www.swyp-unison.org.uk
UNISONnews South West Yorkshire Partnership Health Branch
inside
June 2018
South West Yorkshire Partnership Health
• The NHS is 70 this year – help us • Updates on Wholly Owned celebrate and defend it! Subsidiaries and Integrated Care Systems • Tidying up our Rules – please vote in the ballot! • Choice Support changes • News from the Branch Committee • School Uniform Grants for • Vacant Officer positions – could low paid members you join our team?
• Doncaster Race Day – Saturday 4th August • Why I got involved with UNISON – new stewards’ perspectives • Proposed Branch Rules • Details of Branch Officers and Stewards for 2018/19
Tidying up our Rules – please vote in the ballot!
The NHS is 70 this year – help us celebrate at defend it! Thursday 5th July is the 70th anniversary of the creation of the NHS. Please help celebrate and defend it – there is a major demonstration in London on Saturday 30th June that we’d urge people to attend and a number of local events that week. We are currently finalising arrangements to support people to attend the event in London – please contact the Branch Office for details of free transport from Barnsley, Halifax, Huddersfield and Wakefield.
We would like to make two minor changes to the branch rules. These changes aim to clarify the process for electing Branch Officers and to have greater flexibility in setting up new Branch Officer positions. Unfortunately the Branch Rules also say
we should normally change them at an Annual General Meeting which is quorate – attended by around 100 members. Although we have had a couple of interesting AGMs we’ve not managed to get that many people there – meaning we are now running an all-member postal ballot instead. Please look at the
Branch Rules which are printed on pages 5 to 7. The changed bits are in green. Then please vote as to whether you accept the new rules or not. Please return the ballot paper in the prepaid envelope provided to arrive by 5pm on 29th June. The Branch Committee is urging you to ACCEPT them.
News from the Branch Committee Hello everyone, it would be extremely difficult for us to try to explain to you exactly how many contacts we have with members each week. From giving basic advice to members when we’re out and about, to formally representing people through employer’s processes and procedures, though if we could collate the data the numbers would
be high. However as a branch, we are always looking for ways to improve what we do, and to help us with this we need to identify ways in which we can receive feedback from our member’s experience of using the union, to capture our strengths and develop them, but also to identify any weaknesses and improve on them. If
you have any comments or concerns you would like to feedback to the Branch Committee please email unison@swyt. nhs.uk, or call the branch office on 01924 316161, and share them with us. As part of our regular branch assessment and improvement plan our Education Officer and Continued overleaf...
UNISONnews
Tel: 01924 316161 unison@swyt.nhs.uk www.swyp-unison.org.uk
Branch Committee News continued from page 1 Branch Chair Tony Wright is leading the way on implementing our newly agreed Education Plan which will give us a framework for enlisting, welcoming, supporting and developing new stewards and other activists within the branch. This is crucial for the branch as in recent times we have seen a number of our senior stewards retire, or leave the organisation for other positions. If you would be interested in becoming more involved with the union, Tony is the person to contact by either emailing him on Tony.Wright1@swyt.nhs.uk or by calling him on 01226 644529. If he doesn’t answer, please leave a message with your name and contact details and he will call you back. In mid-June a number of activists from the branch will be travelling to Brighton for the UNISON National Delegate Conference. This takes place every year and the purpose is to discuss and agree the priorities and policies for the union in the year ahead. The 2018 conference will be particularly significant for us as a branch, as it will be the last time we will be sending our current Joint Branch Secretary, David Pickersgill as a representative of the branch. David has announced his retirement from August of this year, after 25 years serving as Branch Secretary, and having dedicated most of his working life to supporting UNISON members, his knowledge and experience will be greatly missed. I’m sure you’ll all join us in thanking David for all his hard work and dedication over the years, he really is leaving big boots to fill, and it is only fair to say our branch would not be the successful and well organised branch it is recognised as without all his hard work. Thank you David, and please stay in touch. Best Regards The Branch Committee
2 Email: unison@swyt.nhs.uk
Update on Wholly Owned Subsidiaries, ‘Subcos’ and SPVs – UNISON’s 100% NHS Campaign As we reported last time several local Trusts are considering forming subsidiary companies or ‘Subcos’. These are companies that are owned by the NHS, but whose staff are not NHS employees. The Trusts plan to move existing staff into these companies under TUPE. This would mean that current terms & conditions and pensions would be protected for existing staff - but this would not apply to new starters. It is also unlikely that the new companies would match NHS pay increases for staff who transferred. UNISON is running a campaign “100% NHS” to highlight the problems with ‘Subcos’. At the moment
these target support services staff such as domestics, porters, security and catering, though there is no reason that any other NHS staff could not be affected in the future. At the time of writing our sister branch at Mid Yorkshire Health is balloting affected members for strike action, opposing their Trust going ahead with plans to transfer them out of the NHS. The Leeds Teaching Hospitals and Bradford Health branches are lined up to join them. Please sign the 38 Degrees petition opposing these plans: https://speakout.38degrees.org. uk/campaigns/3603?via=opposefurther-attempts-to-privatise-the-nhs
Vacant Officer positions – could you join our team? We currently have a number of branch officer roles vacant including: • • •
Vice-Chair • Women’s Officer • International Officer
LGBTI Officer Lifelong Learning Coordinator
If you would like to know more about any of the roles please contact the Branch Office. Nomination papers are available from the Branch Office or the Branch website. Completed nomination papers must be received at the Branch Office by 5pm on Friday 29th June.
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Integrated Care Systems in South and West Yorkshire As we’ve reported before South Yorkshire is the largest area in the first group of Integrated Care Systems in England. They will have greater control over local health services, using powers devolved to them by NHS England. They were previously known as Accountable Care Systems – until people started asking who they were accountable to! At the moment the ICS leaders report to the Chairs & Chief Executives of the various NHS bodies across South Yorkshire, though in time there will need to be greater transparency and accountability. It will run in a ‘shadow’ form this year, building up these structures,
but from next April 2019 will have a similar sort of devolved responsibility to that given to the NHS in Greater Manchester. More recently we have heard that the West Yorkshire area will be one of 4 areas forming a second wave of Integrated Care Systems, meaning the whole of our branch area will over the next couple of years become part of this experiment. UNISON has been meeting with senior leaders from both areas for several months, though we are pressing them for more detail about their plans and in particular those that will impact directly on staff.
‘There For You’ (UNISON Welfare) are running a School Uniform Grant scheme again this year.
Choice Support changes Choice Support are the second largest employer in our branch after SWYPFT. They provide Supported Living to people with a learning disability living in their own homes in and around the Wakefield district. A few months ago they announced a merger with MCCH (previously Maidstone Community Care Housing) which is now a major provider of learning disability and autism services in London and the South East. They’ll initially run as parts of a new parent organisation PSG – Partnership Support Group though in time the
School Uniform Grants for low paid members
whole organisation is likely be called that. We have also learned recently that Wakefield Council are re-tendering their Supported Living contracts this year. Although TUPE is almost certain to apply if the provider organisation changes it will of course be a time of uncertainty for everyone. We will be setting up a separate mailing list for Choice Support members in the near future – in the interim please contact the Branch Office if you have any questions or concerns.
This will make one off payments of up to £40 per child (to a maximum of £120) to low income members (net household income under £18,000 or getting housing benefit / equivalent) with limited savings. To apply you can download a form from unison.org.uk/thereforyou or request one from the Branch Office - the deadline for applications is Friday 20th July.
Website: www.swyp-unison.co.uk
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UNISONnews
Tel: 01924 316161 unison@swyt.nhs.uk www.swyp-unison.org.uk
Why I got involved with UNISON - new stewards’ perspectives We asked some of our newer reps how and why they got involved with UNISON: “Thinking of becoming a UNISON Steward? Asking yourself can I do this? What will I do? How will I do it? Anne Magee, UNISON Steward
Lorraine Tingle, Steward
All these questions and more I asked myself. With changing working conditions, inequalities, unfairness, various levels of discrimination bullying and harassment becoming the norm, I made the decision to become a UNISON Steward, nominated by my colleagues to be a collaborative voice to address concerns together. UNISON’s dedicated training programmes are informative, well facilitated, relevant and inclusive. There is a vast resource of information available within your training and after including experienced officers, stewards and UNISON’s website. Opportunities for further leaning, attending conference, case work, social activities and much more as a steward is a decision you can make with informed choices offered by UNISON.
“In my working life I have never joined a union I was always under the impression that unions were for management and not for workers like me and that all decisions were based on management decisions and workers got the raw end of deals made.
I have personally grown in confidence and feel more empowered to address workplace issues on behalf of UNISON members.”
About 3 – 4 years ago the team I worked in were told we had 3 weeks then our jobs would be terminated, one of my colleagues who was a UNISON member called them in to help and offer guidance as to what could be done in such a short time, as I wasn’t in a union there was little the rep could do for me, our team didn’t lose our jobs, the decision was made I did need to join the union as I didn’t want to be in this predicament again without any support. Last year I had an issue at work and needed some advice from UNISON, they were great they listened to everything, they supported me whole-heartedly, they didn’t pressure me into anything, they wanted to know if I was ok at all times and they would support whatever decision I made and
where I wanted to go with my issue. I have now begun the process of becoming a rep as I feel this is something that I can do and in time will be able to help and offer support to other work colleagues.”
How can I get involved? We are always recruiting new reps and you receive full training and support when you start the process of becoming one. It’s a rewarding role and an entirely different experience that can change your working life. Any UNISON member can become a rep. UNISON reps are just ordinary people who represent and support others who are experiencing difficulties. We have all experienced difficulties of some kind in our working lives and it’s good to know that encouragement and support is always available from UNISON reps when you need it. If you’d like to know more about becoming a rep please contact the Branch Office (01924 316161 or unison@swyt.nhs.uk) for a chat.
Dates for Chester & Pantomime
Doncaster Race Day – Saturday 4th August
We have already had a few enquiries and can confirm we will be running the traditional Christmas Shopping trip to Chester and the Pantomime again this year. Chester will be on Saturday 24th November and the Pantomime will be Cinderella at Wakefield on Saturday 8th December. We will be sending full details including prices and how to book in our next newsletter in September.
Tickets for the annual UNISON Doncaster Race Day on Saturday 4th August are available from the branch. Tickets for Branch Members and their first guest are at a subsidised rate of £5 each, with tickets for additional guests costing £6.50. Please ring 01924 316161 or email unison@swyt.nhs.uk for a booking form to order your tickets as numbers are limited. (Please note that because the Branch covers such a big area we are putting a subsidy onto the tickets rather than providing transport through the Branch).
4 Email: unison@swyt.nhs.uk
UNIS ON: ESSE NTIA L COVE R FOR THOS E DELI VERI PUBL IC SERV ICES NG
DONCASTER RACEDAY SATURDAY AFTERNOON
4 AUGUST 2018
Please note: There will be a £2.75 transact ion charge on all ticket booking s
UPGRADE! Membe rs can upgrad
Exclusive specia offer for UNISO l ticket N members
‘2 for 1’ Grands tand Tickets Total price £13 (2
tickets) On sale: from 1 Febru Offer closes: 5.00p ary 2018 m on 27 July 2018 To book tickets call 01302 3042 00 and quote ‘the UNISON raced ay membership numb offer’, your UNISON er or UNISON branc h code.
e to two County
Stand tickets for
£30 (These are
usually £32.50
each!)
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UNISON SOUTH WEST YORKSHIRE PARTNERSHIP HEALTH BRANCH BRANCH RULES 1
Branch Name
The branch shall be called South West Yorkshire Partnership Health Branch of UNISON and is referred throughout the rules as “the branch” 2
Aims of the branch a) b)
to support and pursue the Aims and Objectives contained in the UNISON Rule Book, and those agreed by UNISON’s National Executive Committee annually, and in particular: to achieve the aims and targets set annually through the branch assessment.
3 Membership Eligibility for membership shall be in accordance with the Rules of the union 4
Branch structure a)
b) c) d) e) f)
g)
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There will be an Annual General Meeting of the branch to confirm the election by ballot of branch officers and members of the Branch Committee, to receive the branch accounts and report on branch development from the Branch Committee. The AGM may comprise one meeting or a series of aggregate meetings based on sections or geographical areas in order to maximise the active participation of members. The AGM will determine the basis of representation in the branch and the number of stewards and other representatives to be elected in each work group or workplace. Other general meetings may be called by the Branch Committee or by 20 members of the branch or 5% of the membership, whichever is the greater. The quorum for any general meeting, including the annual meeting is 2.5% of the branch at a single meeting or through aggregate meetings. Sections can be established for each bargaining group, major employer or division of the principal employer covered by the branch to provide for the participation and representation of members in that section in accordance with rule 8 below. The Branch Committee will comprise all branch officers (see rule 5 below), stewards, and representatives of self-organised groups, and will be responsible for the general organisation and development of the branch and for policy and decision making on matters affecting all members within the branch between general meetings. The Branch Management Group will be responsible for the day to day management of the branch in accordance with the decisions and authority delegated by the Branch Committee. Its membership and role is as described in Rule 7 below. Branch officers
a)
the branch shall elect the following officers annually in accordance with rule 6c: • Chairperson • Vice Chairperson • Branch Secretary • Assistant Branch Secretary / Secretaries • Treasurer • Education Co-ordinator • Lifelong Learning Co-ordinator • Equality Officer(s) • Health and Safety Officer • Communications Officer • International Officer • Membership Officer • Young Members Officer • Welfare Officer
Website: www.swyp-unison.co.uk
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UNISONnews • • • • •
Tel: 01924 316161 unison@swyt.nhs.uk www.swyp-unison.org.uk
Women’s Officer LGBTI Officer Labour Link Officer (elected by the members who pay the political levy only) Retired Members’ Secretary (elected by the retired members) Others to be determined as necessary for the effective operation of the branch
All positions are open to job-share by two or more people. b)
Election of Branch Officers i. Branch Officers may be nominated by the Branch Committee or any two members, with the exception of the Labour Link officer who will be elected by the APF members only. ii. nominations will be invited 12 weeks before the AGM and nomination forms will made available through the branch web-site or by application to the branch office. All nominations must be received in writing at least 8 weeks before the AGM iii. each nominee will be notified and given the right to withdraw not later than 7 weeks before the AGM. iv. if there is more than one candidate, a vote will be held. A Returning Officer will be appointed by the Branch Management Group, and shall be someone who is not in a contested position, and all candidates will be provided with the branch Protocol for contested elections. v. the vote will be conducted by postal ballot in accordance with the procedure and timescales contained in the Code of Good Branch Practice. vi. where no valid nomination has been received before the deadline, nominations may be called for and candidate elected at the AGM, or endorsed by the Branch Committee subject to ratification by the next general meeting.
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Branch Committee a)
b) c) d) e) f) 7
Representation on the Branch Committee will be agreed by the AGM and will include: • Branch officers • Representatives of self-organised groups • All accredited stewards. The Branch Committee shall administer branch business in accordance with UNISON rules and guidance. The quorum for the Branch Committee shall be 25% (one quarter) of the members of the committee. The Branch Committee shall ensure that sections within the branch are appropriately and equitably resourced to ensure the effective participation of members, recruitment and organisation, representation, and collective bargaining and campaigning on behalf of members in each section. The Branch Committee will establish arrangements for the individual representation of members. The Branch Committee shall meet monthly. Branch Management Group
a) b)
The Branch Management Group shall comprise the Branch Secretary, Assistant Branch Secretary / Secretaries, Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Equalities Officer, Communications officer (and others as appropriate) The Branch Management Group will meet at least monthly to ensure the effective day to day management of the branch within the parameters of the decisions and guidance issued by the Branch Committee. The Branch Management Group may commit to no expenditure, policy decision or affiliation that has not been previously agreed by the Branch Committee, though the Branch Committee may agree a scheme of delegation of limited/routine expenditure to specific branch officers and to the Branch Management Group as a whole.
8 Sections Sections comprise all members within the relevant service group and/or bargaining group and will have autonomy within the branch in respect of collective bargaining with their employer(s) only, subject to the policies and any guidelines and procedures of the branch, region and national union.
6 Email: unison@swyt.nhs.uk
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Conduct of meetings a) b) c) d)
10
All meetings will be conducted in a fair and democratic manner. All meetings will be advertised widely as far in advance as possible (in the case of the AGM, all members will be notified in writing at least 12 weeks before the meeting (or first aggregate meeting). The procedures to be used at the meeting will be explained clearly. The branches will maintain records of all meetings and other appropriate records to enable the branch to function. Media communications
Communications to the media on behalf of the branch shall be made only by officer(s) authorised by the committee. 11 Affiliations a) b)
Affiliations to relevant constituency Labour Parties will be decided by the Regional Labour Link Committee Affiliations to Trades Councils shall be determined by the AGM or Branch Committee.
12 Finance The branch shall keep a bank account with the UNITY TRUST BANK in the name of the branch and will maintain a financial record of all assets and transactions in accordance with UNISON guidelines 13 Donations Donations shall be agreed by the AGM or Branch Committee in accordance with the union’s policies and objectives and subject to provisions of national rule. 14 Expenses Rates of expenses for members attending meetings or carrying out other activities on behalf of the branch shall be agreed by the AGM in accordance with the Scheme for Branch Expenses contained in the Branch Finances Handbook. 15 Honoraria Any honorarium paid to a branch officer will only be made in accordance with the Scheme for Honoraria Payments in Branches contained in the Branch Finances Handbook. 16
Branch staff a) b) c) d)
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The Branch Secretary will be responsible for the employment, direction and supervision of any staff employed by the branch consistent with employment law and current good practice. In the event of any first stage hearings of staff disciplinary or grievance matters, the Branch Secretary will be joined by another senior branch officer other than the Chair. Any appeal arising from a first stage grievance or disciplinary hearing will be heard by the Chair and other senior branch officers not involved at the first stage hearing. The outcome of any disciplinary or grievance hearing will remain confidential and the outcome only will be reported to the Branch Committee on its conclusion. Approval/alteration to branch rules
a) b) c)
Branch rules must be agreed by two thirds of members present and voting at a quorate branch meeting. Branch rules must be approved in accordance with UNISON’s procedures. Any changes to branch rules must be agreed and approved in the same way.
As recommended by Branch Committee to 2018 AGM
Website: www.swyp-unison.co.uk
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South West Yorkshire Partnership Health Branch Contacting UNISON (April 2018)
South West Yorkshire Partnership Health
JOINT BRANCH SECRETARIES David Pickersgill
Lead for Negotiations and Admin/ Joint Communications Officer
Branch Office
01924 327316
Elaine Shelton
Lead for Casework and Steward Support
Branch Office
01924 327316
Kendray Hospital
01226 644529 07789 925849
BRANCH OFFICERS Tony Wright
Evelyn Beckley Dan Moran Anne Grace Steve Clarke Kirsty Dickenson
Branch Chair/ Education Co-ordinator/ Labour Link Officer Vice Chair Treasurer Equality Officer Welfare Officer Health & Safety Officer Lifelong Learning Co-ordinator Young Members’ Officer/ Communications Officer International Officer Womens Officer LGBTI Officer
Vacant Patients’ Bank, Fieldhead MHAT Cudworth Drury Lane H&W Centre Porter, Kendray Vacant Branch Office, Fieldhead
01924 313696 07807 905888 01924 316936 07747 795668 01924 316161
Vacant Vacant Vacant
STEWARDS IN SWYPFT Farai Chibanga
Steward
Agbrigg Community Centre
Ischelle Elliker Liam Gill Shain Haroon
Steward/ Union Learning Rep Steward BAOT Rep/ Steward
Victoria Kennedy
Steward
Neil Lomas Anne Magee Linda McGrath Lorraine Morgan Catherine Musegedi Lorraine Tingle Lorna Wood Lynn Wilby Julia Wright Ken Wright
Steward Steward Steward Steward BAOT Rep/ Steward Steward Steward Steward Steward Steward
Lundwood Health Centre PICU, Walton Ward, Fieldhead Floor 4, Folly Hall Yorkshire Smokefree Calderdale, Laura Mitchell Health Centre The Dales Calderdale Royal Laura Mitchell Health Centre Baghill House, Pontefract UNISON Office, Fieldhead Rapid Access Drury Lane H/C L&D Dept, Fieldhead Reception Kendray Hospital Calderdale & HRI Hospital Alderson Room, Kendray Kendray Hospital
Steward
Clarke Hall, Wakefield
07920 027813 07885 979072 07842 106062 07801 501565 01484 343127 01422 262373 01422 222908 01422 222800 07785 353114 01924 316161 01924 316959 07894 447964 01226 644023 07872 918838 01226 644009 07564 830872
STEWARDS IN CHOICE Yvonne Cade
Wakefield Office UNISON Office, Fieldhead, Ouchthorpe Lane Wakefield WF1 3SP Tel: 01924 327316 email: UNISON@swyt.nhs.uk Unison Office-Fieldhead on the SWYPFT Intranet. Joint Branch Secretaries David Pickersgill Elaine Shelton Branch Admin Manager Admin Assistant Lorraine Morgan Kirsty Dickenson
07805 930022
Barnsley Office We also have a local office at the Conference Centre, Kendray Hospital Barnsley: Tel. 01226 644529
UNISON Regional Organiser Robert Demaine is based at the UNISON Regional Office in Leeds (Tel. 0800 0857 857) though issues should come through the branch first.
Tony Wright Branch Chair/ Education Officer/ Labour Link Officer works from the Barnsley office.
We also have an active retired members group who meet regularly. Their Secretary is Manny Shaduwa (01924 374588).