Mayor of Liverpool opens UNISON’s energy conference

Bill Esterson (left) and Steve Rotherham (right), fielding questions from delegates

UNISON’s energy conference was opened this morning in Liverpool by the region’s metro mayor, Steve Rotherham.

He spoke to delegates about the region’s efforts toward decarbonisation and greening of its economy.

He said: “Since I was elected as metro mayor we have been working together for a better, fairer greener future for the people who call this place home.

“In 2019 our area was the first to declare a climate emergency and set our carbon neutral target to 2040 a full decade ahead of wider targets.

“But let’s be clear – overcoming climate change is not something that can be accomplished by any one region, by the UK or even by Europe. It’s an existential threat on a global scale like nothing we’ve seen before.”

Mr Rotherham then spoke of a number of projects being undertaken in the region around carbon capture, tidal power, the creation of a carbon neutral London-style public transport system including hydrogen-powered buses and battery-powered trains, and the retro-fitting of domestic properties to increase the energy efficiency of thousands of homes.

These measures, he argued could “make our region a worldwide centre of excellence.” But added that it was vital that these measures can’t be privatised and must be true public services.

After Mr Rotherham spoke, Bill Esterson, Labour MP for Sefton, told delegates: “Labour is fully committed to decarbonising our economy – to making the most of the opportunities right across the low carbon energy mix, right across the decarbonisation of industry and those opportunities of reducing customer’s bills in insulation,” noting Labour’s plans to spend billions of pounds a year to insulate homes.

He continued, outlining Labour’s commitment to end the ban on onshore wind farms, to “double onshore wind, triple solar and quadruple offshore wind.”

He also emphasised that within this transition toward a green economy: “Good well-paid union jobs are a critical part of the way forward.”

Finishing his speech, he asked delegates: “Someone has to lead the world on hydrogen and green energy – why not Britain?”

Motions

After the speeches, conference debated a number of motions on topics including: managing difficult customers and nuclear power’s contribution to the security of UK energy supply and net zero.

The first of the three noted that over the past year, during the cost of living crisis, many energy customers have been placed in difficult circumstances and it is making them more stressed, anxious, and at times, angry.

Tracy Wainwright of the energy service group executive, speaking for the motion, said: “Speaking from personal experience as a call centre worker, I know the impact of having to deal with verbally abusive and emotionally manipulative customers.

“It can be shouting, screaming, swearing or customers crying or threatening suicide on the line. Staff also have to deal with racial abuse, homophobia and sexual harassment.

She noted that, as a result, rates of staff reporting declining mental health have increased.

Conference also passed a motion on the contribution of nuclear to the security of the UK energy supply and efforts to hit net zero.

After outlining the history of UNISON’s nuclear policy positions, it argued that the energy service group now needs to take a lead on this important source of electricity generation that is carbon-free and called on the SGE to draft a pro-nuclear energy policy as part of a balanced zero carbon electricity generation system fit for the future.

One speaker said: “Transforming the UK’s economy over the next three decades to reach net zero will be a journey of unprecedented change and we still need to go further and faster in the next 30 years.

“But, conference we can no longer ignore the fact that without nuclear we cannot reach net zero by 2050. And we must change our stance on nuclear if we wish to have a seat at the table in that future.”

The article Mayor of Liverpool opens UNISON’s energy conference first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Hospital staff in Liverpool are coming home

Around 670 staff at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will be brought back in-house on 1 April this year.

Staff at two hospital sites, Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen, who work as cleaners, porters, caterers and in other domestic services will be transferred onto NHS terms and conditions once the outsourced contracts come to an end at the end of March.

The move comes after a merger of hospital trusts in Liverpool in 2019, creating Liverpool University Hospitals NHS foundation trust, which left staff in similar jobs on vastly different terms and conditions depending on whether the services at their hospital were provided in-house or outsourced.

The announcement is the latest of number of instances of insourcing at the trust with other services such as security and decontamination already brought back since 2019.

Since the merger, UNISON’s Liverpool hospitals branch have campaigned strongly for the insourcing of the services at the earliest opportunity.

They argued that not only is it beneficial for the community on public health grounds, in that it will allow for improved quality and integration of services, but that, in an area of high deprivation, bringing staff onto better pay and conditions supports the local economy as well as the workers.

In harmonising the terms and conditions of these types of jobs across the trust, the chief executive of the trust echoed these sentiments,  saying the decision “delivers on our vision to support communities to live healthier happier, fairer lives.”

For the staff, a move to Agenda for Change terms and conditions will likely represent a significant pay increase as well as improvements to leave and pension offerings.

Speaking of the decision Joe Baldwin, chair of UNISON Liverpool hospitals health branch, said: “We welcome the decision to bring this service back into the NHS.

“We have been campaigning for a long time for these members to be afforded the same pay and conditions as those of us who work directly for the NHS.

“This is also about pensions and access to wider opportunities and staff benefits. We are ‘One NHS’ and our members in this service are a vital part of our health service.”

 

The article Hospital staff in Liverpool are coming home first appeared on the UNISON National site.