Department of Health: NHS Modernisation – Listening Exercise
UNISON response, May 2011

Executive summary

UNISON remains fundamentally opposed to the government’s plans to bring about a massive top-down structural reorganisation of the NHS that favours markets and competition over integration and cooperation. The union’s key concerns are laid out below:

· Government plans represent a move to wholesale competition. This will undermine attempts to provide more integrated care both with the NHS and between health and social care. The application of competition law means the NHS is likely to become increasingly mired in wasteful litigation.
· The NHS will become increasingly subject to European competition law, meaning that instead of devolving responsibility to the local level, government plans will permit the EU a greater say in the way the NHS is organised.
· The full-blooded market system will allow services, wards or even entire hospitals to be lost with insufficient contingency arrangements to protect continuity of care for patients.
· The regulatory system is insufficiently robust to deal with the new provider landscape.
· Changes are needed to the Department of Health’s Operating Framework to rule price competition out completely, and the regulator Monitor must be forced to toe this line.
· The move to Any Willing / Qualified Provider will lead to instability and waste. It could even lead to less choice for patients in the longer term. UNISON supports a return to the previous model in which the NHS was the “preferred provider”.
· Plans to undermine NICE and bring about “medication tourism” will increase health inequalities and threaten value for money.
· The government’s plans are riddled with conflicts of interest and undermine the accountability of the health service to patients, public and Parliament. Most significantly, the Secretary of State should not be able to abrogate responsibility for the NHS. And handing responsibility for charges to commissioning consortia opens up the prospect of more widespread charging for services or top-up fees.
· Health and Wellbeing Boards need to have greater democratic involvement and need stronger powers. The plans for local HealthWatch also need strengthening.
· Government plans for education and training will lead to a loss of strategic planning and will undermine the ability of the system to respond effectively to changing demands.
· Separating out the commissioning of pre- and post- registration courses poses a significant risks to the effective way in which workforce planning currently operates.
· There is a need for substantial extra training for those visiting health and care providers.
· There is a need to retain national workforce structures for terms and conditions, for pay and bargaining, and for training and education.
· The abolition of the private patient income cap mean that some foundation trusts will prioritise those that pay for their care over NHS patients, who will find themselves waiting longer for operations and treatment.
· Reassurances about the need for foundation trusts to reinvest their private patient income in improving NHS services have been inadequate. Plans for foundation trusts to keep separate accounts listing their private patient income and their NHS income are so far only referred to in the Bill’s supporting documents, not in the actual legislation itself.
· For social workers, the right of appeal will in future be much narrower and less responsive to the complexities of social work cases. Pursuing an appeal will become more expensive and risky. The current Care Standards Tribunal system has proved itself to be accessible, efficient and cost effective in ensuring fair outcomes for social workers.

Interest rates held-UNISON reaction

Commenting on interest rates being held at 0.5%, Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, said:“The Bank of England has made the right decision by keeping interest rates low but inflation is hitting people hard. “The vast majority of UNISON members have not had a pay rise for two years and rising inflation is what is hitting families hard. The price of everyday goods such as food and fuel are going up and just making ends meet is a real struggle.“However, interest rates aside, the Government must re-think its damaging cuts strategy and concentrate on stimulating growth to preserve and create much needed jobs.”

Labour: The Party of the NHS

• The National Health Service is the Labour Party’s greatest achievement. We created it, we
saved it, we value it and we will always support it.
• In 1997 the NHS was suffering from years of neglect and underfunding. With sustained
investment and reform, Labour turned it into a high-quality service for patients, at the heart of
which is a core value: care provided on the basis of need, not of ability to pay.
• Under the Tories, the NHS was neglected:
• Between 1979 and 1997, inpatient waiting lists went up by over 400,000.
• In 1997, 284,000 patients were waiting for over six months for their operations. In
1995, the Tories introduced a waiting time target of 18 months – and they failed to
meet it.
• In 1997, just 63% of people with suspected cancer were seen by a specialist within
two weeks of referral.
• In 1997, half the NHS estate was older than the NHS itself, with buildings dating from
before 1948.
• Labour brought enormous improvements to the NHS between 1997 and 2010, including:
• 89,000 more nurses and 44,000 more doctors in the NHS, helping to drive up
standards and drive down waits.
• Before 1997 it was not uncommon for patients to wait over 18 months for an
operation – by 2010 Labour guaranteed that nobody need wait more than 18 weeks
• Waiting lists fell by over 500,000 with waiting times at their lowest level since records
began.
• In 1997, 284 000 patients waited more than 6 months for an operation. By 2010 the
figure was almost zero.
• 3 million more operations carried out each year than in 1997.
• The premature mortality rate for cancer the lowest ever recorded, saving nearly 9,000
lives in 2006 compared to 1996.
• Premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases dropped by more than 40 per cent
since 1996, saving nearly 34,000 lives a year.
• The NHS delivered the largest hospital building programme in its history, with 118 new
hospital schemes opened and a further 18 under construction.
• Labour created new services to provide patients with greater convenience including
around 100 new walk-in centres and over 750 one-stop primary care centres.
• By 2010, over three quarters of GP practices offered extended opening hours for at
least one evening or weekend session a week.
• All prescriptions are now free for people being treated for cancer or the effects of
cancer, and teenage girls are offered a vaccination against cervical cancer.
• Labour delivered a guarantee of seeing a cancer specialist within two weeks if your GP
suspects you may have cancer, and guaranteed that whatever your condition, you
would not have to wait more than 18 weeks from GP referral to the start of hospital
treatment – and most waits were much shorter than this.

Threat of statutory duty removal

Rubbish could litter our streets, bodies could pile up, vulnerable children could be left without care, strip clubs could be set up on any corner, and mouldy chops could stack up on our shelves. These are just some of the damaging things that could happen if the Tory government presses ahead with plans to cut the duties on councils that protect us all, and give us better communities. UNISON, the UK’s largest union, today publishes a list of crazy cuts that could leave communities exposed. In its submission to the Department for Communities and Local Government’s (CLG) consultation on statutory duties, UNISON is calling on the government to protect our communities by putting a stop to its damaging plans. Heather Wakefield, UNISON Head of Local Government, said: “The coalition has made some pretty crazy and dangerous decisions, but even thinking about getting rid of some of these duties is up there with the best of them. “If the Tories press ahead with their race to scrap the so-called ‘red tape’, they could see bodies pile up on the street, as nobody has responsibility for mortuaries. We could see gas safety fall and recycling schemes dry up. Unregulated taxis could prowl the streets and strip clubs set up on any corner. “Eric Pickles only needs to scratch the surface to find out that these duties protect our communities, making them safer and better places to live. Like a lot of other Tory plans, this consultation should go on the scrapheap.” Crazy cuts rundown Gas Appliances (Safety) Regulations 1995 (SI 1995/1629) Local Authorities are responsible for keeping gas safe. How many people will be put at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning if this is abolished? Fire and Rescue Service Act 2004 Section 7 Makes provision for the purpose of extinguishing fires and protecting life and property. Who else should do this? Fire and Rescue Service Act 2004 Section 8 Makes provision for the purpose of rescuing people in the event of road traffic accidents. Fire and Rescue Services (Emergencies) (England) (Order) 2007 (SI 2007/735) made under s. 9 FRSA 2004 Makes provision for chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear emergency and urban search and rescue. Who will the public turn to if this duty is removed? Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 Section 7 Local Authorities have a duty to provide a library service. Will libraries be cut to extinction if this is abolished? Gambling Act 2005 Section 159 Councils have to licence premises for gambling activities. How would corrupt operators be stopped if this was abolished? Licensing Act 2003 Section 18 Requires local authorities to have a system for regulating premises licenses, including issuing licenses. Would we see strip clubs set up on any corner? Zoo Licensing Act 1981 Councils should ensure zoos are safe for the public to visit and have a high standard of welfare for animals. What cruel and bad practices would come into place with unregulated zoos? Environmental Protection Act 1990, Section 45 A Councils have to arrange for the collection of recyclable materials. Is our care for the planet going to be dumped? Environmental Protection Act 1990, Section 89 Councils currently have to keep land and highways clear of litter. Would litter start to pile up on our streets? Food Labelling Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1499) Councils are responsible for ensuring food labelling is accurate and out of date food is not being sold. Do we want to eat old sausages or have ingredients missed off the label? Public Health Act 1936 Councils have to provide mortuaries. Would removing this duty see bodies pile up in the street? Children Act 1989 Section 33 Councils take vulnerable children into care and look after them. Who would take over this role if this duty was scrapped? Local Government (Misc. Provisions) Act 1976 Section 54 Councils licence taxi drivers. If they stopped doing this, how dangerous would it be to get into a cab? Highways Act 1980 Section 41(1A) Puts local Authorities responsible for dealing with snow and ice – who else could take this up? New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 Section 81 Councils have to tell other bodies when they (or a utility company) are digging up the road. Without this, would we see roads in constant upheaval? Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (as amended) Section 5 (1) Makes local authorities one of the authorities responsible for formulating and implementing strategies to tackle crime and disorder. Who else can create a joined-up approach? Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act (2004) Section 9 Requires local authorities to participate in domestic homicide reviews with a view to improving policies and practice and preventing further violence and homicide. Tackling domestic violence requires a multi-agency approach – should this be optional? Juries Act 1974 Section 3 Requires electoral registration officers to provide the Lord Chancellor with copies of the electoral register from which potential jurors can be summoned. A vital cog in the wheel of justice. Crime and Disorder Act 1989 Section 39 (5) Establishes the multi-agency, multi-disciplinary ethos behind the Youth Offending Teams. Putting into practice decades of experience. Criminal Justice Act 2003 Section 325 Requires agencies to work together to manage the risks posed by offenders following their release from custody, for example to ensure that paedophiles aren’t inadvertently housed by the local authority near a school, or in an estate with many families. It is necessary to have one body – the locally accountable one – ensuring that this coordination happens – it can’t be optional. Freedom of Information Act 2000 Councils have to disclose information to the public on request. Do we want a culture of secrecy from the people we elect?

UNISON May Day warning to government

UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said:The Tory/LibDem government’s first anniversary in power has been marked by the shocking news that the NHS will have to make more billions of pounds of so-called “efficiency” savings. So much for the pre-general election claim that the NHS was safe in Tory/Lib Dem hands. The path from last May is scattered with broken promises and from the casualties of this coalition government’s public spending cuts. The economy is still in intensive care, but the government’s medicine is not working.We know that worse lies ahead. After the double bank holiday feel-good factor wears off, the reality of austerity Britain will kick back in. For public sector workers and the people who rely on them; for the sick, the vulnerable, the elderly, the jobless and those seeking to better themselves through education, the future is bleak.Unless this government changes direction, it is heading for industrial turmoil on a massive scale. The government must understand that UNISON will fight tooth and nail to protect and defend public services. And UNISON will ballot one million of its members to strike to protect their pensions. This will not be a token skirmish, but a prolonged and sustained war, because this government has declared war on a huge proportion of the population.Many have the opportunity in elections this week to let the government know exactly what they think of its handling of the economy. The government would be wise to take note of that verdict.

UNISON warns, "Cuts cost lives" - on Workers Memorial Day

On Workers Memorial Day (28 April), UNISON is warning that the number of workplace deaths will rocket, as Government cuts and job losses pile pressure on workers and lead to bosses cutting corners. Staff who keep their jobs will be expected to do more work, with bullying, lone working, manual handling, stress and violence running rife. Health and safety enforcement agencies are also being hit by huge cut backs, which will lead to failures in dodging daily dangers. The UK’s largest union is asking its members to hold a minute’s silence, to remember workers who have died, or been injured, across the UK and internationally.UNISON’s General Secretary, Dave Prentis, who will be holding a minute’s silence at midday, said: “The Government’s cuts will cost lives. Too many workers are still suffering because of workplace injuries, yet the Government is adding to the risks by piling pressure on staff and enforcement agencies. “Last year the Labour Government officially recognised Workers Memorial Day, this year the Government is cutting away at health and safety. “Staff deserve to know that they will not be at risk when they start a hard day’s work. They should not have to fear for their lives while providing vital public services. “Around 70 per cent of workplace accidents are due to the poor health and safety management. The Government must stop this figure spiraling, as we know that there is an alternative.”

Public Accounts Committee report - UNISON response

UNISON, the UK's largest union, today reiterated its call for the Health and Social Care Bill to be pronounced DOA - dead on arrival - after a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report said it posed a real threat to patient care.The report also raises concerns about the real cost of the reforms, the systems in place to protect patients and taxpayers, and the ability of GP practices and hospitals to gain consortia or Foundation Trust status.Christina McAnea, UNISON Head of Health, said:"Another week, another report warns that the Health and Social Care Bill poses a real danger to patients. The NHS and its staff have always adapted to change, but this Bill takes a wrecking ball to the NHS as we know it."Along with many other major health organisations and patient groups, UNISON has long been warning that the Bill is the wrong prescription for the NHS. And the evidence just keeps on mounting. It's time for this bill to be shelved for good, not just temporarily be put on hold."UNISON's opposition to the titanic Health and Social Care Bill* Big cuts in health spending. These are being taken from patient care and leading to job losses - including clinical staff - across the NHS.* Opening up the NHS to private profit. Taxpayers' money destined for NHS patients will be diverted into shareholder profits.* NHS patients will be pushed to the back of the queue because the proposed Bill will take the cap off the amount hospitals can earn from private patients.* It means competition, not co-operation. The government wants to run the NHS through competition between different health providers and market forces.* It will create a huge postcode lottery. The care patients can expect will vary from place to place, increasing costs and health inequalities and hurting vulnerable people the most. No-one voted for this.* The NHS is working and public satisfaction with the NHS is at an all time high. If it ain't broke, why fix it?

UNISON's hard hitting cuts campaign hits the high street

This week UNISON takes its anti-cuts campaign to England’s high streets, with giant billboards warning about the impact of the Government’s hard and fast public service cuts.This second phase of the union’s massive advertising campaign turns political, with a message urging people, “On 5 May, vote for the party that stands up for public services.”The giant billboards have a common theme, listing jobs that are being cut under three eye-catching headlines, “Welcome To The Big Society” “Stop Having Children” and “Don’t Get Sick”. Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, said:“One year on, and the May elections give people the opportunity to have their say. Our billboards deliver a stark warning to voters about the danger of Government cuts on vital jobs in the public sector. “The loss of 400,000 jobs in the public sector will have a devastating impact on the country’s long-term financial recovery. With fewer public service workers such as nurses, paramedics home helps, youth workers, occupational therapists, and dinner ladies, people will suffer, as the vital services they rely on disappear.“UNISON is asking the public to vote for the party that stands up for public services.”

Union welcomes Birmingham social care decision

(21/04/11) UNISON has welcomed the High Court ruling inghathat Birmingham City Council acted unlawfully in slashing asocial care provision across the city."This is a landmark ruling and a tremendous victory for thousands of vulnerable people across Birmingham who rely upon social care provision," commented UNISON West Midlands head of government Tony Rabaiotti."We have been saying for months that the Tory-Lib Dem council is wrong to axe social care services, that they have not listened to the concerns of service users and providers and we are delighted that the High Court has today vindicated our argument."The court ruled that the council had acted unlawfully in axing support for adults whose needs were defined as "substantial" and restricting care packages to people whose needs were assessed as "critical".This would have seen 10,000 Birmingham citizens have their social care packages reduced, while 4,100 lost out altogether, to save the council £17.5m.But Mr Justice Walker in the High Court ruled that the council had not taken equality issues into account when making the decision and ignored provisions in the Disability Discrimination Act.It is the second time this month that a court has found the council to be acting unlawfully when making cuts.Mr Rabiotti added: "Social care workers across Birmingham have been telling UNISON over the last few months that they are genuinely frightened by the proposal to so severely axe social care provision."They have been telling us that vulnerable people will simply be left to fend for themselves."He called on the council to "pause, think again and work with us to maintain quality social care provision for the people of Birmingham."

17/03/2011
Top council staff pay - UNISON response

Commenting on figures by pressure group Taxpayers' Alliance, which show the number of council staff receiving more than £100,000 a year, Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary of UNISON, said:"The real scandal in local government is that nearly one million full-time staff (70%), earn less than £21,000 a year. "And despite being so low paid they received no pay increase last year and face another two years pay freeze, causing real hardship to them and their families. "On top of that they are even being denied the £250 promised to the low paid in the Chancellor's budget."It's clear that the gap between those at the top and the bottom is getting wider. "The Government needs to think again about its cuts policy, or create a divided nation."

Shropshire Unison General Branch
Election of Officers 2011

There is a challenge to many of the posts this time

NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR CHANGE

NOW IS THE TIME FOR CONTINUITY

NOW IS THE TIME FOR EXPERIENCE

therefore when you receive your ballot paper,


PLEASE VOTE FOR :-

Branch Secretary: Patricia Wilson
Asst.Branch Secretary: Jimmy Greenwood
Chair: Lou Gladden
Treasurer: Chrissy Felton
Asst.Treasurer: Isla Smith
Womens Officer: Cherill Knott
Young Members Officer: Sheridan Buckley
Environmental Officer: Dennis Rowley
Education Officer: Jimmy Greenwood
Welfare Officer: Patricia Wilson

DO NOT WASTE YOUR VOTE X

Keep up pressure on health bill

Commenting on Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley’s u-turn on introducing price competition into the NHS, Karen Jennings, Head of Health for UNISON said: “In a remarkable u-turn Andrew Lansley has publically stated that price competition is not now a part of the Government’s plans for the NHS – a victory for common sense. “UNISON wants this promise delivered, by making sure that NHS guidance reflects the policy change. The Government should have the operating framework amended to make it clear that there should be no price competition. “If price competition is indeed no longer Government policy, it needs to ensure that loopholes aren’t exploited that would bring in the tendering of clinical services. “However, the public should not breathe a sigh of relief too early. Despite this u- turn the Health and Social Care Bill will undermine the NHS. The whole direction that Andrew Lansley is taking will give a boost to private health companies at the expense of local NHS hospitals.”

Workers need fair deal on pensions
now more than ever

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, calling for the Fair Deal pensions’ arrangements, that give low paid staff security in retirement. to be retained Commenting on the launch by the Treasury of the consultation on the Fair Deal pensions policy for staff transferred out of the public sector, Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, said:“It is vital that we retain Fair Deal to protect some of the lowest paid workers in the land from facing poverty in retirement.“The Government’s clear political agenda is to privatise more and more public services. They should not use this consultation to sweeten the deal for private companies, bidding to take over public services.“Diluting Fair Deal would leave TUPE transferred staff at the pensions mercy of private contractors. The financial implications would also end any chance of a successful in-house bid.“In the longer term, cutting the pensions of workers transferred to private companies will not save the state a penny. Taxpayers will be left to pick up the multi-billion pound benefits bill later on down ” the line.“The consultation must not be a paper exercise. Cutting Fair Deal should not be a done deal.

Safety for social workers - surely
that's not too much to ask?

“I’ve been spat at, punched, shouted at, and had my car broken into. One of my colleagues has been followed home and had to call the police. This is just some of the shocking treatment that I regularly face as a social worker. It’s a tough enough job as it is, and I often feel like my employers feel like these kind of incidents are just part of the job.” “It’s time to put a stop to the violence and focus on making social work a safer job. To do that we need to make people at the top, sit up and take notice” - that is the message coming from UNISON, the UK’s largest public sector union, today (4 February). The union has written to key stakeholders in social work highlighting the violence facing social workers, demanding a safe working environment and calling for high risk practices like lone working to be tackled. The letter is the latest in the union and Community Care’s ten week campaign to highlight what social workers need. Helga Pile, UNISON national officer for social work, said: “Any job dealing with the public has a higher rate of attacks or abuse – but social workers can be exposed to particularly dangerous and volatile situations on a daily basis. It is a tragedy that social workers have been killed by clients. Staff should not have to live in fear of danger when they go to work. “The effects of threats, abuse and violent incidents take their toll and can be devastating, not only for the social worker, but for their co-workers and families. It’s also bad news for employers, as it leads to staff taking time off or even leaving their jobs – the loss of an experienced social worker is a real problem for councils as there is a chronic shortage. “You cannot deal with violence effectively, without knowing the extent of the problem. We need a national system for monitoring violent incidents in social care, so that trends can be identified and risk hotspots tackled. And employers must do their bit by working to evaluate risks and drive them down to a minimum. Some are not even doing the basics like providing mobile phones, deploying staff in pairs on high risk visits, and responding to threats against staff. It’s not good enough to sit back and say it’s all part of the job. And we need strong deterrents, such as more prosecutions and greater penalties for those found guilty of attacking social workers.”A UNISON social worker from England said: “I get daily verbal threats over the phone, I’m threatened with violence, face to face, every 2 weeks. I‘ve had threats made, not just against myself, but to my family and children, I have had my car vandalised on several occasions. I have been locked in a house, and had items thrown at me that have hit me. I’ve even been threatened with needles. All from parents and children who I am working to help.”

Government puts safety of blood products in jeopardy

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, is warning the government that proposals to privatise key parts of the NHS Blood and Transplant Service (NHSBT) puts the safety of blood products at risk. In a strongly worded letter to Minister of State for Health, Simon Burns, the union is calling for assurances that this vital service will be protected from privatisation and profit making. Karen Jennings, UNISON Head of Health, said: “Putting the profit motive into blood collection is abhorrent. It is not possible to hive off parts of it to the private sector and pretend that this is a profit free service dedicated solely to saving lives. “It changes the core value of the NHS Blood and Transport Service based on volunteers and charities, giving voluntarily. The fact that NHSBT can call on donors when supplies are low or in local or national emergencies, or on charities to help in the collection of stem cells and organs should not be underestimated – it saves lives.“The NHSBT relies on a long-standing national consensus that people give blood and organs to save lives. If there is any sense that peoples’ giving will result in other peoples’ profit then the whole system is severely compromised and could break down.”The union is calling on the Government to give assurances that the privatisation will be shelved, ahead of a meeting of NHSBT staff from across the country on 9 March. The union is warning that failure to provide these assurances will lead to widespread opposition from staff and the public.

Shapps must keep promise on funds for homeless, elderly and victims of domestic violence

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, today challenged Housing and Local Government Minister Grant Shapps, to honour his pledge made in the House of Commons, not to cut the Supporting People grant by more than 1%. The grant helps support more than 1 million people, funding women’s refuges that provide a haven for victims of domestic abuse, helping rough sleepers, and people with mental health problems. It also funds sheltered wardens and community alarms. Last week in the House of Commons, Liverpool (Walton) MP Steve Rotheram, asked “If I can prove that it (the cut to the Liverpool Supporting People grant) is 30%, will the Minister give us back the other 29% so that we only suffer a 1% cut?” Grant Shapps replied “I take him up on his challenge.”The union is today publishing evidence that Liverpool’s Supporting People grant has been cut by 30%, together with a list of more than 60 other councils also facing cuts of more than 1%. Camden council has lost more than 60%. The union is challenging Grant Shapps to give all these councils back the difference so they can keep these services to vulnerable people running. Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said: “All over the country, Supporting People grants fund women’s refuges; providing a haven for victims of domestic abuse. They help keep people who have fallen on hard times from sleeping rough, and give people with mental health problems a roof over their heads. More than 800,000 elderly people rely on services funded through Supporting People. Drastic cuts will mean shelters shut, and beds lost, pushing vulnerable people onto the streets or leaving them without the help they need. “In the House of Commons, Grant Shapps said that this grant had been protected, so the average cut was just 1%. But our evidence taken from his own Department’s website, proves many councils have been hit much harder. Grant Shapps promised to give Liverpool back the difference if he saw evidence that it’s grant had been cut by more than 1%. Here is that proof in black and white. “We challenge Grant Shapps to stand by his word, to give Liverpool back the money that has been taken from them, and to do the same for the 61 other councils hit hard. Either Grant Shapps didn’t know what was going on in his department, or he didn’t care about some of the most needy and vulnerable people in our society. This is his opportunity to put things right.” UNISON evidence shows that:One council (Camden) faces a cut of more than 60%Seven councils (West Berkshire, York, Rochdale, Nottingham, Bournemouth, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire face cuts of between 40% and 50%, Eight councils (Newcastle upon Tyne, St Helens, Isle of Wight, Bristol, Manchester, Halton, Leeds and Liverpool) face a cut of between 30% and 40%, Seven councils face a cut of between 20% and 30%Twenty Two councils face a cut of between 10% and 20%10 councils face cuts of more than £5m (Camden £18.470m; Manchester £12.613m; Liverpool £11.167m; Leeds £10.614m; Nottingham £9.942m; Bristol £9.275m; Gloucestershire £8.601m; Oxfordshire £6.627m; Rochdale £6.587m; Newcastle upon Tyne £6.527m)

Cameron sell off- UNISON response

Commenting on plans announced by David Cameron to open public services up to private companies, UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said: Not content with breaking apart our NHS and our schools, the Tories are now turning their wrecking ball onto the entire public sector. The Tories want to turn the clock back to a time when private companies ran schools, hospitals and other council services. The state was forced to step in when the market failed to give people equal access to decent services. Taking vital services out of the public sector will see a postcode lottery develop. Huge transaction costs and a tsunami of bureaucracy will waste billions. As private companies seek to eke out profits they will strip our services to their bare bones. This is not about modernisation - it is about privatisation, creating an open market for the Tories friends in big business to make billions out of our public services.

CND adds support to TUC march against the cuts

(03/02/11) CND has added its voice to the thousands supporting the TUC march and rally on 26 March against the government cuts."Government cuts are an £81bn assault on the welfare state. Jobs, houses and pensions are all under attack as the government slashes public services," CND chair Kate Hudson said. "Cameron and Clegg are cutting welfare but leaving big-ticket defence projects virtually untouched. "We didn't make this crisis and we don't want our money spent on weapons that can kill millions of people. "Our money must be spent on jobs, pensions, education and health – we must improve the lives of the British people without threatening the lives of others."The march will bring together trade unions, community groups, political organisations and anyone concerned about the pace and scale of government cuts.Ms Hudson said: "CND wholeheartedly supports the TUC demonstration on 26 March and urges all its members and supporters to participate."March for public services on 26 March

http://www.shropshirefightsback.org.uk

SHROPSHIRE AGAINST THE CUTS

Join the March - 19th February 2011 From Shirehall to the Square in Shrewsbury Assemble at 11:00 am Shirehall Car Park

Con-demned jobs: Cuts that wreck recovery

UNISON today (24 January) warned that savage public sector job cuts are threatening whole communities and wrecking recovery.The UK’s largest union is publishing a snapshot of “Con-demned jobs” covering just the last 6 weeks, to show that growing numbers of workers are being consigned to already lengthy dole queues, along with the services they provide. Staff at the Heart of England NHS Trust are being hit with the loss of 1,600 jobs and the latest cuts added from local councils include 1,200 in Hampshire, 1,000 in Norfolk and 400 in East Sussex County Councils, where social service departments are being targeted.The careers service has also fallen victim to the cuts, with 8,000 jobs going by 31 March this year. The union is predicting that half the workforce could now be axed - with cuts ranging from 25% to 90% in some areas - leaving young people without the help and advice they need.Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, said:“This dossier of Con-demned jobs makes very grim reading. Behind every statistic there are families desperate to keep a roof over their heads, food on the table and the dignity of a decent job.“With unemployment up to 2.5m, the coalition cuts are blighting lives and wrecking the country’s chances of recovery. Sacking workers and closing down essential services will not put the economy back on its feet.“The union is calling for an alternative political vision, to boost economic recovery and keep Britain working. Money can and should be raised from the bankers who continue to rake in their bonuses. Having brought the country to its knees by their financial dealing, they are happy to ignore a Government on its knees and powerless to stop the bonus culture.“The latest figures show record levels of unemployment for 16 to 24 year olds, with 1 in 5 (951,000) unable to find work. Getting the right help can make or break the future of young people desperately trying to find their feet, as well as workers made redundant struggling to retrain. “Cutting 8.000 jobs from the careers service will add to their difficulty. The hikes in tuition fees, education cuts and record unemployment means that many young people don’t know which way to turn and now they will have one less place to turn to.”The union says that the figures nail the lie that the NHS is being ring-fenced by the Government. The £20bn that is being demanded in efficiency savings is already being translated into job losses. Good patient care depends on having the right numbers with the right level of skills on the wards. This is one of the key lessons to come out of the Inquiry into the death toll at Mid Staffordshire Hospital Foundation Trust.

UNISON calls for an end to excessive hours in social work

In the second week of a ten-week long campaign, UNISON, the UK’s largest union, and Community Care magazine, have written to key stakeholders in social work, calling on them to make sure social workers can get time off in lieu (TOIL) or be paid for working additional hours. A recent survey* showed that 64% of social workers worked extra hours, and in another survey** social workers reported that they did an average of 1.9 hours per week in overtime without pay or TOIL. 39% said they had to work additional hours at short notice either most days or every week. Many social workers can’t claim it back or have TOIL because they’re too busy, or their managers won’t let them. This does nothing to help morale, and contributes to already high rates of social worker burn out, making it near on impossible for social workers to practice safely and effectively. Helga Pile, UNISON national officer for social work, said: “Heavy caseloads and high vacancy rates mean many social workers have little choice but to work late. And the stats back it up – 64% work extra hours. It’s not as if they can say ‘sorry, I’ve got to go’, when it hits five o’clock if a vulnerable child is depending on them. “But social workers can’t keep picking up the slack. This constant overloading is not sustainable. Lots of people in the profession are facing burnout. They are hit with the impossible dilemma of trying to balance their heavy workload, with the needs of their own families. Many simply give up on the idea of having a life of their own.“If they have to work extra hours, social workers should be paid or given time off in lieu. This will force employers to stop exploiting their goodwill, and start managing workloads properly. “This week we have written to key stakeholders in social work calling on them to make it a priority. It’s only right that social workers get the opportunity to rest and recuperate, so they can carry on doing one of the toughest jobs going.”UNISON is campaigning for minimum conditions to give social workers what they need to practice safely and effectively. Together with Community Care, the union has developed the Social Work Contract, which outlines ten key points, one of which is giving social workers TOIL (time off in lieu) or pay for working additional hours. Each week, the union is writing to Tim Loughton, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Children and Families, Paul Burstow MP, Minister of State for Care Services, Sharon Hodgson MP, Labour Shadow Minister for Children and Families, and Emily Thornberry MP, Labour Shadow Care Services Minster, highlighting one part of the social work contract. The union has also launched an online petition on the contract, and is calling on members of the public, parents and social workers to add their voice to the call for action. Hundreds of social workers have already signed. Add your support here: http://www.unison.co.uk/asppresspack/%3CA%20HREF=">http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/714/061/796/ <http://www.unison.co.uk/asppresspack/%3CA%20HREF=">http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/714/061/796/>

UNISON slams growing toll of council job cuts

Commenting on today’s shocking news that 1,200 workers at Hampshire, 1,000 in Norfolk and up to 400 at East Sussex County Councils, face joining the 2.5 million unemployed, Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, said:“The Government’s cuts are taking a terrible toll on council workers and services. It is a disgrace that 2,600 more council workers are being added to growing dole queues as unemployment hits 2.5m. “The job losses are a bitter blow to families who face inflation hikes, soaring prices and the prospect of their mortgages going through the roof, when interest rates rise. This Government is robbing communities of hope for the future and vital services that people depend on.“In Hampshire, children and adult services look likely to be hardest hit by these huge cuts - how will vulnerable people who rely on these vital services cope with such a strained service? We know that workers there only found out about the job losses through word of mouth. Bosses should have the decency to tell workers the truth.“There are alternatives. The government should come clean on the real impact of their savage cuts agenda.”

Policy Committee in its deliberations on interest
rates since November 2009.

The sentiments now
are that interest rates will have to rise from their historic
low of 0.5% to put the squeeze on inflation.
% increase on a year earlier
RPI except mortgage interest payments
Five of the 14 groups that make up the RPI posted
an increase of the overall rise of 4.8% or more.
The clothing and footwear group’s 10.3% rise included
double digit percentage rises on women’s,
men’s, and children’s clothing of 13.8%, 11.1% and
11.7% respectively. Meanwhile, the motoring expenditure
group’s 9.1% rise included a 29.1% rise
Inflation rise piles on
the misery
Inflation has risen and will almost certainly rise
further as the VAT rise to 20% and fuel duty rises
will impact on next month’s figures for January. As
it was, higher fuel prices and dearer food had the
greatest impact on the rise for December.
Under the Retail Prices Index (RPI), the rate of
inflation was 4.8% in December against 4.7% the
previous month.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said the
alarming rise in inflation will “make a tough year
for workers even harder to bear” and that “fuelling
inflation with a VAT hike will hit workers in
their wage packets”. The VAT rise is “bad for
working families and damaging for the economy
too,” Barber said.
Under the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), inflation
was up to 3.7% from 3.3% the previous month. The
rate is at its highest for eight months. This measure
does not include housing costs and is the measure
used by the coalition to update state benefits and
public sector pensions.
The CPI figure has been above the 2.0% target set
by the Treasury for the Bank of England's Monetary

in tax and insurance and a 12.6% rise in petrol and
oil prices. And the 4.3% rise in fares, included a
7.3% rise in rail fares.
Food prices rose by an average of 5.9%, but there
were substantial rises in butter (24.0%), tea (11.3%)
and lamb (11.8%).
The fuel and light group only showed an overall
rise of 2.8%, but “oil and other fuel” prices racked
up a 44.0% rise.
4.8% or more % Less than 4.8% %
Clothing & footwear 10.3 Fares etc 4.3
Motoring expenditure 9.1 Personal goods & services 3.9
Tobacco 8.4 Alcoholic drink 3.7
Food 5.9 Catering 3.4
Leisure services 4.8 Household goods 3.3
Household services 3.2
Housing 2.8
Fuel & light 2.8
Leisure goods 0.6
www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/cpi0111.pdf
www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/cpibrief0111.pdf
www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_economy/a-to-i-dec-2010.pdf
www.tuc.org.uk/economy/tuc-19007-f0.cfm

Government cuts score direct hit on Manchester with 2,000 jobs lost

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, today laid the blame for the “tragic loss” of 2,000 jobs at Manchester Council, at the door of the Government. The union is shocked by the targeting of such a deprived area, and said that the impact of job losses on services and the local economy will be devastating.Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, said:“The shockwaves of 2,000 job losses will spread across the City of Manchester and beyond. It is a tragic loss to workers who will have to break the news to their families that they are losing their jobs. It is also a bitter blow to communities who will lose services they rely on and will hit local businesses and trade".“The Government’s cuts have been targeted at some of the most deprived areas in the country and Manchester is clearly in the firing line. The council had been working with UNISON to try to lessen the impact of budget cuts, but the Local Government finance settlement in December, was the final straw. It was the toughest in living memory and has forced the council into font-loading the cuts".“We will continue to work with the council but the people of Manchester face the grim reality of longer dole queues".

Rail fare rises funding
fat cat pensions

Rail passengers paying fare rises of up to 13%
are funding gold-plated pensions for private rail
bosses, the white collar rail union TSSA has said.
The pensions bonanza — which sees First Group’s
Sir Moir Lockhead retire on £325,000 a year this
March — comes as passengers face three years of
increases of RPI inflation plus 3% from 2012 on top
of the present increases.
“The rewards at the private rail companies expose
the myth that these huge fare increases are directly
linked to future rail investment,” said TSSA general
secretary Gerry Doherty.
“Rail privatisation is a gravy train. The private
companies take all the profits and the passengers
take all the pain.”
As well as Lockhead, Southeastern boss Keith Ludeman
retires this summer on a pension of £200,000
a year. Meanwhile at Arriva, David Martin, who
banked nearly £5 million when the firm was taken
over by Deutsche Bahn, will pick up £366,000 a year
when he retires.
“These huge rewards are being paid on the back
of passengers who are paying the highest fares in
Europe,” added Doherty.
Ray O’Toole “retired” from National Express’
board last May, but continues as an employee of
the group. He opted out of the group’s final salary
scheme in April 2006 by which time he was entitled
to a pension of £38,200 a year on retirement
in 2015. However since then the group has been
paying a pension supplement to him equivalent
to 44% of basic salary and over £800,000 has been
paid to him to sort out a rather handsome pension
in retirement.
Stagecoach is involved in a number of franchises,
including South West Trains. Chief executive Brian
Souter, according to the group’s 2010 annual report,
has accrued a pension worth at least £348,000 a year
for when he retires in four years time.

Travel expenses and minimum wage

A change to the minimum wage regulations came
into force on the 1 January after a legal challenge
from a company failed.
The change to the regulations prevents employers
from treating travel expenses as part of the wage
paid to workers.
Recruitment group Cordant, which employs around
30,000 people in the UK and Ireland, unsuccessfully
challenged the amendment to the National
Minimum Wage Regulations 1999, which came into
force on New Year’s Day.
The regulations now provide that any payments
to workers for travelling expenses under section
338 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions)
Volume 73 Issue 1 Fact Service 3
Act 2003 cannot count as part of the national
minimum wage.
Giving judgment in R (on the application of Cordant
Group) v Secretary of State for Business [2010]
EWHC 3442 (Admin), Mr Justice Kenneth Parker
described the challenge as “an attack on the economic
merits of regulatory reform affecting the
labour market in the guise of a common law and
legal equality case”.
He said he could “discern no arguable basis”
why the amendment, which brought “substantial
benefit” to low-paid workers and was in the public
interest, should not be implemented as planned.
Unions have welcomed the changes. Mary Maguire,
head of press and broadcasting for the public sector
trade union UNISON, said it would prevent bad
employers from exploiting workers.
She said: “It’s good news that the courts have come
down on the side of low paid workers. Employers
should not be allowed to get around their legal
obligations in this way.
“UNISON fought for years to get a statutory national
minimum wage established that would help stop
exploitation by bad employers by providing a pay
floor. Despite the fact that it is still too low, it is
incredible that employers are still trying to get
round it.”

UNISON secures £27,398,985 compensation for personal injuries in 2010

Assaults, car crashes, back injuries and slips at work are among the cases UNISON has won £27,398,985 worth of compensation for in 2010.The UK's largest public sector union has handled 3,893 cases to help members receive justice for the pain and suffering caused by personal injuries.UNISON's General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said:"A lot of these injuries could and should have been prevented. These jobs are not dangerous - nursery workers, dental technicians and dinner ladies - but, because employers have been negligent, some UNISON members have lost their health, families, confidence and careers."Employers have a duty of care and where they fail, workers and their families deserve compensation for the pain and suffering caused by personal injuries."Last year UNISON secured £28million for workplace injuries but, one year on, and it's clear some employers have still not learnt their lesson and introduced safer working practices. "Public sector workers already face pay freezes, job and service cuts, with worse to come. They deserve to be able to do a hard day's work in a safe environment."

Breakdown of compensation by region:
Eastern - 204 cases - £1,482,492.60 compensation
East Midlands - 345 cases - £2,600,048.30 compensation
Greater London - 239 cases - £2,752,227.50 compensation
Northern - 463 cases - £2,746,031.80 compensation
Northern Ireland - 143 cases - £559,509.72 compensation
North West - 519 cases - £3,155,907.60 compensation
Scotland - 224 cases - 1,602,762.20 compensation
South East - 196 cases - £1,952,433.30 compensation
South West - 186 cases - £2,443,894.50 compensation
Wales - 382 cases - £2,754,931.80 compensation
West Midlands - 428 cases - £2,025,836.40 compensation
Yorkshire and Humberside - 564 - £3,322,913.90 compensatio
Examples of compensation cases for UNISON members:

30/12/2010
Economic vandalism:

Not voted for by the people not in the interests of this country
Working people in the UK can help stop the Conservative-led coalition from taking a wrecking ball to the fabric of daily life.That is the New Year's message to some 3.5 million workers across both the public and private sectors from their unions, the GMB, Unison and Unite, who say that the government's dangerous prescription of economic deflation and historically high cuts will not revive the economy but will instead bring it to its knees. The landmark joint message sees the three unions - the biggest in the UK - pledge that in 2011 they will inspire and support resistance to the cuts across the UK. They also vow to make the Spring elections the first referendum on the government's austerity programme.Such is the level of concern about the real intent behind the cuts - recasting the state so that the private sector can sweep in, allied to the fear that harsh cuts will cause endemic inequality across society and plunge a new generation into unemployment - that the unions have vowed to work tirelessly together throughout 2011 to pursue a sound economic alternative. The unions are furious that the government is using the cover of coalition and a whipped-up fear over the deficit to terrify people into acceptance of what is little more than the rolling back of social provision. Pointing to the mounting dissent among economic experts over the government's approach, they say there is no programme for growth but only polices which will lead to a devastating contraction in the UK economy at a time when the global economy is still exhibiting deeply worrying signs of recession.The unions say it is high time that the truth was told about the government's reckless policies. January will see the three embark on a programme of promoting an economic alternative to their members urging them to get active in both opposing cuts and making their voices heard at the May election, the first chance for large parts of country to vote on the government's cuts programme.Central to the unions' message will be the push for an economic policy based on:* Growth - and a clear programme for job creation* Investment to get the unemployed back to work* Maintaining universal, quality public services - and safeguarding them from costly private providers * A fair taxation policy, including closing tax avoidance loopholes and a transaction tax which will generate billions for the economy* Abandonment of welfare upheaval which will plunge families and communities into poverty * Regulation of the economy to restore trust and confidencePaul Kenny General Secretary of GMB said: "The deficit is not Labour's deficit, it's the bankers' deficit. The Labour Government had to borrow to save the UK economy from collapse due to the irresponsible actions of the bankers, a policy supported by the Conservatives in opposition."The banks' actions in pouring billions of pounds into risky and complex investments came unstuck and left tax payers and elected governments with a mess to clear up. This cost the UK £850 billion, a recession where we lost 6% of national output, two and half million unemployed, pay freezes, inflation rising and where taxation revenues fell suddenly."Unions had warned of the dangers of under-regulated financial sector and the banks now need regulating so it doesn't happen again. This is also the view of Mervyn King, the Governor of the Bank of England."Dave Prentis General Secretary of UNISON said: "It's clear that the Government is ideologically driven to massacre public services and bring the misery of unemployment and poverty to millions. This is a recipe for social turmoil on a scale not seen since the 80's. A whole generation of young people betrayed, facing a bleak future."Local Government is particularly hard hit by the cuts. 70,000 jobs have gone in the last months of 2010 and hundreds of thousands more will follow in 2011. This spells disaster for local communities and for people who need those services. The Big Society spin won't pick up the pieces of broken Britain's lost jobs and dashed hopes. "We need a Government that will keep Britain working by investing in our economy, our services and our future."Len McCluskey, General Secretary-designate of Unite said: "It is possible to pull the UK economy out of recession without the misery of mass unemployment. This government is ripping a huge hole in the economy by contracting spending and throwing one and a half million people on the dole. But where is the Plan B? Where will the new jobs come from? Certainly not from a private sector which is reeling from the global downturn."We know all too well how this government can swing the axe; what we need to see more of is can they actually step up to the job of creating employment. Strategic investments can reap rewards far beyond the original outlay - for instance, a £6bn investment in affordable social housing would build 100,000 new homes and create 750,000 new jobs in construction and the manufacturing supply chain. This makes more economic sense than paying people to sit on the dole."Economic activism means not sitting on your hands. It is the duty of our government to actively support job creation. Roll your sleeves up, support investment, unlock the capital funds held in the banks and start creating the jobs needed to replace the million or so you have destroyed."The three unions will be taking the message about the truth about the deficit and the Conservative-led government's approach to its members in the coming weeks, focusing on:A fair economy:· Fair taxes must be part of any solution. Systematically, companies and rich individuals have been avoiding more and more tax which means government squeezes greater amounts from working people.· End to indirect taxes like VAT which hit the low paid proportionally harder.· Regulation of the banking system to bring transparency; Government to use its controlling stake in UK banks to stop job cuts, excess pay and bonuses· A transaction tax on City dealings, including trade in stocks, shares, currencies and derivatives · A just welfare state which does not force people further into poverty and social exclusion Saving the NHS:· The massive top-down £80 billion re-organisation of the NHS in England to break it into small local commissioning units tasked with employing private companies to find other private health providers to submit the cheapest bid for public health services. · The down-grading of NICE will also see drug price rise and access to them severely curtailed. · GP consortia will see the return of the postcode lottery. · The scrapping of waiting lists will cause undoubted misery for countless people in need of treatment. · These policies are all designed to ensure the private sector and overseas private health companies exert control over access to health services - however the service is still being funded by the UK taxpayer.Good education for all:· Free Schools and Academies in England will force schools to compete in a local market. In some areas, e.g. Wandsworth, they are prepared to spend tens of millions of pounds to promote this vision even when there are surplus places in some schools and existing schools in need of repair. · The English student tuition fee hike to a maximum of £9,000 a year is not being introduced to deal with the current deficit, as it will bite after 2014 by which point the Chancellor claims the deficit will have been aid down, but to create a financial market place for colleges, courses and students.· The end result will be students from wealthy families going to elite universities and, if not deterred by the debts, other students seeking out cheaper courses at cheaper colleges in cheaper locations. Social mobility will be thrown into reverse.Economic activism· Investment to put UK manufacturing at the forefront of economic development,· Support to expand low carbon sustainable industries. · Reversal of the decision to block a £80m loan to Sheffield Forgemasters.· The urgent establishment of a Strategic Investment Fund, alongside the promised Green Investment Bank. · Energy pricing policies which recognise the needs of industry.· Public procurement processes to ensure maximum benefit for UK manufacturing.

Flintshire Council overpayment - UNISON response

Commenting on the overpayment of staff by Flintshire County Council, UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said:“The council say they have no money and are having to cut jobs and services, but this whole pay debacle shows they have no handle on their finances. “This is not the fault of hardworking staff and they must not pay the price for the council’s mistake. “Some staff have been overpaid over a number of years by up to £8,000, which is a huge amount for one person earning a low wage to repay, while other low paid staff have been underpaid. “We have put forward our recommendations to the Audit Committee and are supporting our members by dealing with this on a case-by-case basis.”

'Independent' consultants and Ministers should get their facts right on local government pensions

UNISON, the UK’s biggest union, with more than 600,000 members working in local councils, today called on consultants and government ministers to get their facts right on local government pensions. The call follows a claim by John Balfe, so-called “independent” pensions consultant, that the scheme’s liabilities had increased to £100 billion. The Communities and Local Government Minister, Eric Pickles, managed to muddy the waters even more by unsubstantiated claims that ‘town hall pensions are now costing over £300 a year to every household paying council tax."Heather Wakefield, UNISON Head of Local Government, said: “Another week, another attack on the local government pension scheme. These so-called independent pensions consultants and government ministers should get their facts right before they resort to crude scare-mongering.“Eric Pickles is plain wrong. Less than 6% of council tax payments fund pensions. More than 50% is made up of employee contributions and investment returns.“The local government pension scheme is in good shape, and is a vital way of allowing mainly low paid workers to save for their retirement. A report out this year confirmed that the scheme could cover all its liabilities for the next twenty years, without a single penny more in contributions. What’s more, the scheme invests hundreds of billions in UK stocks and shares every year – a huge boost to our economy. “With pensions, its vital to take a long term view. It is totally misleading to take an assessment of the schemes liabilities now and make claims for the future that don’t stack-up. All investments have taken a knock thanks to the financial crisis, but given time they will recover.” Key facts on the local government pension scheme: - The average local government pension is £4,000 per year, for women this drops to just £2,600, or less than £40 per week.- After intense negotiations, a new pensions agreement in local government was introduced in 2008, setting out terms that include workers paying 6.4% of their salary into the scheme. - Local councils get most of their revenue from business rates and from central government grants. In reality, less than 6% of council taxpayers’ rates goes towards funding the pension scheme. More than 50% of the cost is met by employee contributions and investment returns.- Research in 2006 showed that if the LGPS did not exist - based only on current pensioners – it would cost the taxpayer £2bn a year in increased means tested benefits and loss of tax revenue. It would also fuel increased take up of NHS and council care services. - Often overlooked is the huge investment power of the LGPS fund. In 2008 the total value of combined assets in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, were £143 billion - 60% of which was invested in equities or shares, in UK and global stock markets. In the same year, more than £1 billion was invested in each of the top four FTSE companies. If the scheme were to close, and this investment was withdrawn, it would have a huge impact on the UK economy. - The LGPS is in better shape than a most other schemes. Even in the depths of the recession, investments provided nearly £3bn for the LGPS in England, accounting for nearly one third (27%) of the scheme’s overall income. Year on year, the scheme takes billions more in contributions and investments returns than it pays out in benefits. Last year, income from member contributions to the scheme in England alone increased by 15% - outstripping expenditure by £6 billion.- An Audit Commission report in 2010 stated that the LGPS could pay out all pensions due for the next 20 years without any further contributions.

"Miserable Monday" spells danger for local communities warns UNISON

UNISON, the UK’s leading public sector trade union, dubbed today “Miserable Monday”, after some of the largest cuts to council budgets in history were revealed in the Localism Bill. The union said that the scale of cuts spelled real danger for local communities. It warned that the increased freedom for local councils was simply a way for the government to push the burden of responsibility for making cuts onto councils. Heather Wakefield, UNISON Head of Local Government, said: “Today is “Miserable Monday” for councils, set to be hit with some of the largest budget cuts in history. This means a grim Christmas for thousands of council workers who are facing the prospect of losing their jobs next year. “Eric Pickles may talk about local authorities doing more with less, but the public should not be fooled; this is not possible. Cuts on this scale cannot be painless. Vital local services such as libraries and day centres, are already shutting their doors. Charges for others, such as home care for the elderly, and meals on wheels are on the up. After today’s announcement, this pattern will only gather pace. “The coalition is trying to rip the plaster off quickly, by front-loading the cuts. This spells real danger for services this year, and is a blatant attempt to get the pain out of the way long before the next election. But the scale of the cuts means that communities will be feeling the pain for years to come. “The new powers being given to councils may sound appealing, but they are simply a way for the government to wash its hands of taking tough decisions. Some services will be easy targets, with local authorities cherry picking only the easiest or cheapest services to provide. This will see local people who rely on difficult to provide, or expensive services, missing out on the support they need. “Meanwhile, the Bankers are still in line for their massive Christmas bonuses. Why are hardworking families paying the price for a recession they did not cause? There are real alternatives the government could and should have taken forward, that would have safeguarded jobs and recovery, and built a fairer future.”

UNISON members glowing mad over tuition fee hike join protest

UNISON members will be among those waving 9,000 glow sticks to symbolise government plans to hike up university tuition fees to £9,000, as part of student protests across the country tomorrow and Thursday.University staff, student nurses and other public sector workers, will join students in taking a stand against the savage plans during a series of regional rallies on the 8 December. On Thursday (9 December), UNISON members will be lobbying their MPs at Parliament, before a rally at the Victoria Embankment at 3pm. As it turns dark, the protestors will be waving the glow sticks.Christina McAnea, UNISON’s Head of Education, said:“It is a disgrace that poorer children will be put off from going to university, as higher education becomes the preserve of the rich.“Lib Dem MPs voting on the tuition fees on Thursday must dig deep into their consciences and stand by their pre-election pledge to vote against increasing tuition fees.“At the same time as hiking up fees, the government is cutting university jobs and services, withdrawing education loans, axing means-tested grants and making huge cuts to further education. The government is dealing out blows to students from all angles, but we will be backing them in their fightback.”

29/11/2010
Survey reveals Probation Service being pushed to breaking point

UNISON, the UK’s leading public sector union, today warned that the probation service is being pushed to breaking point, by a toxic cocktail of staff cuts and increased workloads. These spell danger for the government’s so-called “rehabilitation revolution”, which will see more offenders put on probation to take the prison population down. The survey of staff in the sector by the union found 69% of respondents already suffering from staff cuts, with 80% saying that workloads have increased in the last year. 74% said that stress levels had risen, whilst 69% said morale had decreased. 68% of staff said they felt less secure in their jobs than they did last year. Staff also raised concerns over management, with 46% saying they did not feel supported. The union said that plans to privatise parts of the service could see private companies making money out of offenders’ doing community payback work. The union warned these moves could spark a race to the bottom on service quality and terms and conditions for staff. Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said: “The probation service is instrumental in delivering community justice, rehabilitating offenders, and protecting the communities where offenders live and work. It is deeply worrying that the service is already under severe pressure, with staff reporting an increase in stress and workloads, but a reduction in numbers, leading to a collapse in morale. Worrying numbers of staff said they did not feel supported by their managers. “The worry is that an already tough job is set to get even tougher. The Ministry of Justice has been hit with savage cuts. If these cuts fall on the probation service, it will buckle under the strain. At the same time as cutting, the government is set to launch a “rehabilitation revolution”. This will see more offenders placed into the community. Who will be making sure these offenders and the communities where they live and work are safe?“The government is pressing ahead with plans to privatise parts of the service, including community payback work. This will take vital lifeblood away from Probation Trusts, and see private companies making money out of offenders’ hard work. It is highly unlikely that privatisation will lead to cost savings, but it is certain to lead to a lower quality service, and a race to the bottom for staff terms and conditions. “Our survey shows a clear link between staffing cuts and rising stress levels. And now the government’s plans are set to make matters worse by piling on the pressure. There is only so far the service can be stretched before it reaches breaking point. The government should take another look at its plans and take into account the risk they pose to offenders and to communities.” Key findings from the survey: - 80% of respondents said their workload had increased over the past year, with staff in Wales, the South West, and the North East most likely to report an increase. - 52% said they would not recommend their job. - Job security is a major concern – 68% felt less secure in their job compared with a year ago.- 69% said staff numbers in their area had already decreased over the previous year, with staff in Wales, the South West, Greater London and Eastern England more likely to report a decrease in staff numbers over the previous year. - 69% said morale had decreased in the past year. - 74% said stress levels had increased over the past year – staff in the North East, South West, Wales and Eastern England were more likely to report an increase. - 46% said they did not feel supported by their manager. - 79% said they had undergone training in the past year, with 32% saying their training lasted between 1 and 2 days. 46% said their training lasted between 3 and 6 days. - The three regions which stuck out in terms of workload pressure, stress and morale were Wales, the South West and the North East. UNISON represents 5000 members in the probation service, and more than 1000 were sampled in this survey.

Capita sacrificing services to protect profits- UNISON response

UNISON, the UK’s largest public sector union, today (19 November) accused the government of helping Capita, a public sector contractor, to cut services in a bid to protect company profits.The union warned that the government’s plans to increase privatisation of public services could spark a race to the bottom, as private companies seek to protect profits at all costs. Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said: “Here we have the government hand in glove with a private company, plotting how to cut services to protect profits. UNISON has long been warning that profits come before people when vital local services are privatised, but now the government is making it even easier for their friends in private industry to sacrifice services to line their own pockets. “As public spending cuts bite, margins will be ever tighter. This could spark a dangerous race to the bottom on services, and pay and conditions for staff. Coupled with the government drive to boost private involvement in public services, this is a recipe for disaster. It is the elderly, the sick and the vulnerable who rely on local services who will pay the ultimate price.”

Conservatives using Co-operatives as a Trojan horse

UNISON, the UK’s leading public sector trade union, today accused the government of using the co-operative ideal as a Trojan horse, to disguise their drastic cuts to public services.With budgets axed, the union is warning that breaking up public services, under the guise of turning them into co-operatives, would not deliver improvements. UNISON accused the Government of simply washing its hands of its responsibility to care for the most vulnerable in society, children, the poor and the elderly.Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:“The coalition is simply using the co –operative ideal as a Trojan horse to disguise the effects of their drastic spending cuts on public services. Pushing responsibility onto staff to try and do more with less money, is setting them up to fail. The Government is simply washing its hands of its responsibility to provide services to the most vulnerable in society.“In today’s unstable financial environment, small co-ops and mutuals will be highly vulnerable to take over by big business, which could quickly start to dominate the market. This backdoor privatisation suits the Tories down to the ground.“The public should not be fooled by the Government’s Damascene conversion to co-operatives and social enterprises. I can’t see them advocating them across the private sector.”The union also pointed out that some of the original pilots in children’s social work had failed and staff voted with their feet. One even shut down after children, parents and foster carers were not properly consulted.”

Personal budgets could lead to personal hell, says UNISON

UNISON has warned that vulnerable people could be stuck in a personal hell as plans to move 1 million people on to personal budgets in the form of direct payments coincide with council cuts, shutting services and tightening eligibility. The warning follows the announcement by Care Services Minister Paul Burstow today (16 November) of personal budgets for all, and Government targets for even greater privatisation of social care.The UK’s largest public sector union is concerned that the long-standing funding deficit in social care will spiral, as austerity cuts bite. Stripping away vital local authority services will leave people struggling to manage their own care and stranded without choice or support.Helga Pile, UNISON’s National Officer for Social Care, said:“The move to making personal budgets in the form of direct payments at a time of cuts will leave vulnerable people with little choice or support.“The public should not be fooled by dressing up cuts as a chance to give more power to citizens. Tell that to hard-pressed families worried sick about elderly and vulnerable relatives who cannot get any help in the home. “It’s easy to sit in Whitehall and say councils shouldn’t cut eligibility at the same time you are forcing through record cuts in council spending. Many people will now not even be eligible for a personal budget, let alone any care services, and elderly people with conditions like dementia, Parkinson’s disease and diabetes face losing home support, even if they are unable to carry out basic personal care.“The care system is a nightmare for families to navigate. Without the option of directly provided services, people may not know whether the budget they are allocated is fair and councils could freeze people’s budgets, or start cutting them as the funding squeeze tightens. It’s no accident that the Government has slipped in a policy change to put the emphasis on ‘cash for care’ rather than the other more supported options that personal budgets can offer. This makes it easier to make cuts by stealth, and put the onus on people to ration their own care.“Day centres, meals on wheels and reliable homecare are among the vital services being removed. Trained, qualified staff are being replaced by cheaper workers. We have huge concerns over where the workers are going to come from to work for the minimum wage on casual contracts.“Evidence shows that moving to ‘cash for care’ can have a hugely damaging impact on older people’s wellbeing, but this is ignored. Evidence proves the damaging effect on quality of care of privatisation to the lowest bidder, but this is ignored. Far from promoting choice, the government is changing the policy on personal budgets to make it one size fits all, without proper debate or consultation.”

Where does your MP stand on cuts?

Join the conversation

Quality public services build sustainable economies, and democratic, just societies.

In tough economic times, social programs provide essential supports for both economies and societies. Investing in public services is the most effective way to create new jobs. Without them, the private sector cannot function. Democracy and universal access are linked to fair and accountable taxation. The growing gap between rich and poor in many countries can be explained in large measure by the fact that governments are taxing less and, correspondingly, spending less on social services. The economic crisis is providing more excuses for cutting public funding, at a time when citizens need public services such as education, unemployment, welfare, and health benefits the most. Public Services International and our affiliates are standing up to the attacks on public services, around the world.
Please see the following links for examples of these inspiring campaigns. Tell us your suggestions for more links and resources by emailing communications@world-psi.org

The UK Trades Union Congress

Has published a new report entitled Where the money goes: How we benefit from public services. It estimates the value of the public services from which households benefit, according to different income groups and regions. On average, each household in the UK receives the cash equivalent of £21,400 in services and benefits each year. The report also shows that the planned spending cuts will hit the poorest thirteen times harder than the richest.

Public sector pensions - UNISON comment

Commenting on Treasury plans to consult on the discount rate used in public sector pension schemes, Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, said:"Changing the discount rate would cause more problems than it would solve. On average, public sector workers pay 6% of their salary into their pension schemes. The Government is now talking about adding an extra 3% on top. This could price many low paid workers out of saving towards their retirement.“If public sector workers are forced to opt out, this will undermine the future viability of the pension schemes. Workers will stop saving and rely on state benefits when they retire, leaving the taxpayer to pick up the bill.“It is time the government turned their attention to the private sector, where two thirds of employers don’t provide a single penny towards their employees’ pensions.”

British Gas price hike - UNISON response

Commenting on the news that British Gas will increase bills next month by an average of 7%, Steve Bloomfield, UNISON national officer for energy, said: “British Gas is the second of the six major energy companies to announce bill hikes, and it’s only a matter of time before the rest follow suit. Although there is some protection for low-income households, millions of other families will have to think twice before turning the heating up this winter, in fear of the heavy bill that will drop through their letterbox. “The British energy market needs an urgent, comprehensive review and overhaul to make sure it is acting in the interest of consumers. It cannot be right that companies like Centrica, British Gas’s parent company, can make huge profits by selling and producing gas, without passing savings onto British Gas customers.”

UNISON NHS survey reveals front-line pressures

UNISON, the UK¹s largest public service union, is warning that staff shortages, recruitment freezes and redundancies are set to ‘turn back the clock’ on patient care in the UK. A worrying report from the union shows a front-line under severe pressure, with more patients treated by fewer staff.UNISON is warning that the Government¹s squeeze on funding, risks dragging health services back to the 80¹s and 90¹s. An era when the NHS was starved of funds, hospital roofs leaked, training for nurses and other professionals was cut and waiting lists, for those who couldn¹t afford to pay, dragged into years.The survey - a cross section of more than 8,000 NHS staff - reveals that hospitals are responding to financial difficulties by freezing recruitment, cutting posts and services, outsourcing and restructuring. Almost a third of staff say this has led to a decrease in the quality of patient care, 80% reported an increase in workload, while half were struggling with staff shortages.Karen Jennings, UNISON Head of Health, said:“What is truly distressing is that that the survey clearly shows how spending cuts are already threatening to damage the quality of patient care. The Government are turning back the clock and dragging the country back to the dark days of the 80¹s and early 90¹s when the NHS was starved of money. Back then, patients who could afford it, paid up to avoid being at the end of a very long waiting list or being treated in poorly maintained hospitals.“Government cuts threaten to undo and reverse the benefits of all the investment and hard work that has gone into turning the NHS round over the past 13 years. We have been able to train our own nurses instead of scouring third world countries to fill shortages. In a worrying reversal, half the people we surveyed are affected by staff shortages. This is particularly dangerous because the lack of staff was a key factor in the appalling problems with patient care at Mid Staffs Hospital.“Our survey also reveals that 80% of staff have seen their workload increase and that means fewer staff treating more patients. This ties in with reports that NHS organisations are implementing recruitment freezes and making redundancies across the UK.“Our survey explodes the myth that the NHS is protected from spending cuts. How can this be true when Trusts are being asked to make savings to the tune of £20bn? At the same time, we know that the NHS faces an unquantifiable increase in demand as a result of cuts to local authority and other public sector services. “The cost of treatments are going up, drugs are getting more expensive, we have an aging population who need more, not less care and the cost of the latest round of top-down reforms will run into billions. “It is time for the Government to think again about the long term damage that their plans are inflicting on the NHS.”Key results from the UNISON survey:· 54% of staff reported they were coping with an increase in the number of patients; · 1 in 2 staff have experienced staff shortages; · 59% of respondents report a reduction in the number of staff employed; · 32% perceived a decline in the quality of care in their organisation; · There has been no let up in the relentless pressure placed on NHS staff, with 80% reporting increased workload and 77% increased stress over the last year; Factors contributing the most to increased workload include vacancy freezes and redundancies; · 46% of staff reported recruitment and retention difficulties; · Just under half of workplaces / departments responded to expected financial challenges with recruitment freezes.Ends The UNISON survey will form part of the evidence to be submitted to the NHS Pay Review Body on 10 November 2010

Relax - it's national stress awareness day

The risks of stress are far greater than you might suppose, warns UNISON's head of health and safety Hope Daley, on National Stress Awareness Day."Stress is clearly one of the biggest health issues facing our members today, and we want employers to focus more on the health of our staff and less on the bottom line to ensure that workers - who are after all their greatest asset - remain healthy and safe at work." said Ms Daley."Moreover, stress can be a killer, and coupled with the massive cuts to jobs and services, it could have a major impact on both individuals and society as a whole," she continued.A recent report undertaken by Manchester university has revealed that the public sector will be the most affected by increased stress as the global economic downturn impacts on the workplace.

Pension proposals - UNISON response

Commenting on the government’s pensions proposals today, Glyn Jenkins, UNISON Head of Pensions, said:"We believe all employers should contribute to their employees pensions and the fact that currently 2/3rds of UK employers let down their staff by paying nothing is a national disgrace.“But the proposals of allowing employers to contribute just 3% on a band of earnings, phased in over a number of years, is far too low to tackle pensioner poverty or provide relief to the taxpayers.“It takes a combined contribution rate of 20% and many years’ service to secure a decent pension and today’s Government proposals fall very short of the mark. It is peddling false-hope that somehow NEST will also come to the aid of the taxpayer. If employers continue to get away with paying such low contributions, good schemes will wither away and the taxpayer will have to pick up the benefits bill.”

Tuesday is Equal Pay Day.

From 2 November until the end of the year, women effectively work for nothing, because of the UK's persistent gender pay gap. How disgraceful that in 2010, women are still waiting for pay equality. We are campaigning for the law to be updated to make it easier for women to challenge unfair pay. But the coalition's public spending cuts are only making matters worse.Women bear the brunt of the cuts, as they make more use of, and find more jobs in, the public sector. Another reason why the union's Million Voices Campaign is so important. This week also sees UNISON's first community service group conference this week. The conference is very timely as the third sector is hard hit by damaging public spending cuts. The cuts are in direct contrast to the Tories so-called 'Big Society' agenda - otherwise known as the 'Big Cop Out'.

Say no to skeleton services

Public sector workers in London, Brighton, Leeds, Nottingham, Newcastle Taunton, Swansea and Birmingham from UNISON, the UK’s largest public sector union, will today (29 October) pose as skeletons in a grim reminder to the public that the coalition’s drastic, ideologically motivated public spending cuts, will slash vital local services to the bone. The union is calling on Tory and Lib Dem MPs to ‘bone-up’ on UNISON’s alternative budget, which proposes a fairer route to recovery, or face a dead loss in the next election.Heather Wakefield, UNISON Head of Local Government, said: “This may look like a fun Hallowe’en protest, but there is a serious message behind the masks. “The Chancellor’s knife is cutting deep. His drastic, hard and fast public spending cuts will cut vital local services back to the bone and throw tens of thousands on the dole.“With spending power cut, local shops and businesses will suffer from wholesale, long term, mass unemployment. High streets will turn into ghost towns, and local economies will be given a death sentence, spiralling downwards, out of control. “Why should hardworking people pay the price for the recession? The bankers who caused this crisis are still making off with massive bonuses. And while millions of workers are in the grip of a pay freeze, the directors of the top FTSE 100 companies are laughing all the way to the bank with 55% pay rises. Where is the fairness in that? “The Chancellor should take his blinkers off; there is a much fairer route to recovery. Cracking down on the tax avoidance and tax havens, and making the bankers pay their fair share would claw back billions, saving jobs and stimulating recovery.”UNISON’s Save Our Services alternative budget includes: A 50% tax rate on incomes over £100,000 would raise £4.7bn a year£10bn could be raised every year by reforming tax havens and residence rules to reduce tax avoidance by corporations and ‘non-domiciled’ residents£14.9bn raised every year by using minimum tax rates to stop reliefs being used disproportionately subsidise incomes over £100,000£30bn could be raised every year by introducing the Robin Hood TaxBringing back the windfall tax on bankers’ bonuses would raise £1.5bn £500m could be saved every year by eradicating healthcare acquired infections from the NHS – the extra cleaners would cost half this £1bn could be saved every year by halving the local government agency bill£5bn could be raised every year with an Empty Property Tax £2.8bn saved by ending the central government use of private consultant £3bn could be saved in user fees and interest charges every year if PFI schemes were replaced with conventional public procurement