Branch Secretaries Report  -  AGM  16-2-2006

Unison South Tyneside Health Branch

I think if we look back at 2005 the work of the branch has almost entirely been taken up by the implementation of Agenda for change.     At the beginning go the year it was job descriptions job descriptions then that gave way to job matching, negotiating terms and conditions and then reviews.   It in the middle of all this that we had to reorganise, when the PCT recruited Rob.

This was a time for a lot of soul searching as to whether we had made the right decision. In asking Marion to take up the staff side lead and leave the branch considerably weakened. However, like to say that looking back now it was a wise decision.  Marion has done a brilliant job on behalf of staff side. Staff groups that we were most concerned about have gone through whilst she was working in partnership with the management side lead.  Estates, Medical Secretaries, porters and others which have been good results considering how we were worried about a number of staff groups in A4C.     

In the branch office whilst for a time I did not think we could carry on with the amount of work there, we would thank Susan Scott the assistant secretary who stepped in two days a week in the branch office taking on the domestics and other work from Marion and of course organising the successful Christmas social.

The stewards two have stepped up to play and important role.  This has to be seen in the context that not only were we faced with A4C but we were faced with a stepped up offensive against our terms and conditions particularly staffing levels and cover mainly due to the Trusts financial position.

Barry Hall and Robin Tennet took on a big burden in estates.  With Rob Foley going they stepped in these difficult circumstances.  Now that Barry Hall has left Robin is left with even more difficult situation in estates and I think people should learn for his spirit as someone who was never that keen to take on this role but knows without a shop steward the work force is weaker and the branch is weakened also.   Health and Safety work like to thank Robin and Peter Jones who retired from this work but still gives us support. Glad Dave Ramsey has recovered from a serious illness.  Would like to take the opportunity to thank Rob Foley who was chair of the branch for a number of years and for his work as senior steward in estates and then on Agenda for Change.  Also, must mention the Myrtle’s tireless work keeping us in budget which we very much appreciate.

Just like to speak about the general situation we are facing.   I know we say this most years but things are not too clever right now.  There is a relentless privatisation programme disguised as modernisation and reorganisation. 

The importance of health workers developing there own forum is crucial in the battle against the misinformation and lies being spread around these proposals.  We have tried to give it organisational form in cross union discussions on developing this opposition to privatisation. 

The government aims to put 15% of elective care into the private sector. They are creating the health market. Not an internal market as the Tories did but one which is aimed to attract out side providers and the US companies are queuing up to takeover the NHS.

Tomorrow is the consultation meeting on the merger of PCTS.    Commissioning a patient led NHS.

Consulting” HR framework.  No evidence base assessment of primary care

Of course it is not about that -- it is about transforming the NHS from a pulbic body that provides health care into a commissioning body that purchases health care from independent and private providers.

The independent providers like this NHS Foundation Trust have to sink or swim in this new commercial market and we see more and more our hospital and our health care being turned into such a business lumbered with huge debts and no way out other than cut backs and mergers.  Next Hit after merger of PCTs.

It is not something that is going to be sorted out by Unison having meetings with the Labour MPs to fight on the bigger picture.

Public services are no longer in the picture.  This is our kids and grandchildren that will be left with a US style health  system. They will pay

What is the most important 2 things about  the US health system

Both the most expensive at 3 trillion dollars.  30 million don’t have any health cover  44 million have inadequate cover. That is equivalent the entire population for Britain that has no or inadequate cover.

What does that tell you about what is being  imported to Britain.  Most expensive and no cover. 

Future events:

This year the Health Conference is coming to Gateshead.  We have to elect delegates and we want to take observers. Your chance to go.  April 24-26.  Also going to be  demonstration against privatisation. 

Tomorrow PCT consultation meeting.

Need to be supporting the Local Authority workers whose pensions are under attack.  No adequate protection for existing members let alone new ones.

March 18 national demonstration to bring the troops home and oppose any attack on Iran.

There is a forum in South Shields in march to oppose racism.  The most dangerous form now is the dehumanisation of muslim community. This is the prerequisite for genocide and we as health workers must take a resolute stand against this.

Conclude

We are health workers and despite all I have said we are still a force to be reckoned with in the hospital and PCT but as said last year let us go on and make health workers a force to be reckoned with in society.

Marion went on to speak about A4C

Thank You

Roger Nettleship/Marion Langley