P16 GAIL FORCE ACTIVISMA force of nature who chairsregional women’s committee

SUMMER 2015 | ISSUE 21 | £3WWW.UNISON-YORKS.ORG.UK

P6&12 A NICE LITTLE EARNERUNISON research reveals huge payrises for university vice-chancellors

P30 HAVE A NICE DAY!Peter Carroll rages againstcomputers and call centres

THE MAGAZINE FOR MEMBERS IN YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE

ACTIVE!UNISON

BLOODYBUT UNBOWED

The fight goes on, says Wendy P5

We’ll weatherTory storm P9

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SUMMER 2015 UNISON ACTIVE! 03

WELCOME

No-one willinglyloses a day's pay,but sometimes

when every attempt tosolve a dispute hasfailed, there is no choicebut to take strike action.

But with theConservatives back,ministers have unionsfirmly in their sights. Ifthey have their way, itwill become muchharder for workers to goon strike.

None of UNISON'srecent national disputes- in health, the policeservice, localgovernment or probation- would have passed thetest of a higher turnoutthreshold (thoughlocal disputes, wherethe numbers involvedare smaller, tend to

fare better).And even if the 50

per cent box wereticked, those inessential services likehealth and education,would face the addedcomplication that 40per cent would have tovote yes before anyaction could take place.That means anyonewho abstains countsagainst the strike.

But we'll takecampaigning againstthe Trade Union Bill inour stride. We'll joincivil liberties groups toprotect the right ofordinary workers tohave a voice.

We'll fight againstthe Bill wherever andwhenever we can, evenif it means we have to

take a legal challengeto the highest court in Europe.

The Governmentsays it's on the side ofworking people, butnot it seems if they arein a union and want adecent pay rise.

Of course turnoutshould, and could behigher. So let's getballoting brought intothe modern age, withpeople voting viaphone, laptop orsecure workplaceballot boxes.

The Governmentmight be using thelanguage of the 1970swhen it talks aboutunions, but we'll useevery modern meansto keep its spiteful Billat bay.

OurUnion

TURN UP THE TURNOUT

DAVEPRENTISGENERALSECRETARY

Let’s grab this opportunityUNISON members who gathered for ourannual delegateconference in Glasgowshowed they have nowshaken off the hugedisappointment of the

General Election result.In speech after speech, our members

re-stated our profound commitment toimproving life for our members andfighting to protect public services.

We know we face more Governmentattacks on local authority budgets and

that more jobs are at risk.And the future of the NHS as

we know it is in severe jeopardy.But as the delegates made loud

and clear in Glasgow, there is nosense of defeatism. The fight forfairness and social justice did notend on May 7.

That is why it is so important forour members to play their part inelecting the new Labour leader whowe all hope will replace the Tories in2020.

UNISON members who decided tobe in the affiliated political fund willhave a vote in the leadership election.

UNISON will be contacting themabout how they will be able to cast avote and any member who wants toregister to the APF – it doesn’t costanything extra - canjust make contactwith their branch, orregister atwww.unison.org.uk/labour-leadership-vote-thank-you

I hope we will allgrab that chancewith both hands.

WENDYNICHOLSNATIONALPRESIDENT

W.Nichols

UNISON is bracing itselffor fresh attacks onfacility time in the region. Government guidance inthe probation service forinstance wouldultimately lead to havingonly one steward for oneday a week to cover thewhole of North Yorkshire,Humberside andLincolnshire – and anytraining would have tocome out of thatallowance.

“As with theircounterproductiveeconomic austerity, thereis no practical need to dothis,” said regionalsecretary John Cafferty.

“Employers, especiallyin the public sector, knowthat good facilitiesagreements free themfrom many needlesshours of meetings withindividual employees,”he said.

Employers also knowthat many potentialdisputes are avertedthrough co-operationwith activists. Sucheffective industrial

relations saved both timeand money, said John.

UNISON was faced bya Government motivatedonly by a deepideological hatred oforganised labour in anyform, he said. Warningthat it was a sign ofthings to comethroughout the publicservice, the regionalsecretary said: “If we donot vigorously opposethese new restrictions wewill be picked off one byone.”

UNISON’S nationaldelegate conference inGlasgow gave its fullbacking to campaign onthe issue, and work withthe police and UNISON’snational probationcommittee to challengethis new attack on tradeunionism and gain asmuch public support as possible.

04 UNISON ACTIVE! SUMMER 2015

NEWS

Stand together!

UNISON generalsecretary Dave Prentisofficially opened the newoffices of the Bradfordlocal government branchon June 8.

The branch bought thepremises in Neal Street,near the Karachirestaurant after manyyears of rentingaccommodation in Manor Row.

Branch secretary LindaCrowther said membersdecided to buy thepremises for the long-term security of UNISONin the Bradford district.

New office takes offLinda said: “There is a lotof space in the buildingand we can also generatesome income for thebranch by lettingconference and trainingrooms to outside bodies.

“We are delighted thatUNISON’s generalsecretary and assistantgeneral secretary CliffWilliams were herebecause it was a proudday for our union. Itshows confidence in ourfuture and confidencein Bradford.”

l P22 - Following in mum’s footsteps

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SUMMER 2015 UNISON ACTIVE! 05

Have your say in the Labour leadership election

There’s no doubt that theresult of the GeneralElection was a “bodyblow” to the Labour andtrade union movement,says UNISON’S newly-elected national presidentand regional convenorWendy Nichols.

But once the shock anddisappointment fades, shebelieves the role ofUNISON – along with ourfellow trade unionists –has never been moreimportant.

Wendy said:“Politicians see GeneralElections as being like afootball match – thewinner gets the cup andthe loser leaves empty-handed.

“But in reality, the fightwhich UNISON has

always led againstinjustice, economiccorruption and greed iscontinuous and neverending.

“Because we don’t justfight against thesegrotesque injustices, wealso stand for principleswhich resonate withmillions of ordinarypeople who spend theirlives improving life forothers.

“The Tories arecurrently enjoying theirlap of honour but thesneering and gloatingwill not last long.

“If they think theirproposed anti-tradeunion legislation willfinally kill us off, they willbe in for a nasty shock.

“The trade unions were

born out of violenthostility from thewealthy and theiragents, because we aredemocracy in action.

“If the Tories think weare defeatist, they aremaking a lethalmistake.”

Wendy said the crucialchallenges ahead will beto fight the imposition ofausterity and thecontinuing privatisationof public services andassets. Poverty is nowwidespread in the sixthrichest economy in theworld, which would be acause for shame for agovernment that hadany commitment at all tocivilised values.

Despite DavidCameron’s “one nation

Tory” claims, Wendy saysit is clear his governmentwill continue to attackordinary working peopleto further enrich theirbillionaire backers.

“We are working veryhard to make sure we areorganised and preparedto do what we havealways done to protectour members and toprotect our services.

“UNISON and the values we hold dear werenot defeated in May. TheTories conned, lied andcheated their way topower. We are still here,fighting for social justice,as always.”

l Active! will carry a full interview withWendy in the next issue following herelection as president of UNISON.

Fight goes on,says Wendy

If you're a member of UNISON's affiliated political fund, then you're eligible to vote in Labour's forthcomingleadership election. To activate your vote you'll need to sign up as a registered Labour Party supporter at

www.unison.org.uk/labour-leadership-vote-thank-you It’s free for members of the affiliated fund.

06 UNISON ACTIVE! SUMMER 2015

NEWS

Massive double-digitsalary increases are beingawarded to highly paiduniversity vice-chancellors across theregion while wageincreases to staff barelykeep pace with inflation.

Deeply concernedabout the massive andgrowing gap betweenuniversity leaders andtheir staff – and thesecrecy with which theVC’s pay is decided atsome universities –UNISON embarked on anationwide series ofFreedom of Informationrequests.

UNISON researchersfound that top of the payleague in Yorkshire andHumberside was theUniversity of Sheffieldvice-chancellor on£378.000.

His colleagues atSheffield Hallam andLeeds University

received respectively£260,000 and £259,000.The lowest paid was atLeeds Trinity with£147,833 a year.  Theaverage figure for theregion was £244,221.

The highest VC’s payrise for 2013/14 were 16.7per cent at Leeds BeckettUniversity, 12.9 per centat Bradford and 9.3 percent at Huddersfield. 

Where pay seems tohave been cut there isoften a compensatinglylarge pensioncontribution. TheUniversity of Hullreported a cut of 10.2 percent, but the pensioncontribution was £49,000.Some showed very highrises in the previous year- most shockingly 39 percent at SheffieldUniversity - but havebeen less dramatic thisyear.

The notional hourly

rate for VCs (assuming a37 hour week) amountedto an astounding £194 atSheffield, £135 at Leedsand £134 at SheffieldHallam.

Regional head of highereducation Leonie Sharppointed out that most vicechancellors also havegrace and favour homes,chauffeur-driven cars,gardeners, chefs andcleaners, all for theirprivate use. “This is paidfor by public money andthe lack of accountabilityand transparency isscandalous. Other publicbodies such as localauthorities and hospitaltrusts all have to betransparent in how theypay their staff includingthose at the very top, butuniversities seem to thinkthey are not publiclyaccountable.

“UNISON has longbeen campaigning for theLiving Wage for all ourmembers many of whomhold down multiple low-paid jobs just to makeends meet. This is all themore vital now when weknow how people arestruggling and turning tofood banks andincreasingly using our'There For You' welfaresupport. The vice-chancellors’salaries uncovered by UNISONare eye-wateringand justcannot bejustified.”

Leeds getsour charterMaking sure there areminimum standards forcare at home for both thepeople who receive it andthe workers who provideit are priorities for LeedsCity Council after theybecame one of the largestlocal authorities to signup to UNISON's EthicalCare Charter.

The charter commitsthe council to a system inwhich carers do not haveto rush from client toclient and that people willkeep the same carerwherever possible. It alsocommits employers toprovide guaranteed hoursas the norm rather thanzero hours contracts, topay for travel time and totarget a situation in whichworkers are paid at leastthe living wage of £7.85per hour.

£378,000 foryear’s work

l P12 - Nicelittle earner Leonie Sharp

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THEBIGBEASTS

There’s only onething worse thanlosing an election.And that’s losingtwo elections. But

worse than that, is having tolisten to or read thesanctimonious, I-told-you-so,know-it-all claptrap from thenation’s self-appointedpontificators and as for thosepollsters – they’re enough tomake you want to boil yourhead.

The election campaign wasjust one big, fat, tedious flop.It seemed to start off about100 years ago, movingglacially with as muchmomentum as a sloth at rest.

ABDICATIONThe newspapers didn’t reallybother with it much until acertain part of the British Isleslooked as though it wasgoing to raise an army tomarch on Westminster, eatingfirst-borns and molestingmaidens en-route.

“Worst crisis since theabdication” declared theDaily Mail, clean forgettinghow its owner had supportedHitler. And the day beforepolling, it screamed: “Forsanity’s sake don’t let a class-war zealot destroy oureconomy”. (That’s enoughabout Cameron - editor).

The Sun went into overspinwith that bacon sandwichpicture under the caption“Save our Bacon” – if he can’t

eat a bacon sarnie, how can herun the country? A pragmaticpublication, it supported theTories in England and Walesand the SNP in Scotland. TheUKIP-supporting Expresswhined on April 28: “11 daysto save Britain”, and thenpromptly lost count.

I got a bit excited at a streamof links to TV and radiobroadcasts and newspaperarticles on the union. Alas, oncloser inspection, it wasn’t thetrade union they were bangingon about, but the threat to theUnited Kingdom of a Labour-SNP alliance.

SHOWDOWNThose pesky opinion polls,engaged in daily hand-to-hand combat with the don’t -knows, came up with ahung-Parliament scenario thatthe media then played outrelentlessly.

Come election night,Scotland was a foregoneconclusion. But Yorkshire andHumberside bravely wokefolk from their torpor.

“Night of high politicaldrama in Leeds” was how theYorkshire Post set the scene. It went on: “The last bigshowdown Leeds arenahosted was Josh Warrington’svictory against DennisTubieron – but it has beenplaying host to a potentialknockout drama of a differentkind”. The boxing metaphorscontinued.

The “big beasts” ofYorkshire were doing battle(BBC). And the biggest beastto fall was Ed Balls – asymbolic scalp for the Tories.George Galloway’s “knock-out blow” at the hands ofLabour’s Naz Shah was smallconsolation to Labour on abad night (ITN).

Nick Clegg was “heckledand booed” as he spoke at hiscount after a narrow win(Sheffield Gazette). Of course,both he and Labour LeaderDonnie’s Ed Miliband,dominated the post-electionnews – in a bad way, as theykissed their political careersgoodbye.

The sedate Hull Daily Mailseemed positively relievedthat Barry Sheerman was the“one thing that remained aconstant”. Although I can’thelp thinking that YEP got atad carried away when itdeclared that Hilary Benn had“stormed to victory” in Leeds.And, the idea that “tensionwas mounting” at theHarrogate count with fears ofan upset, was on the outsideof credible (Harrogate Ad).

I will watch the Yorkshire &Humberside space becausethere are still big beasts in theregion vying to becomeLabour Leader.

But, forgive me if I declinethe Halifax Courier’sinvitation to relive, via video,the 2015 General Electioncount in Calderdale. n

Mary Maguire,former head of press andbroadcastingat UNISON

08 UNISON ACTIVE! SUMMER 2015

FEATURE MEDIA REVIEW

NICKCLEGG WASHECKLED AND BOOED AS HE SPOKE ATHIS COUNT AFTER A NARROW WIN

Potential leaders of the Labour Party are at large in the region. Active’s mediacorrespondent Mary Maguire will keep her eyes peeled for the press coverage

It is time for UNISONmembers to lift up theirheads and declare“business as usual” afterthe General Election

shock, says regional secretaryJohn Cafferty.

In the wake of the crushingresult, John held a meeting ofhis regional office staff at theunion movement’s WortleyHall in Barnsley (above) toaddress the challengesUNISON faces in the yearsahead.

John said: “The electionresult has caused many of usto feel defeated anddespondent, and that isentirely understandable. Itwas a huge shock.

“But there are beacons oflight even in this desperate

political climate. We haveshown consistently that whenUNISON is organised andmotivated, we can be the mosteffective force against injusticein the country.

“Despite the relentlesscentral government attacks onpublic service jobs, which weknow will continue in theyears ahead, our recruitmenthas held its own.

“In Yorkshire andHumberside in 2014 werecruited 18,000 newmembers. And we haverecruited new stewards andbranch officers, which is vitalif we are to be really effectivein the workplace.

“But we are losing membersbecause of job cuts and weneed to increase the density

of our membership in manyareas.”

John said that a survey ofUNISON members had beencommissioned to find outwhat their main worries are interms of their employment.

And it is clear that thebiggest concern by far is about redundancy.

Of those interviewed 60 percent said job losses were theirmain worry and that wasespecially the case in servicesthat had been or were facingoutsourcing.

And the survey showed thatmost people (up to 77 percent) joined UNISON in orderto get support at work.

Other reasons for joininginclude the threat of change at work (59 per cent) and to

BLOODY BUT UNBOWED

Imag

es: M

ark

Harv

ey

Chris Jenkinson

John Cafferty

Tony Pearson

UNISON’s regional officials believe the union has what it takes to weather thestorm whipped up by the new Conservative Government. Peter Carroll reports

s

help improve pay and conditions (24 per cent).

John said: “We know whatwe have to do to deal withthe challenges we know weface in the years to come.

“But we have shown wecan recruit successfullyespecially in very difficultcircumstances when peopleneed to be in a union morethan ever.”

Regional head of localgovernment Chris Jenkinsonagreed there were bigchanges ahead for membersworking for local authorities.

In particular the Secretaryof State for Cities, Greg Clarkwas committed tointroducing combinedauthorities based on thebiggest cities.

There will be moves forelections for “Metro Mayors”in West and South Yorkshire,Humberside and NorthYorkshire.

Chris said: “That willobviously be a major changeto how councils are run andwe of course will closelyexamine how democraticchanges will affect ourmembers.

“But one thing we are notgoing to see is any councilputting up a ‘closed forbusiness’ sign. Theirspending has been set for twoyears.

“Local authorities are stillgoing to employ manythousands of people. All thatwe need to do is increase ourmembership and improve our density.

“We know that as a unionwe are able to do just that.”

Chris said there will bemore academy schools in thesystem as so-called “coastingschools” will be forced to

10 UNISON ACTIVE! SUMMER 2015

FEATURE STRATEGY

become academies.That will mean UNISON

will have to deal withthousands of individualschools rather than 24 localeducation authorities.

CONSISTENTAgain, this will be a challengewhich will require goodorganisation and acommitment to recruitingmore members.

Chris said: “We are dealingwith this challenge and wehave shown time after timethat we are better at dealingwith these problems than anyother trade union.

“We are the union which isat the negotiating table andreporting back to ourmembers.

“We have the structuresand the organisation in placeto do this and we should nowbe looking at theopportunities it representsrather than the threats.

“When we get it right, wedo it better than anyone else.But we have to be moreconsistent and we aredetermined to be so. It is thelay activists who will take usforward.

“Working people are goingto need trade unions in a waythey have never needed thembefore. Trade unions wereborn out of the very samehostile politicalcircumstances we are in now.

“Our activists are greatpeople who do so much hardwork in their own time toimprove life for others andthat gives me greatconfidence. The Election was,of course, a terrible result butwe have got to lift our headsup and I know we will.”

SUCCESSFULRegional head of health TonyPearson agreed that UNISONwas not just good at standingup to changes like the Health

Below & Right:The staff meetingis serious … but fun as well

THERE AREBEACONSOF LIGHTEVEN IN THISDESPERATEPOLITICALCLIMATE

John Cafferty

s

and Social Care Act, it was“magnificent”.

Tony said the long-runningand successful strike bymembers at Care UK inDoncaster had taught us agreat deal about how toorganise in the currentpolitical climate.

He said: “At the pointwhere services are beingtendered we have to look atwhat our organisationalstrengths are, at how manymembers and activists wehave.

“Do we need to sendassistant organisers and localorganisers into workplaces tospeak to people?

“Jim Bell (the regionalorganiser in charge of theCare UK strike) built up fromtwo stewards to 10 by thetime the members weretransferred to Care UK. Hetried to get the branch’ssupport at an early junctureand ensure the organiserswere the link betweenbranches and workers in

dispute.”And he said the lessons

learned from Care UK wouldbe very valuable in anincreasingly fragmentedemployment world.

He said: “We couldn’t havedone what we did inDoncaster just through anindustrial strategy.

“You cannot have all-outstrike action in thesecircumstances becausepeople could die and ourmembers could never dothat.

“The company bussed inpeople from all over the placeto fill the gaps.

“But we had a publicrelations strategy and we hadto make this a national issuebecause this was about thefuture of all care servicesthroughout Britain.

“Eventually the co-ordinated media strategy gotthe message over in theregional media as well as theDaily Mirror and theObserver.

“So we must make sure ourPR strategy is right when wego into future disputes.Unlike in other industries,any industrial action ourmembers take directly affectsthe public and not theemployer.

“That is why we have to doall we can to make sure thepublic know why we aretaking action, and that it isalways because our memberscare as much about thequality of services as they doabout themselves.

“The Care UK strikers areto be applauded for theircourage and self-sacrifice.They will act as an example ofhow good we are when wework together.

“We have learned a greatdeal from that dispute. Mostimportant is the knowledgethat, in the disputes whichundoubtedly lie ahead,UNISON has the strength,experience and commitmentto fight for our memberseverywhere.” n

WE ARE BETTER AT DEALING WITH THESE PROBLEMS THAN ANY OTHER UNION.

Chris Jenkinson

12 UNISON ACTIVE! SUMMER 2015

FEATURE HIGHER EDUCATION

Local organiser Lorraine Fitzsimons on how UNISON is mounting a concertedcampaign to get to grips with a scandalous pay gap at the region’s universities

Huge salaries andeye-watering payincreases enjoyedby university vice-chancellors in the

region has led to a campaignby UNISON to promote aculture of “Fairness,Transparency and the LivingWage” across the sector.

Shocking figures discoveredby UNISON’s research, basedon nationwide Freedom ofInformation requests (page 6),has mobilised members intoaction over pay andstrengthened negotiationswith employers.  UNISONbranches in the region havealready been active aroundthe key campaign themes:

FAIRNESSWhile staff in highereducation were being offeredone per cent in the national

pay negotiations for 2013-14,UNISON found that thesalary of the University ofSheffield’s own vicechancellor had risen by awhopping 39 per cent to£370,000, with an additional£4,000 benefits in kind.

At the same time theuniversity had still notagreed to pay its staff theLiving Wage, andimplemented the one percent offer before the disputeand pay negotiations weresettled.

The UNISON branch atthe university swung intoaction mobilising for the paycampaign, working with theother unions on the campusand stepping upnegotiations with theemployer, including asustained campaign for theLiving Wage.

Members in Sheffield, andaround the country,supported three days of strikeaction which led to a two percent rise in 2014-15.  UNISONlocally negotiated a paymentmatching the Living Wage tothe university's lowest paidstaff.

Around 400 employeeswere affected and agreed areduction to their contractualhours, achieving an increasedhourly rate and access toovertime payments.  Whilethe University of Sheffieldstill has the highest paid VCin the region, his pay rise thefollowing year was only 1.1per cent.

A combination ofconstructive negotiations,campaigning and effectivecommunication withmembers resulted in thebranch making some positive

NICE LITTLE EARNERVICE CHANCELLOR!

Imag

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orra

ine

Fitz

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LorraineFitzsimons

Above: Reps and officialsmake their pointat SheffieldUniversity

s

SUMMER 2015 UNISON ACTIVE! 13

moves towards fairer pay at the university.

LIVING WAGESome universities paid at, orslightly above, the LivingWage at the time of theresearch. They were LeedsTrinity, University of Leeds,University of Sheffield andYork St John.  The Universityof Huddersfield paid thehighest. The Living Wage goesup each autumn and paynegotiations aim to secure thatlevel for the bottom grade.However when the LivingWage is increased – andemployers fail to fully sign upto the scheme - staff can fallback below that level.

The UNISON branch at theUniversity of Huddersfieldhas a well-establishedconstructive relationship withthe employer, with somesuccessful negotiations undertheir belt.  In fact theuniversity made additionalpayments to staff on top of thenationally agreed pay rises.  Todate Huddersfield is the onlyuniversity in Yorkshire &Humberside which not onlypays the Living Wage, but isan accredited Living Wageemployer. The university willalso be making it a conditionof future outsourcing contractsthat staff are paid at least theLiving Wage.  Highereducation financialinformation shared in theregion last year showed a verygenerous VC salary atHuddersfield together with asubstantial income, operatingsurplus and assets. This wasalso the case at otherinstitutions.  It proved theaffordability of a decent payrise for all and theimplementation of the Living

THE LIVING WAGE WILL HELP LOWER PAID STAFF AVOIDFOODBANKS

ShaunBeckingham

Wage.  In Huddersfield’scase there has been awillingness to sign up to theLiving Wage and positiveindustrial relations withUNISON have helpedachieve it. 

Branch secretary ShaunBeckingham said: “It’s goodto see that the universityvalues its staff and theirdignity, aiming to motivateits key resource. Payment ofthe Living Wage will helplower paid staff avoidbecoming reliant on benefitsand food banks.”

TRANSPARENCYLike many branches, LeedsBeckett University (LBU)UNISON want to see greateropenness on pay-setting.Despite sitting on severalnegotiating bodies andhaving an active role inmany university matters thebranch is unable to influencesome of the highest salariesin the region, as there is norepresentation of staff orstudents on mostremuneration committeesdealing with senior posts.

In 2013/14 LBU’s vicechancellor received thelargest pay rise in the regionof 16.7 per cent, while eightstaff at the university werepaid more than £100,000each year.  These decisionsare made by remunerationcommittees which meetprivately and withouttransparent criteria for howhuge salaries are reached oraccounted for.  There is noconsistent approach acrosshigher education, and inmany cases UNISON is noteven aware of the process.

Meanwhile spending onagency staff was also

Highest Paid Vice-Chancellorsin the Region 2013/2014

Sheffield £378,000

Leeds Uni £259,000

Sheff Hallam £260,000

Hull £254,000

Leeds Beckett £251,000

Huddersfield £247,000

York Uni £232,378

York St J £220,000

Bradford £193,000

Leeds Trinity £147,833

Average £244,221

alarming – well over £3m ayear at the University ofLeeds and over £1.3m atBradford and Leeds Beckett.

Many universities contractout cleaning, catering orsecurity services, or operatewholly owned subsidiaries.These employers can set theirown terms and conditions,and pay as low as theminimum wage.

As Liam Byrne MP,Labour’s shadow minister foruniversities, said when hemet the branch before thegeneral election: “It’sunacceptable that unionshave to use Freedom ofInformation requests to getinformation on salaries.” n

Mary Maguire interviewsa respected UNISONactivist who experiencedinjustice in her own life andwanted to tackle it for thesake of her colleagues

Mobina Begum is awoman on amission.  Not animpossiblemission, but an

ambitious one.  It’s a missionto move society to a moreequal, fairer place, startingwith Leeds Beckett university,where she works, and theYorkshire & Humbersideregion.  And who knowswhere next?

Recently elected chair of theregion’s higher educationgroup, Mobina has spent herlife trying to help people indesperate need.  She’s seen alot of suffering, injustice andinequality and that shapedher desire to do somethingabout it.

SUFFERINGBradford born and bred,Mobina moved to Leeds at theage of 19 and volunteered atthe Citizens Advice Bureau,later becoming permanent.She recalled: “It quickly

became clear to me the hugeinequalities that people aresubjected to.  My eyes wereopened by the suffering ofwomen fleeing domesticviolence, problems facingthose recently released fromprison, the homeless and thedesperate plight of refugeesand asylum seekers. 

“Asylum seekers areabsolutely destitute.  Theyhave nothing but what theystand up in.  They can’tacquire refugee status.  Theyare effectively on the streets –homeless.  And instead ofblaming them for their plight,we should be helping them.  Acivil society should supporteveryone regardless ofbackground orsituation.  That, I believe ishumanity’s moralresponsibility”.

It was this passion forfairness that moved Mobina tofind UNISON.  She waslooking for a union thatshared her principles of

“rebalancing inequalities insociety”; one that helpedpeople gain access to services,advice and support.

A woman with Mobina’sdrive couldn’t be a passivemember for long and when shestarted work at the university,she got stuck in, first as a rep,then women’s officer, laterchair of the branch and nowdeputy branch secretary.  Sheadvocates active recruitment toensure a “strong voice” for theunion and members.

Mobina’s day job at theuniversity involves advisingand supporting students on awide variety of matters fromhow to manage their money,advice on benefits, to personalissues, including counselling.And her personal experienceshave helped her understandwhat many of those studentsare facing. 

Brought up in an Islamichousehold where “womendidn’t have the same rights”,she left home at 17 as a result.

14 UNISON ACTIVE! SUMMER 2015

FEATURE EQUALITY

MOBINA’SMISSION

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ASYLUMSEEKERSAREDESTITUTE.THEYHAVE NOTHINGBUT WHATTHEYSTAND UP IN

EQUALITY FEATURESUMMER 2015 UNISON ACTIVE! 15

She said that going through theschool system here gave her the courage to do that becauseshe knew there was analternative. Although reluctantto talk about that time, she toldme: 

“When I left home I felt that Ihad broken free. I amindependent and make my owndecisions in life. I faced thesame struggles that a lot ofyoung people now face – nomoney, lack of opportunitiesand lack of support in order tolive independently.

“Working here at theuniversity, I have come acrossstudents who have had to leavetheir parents in order to cometo university.  I find I am able tomentor, support and helpthem.  I know what they aregoing through.”

PROGRESSFor Mobina, race equality islong overdue – and workingwith other BME staff throughthe race forum, she is helpingpush the diversity agenda anda change of culture through theuniversity.

Still dominated by whitemales, Mobina says there hasbeen some progress in genderequality, but there’s still moreto be done. Importantly, raceequality lags behind and she iscritical of those universities thatare not reflective of the studentand local communities.“Universities need to do morethan pay lip service to raceequality by having in placemeasurable goals that make adifference to the experience ofBME staff.” And if she had amagic wand, she would start bystrengthening the equalitieslegislation to give it more teeth.

Pay inequality is just asimportant, she believes.

Having seen poverty andwant, campaigning for theLiving Wage is very much apriority in the sector.  She citeseducation institutions making“huge profits” who pay staffbelow the Living Wage andoperate a two-tierworkforce.  She wants them allto become accredited LivingWage employers.

“It’s not right that you canhave a cleaner for examplewho can only get 15 hourswork at the university but thento make up her hours, has togo to an agency, employed bythe same university, to clean atthe same university, for worsepay and conditions.  That andthe drive towards sharedservices is creating a two-tierworkforce and it has to end”.

Mobina is respected andadmired by friends andcolleagues for her conviction,dedication and commitmentand her determination tospeak up for other people.

Regional head of highereducation Leonie Sharp, said:“She’s a tirelesscampaigner.  And she ispassionate aboutequalities.  Her work on behalfof BME members and highereducation members isbrilliant.  She wants to puthigher education firmly on theUNISON map by giving it ahigher profile.  Mobina issomeone who doesn’t justtalk.  She listens.  And she hasset about making the servicegroup something thatmembers want to take part inby making it more engagingand active.”

It’s obvious that Mobina haslittle time to herself, but whenshe does she likes to spend itwith friends and in visitingfamily in South Africa. n

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Reporter Ryan Fletcher interviews the livewire chair ofthe regional women’s committee – someone whosefriends never know what she’s going to do next…

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Gail Andrews' senseof adventure isinfectious. The 57-year-old advancedhealthcare assistant

from Belton, near Doncaster,once chained herself to therailings at Parliament duringa protest against draconianchild support policies.

"I put the key down my braso they had to get the boltcutters. The chain was thatthick it broke them. In the endthey had to get a blow torch toget me off. I'm a bit of rebelreally. I'll have a go atanything." Gail laughs.

Next year she is going tovisit her 36-year-old son,Mark, when he gets posted toKenya during his duties as ahelicopter pilot in the ArmyAir Corps. It seems like Markis a chip off the old block: Gailenlisted in the RAF when shewas 18 as an air trafficcommunications operative.Her daughter, Katie, 16, is alsojoining her for the Kenyaexpedition.

However Gail isn't justcontent with family time inthe safari capital of the world.She is laying plans to visitmore remote parts of Africaduring the trip; to see forherself the work carried outby the maternal health charityshe helps support: Life forAfrican Mothers. "I'm hopingto leave my daughter with myson and get a flight to SierraLeone or Chad and spend afew days working with themidwives over there. I thinkit'll be a life changing momentfor me," Gail explained.

Her friends never knowwhat she's going to do next.

Whether applying for TVgameshows, helping toorganise communityactivities, protesting for

16 UNISON ACTIVE! SUMMER 2015

FEATURE THE INTERVIEW

GAIL FORCECOMMITMENT

change or fundraising - Gail'senthusiasm for gettinginvolved is endless.

Her passion for activepursuits extends into herleisure time; whenever shegets the chance Gail will travelto Hull, Leeds, Bradfordor even London to go to the theatre.

"I love going to the theatre.There's something about itthat's different to the pictures.It's the atmosphere. You justfeel good. It's as if you’re partof it," she told me. "I lovesocialising and I love thatsense of being part ofsomething. When I getinvolved I like to think I canmake a difference."

When it comes to othersGail has always had an innatesense of justice. Like manypeople willing to go the extramile for a good cause, at one

time Gail found it moredifficult when it came tostanding up for herself. It wasthe very personal realisationof how easy it was to fallvictim to unreasonablecircumstances that led her totake a bigger role withinUNISON.

"At my old hospital I wasbullied by a senior staffmember and I didn't go to theunion. I forgot I was in theunion actually. I needed to getout so I applied for a jobsomewhere else and got it,"Gail said, "During that time Icried every day at workmaking beds. I cried and I'd beagitated before I went to work.She would do things like ballme out in front of patients andstaff for things I hadn't done."The final straw came whenGail called work after a familytragedy had left her

distraught.She said: "I rang her to tell

her I was poorly and upset.I was depressed. She swore atme, she said she couldn't talk tome when I was upset. She saidshe was going to put the phonedown and not to bother calling back until I'dfinished crying."

"Because I have suffered at the hands of a bully I have anunderstanding. I knew I didn'twant anybody to feel the way Ifelt, so when I started at mynew job I decided to dosomething about it."

Since starting at ScunthorpeHospital in 2002 Gail hasbecome more and moreinvolved with UNISON. One ofthe things she learned from herprevious experiences was thenecessity for goodcommunication between colleagues and the need for a

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THE INTERVIEW FEATURESUMMER 2015 UNISON ACTIVE! 17

I’M A BITOF AREBELREALLY.I’LL HAVEA GO ATANYTHING

Below:Gail on her rounds

s

Why not give us a go?

18 UNISON ACTIVE! SUMMER 2015

Every branch in the region is allowed to nominate up to five delegates to the regional women’s group.The group holds four meetings a year plus a training day. Expenses should be met by each branch sowomen should not be out of pocket, and crèche facilities are provided for youngsters up to the age of 16.The meetings take place on Saturday mornings from 10am until around 1pm.

The group is made up of women with a wealth of knowledge and experience. Says Gail: “We have a break andhave a chat with each other, it’s not all work so why not give us a go. Get your branch secretary to nominateyou and other women, I look forward to seeing you.”

that with the growingpressures on workloads andliving standards staff were inneed of a confidential shoulderto lean on. Thankfully theservice was kept and althoughGail doesn't take credit for itshe says she definitely madeher voice heard. 

CHILDCAREGail is also raising her voicewhen it comes to the issue ofempowering women. As theonly female rep in her hospitalshe has taken on the role ofwomen's officer and is chair ofthe regional women’scommittee. Unfortunately shefeels there is still a long way togo before other women likeher find their voice too.

She said: "Women areproportionallydisadvantaged. More of themare in low paid jobs, they'rethe ones that more often thannot sort out childcare. Manywomen suffer from low self-confidence. So it's aboutempowering women,convincing them they can dothings they might usually rulethemselves out of and gettingthem to come forward."

Nowhere is this issue moreapparent than the NHS, wherea mostly female army ofhealthcare assistants and

support workers provideinvaluable care in return forlow-pay and uncertainworking conditions. Gail saysthere needs to be morerecognition for the servicesthey carry out - both fromothers and the womenthemselves. There is a lot ofgood work going on, butworries over job security arestifling enfranchisement.

"Anyone will say theseworkers are the backbone ofthe NHS. Yet they are treatedso shabbily. We've got apredominantly femaleworkforce - a lot of them arethe main breadwinners fortheir families, a lot are singleparents," she explained. 

"They're so frightened fortheir jobs these workers won'trock the boat. And it's not justwomen who are worried.That's why bullying will carryon. Anyone who's got a job atthe minute feels that they’relucky."

Nevertheless Gail feelspositive about the future andcould not speak more highly ofher colleagues at the hospitaland within UNISON. True toform she is even thinking ofher next adventures: Visitingan elephant sanctuary in SriLanka and a European camper-van road trip. n

better way for people toexpress their feelings andconcerns: whether those whobottle everything up, or thosewho might not alwaysconsider how what they saymay come across to others.

"Nobody should ever bebullied. So when I go intodisciplinaries I say 'no I'mabsolutely not accepting thatit wasn't your intentionbecause look at the impact it's had on that person,” Gailtold me.

"I'm not going to say I'm anangel. I've actually takensomeone to one side andreally bawled them out. Andthen when I thought about it Ithought 'oh my god'. So Iwent back and said 'I stand bywhat I've said but I apologisefor how I said it.' I've learnt alot and I wouldn't do thatnow."

Her interest in resolvingproblems without undueconflict and giving people thetools to get things off theirchest properly led Gail to putherself through a counsellingcourse.

When the counsellingservices for staff atScunthorpe Hospital wereunder threat three years agoGail fought for theircontinuance. She pointed out

AT MY OLDHOSPITALI WASBULLIEDBY ASENIORSTAFFMEMBER

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20 UNISON ACTIVE! SUMMER 2015

FEATURE COMMITMENT

Sharon Simcox was failed by management, but her anger turned her into anactivist. Two years later Sharon is a branch convenor. Mary Maguire reports

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

Two years ago, SharonSimcox wassuspended from herjob. It was a job in thecare sector that she

loved.  A job caring forvulnerable, elderly anddisabled people, acrossRotherham.  A job she haddone for the best part of 25years. The experience left herangry, but stronger.

At the end of a seven weeksuspension, she was fullyreinstated, without sanction or

correction.  This proved to be awatershed in Sharon’s life and a change of directionfollowed.  She told me: “I wasvery angry.  I spent those sevenweeks wondering what I haddone wrong.  When I got backto work, it was difficult to holdback that anger. I felt thatmanagement had failed me,that the process had failed me.”

But that anger promptedSharon to act.  She explained:“I also spent those seven weeks looking at ways of getting

myself out of the mess.  Iexamined the council’spolicies, procedures andguidelines.  I worked out whatI could do, how I couldsupport myself and othersfacing similar situations”.

Almost immediately,Sharon was hammering on theRotherham branch office door,determined to become aUNISON steward.  Soon shewas representing members,but was eager to do more.

Sharon soaked up trainingMary Maguire

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SUMMER 2015 UNISON ACTIVE! 21

Sharon took the opportunitiesmade available throughUNISON’s regional educationprogramme and so could you.It endeavours to offer coursesto suit everyone.

The education programme is designed to help bothindividuals and their branches. UNISON needs more, betterequipped and motivated activists. The courses are aimedat building confidence and developing abilities. Coursesare available for potential, new and more experiencedactivists seeking to improve their knowledge and skills. It is never too late to learn.

Contac t your branch education co-ordinator or branchsecretary for details.

NeverTooLate

opportunities.  A quicklearner, she took on morecomplex cases and developedthe experience and knowledgeshe needed to do the best jobfor her members. 

A year down the line andSharon had to face a toughchoice.  Did she stay in a jobthat she loved and remain asteward or did she stand forfull-time branchconvenor?  After a “mental battle”, Sharondecided to take theUNISON path.

COURAGEWith 4000 members, Sharonfinds it’s full-on, but she isn’tcomplaining.  The job ofconvenor, she says, is all about“empowering members tofight for their rights and togive them the courage andinspiration to believe that theycan do it”. 

She adds: “Yes, the job isabout representing members,but it’s also about gettingthem to realise that they cansay enough is enough.  Theycan stand up for what theybelieve in.  They don’t have tostay in the shadows.  They arethe union and they shouldstand up and speak outagainst injustice andinequality.”

Sharon stresses that shecouldn’t do her job withoutthe branch secretary/administrator who is the firstpoint of call: “As soon as shepicks up that phone, she’sready to reassure and supporttroubled or distressedmembers.”

Sharon, 48, was born in themining village of Thurcroftwhere she’s lived all herlife.  Her dad was a miner andan active member of

the National Union of Mineworkers.

Sharon has school agechildren, a son of 18 anddaughter of 15, and anelderly disabled mother tolook out for.  She will soonbe a grandmother herself asher eldest daughter is dueto give birth in October.

At the age of 16, she leftschool.  Her first job was in ashop, organised through thethen Youth TrainingScheme.  She recalled:

“I was quite a good artistat school, but I couldn’t bebothered to go throughthree years of college.  Iwanted to be out earningmoney like my mates.  So Itook the path of leastresistance, left school anddrifted through differentjobs. I had some passion forworking in the care sectorand that’s eventually whatI did”.

Her son wants to be atattoo artist and uses hismother as a guinea pig forhis designs. On her45th birthday, Sharon hadher back tattooed with acompilation picture of herchildren, designed by herson. As a friend joked: “Yourkids will always be on yourback”.

Her youngest daughter isshowing a keen interest infighting discrimination andinequality and is often atSharon’s side at rallies anddemonstrations.  Sharonproudly says her daughterhas the “potential to do a lotof good in the future”.

Sharon is devoted to herfamily but committed to herwork.  Music helps her copeand she can often be seenear attached to i-pod when

pondering a problem. Her bigmotivation is to see peopletreated more fairly.  A fairday’s pay for a fair day’swork.  She is particularlypassionate about careworkers.

“The big cats get massivepay rises. Yet the people whoare always there at night, earlymorning, weekends, bankholidays, doing a fantastic joblooking after vulnerablepeople, are paid a pittance. It’sas if the bosses say ‘keep themdown there, keep them lowpaid.  Make them do more andmore each day for less andless’.  We are paid way belowwhat we are worth and I justwonder with thisGovernment, how will that getany better”.

Although Sharon says she’snot politically minded as shefinds politics “difficult toswallow”, she’s alarmed at theTory Government and its“hostility” towards tradeunions.  That, she says, willmake life more difficult forunion reps like her.  But Idoubt that will stop her. n

THEY CAN STAND UP FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN. THEY DON’T HAVE TO STAY IN THE SHADOWS

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At 23-years-old adult support worker Rachel Crowtheris one of the region’s youngest shop stewards andmother Linda couldn’t be more proud. Helen Hague reports

Leeds adult supportworker RachelCrowther loves herjob – helpingvulnerable adults live

independently and get themost out of life.

So she was happy to spendmost of Christmas day andBoxing day ‘at work’ – joiningpeople she helps care forcelebrate at the supportedliving bungalow they share inthe city. “We had a great timeand lots of fun“, says Rachel.

Helping ensure residentshave fun and ‘get out andabout’ is an important part ofher job. And Rachel’s veryglad the days of shuttingpeople away in biginstitutions are long gone.With the right care packageand support, they can thrive.“People with learningdifficulties and additionalneeds can beunderestimated”, says Rachel.And it’s not simply aboutwhere people live. “Adult dayservices and transport play amassive part in helpingpeople live their livesindependently and enjoywhat’s out there.”

There have been manytrips out for Rachel and thepeople she helps support –from bowling in Leeds to daysat the seaside – and even a live‘X Factor’ event at LeedsArena.

Like many care workers,Rachel has more than one job.She works 25 hours a weekwith people in the bungalow.Additionally, she looks after asix year old boy and acts as aPA for a 19 year-old youngwoman with learningdifficulties.

At 23, Rachel - whoswitched from hairdressing tocare - is one of UNISON’s

FOLLOWING IN MUM’S FOOTSTEPS

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SUMMER 2015 UNISON ACTIVE! 23

youngest shop stewards inthe region. She took up therole in November, and iskeen to offer her colleaguesunion support when theyneed it.

You could say it’s in theblood – especially down thefemale line. Rachel’sgrandma was both a careworker and a union activist –and still goes to meetings forretired members.

Rachel’s mother Linda,now UNISON localgovernment branch secretaryover in Bradford, got activein the union at 25. She’d justreturned to work aftermaternity leave with threechildren under four. She wasable to do that with much-needed support from thecouncil’s day nursery, nowsadly shut. Jugglingchildcare and work ‘is a lotharder now for manywomen’ says Linda.

The union was very male-dominated back then, eventhough women made upmost of the workforce. Asteward, usually male‘handed you a form on thefirst day and virtuallyeverybody signed up’.

SOLIDARITYBut change was in the air.Soon Linda, and other mumsnewly returned frommaternity leave, beganturning up to union meetingsand making a difference.Linda’s appetite for gettinginvolved was well and trulywhetted. Before long she wasa steward and has served asbranch secretary in Bradfordsince 2008.

And she’s obviouslychuffed – but not surprised -that Rachel is activelyinvolved in the union. She

knows first-hand theimportance of recruiting newmembers and nurturingyoung activists.

Rachel and her siblingsgrew up steeped in theimportance of solidarity andfairness at work – not tomention the impact publicservices have on people’slives. Their mum has acted asa powerful role model.

Bradford local governmentbranch– represents not only9,000 members employed bythe council, but otherorganisations deliveringservices to the public - fromBradford CommunityHousing Trust to parts offurther education and thevoluntary sector.

Linda is proudthat despite thecuts, thebranch –and theeightstrongteamreleasedfromtheir dayjobs fullor parttime -hasmanagedto exceedrecruitmenttargets set byhead office overthe past two years.“When we meetone target, itmeans wehave to

recruit more the next year,which is fair enough,” saysLinda.

She says the council andthe union work well inpartnership most of the time– a working relationship,underpinned by a uniqueagreement, which can helpsolve problems before theyescalate. “If we can sort aproblem rather than taking itthrough formal procedures,everyone benefits” saysLinda.

But she is certainly notafraid to clash withemployers if that’s what ittakes to get a fair deal formembers. “That’s what weare here for – to get the bestfor our members. We have agreat team of stewards andconvenors and we are tryingto make the union deliverwhat our members need.”

Now Linda is keen torepresent members - and theregion - at national levelafter being elected to awomen’s seat on thenational executive. “I'mreally grateful to the peoplewho voted for me. I'll use themandate to make suremembers’ views are takeninto account at nationallevel”.

Her daughter is keen torecruit more memberswhere she works. “Somepeople sign up on the spot,

but there can be a bit ofhesitation if they are notsure what UNISON

can do for them. It’smy job to explain.Nowadays it’salways a goodidea to havesomeone thereto back you up.”Let’s hear it forsolidarity… n

ADULT DAY SERVICES AND TRANSPORT PLAY A MASSIVE PART IN HELPING PEOPLE LIVE THEIR LIVES

Rachel Crowther

Roger Hutt's sense offair play stayedwith him even afterhe left SheffieldWednesday. His

teenage career as aprofessional footballer came toan end, Roger says, after he‘discovered beer and women’.It would take more than 30years before he appeared infront of thousands of peopleagain - but he was ready tothrow everything he hadagainst his new adversary.

This time however thestakes were much higher andthe opposite side weren't justintent on ignoring the rules;they wanted to change thegame. The 52-year-old CareUK worker was fightingagainst those who wish toturn one of our country'scrowning glories - that allmembers of society are caredfor regardless of theireconomic standing - into azero sum calculation of profitand loss.

Roger's part in one of thelongest running strikes in thehistory of the NHS would seehim tour the country, speak to50,000 people at an anti-austerity rally and address acrisis meeting in parliament.

"It was madness. Completeand utter surreal madness. Ifsomeone would have told mewhat was going to happentwo years ago I wouldn't havebelieved them," he said.

CHANGESRoger has spent nearly hisentire working life supportingpeople with special needs, andhas seen a lot of changes alongthe way. After leaving TheOwls he spent eight yearsfrom 1982 working at StCatherine's long stay mentalhealthcare hospital beforemoving into care in thecommunity around Doncaster.

Community care is onlyeffective, Roger says, whensupport workers can ‘give thetime to chew the fat with andget to know’ the peoplethey're assisting. From 1990Roger worked for the NHScontent in the knowledge thathe and his colleagues werecontributing towards acommon good.

In April 2013 thingssuddenly went backwards:NHS care in the communityservices were sold off to CareUK, owned by private equityfirm Bridgepoint - whosebusiness model requiredstripping services to aminimum to provide investorswith a hefty profit. Thecompany welcomed its newlyacquired employees with thenews that they were facingwage cuts of up to 35 per cent.

"They categorise it as abusiness. When has healthcareever been a business?

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WE'RE FIGHTING FOR THE SOUL OF THIS COUNTRY

OLD OWL TAKES FLIGHTRoger Hutt went from playing football in front ofthousands to making speeches to even bigger crowds inhis role as a Care UK activist. Ryan Fletcher reports

SUMMER 2015 UNISON ACTIVE! 25

Everybody becomes acommodity. The mostvulnerable people in societyare perceived as acommodity," said Roger.

BELIEFSThe 90 day strike thatfollowed Care UK's take-overcaught the public's attentionbecause it wasn't just about anextreme attack on pay andworking conditions, it wasalso about our country'sfundamental principles.Roger, who played a pivotalrole in raising awareness inthe national consciousness,says this is because dearlyheld beliefs about helpingthose in need had comesecond fiddle to cash.

"There was a guy in his late30s that came to us at thesheltered housing complex Iworked in. He was alwaysgetting locked up and wasvery confrontational. Hisentire life had been fight orflight," Roger said.

"But we spent so much timewith him that we got him tothe point where he became areally nice character. That'swhy I remain in the sector. ButI don't think we're in aposition where that is going tobe possible anymore. Thereisn't that continuity of carewith a private company whowant a transient workforce -they're just interested inmaking money."

Early on in the hard-foughtand bitter conflict Roger putforward the idea of branchingout from the picket line andtouring the country. Theresponse the striking workersreceived nationwide wasoverwhelming. In Hull Rogerwas handed a collection of£3000 in support of thestrikers after spending the

day in the city spreading themessage. In total the strikersreceived around £150,000 forthe hardship fund frommembers of the public.

As momentum grew Rogerjoined comedian RussellBrand, Guardian columnistOwen Jones and Green PartyMP Caroline Lucas inspeaking at the 50,000 strongPeople's Assembly rally inParliament Square on July 11,2014. In October the sameyear he addressed the Crisisin Social Care meeting atParliament. At events acrossthe country he went down atreat. His popularity is due, inpart, because like the otherCare UK strikers Roger was aworking man risking hislivelihood for the good ofeverybody.

"Whether you're giving aspeech to three people, 300 or3000 you speak from the

WE'VE PASSED ON THE MANTLE TO OTHER PEOPLE

heart. We're fighting for thesoul of this country. It is still agreat country, I know itdoesn't feel like it at thispresent moment in time, but itis and we have to fight for it,"he said

LEGACYThe strike ended in Novemberlast year with a pay deal.Roger has gone back to workfor Care UK, despite hisdislike of its ethos, andcontinued his role as aUNISON rep. "All differencesare left at the door, so we canget on with what matters" hesays. Outside of work Roger isstill involved with providingsupport and solidarity to otherstruggling healthcare workersacross the country "Our legacyis that we've passed on themantle to other people whobelieve they can make adifference," he said. n

FEATURE POLITICS26 UNISON ACTIVE! SUMMER 2015

In an exclusive article for Active! The Mirror’s PaulRoutledge says there is a deliberate strategy to stopunion members protesting against spending cuts

Paul Routledge

David Camerondeclared aWhitsuntide waron workers as thefirst all-Tory

government for nearly 20years came to power.

He couldn't wait to launchan attack on rights at work. Itwas the highlight of theQueen's Speech within daysof taking office.

From her throne in theHouse of Lords, the monarchproclaimed that “mygovernment” will “legislateto reform trade unions andprotect essential publicservices from strikes”.

All services are essential, orthey wouldn't be provided.Nurses, firefighters, transportworkers – anybody thisgovernment decrees – will

have to satisfy new strikeballot majorities that mostmembers of the Cabinetfailed to win in theirconstituencies.

The use of agency casualsto break walk-outs will alsobe legalised – a “scabs'charter” if ever I saw one.

This is a deliberate strategyto prevent union membersprotesting against spendingcuts and a £12 billion raid onthe welfare budget that willcost jobs and pay right acrossthe public sector – includingthe NHS.

The punishment will notend there. For those still in ajob, but not earning enoughto live on, in-work benefitswill be cut. So will homeservices for old folk.Thousands more council staffface the axe. Police budgetswill be hit, costing supportjobs.

Young people will lose allbenefits if they don't do asordered under new “earn orlearn” rules. And the homeswaiting list will sky-rocketwith the sell-off of housingassociation properties.

SEARCHINGIt didn't have to be this way.If Britain had been as wise asBradford, Ed Miliband wouldbe Prime Minister today. IfEngland had been as sensibleas the voters of Leeds,Sheffield, Hull andWakefield, there would be noTory rulers in any of ourtown and city halls.

Labour performed prettywell in parliamentary andlocal elections in our regionon May 7, largely bucking thetrend that put Cameron backinto Number Ten.

Now, the party is searchingfor a new leader after Ed

WAR ONWORKERS

Miliband resigned. Hissuccessor might well comefrom Yorkshire, with YvetteCooper, Shadow HomeSecretary, one of the front-runners.

The contest will be heldunder new rules for unionmembers, but they will stillhave a vote. We'll know thewinner on September 12.

There were more highsthan lows in theParliamentary polls, withwomen candidatesperforming particularly well.Our region sent eight newLabour women toWestminster. Naseem Shahpulled off the best result ofthe night, ousting GeorgeGalloway and his RespectParty in Bradford West.

In Bradford South, JudithCummins held on to the seatvacated by former SportsMinister Gerry Sutcliffe, andJo Cox easily retained next-door Batley and Spen. PaulaSherriff triumphed inDewsbury, taking theconstituency back from the Tories.

UNISON's own MelanieOnn confounded punditswho thought her GreatGrimbsy seat might be takenby Nigel Farage's Ukip Party.She trounced the Tories andthe Ukippers with one of thebiggest swings to Labour,giving her a majority fivetimes bigger than the onebequeathed by retiringveteran Austin Mitchell.

The Tories pouredresources into their bid totake Halifax, including visitsby David Cameron andGeorge Osborne, but to noavail. Labour's Holly Lynchheld on with a slightlyincreased majority.

Another new name is

Louise Haigh, who tookSheffield Heeley with athumping majority of almost13,000 over Ukip – more thandouble the margin won in2010. And in York Central,Rachel Maskell held theconstituency with acomfortable majority overthe Conservatives.

NEWCOMERSThe women didn't have it alltheir own way : ImranHussein took Bradford Eastback from the Lib Dems – infact it was a clean sweep forLabour in the city and HarryHarpham took over fromDavid Blunkett in SheffieldBrightside.

These newcomers add to astrong phalanx of Labourbig-hitters from the region,including Dan Jarvis(Barnsley), Rosie Winterton(Doncaster), Caroline Flint(Don Valley) and HilaryBenn (Leeds Central). SarahChampion held off a majorUkip challenge inRotherham, and Sir KevinBarron stuffed Farage inRother Valley.

But elsewhere the resultswere disappointing. Tradeunion lawyer Jamie Hanleyfailed to take Pudsey, JohnGrogan didn't make it atKeighley and Ilkley. Moststunning of all, ShadowChancellor Ed Balls wasdefeated at Morley andOutwood by a Toryunknown.

His overthrow was largelydue to a massive rise in votesfor Ukip – from 1,500 toalmost 8,000 – whichdwarfed the Conservativemajority of only 466. The“Nigel surge” garnered over200,000 votes in the region,with Ukip occasionally

coming second. However,the Ukippers won fewerthan twenty council seatsacross the county.

The biggest problemfacing Labour localgovernment in our region is:how to live with thehorrendous public spendingcuts sweeping down fromWhitehall for at least thenext three years.

The biggest problemfacing the unions is how toadapt to draconian rulesrequiring a 40 per centturnout plus a 50 percent“Yes” for strike ballots to belegally valid.

TUC general secretaryFrances O'Grady says theseso-called employment lawreforms will meanworkpeople have “as muchpower as Oliver Twist.” Andwe know what he got whenhe asked for “More.” n

SUMMER 2015 UNISON ACTIVE! 27

THOUSANDSMORECOUNCILSTAFFFACE THE AXE

Labour won 33 seats inYorkshire and Humberside,a net gain of one comparedwith 2010. Labourincreased its share of thevote by 4.8 percentagepoints. The Conservativeswon 19 seats, the samenumber as in 2010. Their share of the vote was broadly unchanged.

The Liberal Democrats won two seats, which was onefewer than in 2010. Party leader Nick Clegg narrowly heldhis seat in Sheffield Hallam, but the Liberal Democratshare of the vote in the region fell 15 percentage points,to 7.1 per cent.

The UK Independence Party won 16 per cent of thevote, more than double the Liberal Democrats, but failedto win any seats.

The Green Party won 3.5 per cent of the vote, anincrease of 2.7 percentage points compared with 2010

TheRundown

Active! editor BarrieClement interviewsGrimsby’s new Labour MPMelanie Onn, who comesfrom a long line of hardworking local women

When the youngwoman firstapproachedthe ornate gates it was

a bit daunting.As a UNISON regional

organiser Melanie Onn hadbeen to the Palace ofWestminster before. But thistime the girl who started outon Grimsby’s Grange andNunsthorpe estates, was thereas the town’s new Labour MP.

“It felt like the gates to avery exclusive club. Ratherthan saying: ‘You are notallowed in here!’ I was almostsurprised when I waswelcomed in.”

But Melanie had the peoplebehind her. She was elected asGreat Grimsby’s first womanMP with a majority of 4,575,up from 714 in 2010, beatingthe Tories into second placeand Ukip into third.

The awe of the “new girl”quickly dissipated and thedetermination of the“Grimsby girl” took over.Within days Melanie hadcommitted herself to the all-party group on fisheries andhad been involved in ameeting of the ParliamentaryLabour Party discussing theprocess of electing a new partyleader.

“There wasn’t a lot of timefor reflection; for enjoying theelection victory. It was a realdampener to realise that wewere in opposition. A lot of thethings we talked about; howwe would make workingpeople’s lives better, it was sodisappointing we wouldn’t beable to implement them. Ourtask now is to campaign andlobby the government.

“In his first speech to theCommons after election,David Cameron made great

play of the fact that he wasgoing to govern for the wholeof Britain, well that means hemust get rid of such things asexploitative zero hourscontracts.

“Another important issue isyouth unemployment. InGrimsby around 25 per cent ofyoung people are not inemployment, education ortraining and unemploymentgenerally is running at around10 per cent. We need morejobs, but we also need betterjobs.”

Melanie’s victory in theGrimsby poll was hard-won.Together with a dedicatedband of volunteers, Melaniespent months buildingLabour’s reputation andgaining people’s trust. “Iwanted people to know that Iwas normal; someone whocould understand theirconcerns. Not everyone is born

s

ONNWARDSANDUPWARDS

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Jone

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New

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WE NEEDMORE JOBS, BUT WE ALSO NEED BETTER J0BS

Above:Hard-won victoryfor MP Melanie

s

with a silver spoon in theirmouths - and I certainlywasn’t.”

Born in the old GrimsbyMaternity Hospital andgrowing up on Grimsby’sGrange and Nunthorpeestates, Melanie saw at first-hand how local people had tobe strong to get by.

TENSIONSMelanie has a ‘battler’ instinctin her DNA, coming from along line of hard working localwomen – her nan and greataunt were a big part ofcommunity life in the cressbeds, cooking in schoolkitchens and pulling pints atpubs across town.

Her mother was "a bit of ahippy; a transient searchingfor inner peace". That searchwould eventually take mumand four-year-old Melanie toLondon where she went to atough school riven with racialtensions. But at the age of sixshe returned to Grimsby tolive with her great-aunt inHealing village, on theoutskirts of town.

Despite having no fatherfigure - she never met him andread about his death in theGrimsby Telegraph - shedescribes her early years as "awonderful upbringing".

"We had a garden andstability and the local schoolwas just behind my aunt'scouncil house. I felt veryloved."

Her teen years were adifferent matter. "That's when Ibecame horrible," she admits.In particular Melaniestruggled when her aunt'sPolish lodger required round-the-clock care after a stroke.

"My great aunt became hiscarer; it meant that he couldn't

29 UNISON ACTIVE! SUMMER 2015

NEW MP FEATURE

feed himself, wash himself,get himself to the bathroom,and it was very difficult for meto accept that I had to beinvolved in it. I'd be gettingready for my GCSEs andgetting up in the middle of thenight to change the bed sheets.

"I remember thinking 'I can'tdo this', which is really selfish,actually, but then teenagersare, aren't they?"

Soon after quitting school,she decided to leave the houseshe shared with her aunt aftertheir relationship "brokedown".

Thanks to local charityDoorstep, Melanie soon had aroof over her head and wasable to complete her A-Levelsat Grimsby’s Franklin Collegeand go on to read Politics,Philosophy and InternationalStudies at MiddlesexUniversity in North London.

VOLUNTEERHer first job after universitywas working the 5am shift atTesco where she joined theshopworkers’ union Usdaw.Her early starts didn’t stop herheading over to South EastLondon volunteering atAction For Blind People.

There was a Remployfactory alongside the Tescostores and it was there that shesaw the value of tradeunionism. The GMB was therecognised union.

In January 2001 she becamea receptionist at the LabourParty's London headquarters.While Melanie came from aLabour family and wassympathetic to the party, sheknew "very little" about it.

She wanted to come backhome so her son could growup in Grimsby. Her job atUNISON helped her do that.

Now she juggles herparliamentary career withlooking after her eight-year-old son Gabriel, aresponsibility she shares withher ex-husband.

“Gabriel doesn’t likechange, so it’ll take him a bitof time to adjust, but it’s thekind of worry a lot of workingpeople have.” n

As a regional organiser with UNISON, Melanie Onn, thenewly-elected MP for Great Grimbsy, negotiated livingwage agreements with councils in York, Doncaster andNorth East Lincs. Melanie campaigns tirelessly againstthe iniquities of zero-hour contracts.

Despite the pundits’ prediction that Ukip would takeGrimsby from Labour, they were beaten into thirdplace. She was elected as Great Grimsby’s first womanMP with a majority of 4,575, up from 714 in 2010. TheTories’ Marc Jones received 8,874 votes and VictoriaAyling of Ukip 8,417.

Third place for Ukip

FEATURE TECHNOLOGY30 UNISON ACTIVE! SUMMER 2015

Active reporter and technophobe Peter Carroll expresses his frustrations overthe modern world of computers, call centres and endlessly repeated Vivaldi

It was being forced tolisten to a tinny recordingof Vivaldi’s Four Seasonsfor the eighth time inthree hours that finally

made me slam down thephone in despair.

In the spirit of embracingthe modern world, I’d just hadbroadband installed at homeand rang the company to getconnected to the internet.

After six hours on thephone, over two gruellingdays, they still couldn’tconnect me.

I spoke to six differentpeople and each one promisedme someone from a moresenior level would call mewithin the hour. Not one ofthem did.

But at the end of everyconversation I was asked,robotically, precisely the samequestion: “Are you happywith the service you havereceived today?”

As an opening messagewarns, all calls are recordedand I didn’t want to land anyof the workers in trouble.

I said something like: “I’msatisfied with the way youhave listened to me but I amnot happy with the servicebecause I still cannot sendimportant e-mails for workand no-one is doing anythingpractical to help.”

This experience will be alltoo familiar to most people.

Almost every aspect ofdaily life is now controlled byvoice recognition computers,call queues, multiple choicequestionnaires and peopleyou have never met notringing you back when theysay they will.

As a man in late middleage, I know some youngerpeople regard me as at best aLuddite and at worst an idiotwhen it comes to technology.

But even technical whizz-

kids complain of the stresscaused by the grindingfrustrations of automatedcommunication.

A GP recently warned ofpeople moving house orchanging utility providersbeing “engulfed by anoverwhelming tsunami”.Symptoms including a racingheartbeat, sweaty palms,headaches and stomachupsets are all the result ofhanging on the end ofa phone.

So why is this seeminglyunstoppable march of robotic,computer driven (“computer

HAVE ANICEDAY!

Peter Carroll

SOME YOUNGER PEOPLE REGARD ME AS AT BEST A LUDDITE AND AT WORST AN IDIOT

SUMMER 2015 UNISON ACTIVE! 31

says NO”) tyranny happeningso rapidly right across theworld?

All the people I have spokento about this issue mostcertainly do not believe itbenefits them, so peopleassume the technology boostsproductivity.

FRUSTRATEDSince the industrialrevolution, employers havelooked to mechaniseproduction to reduce thenumber of people on thepayroll, and call centres arepart of that tradition.

But evidence that callcentres really increaseproductivity is slim, and inmany cases companiesactually risk losing frustratedcustomers who yearn for areal human being tohelp them.

One reason for all this is thebelief of many people thatnothing is impossible toscience and technology, whichwill ultimately solve theworld’s problems.

If something can be donewith new technology, it will bedone because progress is“intrinsically” good. The factthat it dehumanises peoplewhen implemented is not aconsideration.

Professor StephenHawking, not a scientistknown for sensationalism, haswarned: “The development ofartificial intelligence could

spell the end of the humanrace.”

Artificial intelligencescientists say they will soon beable to make machines thatcan actually think and actindependently. Prof Hawkinssaid machines would be ableto take off on their own and re-design themselves at an everincreasing rate.

TERRIFYINGHumans, who are limited byslow biological evolution,wouldn’t be able to competeand would potentially fallvictim to the superiorcomputers which have longbeen able to beat chessGrandmasters with relativeease.

And only recently aprofessor warned that humanscould be left “utterlydefenceless” by flying robotsthat think for themselves andare designed to kill. Theycould be deployed within adecade.

This terrifying prospect is a possible, even probableconclusion of the automatedworld now being imposed on us.

We are social animals, weneed human contact as muchas food and water to surviveand be happy in our allottedtime here.

The poor underpaid batteryhens forced to work in callcentres are human too. They

WE ARE SOCIAL ANIMALS, WE NEED HUMAN CONTACT AS MUCH AS FOOD AND WATER

like nothing better thanhaving a good laugh.

I once rang a life insurancecompany after seeing yetanother advert from MichaelParkinson touting hisfamous Parker pens.

I told them (they put youon a loudspeaker if theythink you’re eccentric fortheir mates’ entertainment)that, like Michael, I was fromYorkshire and so would likea pen.

“Well you have to show aninterest in taking out a policyto get one,” she said.

“Well if you send me aParker pen I might beinterested. Is Michael there,I’ll have a word with him?,”I said.

“No, sorry Michael isn’tusually here in theevenings”, she replied,smothering a giggle. “I thinkwe have run out of Parkerpens but we do have somecarriage clocks if that’s OK?”

“That will be fine,” I said,”and please give my bestwishes to Parky.”

Two days later, not one buttwo Parker Pens arrived witha drawing of the greatinterviewer and a ‘love fromMichael’ note.

So next time you’retrapped in the labyrinth ofthe call centre, try having alaugh with them - you neverknow what might happen. n

PAUL ROUTLEDGEPolictical columnist on The Mirror

Rambler Tom Stephenson had the idea of the Pennine Way footpath in the 1950s and yet it took 14 years of wrangling withlandowners to make the dream a reality. Not everyone was pleased, especially a council official’s wife who ended up in a bog…

Ionce walked the Pennine Way. Not all250 miles of it, you understand, but thestretch between Cowling andLothersdale in North Yorkshire. Or,more accurately, between the Black Bull

and the Hare and Hounds, two handsomereal ale boozers. The Bull is now a furnitureemporium but the H&H is still going strong.

The Way is 50 years old this summer, andthousands are tramping across the tops. Itwas Britain's first national long-distancefootpath, and it's still the most popular.

But do you know its origins? RamblerTom Stephenson had the idea in the 1950safter walking up Pendle Hill in Lancashire,gazing at the hills of Wharfedale and thePennines on the horizon.

Around that time, he had a letter from twoAmerican girls coming to England for a longvacation who wanted to walk something likethe 1,500-mile Appalachian Trail in the USA.

Not quite enough room for that here, butStephenson wrote a newspaper articlesuggesting a Pennine Way and the idea tookoff like a lark. Fourteen years of wranglingwith landowners later, it became a reality.

It's not everybody's glass of Tetley's.Guiding a council official through a right ofway in a bog, Stephenson said to the man'swife: “I dare say some people will curse mesome day for this Pennine Way business.”

The woman glared at him and snapped:“You needn't wait!”

DON’T RAILROAD US!“The railroad runs through the middle of thehouse, since the company bought the land”goes the old American song. And now itcould come true in rural Wakefield ifcelebrity naturalist Sir David Attenboroughfails to stop the iron road engineers.

HS2, the high-speed rail connectionplanned between Leeds and London, isscheduled to run slap bang throughpicturesque parkland south of the city.

The route goes through the 250-acreWalton Hall estate, which includes WatertonHall, now a hotel, but originally home to thefamous 19th century plant explorer CharlesWaterton.

Sir David has joined a local campaign tosave the park from HS2 planners, pledgingsupport for the estate to be made a protectedUNESCO World Heritage Site.

In a letter to Wakefield Council, the TVwildlife guru said: “Walton Hall is anextremely important site in the history ofconservation worldwide – the first tract ofland anywhere in modern times to beprotected, guarded and maintained as anature reserve.”

Charles Waterton, who travelled theworld in search of flora and fauna,welcomed visitors to his reserve, set up inthe 1820s, provided they didn't carry a gun.And he gave sixpence to anyone whobrought him a live hedgehog for release intothe park.

HS2 spin doctors insist that “no finaldecision” has been taken about the exactroute of the line from Birmingham to Leeds.That usually means they have decided, butwon't tell for fear of hostile public reaction.

Incidentally, HS2 isn't even planned tostop in Wakefield, so more power to yourarm, Sir David!

REED ALL ABOUT ITKeighley, my nearest town, gets a bad press,compared unfairly to historic Skipton.

But it's a hit on YouTube after local boyJames Reed, 28, wrote a comedy song about

32 UNISON ACTIVE! SUMMER 2015

THE COLUMN A TYKE’S EYE VIEW

Not everybody’s glass of Tetley’s

I DARE SAY SOME PEOPLE WILL CURSE ME FOR THIS PENNINE WAYBUSINESS

Rambler, Tom Stephenson

the town that went viral. The song, that is,not the town.

He jokes about the poor selection of shopsand people being “slightly down-at-heel”and suggests they move to posh Ilkley orHarrogate (they'd never have the money).

“If you live here, you've got a right tolaugh about the place,” says James. “And Ilike living here. I'd move away if I didn't.”

Fine, but I wouldn't strike up the ukulelewith his ditty on North Street of a Saturdaynight if I were him.

ROUND THE BENDIt’s official. Women drivers are better thanmen. They outperform macho males in justabout everything on the road, includingobserving speed limits, stopping at lightsand using indicators.

Women are also likely to tailgate less, orcut into traffic, use a mobile phonewhile driving or cause anobstruction.

Men have more bad habits,such as talking or texting ona phone, cuttingdangerously into traffic,cutting corners andobstructing the road.

These findings, from astudy carried out byPrivilege Insurance, confirmwhat I have known for years:that I'm safer in my wife's car thanwith the editor of UNISON Active! atthe wheel. He’s a nutter.

And everybody is safer on the roads forthe fact that I don't drive at all.

NOT ARSONThe mystery of the Bradford City footballstadium fire that killed 56 fans 30 years agomay have been solved.

Australian fan Eric Bennett, now dead,admitted to police that he probably startedthe blaze by dropping a lighted cigarettebutt that fell down a hole in the condemned

wooden stand at Valley Parade.Police say his statement was submitted to

the coroner, but after all these years thiscan't be verified.

So, as one mystery appears to be solved,another emerges from the smoke. At leastwe can now be pretty certain that it wasn'tarson by the club's chairman, as suggestedin a new book on the tragedy by a survivorof the fire.

RUN ON THE BANKSMore than 60,000 people in Yorkshire usedfood banks in the past year, six times thenumber only two years ago. And one inthree were children or teenagers.

Nationally, the figure was over themillion mark, said the Trussell Trust, whichorganises many – but by no means all – thecountry's charity feeding centres.

Problems with benefits are the mainreason for the surge in demand, but

the trust also experienced a risein those on low incomes.

And with £12 billionwelfare cuts coming downthe track, things can onlyget worse.

IN COD I TRUSTWe’ve had our chips. That's

if you want haddock, anyway.Rising temperatures in the

North Sea will sharply diminishstocks of haddock, plaice and lemon

sole, say researchers.Being a cod man myself, I can't say I'm

heartbroken, because I hear there's betternews on the cod front. But just like some(like me) prefer gin to whisky, some willmourn the demise of the humble haddock.

Austin Mitchell, former Labour MP forthe once-mighty fishing port of Grimsby,changed his name by deed poll to MrHaddock in protest at EU catch quotas.

The gimmick didn't last long. Much likethe fish itself, you might say. n

SUMMER 2015 UNISON ACTIVE! 33

Aristocracy is derivedfrom two ancientGreek words meaning“rule of the best.”Lord Worsley, 24, sonof the Earl ofYarborough, wascaught driving almostthree times over thedrink limit andwithout insurance ora licence, after hecrashed into alamppost.

He was “blackedup” with boot polishon his face.

“I do feel I have beenrather foolish,” he toldcops in Grimsby.Foolish? Criminallybarmy, more like. Aswell as a hefty fine,magistrates orderedhim to do 120 hoursof unpaid work. I hopehe uses theopportunity to reflecton his folly, but I doubthe will. Aristocrat?Aristoprat.

Drunk As A...

Sir Alex Ferguson, 73,finds retirement“more exhausting”than getting up at sixevery day to runManchester United.Given the club'sunderwhelmingperformance since hequit, I'm sure they'llhave him back, if he asks nicely.

Ferged Out!

The new governmentmust make properNHS staffing levels apriority, or elsehealthcare workers

will continue to findthemselves at risk.

In April UNISON carriedout its annual survey of thecover in hospitals throughoutthe UK.. The results weredisappointing, if notsurprising. Despite hoping tosee a positive change, it isapparent that - yet again - thelast government’s claims tohave ushered in animprovement in nursingnumbers have no basisin reality.

The report found that 65 percent of respondents felt thatcare was not being carried outto a consistent standard due tounderstaffing – an 11-pointincrease on the 2014 figure. Onthe day of the survey 70 percent were unable to take all orsome of their breaks, while 42per cent found themselvescaring for eight or morepatients. Such staffing levelsare clearly preventingcommitted NHS workers fromcarrying out their jobs to thestandard they want, andnearly half of respondents feltthere was insufficient staff todeliver safe, dignified, andcompassionate care.

Unfortunately, Thompsonsregularly sees examples of

nurses, paramedics and otherhealthcare workers who havebeen injured or attacked wheninadequate staffing levelsproduce a more dangerousworking environment.

Michael Martin, a UNISONmember from Wakefield, wasa nursing assistant at Mid-Yorkshire Hospitals NHSTrust when he was attackedby a patient while caring for aterminally ill patient on theneurology ward. The patientwho attacked him had amental health condition andwas becoming progressivelymore agitated before heassaulted Michael with achair.

The attack left Michael withfractured ribs and in chronicpain - ultimately he had togive up his job. Crucially, atthe time of the accident,Michael’s ward was badlyunderstaffed: he was one ofonly three staff responsible fortwenty-eight patients. Hadthere been enough staff onhand, the patient who endedup assaulting Michael maynever had become agitated inthe first place, or a colleaguemay have been able tointervene before Michael wasstruck.

The dangers ofunderstaffing have profoundimplications for the safety ofall healthcare workers. Thepressures of providing care

Tristram Sterry, of Thompsons Solicitors’ Leeds office, calls for mandatory nurse to patient ratios to avoid an increasingly dangerous working environment

Tristram Sterry

FEATURE NHS STAFFING34 UNISON ACTIVE! SUMMER 2015

PROPER STAFFING LEVELS MUST BE A PRIORITY

MORE NURSES NOW!

are magnified by an ageingpopulation and a reduction inadequate funding from centralgovernment. In the long term,these pressures escalate evenfurther when applied to aworkforce of which, thanks tothe last government’s policies,37 per cent are workingovertime and 70 per cent arenot able to take requiredbreaks. This is an environmentwhich is putting nurses andpatients alike at risk.

Until a government takesthis issue seriously and puts inplace mandatory minimumnurse-to-patient ratios, nursesand other UNISON memberslike Michael Martin willcontinue to be put at a level ofrisk that would not betolerated in any otherworkplace.

The cuts programme of theprevious government leftmany NHS staff hamstrung indelivering the quality of carethey want to achieve andwhich all care patientsdeserve. The new governmentmust act now to makeachieving proper staffinglevels a matter of priority. n

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