health – Page 3 – Union Newswire

Second Much More Than You Are exhibition fights ‘bandism’

The second annual Much More Than You Are exhibition was held at Newham University Hospital on Saturday to celebrate the full NHS team.

The event was launched last year by Newham Healthcare branch committee and, after its overwhelming success, has been turned into an annual celebration. According to branch secretary Chris Akaluka (pictured above), the idea of the event was to combat a culture of ‘bandism’.

Explaining the term, he says: “Bandism is a term I coined to describe the phenomenon where staff on higher bands may look down on those on lower bands.”

The day allowed people to demonstrate the diverse range of abilities that aren’t typically seen during regular work hours, with food exhibitions, film screenings and much more.

It was also interspersed with interviews, awards and a premiere of a new UNISON film that focused on a successful insourcing campaign at the branch.

Jo Galloway (left), Greater London regional secretary, speaking at the event

Chris adds: “Much More Than You Are enhances the visibility of our members beyond the distinctions of uniform colours and bands they belong to, and fosters unity, friendships and partnerships across bands.”

“I think, in that way the day also identifies a really important part of UNISON’s One Team For Patient Care campaign – the social, hospital culture element.

One Team

One Team highlights NHS support staff and aims to give them the recognition they deserve.

These unsung heroes are playing a vital role in tackling record NHS waiting lists and they work tirelessly throughout the health service to clean wards, maintain vital equipment, order medical supplies, book appointments and cook meals – all to ensure that patients get the care they need.

These staff don’t always get the recognition they deserve, but UNISON is proud to represent them, and proud of the important role they all play in patient care.

One Team Day is coming up on 15 November, but the deadline for ordering merchandise is Tuesday 24 October.

Order merchandise here

One team for patient care

The article Second Much More Than You Are exhibition fights ‘bandism’ first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Health members in Northern Ireland to strike for pay parity

UNISON health members in Northern Ireland will be taking strike action over two days this week, in protest at the continued lack of a pay offer for 2022/23.

The walk out, over the 48-hour period of Thursday 21 and Friday 22 September, will involve ambulance crews, nurses, health care assistants, pharmacists, radiographers, porters, admin and technical staff, cleaners and catering staff.

Payroll staff will strike for a shorter period, to ensure their co-workers receive their pay on time – a decision commended by their union colleagues.

The action is due to increasing frustration that NI health workers are falling behind their colleagues in England and Wales, who accepted an NHS pay offer from their employers in April. That offer included an extra lump sum for 2022/23 and a new offer of a 5% increase for 2023/24.

The devolved government’s department of health has failed to extend the same offer to Northern Ireland.

A UNISON NI statement said: “UNISON members in the health service are fed up with the current impasse in their just pursuit of pay parity.

“They have decided not to remain silent as politicians dither and delay a resolution of their political differences. They have resolved to continue demanding that the secretary of state use his powers of economic governance to include funding for the restoration of pay parity.

“NHS workers in England and Wales had their pay uplift from April this year. Why should health staff in Northern Ireland have to wait?

“No amount of finger pointing at local politicians justifies this appalling situation. UNISON members have no intention of staying silent or just putting up with it.”

The article Health members in Northern Ireland to strike for pay parity first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Health members in Northern Ireland to strike over lack of pay parity

UNISON health members in Northern Ireland will be taking strike action over two days this week, in protest at the continued lack of a pay offer for 2022/23.

Payroll staff will strike for a shorter period, to ensure their co-workers receive their pay on time – a decision commended by their union colleagues.

However in the absence of a devolved government in Northern Ireland, and without funding being made available by the secretary of state Chris Heaton-Harris, no offer has been made to health workers there.

A UNISON NI statement said: “UNISON members in the health service are fed up with the current impasse in their just pursuit of pay parity.

“NHS workers in England and Wales had their pay uplift from April this year. Why should health staff in Northern Ireland have to wait?

“No amount of finger pointing at local politicians justifies this appalling situation. UNISON members have no intention of staying silent or just putting up with it.”

The article Health members in Northern Ireland to strike over lack of pay parity first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Clinical support workers set to strike for the first time in NHS history

Over 400 health staff at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (WUTH) will take strike action tomorrow.

The strike will take place from 7am on Thursday 31 August through to 6:59am on Saturday 2 September after an overwhelming majority (99%) of clinical support workers voted to strike in a recent UNISON ballot.

Clinical support workers (CSW) are some of the lowest paid workers in the NHS. As roles have evolved and hospitals have struggled with staffing, they have taken on more clinical responsibilities without the pay and recognition to match.

The clinical support workers are employed at band two but regularly perform duties at band three level. UNISON says these employees should be paid at least £2,000 more a year in recognition of the tasks they perform.

The strike is the first in UNISON’s Pay Fair for Patient Care campaign, which has seen thousands of workers rebanded to band three.

In response to UNISON’s campaigning, seven health trusts across the North West have moved many?low-paid CSW staff onto the higher rate, and paid the affected staff backpay from April 2018.

Show your support for the strikers

UNISON member Nikki has been a clinical support worker at WUTH for 19 years. She’s taking part in the strike tomorrow in the hope that it will bring about change: “I’m fed up with doing the work of a band three and only being recognised and appreciated as a band two.

“It’s not just about the pay, it’s about being recognised. We’re not asking to be managers, just to be paid fairly for the work we’re doing.”

“We’ve been doing these roles for many years without question and nobody took any notice of the matter until UNISON supported us to fight our corner.

“I work in theatre, and there are plenty of jobs we’re asking to do, and if we say ‘that’s not my job’, we’re told ‘yes, but you can do that, so go and do that’.

“This is the first time in NHS history that clinical support workers are going on strike. We don’t want to have to strike. We all love our jobs and are dedicated to our patients. But you have to stand up for what you believe in and what is right, and if nobody’s listening to us, we don’t have a choice.”

UNISON North West regional organiser David McKnight said: “Taking strike action is no easy decision. These clinical support workers are dedicated to providing outstanding care to people across the Wirral.

“But the trust is defiantly refusing these workers what they’re owed and insisting that they provide care on the cheap.”

Read more about UNISON’s Pay Fair for Patient Care campaign.

The article Clinical support workers set to strike for the first time in NHS history first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Clinical support workers set to strike for the first time in NHS history

Over 400 health staff at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (WUTH) will take strike action tomorrow.

The strike is the first in UNISON’s Pay Fair for Patient Care campaign, which has seen thousands of workers rebanded to band three.

In response to UNISON’s campaigning, seven health trusts across the North West have moved many?low-paid CSW staff onto the higher rate, and paid the affected staff backpay from April 2018.

Show your support for the strikers

“It’s not just about the pay, it’s about being recognised. We’re not asking to be managers, just to be paid fairly for the work we’re doing.”

“We’ve been doing these roles for many years without question and nobody took any notice of the matter until UNISON supported us to fight our corner.

“I work in theatre, and there are plenty of jobs we’re asking to do, and if we say ‘that’s not my job’, we’re told ‘yes, but you can do that, so go and do that’.

“But the trust is defiantly refusing these workers what they’re owed and insisting that they provide care on the cheap.”

Read more about UNISON’s Pay Fair for Patient Care campaign.

The article Clinical support workers set to strike for the first time in NHS history first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Recruitment, retention and registration discussed at health conference

Health conference closed yesterday (Wednesday) with a session focussing on the recruitment and retention of health staff.

Jonathon Whitney, speaking to health conference from the podium, in Bournemouth

Jonathon Whitney (pictured above) from University Hospitals Birmingham branch moved a motion calling on UNISON to campaign to reinstate paid training and raise public awareness of health student debt.

Speaking of his personal experience with the bursary system that was ended in 2016, he said: “In 2009 I found myself in an awkward situation. Having been made redundant, I was looking for a new career – and the bursary is the reason I am standing here now.

“It gave me hope that there was a career, I had never thought about, in the NHS.

He told conference of conversations he has had in his workplace more recently: “I was speaking to some of the younger members in my department and they have massive debt they’ve accrued over the last three years, from the cost of training, never mind the cost of living,” and argued that this huge level of debt is a massive factor in the inability to recruit new staff into the NHS.

“We need to be able to recruit people or there will be no-one left,” he said.

Megan, an HCA from Nottingham university hospitals branch spoke of the exciting news that she has a place on a nursing course in September. But she added that she was extremely nervous about how she was going to fund it.

“I won’t be able to work a job full time and the financial costs of being a student are higher than ever.”

She highlighted that not only does the bursary mean students have to worry less about finances but that “The bursary will ease the pressure on us and allow us to actually focus on developing the training and skills we need.”

Rising costs of registration

Ruby James (pictured above), of the science, therapy and technical occupational group, moved a motion on the recent attempt by the health and care professions council (HCPC) to hike their registration fees.

She said: “The HCPC has once again decided to increase its registration fees by a massive amount. 20% – double inflation. If we don’t pay, we don’t work.”

The move would affect a number of professions including occupational therapists, operating department practitioners, clinical scientists and many others.

She continued: “HCPC fees have risen by almost 50% since 2014. If only our pay had risen by the same amount. This shouldn’t fall on us, the registrants to bail out the HCPC.”

Eddie Woolley, an operating department practitioner on the health service group executive (HSGE), highlighted the extra lengths regulated professions have to go to: “We have to provide evidence that we’re fit to practice, work in our own time, just to prove that we’re able to work.”

He decried the poor value for money which the council provides registrants and said: “Regulators need to be held accountable. If the HCPC was a healthcare professional, it would be kicked off its own register.”

The motion called on the HSGE to survey members to develop UNISON’s position on regulation and the regulators and push for reform that is not detrimental to members while ensuring patient safety.

Protect overseas nursing and care staff

Fern fox speaking from the podium at health conference Bournemouth

Continuing on a theme of recruitment and retention in the NHS Fern Fox (pictured above), a South East region delegate, told conference: “We are all very conscious of nursing shortages in our NHS. Recruiting staff from overseas are how gaps are filled. But it is a fact that these nurses are being exploited by employers.”

She highlighted how many overseas staff are vulnerable and must be given support and asked delegates to think of their experience, talking with international colleagues and hearing their stories of racism and exploitation.

The motion welcomed the establishment of UNISON’s network for overseas nurses and called on the SGE to continue to lobby government for proper enforcement of provisions within the code of practice for the international recruitment of health and social care staff.

Safe staffing levels in our NHS

A delegate holds up an orange voting card at health conference

Gamu Nyasoro moved a motion of safe staffing levels in the NHS. She opened by asking conference: “How many of you have gone to work and they tell you, ‘you need to go to the emergency department because they are short’? Or how many times on a nightshift is a newly qualified band five put in charge of the whole ward?”

She noted how: “If we don’t have safe staffing levels, we harm our patients because we won’t be able to give the best care,” but asked conference not to forget that “We also harm our staff – they can’t go to the toilet, they can’t eat, their sickness levels increase.”

Dawn Ward, Cardiff & Vale health, told conference of the effect that the 2016 safe staffing act has had in Wales, saying: “It’s not perfect, but having legislation means our employers have a statutory duty report their safe staffing levels.”

She spoke of her branch’s involvement in a pilot campaign which saw staff take a survey after every shift to report whether staffing was at safe levels.

The motion, which carried, called on the HSGE to learn lessons from the pilot campaign and investigate unsafe staffing levels further and to organise to ensure staff are involved in workforce planning.

The article Recruitment, retention and registration discussed at health conference first appeared on the UNISON National site.

‘This deal puts money in members pay packets – and they voted decisively to accept it’

Photos: Jess Hurd

UNISON’s general secretary Christina McAnea, gave the keynote address to UNISON’s annual health conference this afternoon (Monday) in Bournemouth and thanked the lay leadership, staff and each and every health activist for their work during a “tough year” for the NHS.

Throughout that year, the health service has faced “the longest waiting times on record, highest levels of dissatisfaction, highest levels of staff vacancies.”

But Ms McAnea argued it was a testament to the work of UNISON’s members, activists and staff, that when public and media attention turned to the NHS strikes in England, “they laid the blame squarely where it needed to be – with the government in Westminster.”

NHS pay disputes

She went on to praise the work done in Scotland in their dispute: “The threats of industrial action and weeks of pay negotiations – led by our very own Wilma Brown – resulting in a deal that delivered pay increases of between £3,700 and £6,500.”

She also highlighted the work of UNISON Northern Ireland, saying: “What a campaign! No government to speak to – employers who can’t take decisions – and yet you still managed to get huge support and you forced the secretary of state to meet with you and, now, you have talks on pay.

“You have shown the power of UNISON. The power of a one team approach. The power of solidarity and collective action.”

Moving back to the NHS dispute in England, Ms McAnea said “We warned the government – back in July and August, that £1,400 was not enough, and that a dispute was inevitable.

“But still, the Tories in Westminster refused to talk to us. They refused to get a grip on the crisis in the NHS, and the pay crisis affecting families across the UK.

NHS strikes in England

“And so, the strikes began in December and we started with strike mandates in eight employers. Of course, we would have liked many more to get over the 50% ballot threshold.

“But with so many branches getting over 40%, it was clear how much work had gone in.

“And I say to anyone who can’t bring themselves to be positive about our union’s work – don’t talk down our efforts. Look at what those eight branches achieved. The publicity – the media coverage – the public support.”

She said it was a “huge privilege” to meet amazing activists from “Sheffield to Soundwell and Waterloo to Windy Nook.” Adding that her job “was made easier because I was able to see first-hand both your commitment to your job and your determination to see this fight through.”

She told delegates it was no coincidence that, a few days after UNISON received a strike mandate from a further 10 out of 11 re-balloted employers, the Westminster government “finally said they would talk to us and critically, put significantly more money on offer.

“We were prepared to bring out almost the entire ambulance service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Bringing out blood and transplant and specialist hospitals would have been another serious blow to the government. It showed the strength of feeling.”

The improved NHS pay offer

Speaking of the improved offer which came out of the negotiations, Christina said: “Is it the best deal ever – of course not. Do you deserve more, yes you do. But this deal will put money in people’s pay packets. And members have voted decisively to accept it.”

Responding to the idea that 53% turnout isn’t high enough for a strong mandate Ms McAnea said: “If we’d got that in an industrial action ballot – we wouldn’t hesitate to bring people out on strike.”

To the idea that UNISON members accepted the offer only because they’re predominantly low-paid, she said: “Many of our members may be low paid – but that doesn’t mean they don’t understand, or didn’t know what this offer meant.

“Don’t let anyone patronise our members. We gave them the full information. We didn’t hide anything. We didn’t sugarcoat it. And members made up their own mind.”

She continued: “I appreciate each union will do the best they can for their own members. But we also believe in solidarity. We could have done a side-deal and had separate talks. But we didn’t, because we believe in collective action.

“More than that. The reason we need to do right by every part of the workforce in the NHS is because patients need every part of it to be working. If it takes a village to raise a child. It takes a whole team to care for a patient.”

Other avenues to better pay

Moving on from the NHS pay dispute Ms McAnea noted that strikes are only one way to get better pay. “We’ve also had the brilliant earnings max campaign. You’ve put £150 million into people’s pay packets in back pay. We have over 59 live pay fair campaigns across all regions – and over the next year these campaigns will be expanding.”

She closed her speech by saying: “I love coming to this conference. What you do matters to everyone in this country and what you do matters in our union. You are at the centre of the big political debate in our country right now.

“So, make sure you are at the heart and centre of what our great union does next.”

Wilma Brown, chair of the health SGE, opening health service group conference in Bournemouth

Photo: Jess Hurd

Earlier in the day, conference had been opened by Wilma Brown, chair of the health service group executive.

Ms Brown opened by noting that: “This year our annual get-together feels extremely well-timed.” Adding, “It’s been a long time since delegates were able to debate an actual pay rise at conference.

“Whatever you think of the offer, there is no denying the impressive levels of engagement that have been achieved by the union. And it is testament to the huge amounts of work that branches, regions and the centre put into this.

“This level of participation did not happen by accident; it is the culmination of months of work. Huge thanks to all those who have played a part in this massive effort.”

Referencing reports that the government is considering the possibility of a nurse only pay spine she said: “Conference, I am a nurse – and I’m proud of it. But let me tell you now, I want nothing to do with this divisive nonsense!”

“In UNISON we value the role played by everyone in the NHS team. This is where we as a union derive our strength – and it is what makes the NHS tick. So, I hope we will send out a strong and united message in the coming days that the NHS cannot be picked apart in this way.

“We are ‘One Team’ and that is how it must stay.”

Moving onto issues of devolution, she highlighted that even with different approaches from governments in each of the four nations they remain reliant on Westminster for the size of the spending envelopes they have at their disposal.

She said: “It is essential we maintain our ability to leverage the power of the whole union when we are pursuing campaigns in each of the four nations. This week we must ensure that we make clear to governments across the UK that no UNISON members should ever be left behind – when it comes to pay, or anything else.”

The article ‘This deal puts money in members pay packets – and they voted decisively to accept it’ first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Powerful anti-racism debate opens UNISON health conference

UNISON’s national health conference opened in Bournemouth today (Monday) with a passionate debate on the continuing fight against racism in the NHS.

The motion ‘Challenging racism in the NHS’, noted that data from the NHS Workforce Race Equalities Standard (WRES) continues to show that higher levels of Black workers are experiencing harassment, bullying and abuse from staff and patients, than their white colleagues.

Black workers also have less access to training and career opportunities than white workers, and are more likely to be disciplined.

As one delegate told the conference: “Racism is rife in the NHS.”

Marking the fact that 2023 is UNISON’s Year of the Black Worker, the delegates discussed the ways in which they can tackle such institutional racism.

Proposing the motion, Peter Oates of Eastern region (pictured below) said: “Challenging racism is front and centre of all our work as activists. We see racism happening in all large employers, and it will continue where it’s not challenged. So we have to keep speaking up.

“It’s everyone’s responsibility to challenge racism, it’s not only on the shoulders of our Black colleagues and Black activists, who live the experience.”

Mr Oates spoke of his region’s anti-racism charter, which has been signed by employers across the region and which, combined with WRES data, empowers activists in their anti-racist work.

Adekunle Akinole from Somerset Health (main picture) also spoke of the importance for everyone not to turn a blind eye when witnessing racism in their workplaces.

“As a society we need to speak up when we witness these issues. We must know that those who choose to remain silent have only sided with the oppressor. What we remember are not only the words and actions of our enemies, but the silence and inaction of our friends and colleagues.”

Annette Heslop of UNISON’s national Black members committee (pictured below), said that people in management roles were a big part of the problem.

“When our Black workers are experiencing racism, managers are not seeing it as such – managers who do know what racism means, and don’t care or want to know.”

That’s why, she said, anti-racism training needed to be extended to HR departments and all managers.

Wilma Brown, chair of the health service group executive, told the delegates: “I’m proud that this motion is opening our conference, because fighting for racial equality is an important part of our union.

“If you are Black and working in the NHS you have a tougher time from patients, colleagues and managers. Black workers are a third more likely to suffer harassment from the public, more than 50% more likely to face disciplinary procedures.

“It’s essential we all fight to make their working lives better. We can’t leave it to Black members and Black activists. We are one team against racism, just as we are one team for patient care and one team fighting for the future of the NHS.”

Conference called on the health service group executive (HSGE) to:

continue to promote its race for equality campaign across all health branches and encourage all regional health committees to monitor and evaluate branch work;
promote and develop training for health branches geared towards challenging racism in the NHS and tackling racist behaviour in the workplace from patients, the public or staff;
work through partnership structures and through direct engagement with Westminster and the devolved governments to influence NHS race equality strategies/plans and push for greater employer accountability where racism disparities persist.

COVID and racism

A further motion outlined how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed racial discrimination in the health service. For example, nearly half of Black NHS staff worked in COVID roles compared to less than a third of all staff.

Voting in favour of that motion, delegates called on the HSGE to continue to:

promote zero tolerance of race discrimination in the NHS and encourage branches to engage with the Race for Equality and One Team campaigns;
explore how Black members can gain equal access to career development, training and development opportunities in the NHS;
encourage Black members to become active in UNISON regional and national health committees, to ensure the union is reflective of the wider membership in the NHS;
explore holding a webinar on challenging racism in the NHS, as part of its Year of the Black Worker in 2023.

Images: Jess Hurd

The article Powerful anti-racism debate opens UNISON health conference first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Decisive outcome as UNISON members vote to accept NHS pay offer in England

In a record turnout for health members in UNISON, over 150,000 members voted in a consultation on the new NHS pay offer, with 74% of these voting to accept.

That means over 112,000 members working in every part of the NHS voted to accept, put cash in their pockets and give certainty about pay for the next year.

Results:

74% voted Yes, to accept the offer
26% voted No, to reject the offer
53% turnout, with 152,329 votes cast

The vote comes after months of strike action across the country by UNISON members, whose courage and determination to repeatedly join picket lines has demonstrated a simple fact – industrial action works.

Their decisive action forced the ministers to the table and allowed negotiators the opportunity to squeeze extra money out of the government. The resulting offer amounts to a doubling of the cash value of the pay award in 2022, as well as permanently increasing pay by 5% for this year.

The dispute has sent a stark warning to the government that it must drastically alter its approach to the recruitment and retention crisis. It has also shown that ignoring NHS staff for months on end, refusing to discuss their pay and failing to address their serious concerns about the impact on patient care won’t make the issues go away.

Many of the other unions that joined UNISON in pay talks with the government are still in the process of consulting their members. UNISON is due to meet with the joint unions on 2 May to declare the union’s position, hear what other union members across the NHS have decided, and deliver an answer to the government.

Until then, it won’t be known whether the offer will be jointly accepted, and so there is no indication about how or when the lump sum and pay rise would be implemented.

The results of the consultation also come just before UNISON’s annual health conference which opens in Bournemouth on Monday. There, delegates will debate the next steps in NHS pay and set the union’s priorities and agenda for the coming year.

The article Decisive outcome as UNISON members vote to accept NHS pay offer in England first appeared on the UNISON National site.

UNISON Northern Ireland pauses health strike after government offer of talks

UNISON Northern Ireland has paused today’s planned strike action by healthcare workers following the decision by the government to come to the negotiating table.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris and Department of Health representatives have agreed to meet health unions on Wednesday.

UNISON demanded confirmation that such a meeting will be a “genuine engagement” and will result in negotiation to produce a meaningful offer it can take to members.

The move comes after four months of industrial action, including four full-day strikes across the health and social services system. Hundreds of healthcare staff across Northern Ireland went on strike last Friday, 31 March.

UNISON Northern Ireland secretary Patricia McKeown said on Friday: “Our members’ determination to escalate strike action today and again on Monday finally got the message through to those in power. Health workers across Northern Ireland will not be left behind.

“The mood of strikers at Belfast City Hall this morning, outside the Secretary of State’s office, and on picket lines across Northern Ireland is one of utter determination to secure their rights.

“They never take industrial action lightly. They care about our health and social services and the public they serve, but they have been driven to the brink.

“Their message now is equally clear– this must be real, or the strike action will escalate.”

The article UNISON Northern Ireland pauses health strike after government offer of talks first appeared on the UNISON National site.