SOCIALIST UNITY

from UNISON’s magazine 

Like you, I’m proud of Labour’s legacy – the minimum wage, Sure Start children’s centres, new hospitals, civil partnerships and devolution.

But I’m aware of the disappointments too. At times the Labour government seemed to lose touch with the people we represent and almost wage war on public servants. That was wrong and we paid a heavy price.

Public sector workers did not create the financial crisis. But we now face the biggest assault on our public services since the 1980s. Fundamental free market reforms to our NHS and schools. Local services to be slashed. Public sector jobs, pay and pensions under attack. Cuts so severe they could trigger another recession.

As a Labour leadership candidate I will not be distracted from my first duty: to show there is an alternative to this savage assault on public services.

That’s why I have led from the front on campaigns to defend free school meals, save new school buildings and oppose the VAT bombshell.

Labour needs a leader who can make the right calls under pressure, as I did on staying out of the Euro currency. Following the tragic Baby Peter case in Haringey, I resisted the media frenzy to act before an inquiry and launched the Stand up for Social Workers campaign.

I not only believe in fairness but will fight for fairness.

I was the only Cabinet Minister to implement the Living Wage for all staff and contracted staff in my Department. I will create Labour’s first ever Diversity Fund to help under-represented groups – whether by gender, race, sexuality, disability or background – get selected as candidates.

And I am proud too of my work with Unison over the years:

* devising with Dave Prentis the NHS secondment model to help staff retain NHS pay and conditions

* setting-up the first ever national negotiating body for school support staff including teaching assistants, caterers and cleaners;

* securing the funding for universal free school meals pilots, following Unison’s campaigning in the National Policy Forum;

* alongside Dave, launching Unison’s ‘Million Voices’ for public services – a campaign that is now more important than ever

* and recently speaking out against the scapegoating of public sector pensions.

When you vote in this leadership election I hope people will judge me not just on what I say and do now, but on my record as a champion of public services too.

Conservative Secretary of State for Health has let slip that the Coalition is to scrap NHS Direct for a cheaper service. The proposal is to replace 3,000 dedicated specialist nurses and health professionals with a cheap private call centre, with no access to a nurse.

Private call centres with unqualified staff can never replace this excellent service, which provides vital immediate support such as during the swine flu outbreak which saw scores of people die.

NHS Direct UNISON Official Michael Walker states:

“Not one Coalition party stated they would scrap NHS Direct in their manifesto. There is no mandate for cutting this service . If the government attack NHS Direct, what else is next? What other NHS cuts are they hiding? It is time for Cameron and Clegg to come clean about their real plans for our NHS.”

UNISON Scotland have announced a major conference to develop its public services campaign in the face of devastating cuts.

Scottish Organiser Glyn Hawker said: “We are facing a savage attack on public spending that will have a huge impact on services so many people rely on daily.

“Our argument is that there is an alternative to this and we should be talking about the kind of society we want and how quality public services can be afforded.

“The impact of the kind of cuts currently being talked about will be devastating for communities and local economies across Scotland.

“Our conference is important in bringing together our members with other trade unionists and community groups to share experiences of where services are under attack and to plan the next steps in our ‘Public Works’ campaign.”

UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis and STUC Assistant Secretary Stephen Boyd will speak at the ‘There is an alternative’ strategy conference on 4 September in Glasgow.

Conference workshops will look at how fair taxation and a Living Wage can support services and at the alternatives to major cuts and job losses.

The conference is one of a series of autumn union events including a European Trade Union Confederation Day of Action in September and an STUC demonstration in October.

Download a leaflet for the ‘There is an Alternative’ conference” from UNISON Scotland’s website

UNISON, the UK’s largest public service union, is preparing to take urgent legal action to protect the NHS from being torn apart.

The union says that NHS Chief Executive, Sir David Nicholson, is pressing ahead with plans that have neither Parliamentary approval nor legal backing. The move centres around the status of the Government’s latest NHS White Paper that proposes sweeping changes.

Sir David Nicholson is accused by the union of pre-empting the result of the consultation and subsequent Parliamentary process by writing to Strategic Health Authorities, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and other providers with a series of “actions that we need to start now”.

The letter states that under the present law it is simply unlawful to propose a series of far reaching, top-down changes to the NHS without giving the public, patients and interested parties, including UNISON, a proper opportunity to have their say about the proposals. The union’s letter warns that unless the union gets a satisfactory response, urgent Judicial Review proceedings are on thecards.

Karen Jennings, UNISON Head of Health, said: “The Government’s White Paper will change forever the NHS as we know it. These sweeping changes were not part of any party manifesto and it is outrageous that these changes are being brought in without consulting the public, patients, staff and unions. “The NHS Constitution enshrined in law the right to consultation and yet, in writing to NHS managers, Sir David is working on the premise that the consultation is only about the best way to achieve pre-determined outcomes – this makes it nothing more than a paper exercise and a sham. “We have asked for a response within 7 days and if we are not happy with the reply we are reserving the right to issue urgent Judicial Review proceedings.” * “Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS”

From Socialist Worker

After a four-year battle for justice, sacked and victimised nurse Yunus Bakhsh has won a landmark victory at an employment tribunal.

The judgment finds that he was unfairly dismissed by Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Trust because of trade union activities, and that he also suffered disability discrimination.

His employer, a mental health trust, sacked him for being an active trade unionist and for being on the sick with depression. A remedies hearing will now take place to determine damages and other matters.

The finding entirely vindicates Yunus’s long campaign to reveal the truth about what happened at the Trust after he was suspended from work in 2006. His health has suffered and he has suffered financially. But he kept going – and he was right.

He was attacked by his employer, by his own union, and by BNP members – but he won.

“I want to thank very much everyone who stood by me through a long and difficult time,” Yunus told Socialist Worker. “This is a victory for us all and a success for every trade unionist. We want no more union victimisation, and we need no more union witch hunts.”

Following the recent endorsement of Ed Miliband’s candidacy for the leadership of the Labour Party by GMB, the national political committee of UNISON has today also given its backing to Ed Miliband.

The decision was taken after consultation throughout the affiliated members of the union. Hustings at UNISON’s national political conference, attended by 200 UNISON Labour Party members representing the regions, were held in early July. All the candidates were present and the hustings were broadcast over the union’s website.

There will be a One Member One Vote (OMOV) ballot of UNISON’s affiliated members, conducted by the Electoral Reform Society.

The electoral college gives one third of votes to trade unions, one third to MPs and MEPs, and one third to individual members of the party. Therefore the recommendations of the major unions are significant. So far Ed Miliband has gained the support of GMB, UCATT, UNITY and UNISON, Ed Balls has been backed by CWU, and Diane Abbott has gained the endorsement of two rail unions, ASLEF and TSSA, and the London and Eastern regional political committee of UNITE.

UNITE is now the only large union yet to declare who it is supporting at the antional level, and is widely expected to back either Ed Miliband or Ed Balls.

David Miliband is however leading the race in the core support group of millionare businessmen and former Blairites.

Regional Secretary, Linda Perks, said: “Ken has a proven track record of working for London and Londoners, and fighting for the interests of the lower paid and less advantaged in our society.

“UNISON feels he is the best candidate to work with us to campaign against the Tory cuts and
attacks on London’s public services.” 

from Nora Pearce UNISON Nursing Convenor

GP COMMISSIONING

Our local nursing members have raised with me their grave concerns with regard to the Health Minister Andrew Lansley announcement that the Coalition are to proceed with GP commissioning.

These are the initial concerns they have asked me to clarify with you:

· Given the historical antagonism from some local GPs to their local hospitals, what would stop them placing contracts elsewhere and thereby underminding the viability of their local hospitals?

· How will teaching and specialist hospitals secure contracts for their national service?

· Will Hospice care be commissioned by GP commissioners?

· How will nurses be involved in commissioning as suggested in the white paper?

· What will stop GPs securing the services of private companies or “for profit” companies (Private health insurance companies) in to commission services? Many of whom may have a vested interest in private health services.

· What if GPs refuse to fund mental health services and other policially sensitive procedure?

· How will patients be involved in decision making, how will GPs continue as independent advocates for patients?

· What measures are in place to allow transparency (i.e) GPs personnel financial interests?

· How will the Government stop the “potential” massive increase in administration and contract compliance costs, that will be necessary for both GPs and Trust hospitals under this proposal?

· How do you avoid GPs rationing care and therefore decisions being taken on the grounds of cost rather than clinical need or GPs removing “expensive” patients from their lists?

· What will happen to any savings accrued by GPs in commissioning?

· How will GPs be accountable for their commissioning decisions and to whom?

· What happens to GP commissioners if they over spend or suffer high levels of extra contractural referrals (ECR’s)

I would be grateful if you could pursue these issues on behalf of our nursing members and your constituents.

Nora Pearce

UNISON Nursing Convenor

These pictures from Wednesday’s protest outside Kingston hospital are an example of the type of actions that have been taking place right around the country in reponse to the Con-Dem budget, and the attacks on the public sector.

It is important to understand that the trade unions have not been silent, but in our determination to mount resistance, we need to win our own members first to undertand that the cuts are unnecessary. Trade unions members are not just a stage army that can be deployed at will, our members represent a cross section of the community, and many of our members will either be confused or despondent in the face of the government attacks.

These small scale actions bringing the activists together and inspiring them with confidence and determination is the first step towards building a fight back against the Tories.

UNISON General Secretary result here, the incumbent, Dave Prentis, has won an overwhelming victory.

Dave Prentis 145,351 (67.2%)

Roger Bannister 42,651 (19.7%)

Paul Holmes 28,114 (13%)