UNISON SWYPH Branch Newsletter Feb 2017

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February 2017

South West Yorkshire Partnership Health Branch

South West Yorkshire Partnership Health

• New branch number 01924 316161

• Stand Up To Racism Event in Barnsley

• What’s a SOG? Equality for all

• NHS Demo National Demonstration in London 4 March 2017

• Winter Fuel Grants UNISON Welfare grants closing date soon

• AGM Details See back page for all the details

NCH NEW BRA BER UM PHONE N

6161 1 3 4 2 9 1 0 Put it in your phones!

SWYP Health UNISON 01924 316161

Your UNISON Branch has a new phone number which is now in operation. When you need to contact the branch please dial the new number and update it in your mobile phone contacts list so you can get hold of us whenever you need us.

Recruit a Friend – get a tenner!

We are currently running a special offer to all members introducing someone new to our branch. If your friend or colleague join using a paper membership form and include details of you as the introducing member, we will send BOTH of you a £10 High Street shopping voucher which can be spent at a great selection of national retail outlets. Contact the branch if you’d like us to send you some membership forms and we’ll get them straight out to you. This offer only applies to new members of our own branch as opposed to other UNISON branches.

AGM: THURSDAY 9th MARCH The Annual General Meeting is where you as a member hold the Branch Officers to account for what they’ve done over the year, and elect new Officers for the following year.

This year’s AGM will take place 6.30pm on Thursday 9th March 2017 at the Elizabethan Gallery, Brook Street, Wakefield, WF1 1QW (next to Trinity Walk Shopping Centre). Tea & coffee will be provided from 6pm and there will be a free meal straight afterwards at a nearby Chinese restaurant for people who pre-register as attending. We will also pay reasonable travel expenses for any member who joins us. This year we will have a guest speaker, Paula Sherriff, MP for Dewsbury - a former steward in our Branch.

To pre-register your attendance please either call the branch office on 01924 316161 or email unison@swyt.nhs.uk with details of your name, workplace and a contact number.

Paula Sheriff MP AGM Guest Full details of the Speaker AGM can be found on the back of this newsletter – if you are interested in standing for a Branch Officer position, as a Steward, as a Health & Safety Representative, or you want to put a Motion to the meeting you need to let us know at the Branch Office by 5pm on Thursday 23rd February 2017.

NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION SATURDAY 4th MARCH 2017 LONDON

“The NHS will last as long as there are folk with the faith to fight for it” Nye Bevan, Founder of the NHS On Saturday 4th March 2017 The People's Assembly is teaming up with Health Campaigns Together to organise a major national demonstration in defence of our National Health Service. Please contact the branch for information on local travel arrangements.

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Tel: 01924 316161 unison@swyt.nhs.uk www.swyp-unison.org.uk

LGBT SOG Report

Attention nurse members!

Chris Strother is our branch delegate to the regional Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Self Organised Group (SOG) and also our branch Vice Chair. Chris attends the regional SOG in Leeds on behalf of the branch and our members and he suggested we should ask if any of our LGBT members are interested in becoming involved especially our LGBT women members as they are currently under represented as a group. If you would like any more information please get in touch with Chris either by text on 07970 101947 or by email chris.strother@swyt.nhs.uk.

NMC Revalidation is the new process that all nurses and midwives in the UK will need to follow to maintain their registration with the NMC. Taking effect from April 2016, revalidation is straightforward and will help you as a nurse or midwife to demonstrate that you practice safely and effectively. It will encourage you to reflect on the role of the Code in your practice and demonstrate that you are ‘living’ the standards set out within it.

2017 is the 50th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality and there will be lots happening to commemorate this highly significant date, including Barnsley LGBT activists holding a number of celebrations throughout the year. Get in touch for more details.

In November 2017 The National UNISON LGBT conference will take place in Brighton by all means contact Chris about that too if you would like to know more. If you don’t want the branch or colleagues to know about your involvement, they don’t have to and Chris will support you with any concerns you might have.

This new process replaces the Prep requirements, and you will have to revalidate every three years to renew your registration. UNISON are offering a Webinar session This Webinar session will: • Explain why revalidation was introduced by the NMC; • Tell you what you need to do in order to revalidate; • Tell you what you can do right now to prepare; and • Give you an opportunity to ask questions.

27 May 2017 24 June 2017 2 September 2017 4 November 2017 - AGM

All meetings are held at the regional UNISON offices at Commerce House in Leeds; and usually commence at 10:30am.

February is LGBT history month – find out more here:http://lgbthistorymonth.org.uk/

Attending this webinar does not require you to travel to a specific venue; you simply need a computer or android device such as a phone or tablet to join the live webinar.

The next two are 3.00pm to 4.00pm on Tuesday 21st March and Thursday 13th April. For registration details please contact David.

Pickersgill@swyt.nhs.uk or register for UNISON nursing emails via the Nursing section of the UNISON website, where you can also see a recording of a previous webinar session.

There are only 1,000 places per webinar and they will be given on a first come first serve basis.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Barnsley Stand Up To Racism Event

The dates for the regional SOG meetings are as follows: • • • •

What is a webinar? - For those of you who are unsure, ‘webinar’ is short for Web-based seminar that is transmitted over the Web using video conferencing software.

UNISON Assistant General Secretary Roger McKenzie to speak On Saturday 18th February, UNISON Assistant Secretary Roger McKenzie will be speaking at the Stand up To Racism rally in Barnsley. The event will take place at 1.00pm on Saturday 18th February in the Board Room of Barnsley Central Library on Wellington Street in the town centre.

There is a carpark next to the library which is free on a Saturday and they are planning a diverse platform of speakers on the day. This will include two students who have been involved with solidarity with Calais refugees, a Barnsley Labour councillor, someone from the Muslim community, and representatives from local trade unions.

2 Email: unison@swyp.nhs.uk

Why not follow us on Twitter @swyp_unison

Are you a young member?

Fancy getting more involved in your union?

The National Young Members Weekend, which will be taking place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Newcastle on 12 – 14 May, is a great opportunity to get involved! – it includes training and education, campaigning exercises, discussions and social activities. It’s also a great opportunity to meet Young members from around the UK and learn about the issues facing us and campaigns that you can get involved with.

UNISON has around 63,000 young members. If you are a UNISON member and under 27 years of age you are automatically entitled to participate as a young member.

Why not get involved and help us campaign for the issues affecting you.

Our young members group works to encourage recruitment, organisation and participation of young workers. The group also

provides a powerful voice for young members and the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge.

UNISON encourages young members to get involved in every level of the organisation. Find out how to get actively involved in campaigning on issues that affect you, and how becoming a member can help progress your career.

The National Young Members weekend delegates should be under 27 on the 14th May in order to be eligible to attend. Accommodation, meals and travel are all met by UNISON. If you are interested in attending please email unison@swyt. nhs.uk before the 20th March, so we can coordinate who can attend on behalf of the branch (please note that we can nominate people to go, but places are not guaranteed) as this is a popular event please apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Winter Fuel Grants for low income UNISON members – but act now applications close on Friday 17th February 2017 With rising fuel costs and another cold winter looming many members on low income are worried about how they’re going to pay their winter fuel bills. Help is on hand - ‘There for You’, UNISON’s Welfare arm has set up a limited fund to help members on low incomes by way of a a one off payment up to £50, a £10 increase on last year’s payment.

To apply: • download the application form from unison.org.uk/thereforyou; • call UNISON Direct on 0800 0857 857 or • contact the Branch 01924 316161 Closing date for receipt of applications at UNISON Head Office is Friday 17th February 2017.

UNITY WORKS W AKEFIELD Satu rday 4 March

What’s a SOG? UNISON is committed to achieving equality for all. One of the ways we promote equality is through selforganisation. Self-organisation brings together members from certain underrepresented groups - women members, black members, disabled members and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members. In UNISON, Self-Organised Groups are referred to as SOG’s and they help the union identify and challenge discrimination and build equality.

It can be a way for members to get involved in the union, developing skills, expertise and confidence.

Black members in UNISON play a key role in winning equality in the workplace, actively challenge racism wherever it is found and are at the forefront of UNISON’s work around organising. Black members involved in UNISON SOG’s work together to win positive change in the workplace and the more who are actively involved, the stronger we become!

We are delighted to report that due to a recent surge in local activism we are now working with black members within our branch to help them set up and run a SOG for black members.

If you fall into any of the categories mentioned and you would like to express and interest to become involved or find out more, please contact the branch – we’d love to hear from you and you’ll get lots of support!

Our LGBT Officer Chris Strother is also looking to set up an LGBT SOG so if you are an LGBT member and you would like to get involved or find out more, please contact Chris on 07970101947 or by email chris.strother@swyt.nhs.uk.

Website: www.swyp-unison.co.uk

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UNISONnews ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - 9 MARCH 2017 You are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Branch to take place at 6.30pm on Thursday 9th March 2017 at the Elizabethan Gallery, Brook Street, Wakefield, WF1 1QW (next to Trinity Walk Shopping Centre). Tea & coffee will be provided from 6pm and there will be a free meal straight afterwards at a nearby Chinese restaurant for people who preregister as attending. We will also pay reasonable travel expenses for all those attending. This year we will have a guest speaker, Paula Sherriff, MP for Dewsbury - a former steward in our Branch.

The business of the meeting will be as follows: 1/ 2/

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Apologies for absence.

Minutes of the 2016 AGM (Available at the meeting, or in advance from the Branch Office) Matters Arising Reports from Officers & Groups (Retired Members) for 2016/17 Branch Accounts for 2016 and Auditors Report (Available at the meeting, or following it from the Branch Office) Joint Branch & Regional Assessment and branch objectives for 2017 (Available at the meeting, or following it from the Branch Office) Motions & Amendments to Branch Rules (To be received at the Branch Office by 5pm on Thursday 23rd February) Election of Officers for 2017/18: • Chair • Vice Chair • Secretary • Treasurer • Welfare Officer • Health & Safety Officer • Equalities Officer • Communications Officer • Education Officer • Lifelong Learning Coordinator • International Officer • Women’s Officer • LGBTI Officer • Young Members Officer • Labour-Link (APF) Officer (Nomination papers are available from the Branch Office or the Branch Website and should be returned to the Branch Office by 5pm on Thursday 23rd February) 9/ Endorsement of stewards Health and Safety Representatives and Union Learner Representatives (ULR’s) for 2017/18: • South West Yorkshire Partnership FT • Choice Support • Spectrum CIC • Other Community (Voluntary) Sector • NHS Commissioning bodies (CCGs)

(Stewards are nominated by and elected from members within their employer – nomination papers are available from the Branch Office or the Branch Website and should be received at the Branch Office by 5pm on Thursday 23rd February) 10/ Guest Speaker: Paula Sherriff, Labour MP for Dewsbury & Mirfield 11/ Any Other AGM Business We look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

Yours, David Pickersgill & Elaine Shelton, Joint Branch Secretaries

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SWYP UNISON