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Happy Birthday NHS
by Chris Bartter, Communications Officer Scotland
Karie Murphy (Glasgow Health branch secretary-left) and Marie Garrity (Community convenor), in uniforms from the 1960's and 50's, cut the cake baked by UNISON members in West Lothian Health branch to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Health Service.
The occasion was a seminar organised by UNISON and the BMA to highlight the problems caused by PFI in the bed provision in Lothian.
Also pictured are the two catering members from West Lothian; Eddie Egan, Chair of the Health Service Group Executive; Jane Fielding from UNISON and her opposite number from the BMA.
The seminar, which was attended by over 100 delegates from professional and community organisations was one of many events across Scotland to mark the anniversary.
As we go to press the key date of 5 July was being celebrated with stalls at exhibitions in Grampian and Tayside and a Family Funday in Loudoun Castle Park organised by the three Ayrshire and Arran Health Branches, with obstacle races and other family competitions.
Sam Galbraith MP, the Scottish Minister for Health has agreed to present the raffle prizes (Story next issue).
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Schools face PFI sell-off
The Private Finance Initiative (PFI) is now threatening jobs and services in Scottish councils as they put in for Scottish Office approval.
As Falkirk branch embarks on a ballot against the PFI scheme, other contracts are being planned in Midlothian and East Renfrewshire.
Glasgow's 29 secondary schools along with 1200 cleaning, catering and janitorial staff are earmarked for a sell-off to the private sector with the possibility of two new builds.
"This is a pure PFI contract", said branch secretary Angela Lynes. The 25-30 year deal will mean the council paying to 'rent' the schools and the services, while the private consortium owns the schools, even after the end of the contract.
It is a similar story in Edinburgh with a 30 year contract including janitorial, cleaning and grounds maintenance services.
"It is astonishing that councillors have fallen for the private finance illusion", said Dougie Black, joint Scottish local government chair.
"Everyone knows that PFI is dearer than public finance, it is not new money and it replaces public finance. At the end the private sector owns our schools and is in an unassailable bargaining position."
"This is blatant privatisation. It is rubbish that the risk transfers. The only people taking the risk are the councils with our money, and our members whose jobs and conditions are under threat", he added.
Fight on to save jobs in DLO crisis
North Lanarkshire unions met members of the Scottish Parliamentary Labour Group last week and East Ayrshire officers had talks with local government minister Calum McDonald, in the latest move to put the union case in the fight to save jobs in the DLO crisis.
"We put the point that our members should not have to suffer for the shortcomings of others", said Bob Smith, DLO steward.
The branch warns that not only DLO jobs are at risk but also jobs in other departments.
Jobs, not point scoring
The co-ordinated campaign has included meeting the STUC and seeking assurances from the Scottish Office on job security.
"Jobs are our priority, not scoring points", says a recent bulletin.
East Ayrshire's Matt McLaughlin told Calum McDonald "More time is needed to make properly thought out decisions based on the proper facts".
Already there are to be 95 voluntary redundancies in manual and craft with an impending review covering managerial and other posts.
East Ayrshire and North Lanarkshire members were heartened by the huge vote of support at last month's UNISON Conference.
Both branches were left reeling after losses of £millions emerged in the DLOs. The workforces have been left facing the possibility of hundreds of job losses.
Five point plan to keep student nurses
UNISON is mounting a campaign to ensure Scotland's 7000 student nurses complete their training in the NHS.
"Scotland faces a crisis recruiting and retaining nurses", said Jim Devine, senior regional officer.
A recent survey shows a drop of nearly 10,000 hospital based staff in six years.
"We are therefore concerned about a Scottish Office document showing a drop-out rate of 25%. UNISON is clear this is because the bursary level is only £4,450 a year for under 26's, well below this government's minimum wage rate", added Jim.
UNISON is calling for:
- bursary increase of £1,000
- more nurses training places
- cheap and comfortable student accommodation
- easier access to student loans and hardship funds
- quality clinical placements.
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Pay claim timescale
Work is starting early on the local government pay claim this year with plans being discussed for a major campaign.
Meantime the timescale has been put in place:
22 July: Special meeting of joint sector committees to make a recommendation
10 August: Consultation starts
2 October: Closing date for views from Regions
8/9 October: Meetings with other Regions
15 October: Claim lodged.
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John McFadden's presidential address to Conference calls for unity and internationalism to face tomorrow's challenges
A great union but we can be even greater
By John Stevenson, SiU editor
So proud was John McFadden's grandson of him, that he told his teacher he wanted to be a "President like my Pappy".
Scotland could share in some of that pride on the first day of Conference in June during a presidential speech that displayed measured politics, quiet passion and a personal insight to John's approach to trade unionism.
The key to his address, as with all his presidential year speeches, was unity in UNISON, in the wider movement and internationally.
That unity would be needed to defend our members against PFI, low pay and the continuing cuts in public services.
"Why is the Chancellor refusing to fund our services properly", asked John. "It can only be...to have a pot of gold for the next election campaign... and to meet the fiscal criteria for European Monetary Union, which I don't believe will help European workers one bit, but will only be an advantage to international capitalists".
John did pay credit to the things the new government has achieved. The Scottish Parliament, the Welsh and Irish Assemblies, restoration of union rights at GCHQ, an agenda for trade union recognition and a minimum wage.
But John slammed the low level of the minimum wage and the fact that "little has changed so far on the ground for the public service workers we represent and voted Labour at the last election".
On these issues, "UNISON's voice must continue to be heard loud and clear in defence of our members".
Internationally, we had to guard against the evils of racism and inhumanity at home and around the world where "so-called civilised countries can produce the most brutal acts of inhumanity".
John also warned of new global transnational corporations. "We live in an interdependent world", said John, "our vision has to go beyond Britain and even Europe if we are to successfully challenge these".
John also looked back at UNISON's achievements after a merger that "owed a great deal to the personal generosity and commitment of hundreds of thousands of our members".
These included pioneering equalities policies, lifelong learning, the successful Prakash and Prem Chavrimooto and Abdul and Ade Onibyo anti deportation campaigns and the respect UNISON has built up in the international arena.
He also addressed campaigns for rights for black citizens in Europe, rights for part time workers and rights for disabled workers.
John paid tribute to UNISON's network of stewards who bring personal communication to "an increasingly impersonal world".
Looking back at our successes and forward to our challenges, John summed up with, "We are a great union, but we can be even better".
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Anti PFI resources
for youA range of bulletins, briefings, research and guidelines are available now for stewards and officers making the case against PFI.
As well as branch bulletins, and the Scottish leaflet, there is now a UK"question and answer" pamphlet and two different posters.
UNISON has also produced a strategic response which makes useful reading alongside the excellent briefing papers produced by UNISON Scotland.
Branches can also call on expert speakers to put the case across.
You can get all the above information via your branch secretary or your Regional Officer.
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Campaign saves the Eye Pavilion
UNISON members at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS Trust have won the battle to keep their eye unit open.
Lothian Health Board had announced proposals to close the world-famous Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion (PAEP) and move surgical services to St John's Hospital in Livingston, 20 miles away, as part of an opthalmogical service review.
The PAEP serves the population of all Lothian, Fife and Borders, and the proposed transfer would have meant excess travelling for frail, elderly patients with poor eyesight.
Following the announcement by the Health Board, UNISON met with the PAEP staff and drew up a plan of action. UNISON provided hundreds of petitions which staff distributed to every GP surgery, opticians, chemists shop and social work department in the area, and staff spent their evenings and weekends taking the petition out to the public to sign.
The Edinburgh Evening News publicised the issue and agreed to print its own petition in the paper for readers to sign and send back.
Local celebrities and ex-patients such as rugby players and footballers, war veterans and even Sean Connery's brother Neil agreed to give up their time to publicise the campaign.
Staff also organised a letter writing campaign, targetting local MPs and Scottish Health Minister Sam Galbraith.
On 19 June, after several weeks of campaigning, the Assistant Branch Secretary, Kirsten Hey, along with PAEP and Evening News staff, handed in over 90,000 signatures to Margaret Ford, chair of the Health Board.On 24 June, it was announced that Ms Ford, having realised the strength of public concern, had personally intervened to save the only specialist eye unit in Scotland. This was despite the opthalmogical review showing anticipated savings of £200,000 if the closure went ahead.
UNISON ERI Assistant Branch Secretary Kirsten Hey said, "This is a great result for the Eye Pavilion staff who worked very hard on the campaign. The people of Lothian wholeheartedly supported UNISON in our bid to save this Unit, and now they will continue to benefit from locally accessible, world class eye services.
UNISON, as the major public service union, is delighted that we have achieved such a significant outcome."
Interdict gained
UNISON stepped in to ensure that members were not unfairly hounded in West Dunbartonshire.
Chief Executive, Michael Watters, who had raised a grievance about the behaviour of the Leader of the Council and Secretary of the Labour Group, (see story SiU no 10) felt that the committee set up to investigate his claims was biased and could not fairly investigate.
UNISON gave him legal support to back up their case. An interim interdict was granted which halted the investigation.
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Mukami McCrum challenges attitudes to self organisation and calls for "more cohesion and clarity of collective goals" from black workers
Black workers should be involved at all levels
While some black workers recognise the benefits of self organisation to the whole trade union democratic process, and feel that more needs to be done to achieve greater equality, some white workers are known to grumble that 'showering' black workers with too much attention is unfair and a waste of time and resources.
It is quite common for some black members to take self organisation for granted, and embrace the concept without thinking too much about it.
Recently, Sofi Taylor, my colleague at the National Black Members' Committee (NBMC), and I talked about our experiences in the black self organised groups after a meeting with South African trade unionist Christine Mangole when she addressed the NBMC.
Christine explained the structures in her union NEHAWU, and said how pleasantly surprised she was to meet so many black workers.
During her visits to the Regions, absence of black workers in the hierarchies of UNISON had led her to believe that there were no black workers. On self organisation, Christine raised a number of significant points. She found it baffling that black workers referred to UNISON as separate entity; as if they were not part of it.
She understood the organisational structures of UNISON and her questions were not about that. They raised a far more fundamental issue about the need for black members to be fully involved in making and implementing decisions and policies.
It was about how sub-structures established to meet the needs of certain members can fulfil that duty and remain part of the mainstream.
There is a view that black self organisation has not changed the situation for most black members. While they have successfully overcome some aspects of racism, my concern is that some factors which increase isolation are not adequately addressed.
The numbers game coupled with a scattered black workforce and prejudice across ethnic lines has led to exclusion of some black workers at regional and branch level, especially in rural and semi rural areas.
Participation, representation, better communication and sharing of information are still an illusion. Racial discrimination and harassment remain major barriers, and measures to support the workers are often inadequate and patchy.
Black workers are few and scattered, which means that power struggle games are played in a very small arena where bickering, bullying tactics and discrimination replace support and empowerment strategies.
UNISON's commitment to self organisation is good but obviously some improvements are necessary. Passing motions at conference is empowering but not enough.
When new policies are introduced without changing the old power structures and power relationships which created the imbalances in the first place, it is like creating a silhouette or a picture of superimposed shadowy images. Attractive but not the real thing.
Black self organisation needs cohesion and clarity of collective goals. We need to strengthen black action, as UNISON members at all levels.
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Building equality into the Scottish Parliament
Lesbian & Gay co-convener Jim Mearns has been working for equality amendments to the Bill setting up the Scottish Parliament, with the Equality Network and UNISON self organised groups
"The definition of equal opportunities in the Bill has been extended to include "sexual orientation".
Age, language and social origin have also been added but regretfully gender identity was rejected.
At the same time, the powers of the new parliament are extended so that it can work to encourage all kinds of equal opportunities."
The creation of a Scottish Parliament is one of the most Important issues for the people of Scotland as it will have powers which will impact directly on all our lives.
However. the Bill as currently drafted does not allow the Scottish Parliament to have jurisdiction over Equal Opportunity matters and, before the completion of the Committee Stage the definition of Equal Opportunities in the Bill did not include sexual orientation or gender identification.
Jim Mearns one of the UNISON Scotland Lesbian and Gay Committee's Co-convenors, has been actively involved in seeking amendments to the Bill.
Jim has been working closely with the Equality Network which has also been campaigning in this area. At a meeting with UNISON supported MPs in Edinburgh earlier this year, Jim led a discussion on potential amendments to the Bill and provided the MPs with a briefing note containing draft amendments.
The amendments basically sought to allow matters relating to the Race Relations Act. the Sex Discrimination Act and the Disability Discrimination Act to be legislated for in the Scottish Parliament and to include sexual orientation and gender identification in the definition of equal opportunities.
These amendments were supported by representatives of the Disabled Self Organised Group who were present.
Jim also had discussions with Maria Fyfe MP and she tabled a number of supportive amendments about equal opportunities.The Equality Network arranged to have several "cross party" amendments tabled by Roseanna Cunningham (SNP): Jim Wallace (Lib Dem) and Malcolm Chisholm (Lab).
In the event, the Government did not concede that the Scottish Parliament should have the powers to act in this area but they did accept that the definition of equal opportunities should be widened.
The definition of equal opportunities written into the Bill has been extended to explicitly include "sexual orientation". Age, language and social origin have also been added but regretfully gender identity was rejected.
At the same time, the powers of the new parliament are extended so that it can work to encourage all kinds of equal opportunities. Without this new amendment, the parliament was limited to working to discourage discrimination only on grounds of gender, race and. to some extent, disability.
The new parliament's encouragement of equal opportunities is however limited to methods that do not involve prohibition or regulation.
This has been a good campaign, which has shown that the various self organised groups in UNISON can successfully work together and work with other equality groups to get a result that will not only benefit UNISON members but the population of Scotland as a whole.
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Media course success
Activists from branches around Scotland gave rave reviews to the recent Media Handling weekend run with the Communications & Campaigns Committee.
Mary McGuire, UNISON national press officer and journalist Christine Jardine joined the tutor team with Chris Bartter (Communications Officer Scotland) and John Stevenson (SiU editor).
The course looked at how the media operates, planning and writing press releases and hands on practice at radio interviews.
One of the most fascinating sessions was when course members were asked to tell us what their job was and how it helps the public.
With the level of media coverage these days, this course is a must whatever your job in the branch. Look out for the next one.
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Round the Branch Magazines
Scottish branch wins magazine title
Our regular look at Scotland's branch magazines has something to celebrate this issue with City of Edinburgh's UNISON News winning the "best entry using a computer" in the national competition.
Tower Hamlet's magazine (which was better) won overall first prize. But by the look of the pile of magazines that flooded in this month, Scottish branches are bound to figure well in next year's competition.
In this issue we run through a selection of branch magazines on offer in Scotland.
Jobs victory in Clackmannan
Clackmannanshires's first magazine, Excuse me, leads with a victory against redundancies after a three to one ballot vote for action.
Stories on workplace bullying
and UNISON training feature in a packed eight pages of local and national news with good 'people' stories.A very professional layout and a very attractive magazine. Looking forward to many more issues.
West Dunbartonshire leads on the fight against consultants and the case of its chief executive (see this issue of SiU page 3).
On a lighter note, there's a great story in The UNISON View berating the state of the flagpole outside the council offices.
The current flag is a dilapidated St Andrews cross. "Poor old Andrew would be bloody livid, far less cross", says the magazine.
Extra holiday for Glasgow Health
Glasgow Health members will get an extra half day's holiday this year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the NHS.
The branch's Update magazine reports this was the brainchild of branch secretary Karie Murphy in response to the Trust's request for ideas.
As well as the magazine, there are special bulletins for the Mental Health Division and Area Health Committee.
City of Edinburgh's current magazine leads with the Social Work Inquiry in Edinburgh at which UNISON appeared and made a submission.
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Accountancy blow to PFI
An Accounting Standards Board's consultation paper proposes to keep Private Finance Initiative contracts on the public sector balance sheet.
This would keep them in the Public Sector Borrowing Requirement (PSBR), undermining the whole basis for PFI.
The government and industry are panicking a bit and lobbying against this, with one minister even saying he might ignore it!
UNISON argues that the General Government Financial Deficit (GGDF), widely used in Europe, is a better formula than PSBR in that it treats public investment as just that, rather than debt, doing away with any need for PFI.
Watch this space.
Youth festival chance to see real Cuba
Last year, an STUC delegation headed off to Cuba for the 14th International Festival for Youth and Students. Looking to meet people, share experiences and see how Cubans were dealing with the American embargo, Glasgow City's RAMAN SINGH reports on the visit
Our group arrived in Jose Monti Airport, Havana after a long flight, and then transferred to our accommodation in the village of El Abra by bus.
El Abra is a very large village with little chalet type houses shared by four persons, I didn't expect to share my accommodation with rats, huge lizards, frogs and large hairy spiders but all in all it wasn't a bad experience.
Thousands of delegates from around the world stayed in the village, giving us an opportunity to meet them in a relaxing environment. The extensive grounds had palm trees, fruit trees and a wide range of flowers.
The way alcohol is served, approximately three times the size of a normal Scottish pub measure can be quite a shock to the system.
I was not prepared to sunbathe because, as an Indian, I have a natural beautiful suntan anyway. I was always under the shade, but even so the sun was so strong it gave me sunburn. I have never experienced this before, even when I have visited other warm countries.
Family stay
During my second week in Cuba I stayed with a Cuban family for nine days. It was one of the most exciting moments of the trip. There was five in the family - mother, father, son, sister-in-law and the grandmother.
When I got off the bus in our destination in Playa there were many families waiting for their delegate. My family was waiting for me with a bit of cardboard with my name on it. I went over and introduced myself to them and they gave me a hug and took me to their house.
My first impression was that the house was very large. I had my own bedroom with a television in it which surprised me. I felt this wasn't typical of Cuba and, I wondered if this was a way of disguising the real way of life, creating a false impression for certain tourists and organised groups.
Food and drink
One of my favourite pastimes was sampling different types of food dishes with my Cuban family.
The warmth and plentiful rains make everything grow abundantly and Cuba exports many crops.
The most important are cane sugar, then tobacco, rice, coffee, citrus fruits, bananas, pineapples and cocoa.
Tobacco was grown in Cuba before the island was discovered by the West. Cattle are being raised in increasing numbers and dairy foods are produced.
There were a lot of meat dishes but I did not try as I felt the meat did not look fresh. My favourite dishes were pizzas and rice dishes.
The festival
On the opening of the 14th World Festival we marched through the streets of Havana, with thousands of other delegates from around the world. Millions of local residents cheered us from roof tops, balconies and streets.
The United States had the biggest delegation there, which was surprising because of the imposed sanctions against Cuba.
Other countries had flags, banners, posters of Fidel Castro, musical instruments etc apart from ourselves who had nothing. This was disappointing and did not reflect our trade union history and the legacy of the struggle of the working class.
We can learn lessons from how people organise in other countries.
Fidel Castro gave the opening speech, it was really great to hear a revolutionary of his status giving support to trade unions around the world, and encouraging youth to take up the struggle of the working classes against all forms of oppression.
Later in the Festival there were debates and discussions on some of these topics, including; Employment, Childhood, Young Women, Democracy and Participation, Health, Racism.
These were just some of the debates that were held in different conference halls in Havana.
I made a lot of friends during the Festival with people from around the world. We shared experiences and found the whole experience very valuable.
I would like to thank everyone that was involved in preparing and organising this trip especially the STUC for co-ordinating everything, other branches that helped with this trip, and my own branch - Glasgow City UNISON - for the support they gave me.
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Caption Competition
Not to put too fine a point on it, last month's entries were, well, mixed.
The closest we got to funny came from a full timer!
Phil Martin - our Australian colleague on an exchange with Kath Ryall - thinks we all look like beefcake (too much Bondi Beach influence?)
His offering was:
Offscreen announcer: "And the Mr UNISON finalists are ..."Stevie: "This git might look good in formal wear, but I'll clean him up when we get to the swimsuit section!"
This anonymous entry could have had a chance, but we had to disqualify...
George to Stevie: "Is that a Trident in your pocket, or are you just pleased to see me"
Better, though ineligible for a range of reasons:
"Chris Bartter awaits a call from Matt Smith to confirm whether he can smile in the presence of the GMB."
The prize therefore goes to Phil. Your Neighbours video is in the post.
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Letter
Fair SHARE for who shouts loudest?
Scotland inUNISON
Dear John
A "fair" SHARE for Glasgow (SiU No 11) is all very well. One thing I have found from working in the NHS is that there is always another angle!
Colleagues in Glasgow are right in that the SHARE formula did not include for deprivation.
However, the SHARE formula also did not include any weighting for sparsity or rural deprivation These are both major problems in the Highlands, an area of nearly 10,000 square miles, with a growing population. If these were accounted for, this would lead to the Scottish NHS "cake" being divided up rather differently again.
What we should be campaigning for is two things:
1. Increased resources for the NHS
2. Input to a new equitable formula for the whole of Scotland, for dividing up the NHS "cake".
Inevitably, this second point will lead to some gaining and some losing out.
However, to take a national viewpoint, which is as fair and equitable as possible, is surely better than running campaigns which risk becoming fragmented and divisive among ourselves, to try to get NHS resources allocated on the basis of "who shouts loudest".
With best regards,
Yours sincerely
Adani Palmer
Secretary
Highland Communities Healthcare Branch
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Free Market in Energy -Who are the losers?
UNISON's Scottish Electricity and Gas members will shortly feel the beginnings of competition in the domestic energy markets as first Gas supply (later this year) and then Electricity is deregulated and thrown open to any firm to provide.
Experiences in the South-West of England have shown both that some of the competing companies are not too particular what claims they make to get consumers to switch supplier, and that the real losers are low-income families - particularly those paying for power by pre-paid card.
UNISON in Scotland has teamed up with the Right to Warmth campaign to organise a conference on Fuel Poverty on October 30 in Glasgow. Maria Fyfe MP and Mike Jeram, UNISON's head of energy have both agreed to speak.
Watch out for further details or contact Barbara Diamond in UNISON House (0141-332 0006) or Jim Waller in Douglas House (0131-226 2662).
We want to hear your news
Won any deals or cases for members? Any 'people' stories we could use? SiU is your paper, we want to hear your stories.
Your SiU contacts are: John Stevenson (Editor) 0131 343 1991
Chris Bartter 0141 332 0006,
Morag Stevenson 0131 469 3880
FAX PRESS RELEASES to 0141-331-1203
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