Issue 8
Your Briefing
April 2017
Welcome to your Leeds & York Community Health Branch briefing
NEC Elections You will shortly be receiving documents to vote in the UNISON NEC elections. Our branch has nominated the following:
Tony Green Linda Crowther Jenny Middleton Liz Mawson Kebba Maneeh Kim Silver Angela Hamilton Denise Charles Gordon McKay Jenny Forbes Sinead Liddy James Anthony Manjula Kumari Andrew Anderson Liz Cameron
We believe that they offer the strongest voice, they will fight for fair pay, decent jobs, equality and highlight the damaging effects of austerity as it threatens to destroy public services. They’re passionate about women’s equality and the fight against racism. We therefore encourage you to vote for these candidates.
UNISON Resource Centre, St Mary’s Hospital, Greenhill Road, Armley, Leeds, LS12 3QE Website: www.unison-lych.org.uk Telephone: 0113 855 5168 Facebook: UNISON LYCH Twitter: @UNISONLYCH Email: contact@unison-lych.org.uk
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Save Our NHS Demonstration - London, 4 March Tens of thousands of people - including NHS workers, campaigners and union representatives marched in London to protest against "yet more austerity" in the health service. Protesters on the #OurNHS march wanted to draw attention to plans which could see hospital services in nearly two-thirds of England cut back. We want to give a big thank you to the members and activists from our branch who travelled down to London to take part. Tamsir Bah, steward for Leeds Community Healthcare, provided us with some pictures from the day.
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The Yorkshire March for the NHS (pictures by Tamsir Bah, LCH steward)
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Our greatest wealth Decided my career just isn't for me, they're taking the pleasure, increasing the fee. The 'Tories are trampling this national treasure, Abandon the ship! They take more than our measure. Once held up high, envied, revered; now stealing and stripping it, branded and smeared. Privatisation is worse than we fearedthe poor are the victim, politicians all jeer. Like the mines lost before, we're footing the bill. They're taking our freedom; I'm losing the will. They gamble our wealth for their personal gains, our National Health Service is taking the strain, Feeding their friends and their own private business: No time for caring, just reaping, corruption is endless. They control and restrict, but they won't help mend us. So next time you hear their exploiting campaign; question their motives for causing you pain. For they rip it apart with cunning and stealth, and our health care system, should be our greatest wealth.
Poem written by Lorna Dunsire Branch Member
Twitter: @lorna_faye Facebook: www.facebook.com/LornaFayePoet
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NHS staff are giving 100%, but getting just 1% in return, says UNISON Commenting on the announcement from the NHS pay review body (PRB) on the 28th March UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “Health service employees go above and beyond caring for patients and keeping the health service running – often in very challenging circumstances. “The government insists it values them, but after endless pay freezes and wage caps, they feel taken for granted. Day after day NHS staff are giving 100%, but getting just 1% in return. “As the gap grows between take-home pay and household expenditure, NHS staff can’t stretch their money far enough. And as wages increase elsewhere, they feel increasingly left behind. “Low pay makes it tough for the NHS to hold onto experienced employees and recruit the next generation. And without enough staff, patient care will suffer. “The pay of top judges and MPs has already breached the government’s 1% limit. It’s high time ministers stopped penalising NHS employees and gave them a decent pay rise.” Notes : The NHS Pay Review Body (PRB) assesses health staff pay on an annual basis before making a recommendation to the government. This is the sixth year running that the PRB settlement has failed to match an increase in the cost of living for staff. Inflation is currently 3.2% (Retail Prices Index), the highest rate since September 2013. More than £4.3bn has been cut from NHS staff salaries between 2010 and 2016 as a result of the government’s pay cap. This is the equivalent of an annual pay reduction of £2,288 for a hospital cleaner, £4,846 for a nurse and £8,364 for a clinical psychologist, according to UNISON calculations. Figures from the Public Accounts Committee show that the proportion of nurses leaving their job increased from 6.8% (2010/11) to 9.2% (2014/15). The leaving rate for NHS staff in general was 16% last year, which represents a 4% increase between 2011 and 2016. In line with previously published pay policy, those in Scotland earning below £22,000 will receive a minimum increase of £400 in addition to the one per cent award. Staff in Wales will receive the Living Wage Foundation living wage as a minimum. There is no response to the pay recommendation yet in Northern Ireland as power-sharing talks continue. The unions that submitted joint evidence to the NHS PRB were: the British Association of Occupational Therapists, the British Dietetic Association, the British and Irish Orthoptic Society, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, the Federation of Clinical Scientists, the GMB, the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Nursing, the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, the Society of Radiographers, UNISON and Unite.
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Dental nurse who was unfairly sacked wins £12,000 pay out from her employer – thanks to UNISON Branch Member supported by our caseworkers, Anne Szczepanska and Brian Wheeler A Leeds dental nurse was awarded almost £12,000 in compensation after an Employment Tribunal ruled that she had been unfairly dismissed. Julie Marshall had worked for the Lawnswood Dental Care practice in Leeds for eight years, with an unblemished record, when she was called in to an investigatory meeting relating to alleged “misconduct”. Days later, she was informed she had been dismissed. She had asked her employer to consider a minor, ten minute alteration to her working hours to allow her to take her son to school. He had to change his school after being bullied and Julie needed some extra time to collect him from his new school in the evenings. She had to take two weeks off work because of the stress caused by her employer’s reluctance to agree the change. When she returned with a note Anne Szczepanska from her doctor confirming her sickness absence, she was called into an investigatory meeting and, just days after, she was dismissed. Caseworker Julie said: “My UNISON representatives warned them that they were not following employment law procedures and should not have combined an investigatory meeting and a disciplinary meeting as they did. The employer was told it would amount to unfair dismissal but went ahead with the dismissal so we took them to an Employment Tribunal where I was awarded £11,475. “I am very glad I am a UNISON member. They gave me excellent advice and support throughout what was a terrible time for me and my family. Without that support my employer would have succeeded in acting as judge and jury and simply got rid of me. “I would urge people in my position to join UNISON because in some small firms they think they can get away with bullying their staff. I want people in a similar position as I was to know that you don’t have to be part of a large workforce to get the protection and support made available by being a trade union member.” UNISON representative Brian Wheeler said he found it “frustrating” that the employer failed to understand fair procedures and ignored the advice he gave them about their responsibilities under the law to follow proper procedures. He had advised the employer that a union representative has limited input into an investigatory hearing but can be more involved in a disciplinary hearing, being allowed to ask questions and provide mitigation. Because the employer wrongly combined the two procedures, there was no opportunity to do that, which the Employment Tribunal accepted. He said: “I have no doubt about the employer’s dentistry skills, but the company had a lot to learn and they have had a very expensive lesson in the Brian Wheeler Caseworker importance of the law.” NEWS RELEASE FROM UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside 23/02/2017
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We Need Health and Safety Representatives You may think “oh health and safety—it’s overkill, it’s fussy, it’s one of the problems with the EU, can’t do this can’t do that”. However it’s also one of those things which until it happens to us we tend not to think much about. However I would ask you to take a minute and glance at the UK Governments Health and Safety Executives statistics below you will see that accidents, incidents, illness and work related death is still happening to our colleagues. http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overall/hssh1516.pdf?pdf=hssh1516 These statistics prove there is still a very real problem in the UK and as Health and Safety reps we can make a difference influencing these figures through workplace presence, inspection and reviewing as stakeholders. We can report and therefore reduce likelihoods of injury through influencing working practices and procedures - in fact we already do this which is why I think sometimes incidents seem low to us. However against a background of cuts we cannot afford to be complacent. We can also form or attend Health and safety committees. We are a large branch with many workplaces so we need more Health and Safety representatives in order to continue this progress. If you think you want to chat about this then don’t hesitate to ring me at the Branch Office. Best regards Paul Bullivant UNISON Health And Safety Officer & Steward IOSH Affiliate Staffside Secretary My working week is: Tues, Weds, Thurs UNISON
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Cavell Nurses Trust https://www.cavellnursestrust.org/grants
The Cavell Nurses Trust help registered nurses, midwives, healthcare assistants and retired nurses. They also help student nurses in exceptional circumstances. They're a charity and help people at no cost to them. There's no membership, they're not a union or insurance scheme. And it all starts with getting in touch.
If you don't know where to turn, you may be able to receive a grant from Cavell Nurses' Trust. Things you need to know before contacting them: They help Nurses and Midwives (registered or retired) from day 1 of their career. Healthcare Assistants (working or retired) are required to have 3 years in a hospital or in a clinical setting where they have been under the direct supervision of a registered nurse - such as with the Marie Curie Community Nursing Service or in nursing homes. This can be from any time in their career. They can also help student nurses in exceptional circumstances such as sudden ill health or a crisis situation. However, Cavell Nurses' Trust cannot 'top up' NHS nursing bursaries, usual student expenses or pay for study fees. Anyone applying for a grant is required to
reside in the United Kingdom have less than £4000 in savings be in need
Call them on 01527 595 999 or fill out an enquiry form for grant support
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Investing in the future of the NHS
This is Emily. She is a health care assistant and UNISON member, and she's one of a large group of people who want to become nurses, or are already working in nursing, who have a bone to pick with Jeremy Hunt. Nursing is Emily's dream, but if the bursary is scrapped she has no one who can help her financially and she says she simply can't afford to train. The 23% drop in applicants to nursing degree courses in England shows that she is not alone. The fear of debt has deterred many from becoming a nurse. Fewer nurses will lead to an even greater crisis in health care provision and will put patient safety at risk. Ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion 948 Education: Students Fees, Awards & Support and to call on the government to reconsider the removal of NHS bursaries and defer its implementation whilst proper consultation on the best way to fund healthcare students, and pilots of different options are undertaken. Has your MP signed the Early Day Motion?
If not, please email your MP now! https://www.e-activist.com/page/6440/action/1
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All UNISON members and their families aged between 16 and 69 can apply to join this dental plan. What will I be covered for? 100% of your dental bill according to the NHS scale of dental charges and up to a generous annual maximum. There are many other dental benefits included, please see the website for further information. How do I claim? When you arrange your dental appointment, simply call our claims line and we will send you a form for your dentist to authorise. Pay your bill, return the form with your receipt and you will be reimbursed. I am treated by a NHS dentist. Why would I need a plan? NHS charges for a routine check-up resulting in a crown would be £233.70. A filling 6 months later would be £53.90 or a second crown would be another £233.70. You get £500 per year on the NHS Patient plan to cover NHS costs. (NHS charges correct, April 2016). My NHS dentist charges me privately for some treatments. Which plan should I choose, NHS or Private? The NHS Patient plan only pays the charges for the three standard NHS bands. The Private plans will pay both NHS and private charges, therefore you should choose a Private Patient plan. I know I need some treatment now; will it be covered when I join? No. We only cover new Dental conditions that occur after joining I have not been to a dentist for more than a year. Can I join the plan? Yes - however, you will need to see a dentist and get any recommended treatments completed at your own expense initially. Claims for future visits and treatments can then be covered by your plan. When can I start using this plan? You are covered for the benefits below immediately the day after joining. How long can I remain on this plan? As long as you wish – you can stay on the plan and continue to benefit from it indefinitely. How do I join? Simply call the UNISONplus Dental Plan helpline on Freephone 0800 161 5844 or on the website. http://comms.unionbenefits.co.uk/unison-dental-plan-prize-draw-apply-now
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We are delighted to confirm that the Region’s biggest annual campaigning and social event, ‘UNISON : Providing Essential Cover for those Delivering Public Services” Raceday’, will be held this year at Doncaster Racecourse on Saturday 5th August 2017. Since 2001 the event has grown year on year with over 4,000 members, family and friends attending last year’s event. The Doncaster Raceday has become a main feature of UNISON’s campaign calendar providing an opportunity for members to come together and support the Union’s campaigning activities and publicise our campaign for public services whilst enjoying a day out with family and friends. Exclusive special ticket offer for UNISON members ‘2 for 1’ Grandstand Tickets Total price £13 (2 tickets) Offer closes: 5.00pm on 28 July 2017 To book tickets call 01302 304200 and quote ‘the UNISON raceday offer’, your UNISON membership number. Early booking incentive drinks voucher for each of the first 400 ticket sales courtesy of UNISON Living. Please note: there will be a £2.50 transaction charge per order except for purchases of four or less tickets.
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