Like Us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Branch Newsletter December 2014 Welcome to the UNISON Somerset Health Branch Newsletter. As a branch we cover a large geographical area that includes Somerset Partnership, Yeovil District Hospital and Musgrove Park Hospital. We have tried to include reports from each of these areas. The past few months have seen UNISON members undertaking both Action Short of Strike (ASOS) and also two Days of Action of 4hrs. If you took part in these actions (or more importantly if you did not) we would love to get some feedback. Please visit www.unisonsomersethealth.org.uk and see our member survey, your feedback will help us plan the ongoing action over pay that will take place next year. Issue 1 December 2014 Page 1
TAUNTON AND SOMERSET September The result of the National Ballot for industrial action in the Health Sector was declared. The day of action was to be on October 13 th followed by a week of Action Short of Strike (ASOS) The section staged a series of Early Doors and stall events to publicise the action and rally support from members. We also managed to recruit new members, some from the RCN, who were dismayed by their refusal to ballot members. September also saw a joint Trust and UNISON/RCN initiative to promote Social Media safety. The event was held over two days and highlighted to some staff that their security settings were inadequate. Some staff were of the opinion that this was not the business of the Trust and we were able to signpost them to the Social Media Policy of the Trust!! October We held a section meeting which was dominated by our plans for the Day of Action and ASOS. This resulted in well attended picket lines on 3 entrances to Musgrove Park Hospital on October 13 th. We had visibility on 2 local radio shows and local ITV news reports. All of our stewards were active on the day, although it was difficult to gain an accurate figure on the number of members taking part; many reported they did not attend the start of their shift. We equally had reports from some members who found it difficult to take a stand because of financial or emotional reasons. Following the action we held a stall in the Concourse to promote Take your Break we offered fruit to staff and gave out vouchers for the staff restaurant, which is facing competition at the moment from M&S and Costa on site. We negotiated a 1 off or free drink and in return the Hotel Services Dept charged us 30p per voucher redeemed. This was very successful for the section in terms of visibility and nearly 250 vouchers were used. This scheme has been agreed for the ASOS in November also. We had attendees at the Regional Council and Regional Committees in Bristol. T&S Trust committed to supporting the Be Safe Campaign and in conjunction with UNISON they are to be a pilot site for the workshops which begin in December and continue until June 2015. November The Annual Health Forum was held in Croyde and focussed on the impending Industrial Action. T&S agreed to work in partnership with UNISON and we will be promoting a series of workshops. Initially the pilots will be open to Stewards and WPC s and this will be rolled out to all staff until March 2015. The workshops will be presented by the Workers Educational Alliance (WEA) We are also promoting a reading initiative within the Trust around the Six Book Challenge The Academy has agreed for us to locate some books in their department and we are hoping that the Staff Restaurant will support such an idea also. The regional contact for this is Antonia Edwards, who is working with us for 6 months and is from the Regional Educational Team based in the Crescent Trust wide, the big issues affecting staff have been the Restructuring of all Directorates and senior posts within them. The consultation has ended and the first of the new posts are currently being interviewed for. Staff side have recently been informed that the Payroll Department is being outsourced, this affects ten staff and is under consultation at the moment but there is some dispute over the timings of the process. Finally we would like to say goodbye and good luck to Charlie; she has been an amazing source of support and activity for our section. Charlie s enthusiasm is endless and infectious and I am sure she will throw herself into being a Local Organiser within our Region. Thank you Charlie for all your help. Issue 1 December 2014 Page 2
SOMERSET PARTNERSHIP SOMPAR MEMBERS STRIKE FOR FAIR PAY October and November saw UNISON members across Somerset taking part in industrial action over pay. Members engaged in both Strike Action, and Action Short of Strike Action which included Taking your entitled breaks and not working for free. The walk outs, the first in the NHS over pay in 30 years, were very well supported as members formed picket lines outside their workplace all across the county. With the government not yet committing to implementing a 1% for all pay offer, as recommended by the independent pay review body, there may be further action in 2015. Further info: www.unison.org.uk/at-ork/health-care/ We rely on local activists to make our pay campaign a success. If you would be happy to promote and publicise activity in your workplace, please email branchoffice@somersethealthunison.org.uk Steward Update Below are the nominated UNISON reps in Sompar. If you would like information about becoming a rep in your workplace please contact the branch office. Picket outside Bridgwater Community Hospital labelled the cutest picket line in the country Consultations and live issues in SomPar Representatives of UNISON regularly meet with your employer to discuss upcoming consultations, organisational change and live issues within Somerset Partnership. We rely on you letting us know if you have an issue affecting yourself and your colleagues which you would like support addressing on a collective basis. We are extremely happy to support a meeting of members in your workplace. Please contact Lewis on l.carson@unison.co.uk if you would like to discuss a live issue in your workplace. Wincanton Jim Chilvers (steward and H+S) Kate Wolfe (Steward) Minehead Karla Thresher (Steward) Wellsprings (Taunton) Jo Bromley (steward) Michelle Gough (steward) Simon Reynolds (Steward) Scott Leitch (Steward) Broadway Health Park Nikki Neville (Steward) Bridgwater Hospital Luisa Stephens (Steward) Summerlands Patrick King (Steward) Sue King (H+S) Greta Weaver (Steward) Dene Barton Jessica Burton (steward) Issue 1 December 2014 Page 3
Yeovil District Hospital ALL ABOUT PAY IN YDH UNISON Members in YDH have gone all out for the NHS pay campaign. They have participated in the industrial action by taking part in strikes on 13 October + 24 November, and the take your break scheme, as part of the Action Short of Strike (ASOS), encouraging members to take their entitled breaks. Members have also signed a Christmas card to be delivered to local MP David Laws, asking for Fair Pay this Christmas. UNISON members on a picket line outside YDH on 24 November These continued campaign actions are vital in putting pressure on the government to implement the 1% pay award, as recommended by the Independent Pay Review body (www.unison.org.uk/at-work/health-care/) If you would like to support the pay campaign in your department in the New Year please contact branchoffice@somersethealthunison.org.uk Our voucher rewarded UNISON members for participating in ASOS with a free cuppa! Get involved in UNISON Following our call in a previous communication for members in Yeovil District Hospital to become more active in UNISON, we have had several expressions of interest in Steward and Contact roles but we still require more people to come forward. Involvement can vary from being a point of contact in your department helping to publicise events and activity, to becoming an accredited Representative, fully trained in advocating on behalf of colleagues. You can also focus on issues of Safety in your workplace as a Health and Safety Rep, or help promote training and learning as a UNION Learning rep. We will shortly be arranging a meeting of reps and contacts in YDH if you would be interested in attending this meeting to find out a bit more about any of these roles, please contact Lewis on l.carson@unison.co.uk Issue 1 December 2014 Christmas Card to be delivered to David Laws MP Page 4
Would you like to know what has been happening in your UNISON branch and news of forthcoming events? If you re not already receiving news and updates regularly from your UNISON Branch it could be because we don t have an up to date email address and mobile telephone number for you. We can send mailings to either your home or work email address. Update or advise us of your email and mobile phone number at branchoffice@somersethealthunison.org.uk (entering the word Communications and your full name in the subject line) or on 01823 342631 All UNISON members for whom we have an email address and mobile number, will be entered into a PRIZE DRAW on the 12 th February. The winner will receive 30 of high street vouchers! Not a member? Join UNISON for essential cover at work: join.unison.org.uk UNISON Somerset Health Branch, Trade Union Office, Musgrove Park Hospital T: 01823 342631 The winner of the prize draw will be announced at the 2015 UNISON Somerset Health Branch AGM, which will be held at the end of February 2015. Dates of aggregate AGM meetings will be sent to members in mid-december. Issue 1 December 2014 Page 5