the weekends.” Ann is unable to get to the shops to buy food and has limited cooking facilities in her home.
Providing a service to the people of Harrow
“I don’t have a cooker – it’s been disconnected because I‘ve had various burns and I’ve got arthritis so I tend to fall a lot.” Two years ago, when Ann’s weight dropped to eight stone, her daughter contacted social services. They arranged for a daily visit from Meals on Wheels for her. “I know I’m getting a proper, wellbalanced meal. It means a lot to me,” Ann says.
‘
But without UNISON’s intervention Ann’s Meals on Wheels could have been taken away. In May this year, Harrow council proposed massive hikes to the price of meals. Assistant branch secretary of Harrow UNISON Darren Butterfield says that when they first heard about the changes that would have seen some of Harrow’s elderly paying more than £2,200 extra per year they were “aghast. I thought they can’t be serious about this”. They were concerned that if the residents of Harrow stopped using Meals on Wheels because they couldn’t afford the price rises the service would have to close. This not only threatened residents but also the jobs of the staff who work there. “Historically in Harrow when they put up meal prices, people have left the service because they can’t afford it – they go to other means such as fast food, frozen meals, supermarkets,” Mr Butterfield says. “On paper they are cheaper, but that’s not what it’s all about. It’s about the social interaction, the check service – I call it a quasi-home care service because our members go out all year – they are the conduit to the wider world.” The branch began a campaign that drew on links with the local community. As part of the union’s response to the formal consultation document, the branch invited the local press to do a photo shoot to generate publicity and then gathered together 200 signatures, from the public, UNISON members and voluntary organisations, rejecting the price rises. Talking Pages, a voluntary organisation that organises volunteers to read newspapers and books to elderly and disabled people, provided a response of over 30 people to UNISON: “they sympathise with people who live alone on fixed incomes”, Mr Butterfield says. Many of the Meals of Wheels users couldn’t attend the council meetings to discuss the options and put forward their case because many of them are “vulnerable, frail and elderly… so you end up becoming an advocate for the voiceless,” Mr Butterfield says.
’
I was very pleased to hear that they’re not going to stop the Meals on Wheels and very pleased that they’re not going to put the prices up. If I don’t get my meals on wheels, I don’t get hot meals – it’s a simple as that.
The branch focussed on lobbying the Labour members of the cabinet – “I thought: ‘We’re not going to get much support from the officers so we need to directly lobby the people who make the decisions.’” “They needed to be reminded of their particular manifesto commitments to protect frontline services and that’s what we hammered home.” Following the huge response against the changes Harrow Council has now abandoned its plans for the massive price rises and the price of meals will stay the same for at least the coming year. For Ann Smith it’s a welcome relief. “I was very pleased to hear that they’re not going to stop the Meals on Wheels and very pleased that they’re not going to put the prices up,” she says. “If I don’t get my meals on wheels, I don’t get hot meals – it’s as simple as that.” As for the branch, their response is simple: “We’re well chuffed”. U Celestine Laporte c.laporte@unison.co.uk
act now Join A Million Voices for Public Services, UNISON’s campaign for public services at unison.org.uk/million WINTER 2012U MAGAZINE
27
MARCUS ROSE
28 U MAGAZINEWINTER 2012
ME AND MY JOB:
Amanda Lawes
This occupational therapist works with premature babies and children with special needs to ensure they can take part in daily life
I
’m a paediatric occupational therapist in a children’s occupational therapy service. There are two parts to my job: I work with children on a neonatal unit that are born early and I work for the community paediatric service with children that have special needs. Our main role is to enable children to participate in daily life.
Paediatrics is quite different from other aspects of occupational therapy… it’s really wide: you can be
were able to sit up for the first time. His mum was absolutely thrilled to bits.
referred a child with development delay, with cerebral palsy or with coordination difficulties – so I think it takes quite a long time to become experienced in paediatrics.
Some parents see a piece of equipment… that doesn’t look normal
A baby in the womb would not experience handling or painful procedures… so for pre-term babies
they’re given a new diagnosis or when there’s things that aren’t going so well with the child – that’s really tough.
because they’re born too early their nervous system isn’t really ready to deal with the outside world.
Sometimes the parents are almost going through the grief process…
For pre-term babies you look at trying to make the environment as womb-like as possible…
because the expectation of the baby’s developing brain is that they would be experiencing the mother’s womb for a further few months or weeks. The reality of the neo-natal unit is completely different, so the occupational therapist’s main role is to monitor noise levels, look at the baby’s daily activities and give advice on how much the baby is handled. Premature babies have a corrected age… so you’d expect a baby that was
born three months early seven months ago to be at a four-month stage of development.
The most stressful thing is when parents are given bad news… when
while they come to terms with their child’s condition. It’s very emotional for them and it takes a while to adjust. In the meantime somebody like me might be going in to provide therapy for the child and I think that’s where the mental health skills come in. Being a mother myself my heart goes out to the parents... a big part of
in any way and that’s quite distressing for them. Some parents may find it really difficult to come to terms with their child requiring the equipment. Some of the children that we work with… if they didn’t receive our
interventions they’d be unable to participate in daily activities that they either need to or want to do. That’s the key thing – it’s enabling children to participate in daily life. If you’ve had a particularly upsetting case… my team are hugely supportive.
We have a formal clinical supervision process where we meet up regularly and we get the chance to talk through difficult cases. It’s really important to talk about it and then that helps you to go home to your own family.
my job is to demonstrate to the parents, even when their child has an ongoing difficulty, what their child is able to do and to look at the child’s strengths as well as any weaknesses.
When you’ve got your own family you come home and life’s crazy…
When you see a child learning new skills for the first time… that’s really
act now
rewarding.
The great thing about being an occupational therapist is… we’re
Sometimes it’s providing a piece of equipment that makes a difference… a big part of our job is
trained in mental health skills as well as the medical side of things. I just think in my role it’s an opportunity where I get to use all my training and all my skills.
recommending, for example, appropriate seating. There was a seven-month old child I was working with who had cerebral palsy and couldn’t sit up by themselves. I provided a seat and they
it soon takes your mind off the job. U Celestine Laporte c.laporte@unison.co.uk
If you think Amanda’s job is worthwhile you can join A Million Voices for Public Services, UNISON’s campaign for public services at unison.org.uk/million If you’d like to tell us about your job contact us at u.magazine@unison.co.uk WINTER 2012U MAGAZINE
29
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PS: If you know someone else who needs our help, please pass this on! ‘There for you’ is the working name of UNISON Welfare, Charity registration number 1023552/SCO38305
Life Cover for UNISON members Pays out if you die. but gives you money back if you don't.*
www.UNISONprotect.org.uk/life to choose a level of cover to suit you or call 0800 014 7017 * Money back if you keep the plan to age 70 and no claim is paid. Amount of money back depends on age when policy starts. **Acceptance guaranteed if you are a UK resident aged 18 - 65. 81,621 LV DQ LQWURGXFHU DSSRLQWHG UHSUHVHQWDWLYH RI 81,621SURWHFW 81,621SURWHFW LV D WUDGLQJ QDPH RI 8QLRQ ,QFRPH %HQHĂ€ W +ROGLQJV /WG 8,% ZKR DGPLQLVWHU WKLV SROLF\ 8,% LV DXWKRULVHG DQG UHJXODWHG E\ WKH )LQDQFLDO 6HUYLFHV $XWKRULW\ )6$ UHJLVWHU QXPEHU 7KLV FDQ EH FKHFNHG RQ WKH )6$ ZHEVLWH ZZZ IVD JRY XN UHJLVWHU 81,621 /LIH &RYHU LV XQGHUZULWWHQ E\ $&( (XURSH /LIH /WG
Go online at
Bouquet to a member Robert Fowler and Mark Burn nominate Rona Hendry, who is ‘helpful, considerate and kind’
W
CHRYSSA PANOUSSIADOU
e think all our members deserve a bouquet. And although we can’t send one to all 1.3 million of you, every issue we do send a bouquet of flowers to one member, nominated by friends, family or colleagues, as a token to all those members doing something special – or even something ordinary. 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 Rona Hendry, branch secretary at UNISON Peterborough city council. Rona was nominated by her friends and colleagues Robert Fowler and Mark Burn. Robert and Mark have known Rona for a number of years and have worked with her for the last three. One day they stopped to think about the work Rona had done for her local UNISON branch and decided that she’d done “a stunning job.” They asked us to send Rona some flowers “because she is helpful, considerate and kind but most of all; she always puts her staff and members before herself.” Robert and Mark would like Rona to know that “with her stunning and unwavering leadership within a difficult environment, she has shown humanity and has all our respect.” U
act now
If you’d like us to send someone a bouquet, 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, 130 Euston Road, London NW1 2AY or email us at u.magazine@unison.co.uk
Mark Burn, Rona Hendry and Robert Fowler
WINTER 2012U MAGAZINE
31
LETTERS U welcomes readers’ letters Please send them to The Editor, U magazine, UNISON Centre, 130 Euston Road, NW1 2AY or email them to u.magazine@unison.co.uk. Please include your full name and address although we will not print it. We reserve the right to edit contributions.
A MUM’S DILEMMA
I have worked for the council for nearly 19 years, virtually all my working life. I am now mum to a six and two year old, and took the decision to reduce my hours to three days per week in order to be able to spend more time with them. I made the decision to vote ‘yes’ in the ballot because the pension I have contributed to and worked hard for and the contract we were promised when joining will be decimated by the government ministers’ proposals. Like many other members who are parents, I am worried about affording presents for my children this year and losing a day’s pay is going to make a big impact on the family. My husband works in the charity sector and his job is at risk, so every penny counts. However, I feel I have no choice but to strike to show the government and the community that these proposals are unjust. I am also doing this for my children so they don’t end up supporting me and their dad financially in our retirement, and I hope they will understand that. Catherine Connors, Salford
ANYTHING BUT IRRESPONSIBLE
I heard David Cameron say that the people who strike are irresponsible. This really upset me. I am 57 nearly 58. I have worked very hard to improve my skills. I got a full-time post when I was 50 after bringing up four children on income support and wanting to 32
U MAGAZINEWINTER 2012
come off it. I got a degree at 30, and my adult teaching qualifications to teach English as a second language in the last five years. I am anything but irresponsible. I work very hard, and have struggled to keep my home going, I love my ESOL teaching, but now I am going to be £20 a month less well off as it will go towards my pension which I have only being paying into for ten years. I did not know whether to strike or not because I am a law-abiding citizen and also very loyal to my organisation and learners who are trying to learn English. A lot of us work in care industries where we are giving out to others. I do my job because I enjoy it, but there comes a point where I now have to think about who will support me when I retire? I will have to support myself. This is a little bit of my story. Babs Lee, Whitton near Twickenham
CARING FOR THE CARERS
I want to thank UNISON for the help you have given me and my colleague Lourdes Somera. We both came here from the Philippines to work as carers five years ago. After that time, we should have been entitled to apply for indefinite leave to remain. But four years ago the government introduced a new requirement for migrant care workers from outside Europe to show they earn at least £7.02 per hour in order to get or renew a work permit. Our employer Southern Cross
had not been paying us £7.02 per hour, and given the financial turmoil in the company it proved impossible for either of us to get £7.02 per hour despite our years of service. Pay in the privatised care homes is shamefully low. While it is true that Southern Cross faced a specific problem government underfunding of the sector has made low pay endemic. After five years here, instead of being entitled to indefinite leave to remain, we found ourselves faced with deportation. As UNISON members we got support to fight the ruling. UNISON played a very vital role in helping us win our appeal for settlement. They stood by us, giving us advice and pointing us to one of the most experienced immigration lawyers in the country. Both Lourdes and I won the right to settle in this country on appeal. UNISON’s assistance has been invaluable during this process. Rosemarie Monterola, Darlington and Lourdes Somera, Glasgow
LIBRARY VICTORY
I have been organising and leading a dispute for library assistants post Single Status that has ended positively. Library assistants in Sandwell were angry when they were the only graded jobs in the library service not to gain from Single Status. After going through the internal appeals process and being unsuccessful members agreed to press their points home by undertaking a work to rule on the duties that they had not been recognised for which they undertook. Members voted 97% for a work to rule. After seven working days of a work to rule management made an offer to create a new grade which would mean at least 70% of staff improving their pay and grade. In conclusion, 80% of library assistants who applied for the new
graded jobs were successful. Given the current climate of bad news this is proof that organising and action in UNISON can get results even during an economic crisis. Tony Barnsley, Sandwell
COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAMME: SLAVE LABOUR?
I wondered what opinions people had about the government’s introduction of the Community Action Programme for the “very long-term unemployed”. The Job Centre staff described it as “working for benefits,” which it plainly is not since one already receives benefits by virtue of being unemployed, which are intended to help one until employment is gained. The requirement to work near full-time for up to six months without pay I regard as merely free work for employers, and is tantamount to slave labour; the punishment for refusing to work for no pay being loss of benefits. I have already spoken to people who have said they have no intention of working for nothing but I have not heard any union response at all. Does anyone actually support the idea of forcing people to work without pay with the threat of loss of benefits for refusing? Harold Wesley, North Walsham, Norfolk.
LEGAL CHALLENGE
I very much agree with Neil Spithray (letters, Summer 2011). The change that the government has made in the index linking of our pensions from RPI to CPI means that those of us who are retired are not getting the pensions we have paid for. It really does seem to be a Trades Descriptions Act style issue. I would like to ask UNISON to give consideration to mounting a legal challenge on our behalf.
I note that at the time of writing, (Aug 2011) there is an epetition on the government website. The link is at epetitions.direct.gov.uk/ petitions/1535. I would invite all concerned or with strong feeling on the matter to sign it. John Lawrence, Southampton Note from editor: UNISON is one of six unions who have mounted a legal challenge in the High Court against the switch from RPI to CPI.
AUTISTIC AWARENESS
I would like to inform you about a success story at work. It was the running and delivery of two sessions of Autistic Awareness Training that took place on 20 September at Stevenage Borough Council. I am a UNISON member working for Stevenage Borough Council. I am rep on the Eastern region’s
Presiding at the event was the groups’ chairperson and founder member Mr Herbert HamiltonSmith who at 89 years is likely to be one of the oldest chairpeople nationally. Members and guests enjoyed a two course lunch followed by a sing-song led by our own Mr Fred Ring. Our members were very appreciative of the efforts of our chair Mr Hamilton-Smith, Treasurer Mrs Joyce Foster and myself as secretary in making the event so successful. A very special guest was Mrs Sheila Crosby. Sheila, back in 1986, was secretary to the North Yorkshire Retired Members Group which comprised York, Scarborough, Selby and Harrogate as sub-groups. She was instrumental in establishing each sub-group as separate groups in their own right, and worked with Mr Hamilton-Smith who became
disabled members’ self organised group and on the Labour Link committee for the region. The training involved 20 other employees I mainly interact with in my grounds maintenance work in Fairlands Valley Park. I can firmly say that it was a success and now there is a monitoring and development group to support me at the workplace. I am also getting time off for individual training for autistic employees on awareness courses through Access to Work. I am very pleased as this is giving me support I have always needed. Kevin Rogers, Stevenage
RETIRED BUT NOT RETIRING
In September 2011 over fifty members and guests celebrated the 25th anniversary of the formation of the City of York Retired Members Group.
secretary to establish the York Group as it exists today. The Retired Members Group of the York City branch continues to thrive, providing representation at branch, regional and national conferences. It meets each month to discuss matters of concern and interest on issues affecting the elderly, and has a full and successful social calendar; with coach trips each month and 2011 saw several members visit Lake Garda, Italy. The future is looking very bright for our group and it is the hope of us all that some of us will be able to celebrate a golden anniversary in 25 years’ time. The York Group receives tremendous support for the York City branch and responds to this support by assisting the branch in whatever way it can be of help. Barry Beckwith, York
VE AN SA
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UNISON members receive superb membership benefits that can save them money and give added value on a wide range of services. insuranc
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For more information visit www.unison.org.uk and click on the Unison Plus logo or call 0845 355 0845
ÀQDQFH
Has your accident left you feeling isolated? An accident can be shocking. The physical pain and emotional trauma can be hard to bear. But it’s the costs of an accident that can be long lasting too. Lost wages, lost promotion, travel to and from medical treatments, special care needs and more, can all put a strain on your financial resources. Which is why UNISON and Thompsons, our appointed solicitors, are here to get you compensation for everything your accident has cost you. In recent years as a result of work-related accident claims UNISON has negotiated safer
UNISONdirect 0845 355 0845
systems of work that have saved lives and reduced injuries to members. If you can show that your injury has resulted through someone else’s negligence, then you may be able to claim compensation. Thompsons will ensure your claim is properly valued and that you get the right compensation. We can also help your family with accidents outside of work. We’ll help whether your accident is at work, on the road (as a driver, passenger or pedestrian), while on holiday - or for any other personal injury. This service† is completely FREE and you keep 100% of the compensation.
to claim online www.thompsons.law.co.uk/unison.htm
† Qualifying period and exclusions 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. Thompsons Solicitors is a trading name of Thompsons Solicitors LLP and is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Image used for illustrative purposes only, picture is posed by a model.
O Has your council implemented Single Status? If it hasn't you may have an equal pay claim! O Has your council implemented Single Status and given protection payments to people on the grade you've been been placed on, but not you? If it has you may have an equal pay claim! O Do you have an equal pay claim? Make sure you check the time limit! If you want to make an equal pay claim, you should contact UNISON as soon as possible. There is a strict time limit on making a claim. You have only six months from any change in your employment situation. So you must contact UNISON urgently if you have for example in the last six months: ended your employment (eg you retired or resigned);
stayed in the same job, but transferred to a new employer (sometimes known as a TUPE transfer). If you have already made a claim, you must tell us whenever your circumstances change (eg you move address or there is any change to your employment situation). We cannot help you unless you register your claim and keep us updated.
changed your contract or terms and conditions (eg the number of hours you work); changed job, but stayed with the same employer;
GOVERNMENT CUTS WILL END FREE TUITION FOR MANY ADULT LEARNERS
BUT UNISON STILL SUPPORTS
LIFELONG LEARNING I
Learn for FREE with UNISON programmes like Return to Learn and Women’s Lives I Learn at Work with UNISON/employer partnerships I Get UNISON discounts from leading distance learning providers Find out more from your Union Learning Rep or your branch or visit www.unison.org.uk/laos Phone UNISONdirect on 0845 355 0845 for your branch and regional education team contact details.
For more information, or to request a claim form or fact sheet, call UNISON on 0845 355 0845 (textphone 0800 9 967 968)* or contact your regional ofďŹ ce on: Eastern 01245 608 918 East Midlands 0845 355 0845 Greater London 0845 355 0845 Northern 0845 355 0845 Northern Ireland 0845 355 0845 North West 0161 661 6740 Scotland 0870 7777 006 South East 0845 355 0845 South West 0117 968 9479 Cymru/Wales 029 2072 9415 West Midlands 0121 685 3127 Yorkshire and Humberside 0845 355 0845 * lines are open 6am to midnight, Monday to Friday; 9am-4pm Saturday.
BY CAPER
PUZZLE
fun!
OVERLAPS
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: 1 Food dissected for old bird (4) Gives DODO, which is defined by Old Bird, and can be found in Food dissected – all mixed up ACROSS 1 Food dissected for old bird (4) 3 Wilma faints at a Disney film (8) 9 Rotten meat hums – what
a gas! (7)
WIN A DIGITAL RADIO
For your chance to win a digital radio, please send your filled-in grids for all three of this issue’s crosswords in one envelope, together with your name and address, to U magazine crossword competition, UNISON Centre, 130 Euston Road, London NW1 2AY to reach us by Thursday 1 March.
10 Arm busted in lively dance (5) 11 Out-of-date peas stink (5) 12 Coins are gambled here (6) 14 Had a nightcap too (3) 16 Plastic oar hits fish (5) 18 Eggs for Easter (3) 19 Mints attract creepy-crawly (6) 21 One that’s close is
remembered (5) 24 Aquatic fish-eater tore trout (5) 25 Use torch on type of cigar (7) 27 Chain a deer by Spanish
ranch (8) 28 An elephant’s the opposite
of fat (4)
answers
FROM LAST ISSUE
The last issue of U magazine was the pension ballot special, which did not include the normal puzzle pages, so there are no answers or winners from the last issue. The competition winners from the summer issue, though, have received their digital radios.
36 U MAGAZINEWINTER 2012
DOWN 1 I’m desperately stupid (3) 2 Goes out with fat Desmond (5) 4 Cut sex action (3) 5 Birds nest regularly (5) 6 Miners attend lecture (7) 7 A rabbit’s a type of horse (4) 8 Rare ecclesiastical profession (6) 11 Intend to join Palace (4) 12 Miss lacks style (5) 13 Stand near Bishop (4) 15 Extreme racist dictated (7) 17 Will the mandolin play? (6) 20 Brief rest energises (5) 22 Rose confidently to put the ball
in the net (5) 23 Spice Girl’s so philosophical (4) 25 Frodo caught fish good for
the pot (3) 26 Can it navigate? (3)
ALPHAJIG
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 a few to start you off. • American intelligence bureau (1, 1, 1) • Observe (3) • Father (3) • “Here” in French (3) • Short skirt or a small car (4) • Christmas (4) • Obscene (4) • Hand in one’s notice (4) • Martial art with bamboo rods (5) • Pier (5) • Fantastic! (5) • Screams (5) • Groups of eight (6)
• Remained the distance (6) • Chess pieces named after religious bigwigs (7) • Pupil with power (7) • Hairy (7) • What a jury delivers (7) • Part of an American address (3, 4) • Ballroom dance (7) • Perceived (7) • Early movies (7) • Part of an orchestra (8) • Tools, generally (8) • Clear from blame (9) • George in a cockpit (9)
LEFT AND RIGHT BY CAPER (WITH A NOD TO AZED)
A plain crossword with a slight twist. Apart from 1 across, all across clues are actually two clues side by side, leading to answers to go in the spaces of the numbers indicated – but the clues can be in either order and you must determine in which of the two spaces the answers go – use 1 across and the normal down clues to help you do this. ACROSS 1 Almost correct but
8&9 10 & 13 17 & 18 19 & 20
21 & 22 23 & 24
there's still a few mistakes (3, 5, 5) Sleepy and severe Very happy with an old coin from Spain Very peaceful level of a building County in the North East that’s tense (6 and 2, 4) Sounds like Beano, Dandy etc Protect a primate
DOWN 2 A beginning or start (3-3) 3 Container for arrows (6) 4 Work to be done here! (2-4) 5 Miniature whirlpools (6) 6 Line on a map showing equal
pressure (6) 7 Speed up (6) 10 Fictitious name used by
authors or crossword setters (9) 11 Head of state (9) 12 Private conversation between two people (4-1-4) 14 Highly valued flat-fish with white flesh (5, 4) 15 Try out a car on the road (4, 5) 16 Low in spirits (9)
WINTER 2012U MAGAZINE
37
2012 Summer holidays 3ET ON THE STUNNING yde Bay seasons at Cro ks Spring brea olidays Summer h
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