Low-paid health workers shouldn’t have had to strike for one-off payment, says UNISON

Commenting on the government funding that will now allow thousands of health workers to receive the one-off payment given to NHS staff last year, UNISON head of health Helga Pile said:

“Low-paid health workers shouldn’t have had to go on strike and lose money to win the cash that’s rightfully theirs.

“Nor should they have had to wait many months for the one-off payments their directly employed NHS colleagues got months ago.

“Private firms, social enterprises and wholly-owned subsidiaries taking on NHS contracts should be driven by motives other than pure profit. Any contractor or organisation running an NHS service should be responsible for the staff it takes on too.

“Health workers employed by private firms shouldn’t be treated less favourably or earn less an hour only because they no longer work for the NHS.

“If private companies in the NHS don’t want to make that commitment, they shouldn’t be tendering for health service contracts in the first place.”

The article Low-paid health workers shouldn’t have had to strike for one-off payment, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Government neglect of care has led to low level of public satisfaction, says UNISON

Commenting on the findings from the British Social Attitudes Survey, published by the King’s Fund and the Nuffield Trust which show falling levels of public satisfaction with social care, UNISON head of social care Gavin Edwards said:

“The government has stood back and watched as social care slides further into crisis. No wonder satisfaction levels are plummeting.

“Generally, staff aren’t treated well and with poverty pay rates all that’s usually on offer, many don’t hang around for long.

“Carers are often left to get on with looking after their relatives or friends, without getting the support they need. And when the person they care for gets to the point where extra help is needed, most have no idea where to turn.

“Navigating the care system is beyond stressful and not for the faint-hearted. But it shouldn’t be like this.

“Only a national care service and a fair pay agreement for staff can start to turn things around. But that’s not a five-minute job. The care sector is at its lowest ebb, and it’ll take a considerable effort to get it back on its feet.”

The article Government neglect of care has led to low level of public satisfaction, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Government neglect of care has led to low level of public satisfaction, says UNISON

Commenting on the findings from the British Social Attitudes Survey, published by the King’s Fund and the Nuffield Trust which show falling levels of public satisfaction with social care, UNISON head of social care Gavin Edwards said:

“The government has stood back and watched as social care slides further into crisis. No wonder satisfaction levels are plummeting.

“Generally, staff aren’t treated well and with poverty pay rates all that’s usually on offer, many don’t hang around for long.

“Carers are often left to get on with looking after their relatives or friends, without getting the support they need. And when the person they care for gets to the point where extra help is needed, most have no idea where to turn.

“Navigating the care system is beyond stressful and not for the faint-hearted. But it shouldn’t be like this.

“Only a national care service and a fair pay agreement for staff can start to turn things around. But that’s not a five-minute job. The care sector is at its lowest ebb, and it’ll take a considerable effort to get it back on its feet.”

The article Government neglect of care has led to low level of public satisfaction, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Dudley NHS staff gain Mitie victory

More than 300 hospital workers in Dudley represented by UNISON are celebrating victory after their employer, Mitie, committed to paying the lump sum COVID bonus due to them at the end of last week.

The one-off payment is worth at least £1,655 for full-time health workers, including porters, domestics, sterile services and catering staff working in the NHS.

Mitie applied for funding for the pay deal from the Department of Health and Social Care and has written to UNISON to say that its application for funding had been successful.

Staff had taken three days of strike action over the company’s previous refusal to honour the payment, already given to health workers employed directly by the NHS in June.

The sum was part of a deal agreed for all staff on NHS contracts and Agenda for Change pay scales, but Mitie said it could not afford to pay up.

UNISON has now called off further strike dates due to take place today and on Wednesday.

UNISON West Midlands regional organiser Ollie Hopkins said: “This is a victory for the hundreds of low-paid health workers employed by Mitie in Dudley.

“They worked through the pandemic in the most challenging conditions imaginable. It is only right they receive the same COVID bonus payment as directly employed NHS staff.

“Workers took the tough decision to make a stand and show their strength of feeling. The high-profile strike action created pressure that focused the minds of Mitie executives and has ended the dispute.

“But Mitie generates huge profits and had the ability to pay its staff all along. It could have easily avoided this strike.

“UNISON and Unite have called off further action. Mitie must now get this money into the pockets of its workers immediately.”

The article Dudley NHS staff gain Mitie victory first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Dudley NHS staff gain Mitie victory

More than 300 hospital workers in Dudley represented by UNISON are celebrating victory after their employer, Mitie, committed to paying the lump sum COVID bonus due to them at the end of last week.

The one-off payment is worth at least £1,655 for full-time health workers, including porters, domestics, sterile services and catering staff working in the NHS.

Mitie applied for funding for the pay deal from the Department of Health and Social Care and has written to UNISON to say that its application for funding had been successful.

Staff had taken three days of strike action over the company’s previous refusal to honour the payment, already given to health workers employed directly by the NHS in June.

The sum was part of a deal agreed for all staff on NHS contracts and Agenda for Change pay scales, but Mitie said it could not afford to pay up.

UNISON has now called off further strike dates due to take place today and on Wednesday.

UNISON West Midlands regional organiser Ollie Hopkins said: “This is a victory for the hundreds of low-paid health workers employed by Mitie in Dudley.

“They worked through the pandemic in the most challenging conditions imaginable. It is only right they receive the same COVID bonus payment as directly employed NHS staff.

“Workers took the tough decision to make a stand and show their strength of feeling. The high-profile strike action created pressure that focused the minds of Mitie executives and has ended the dispute.

“But Mitie generates huge profits and had the ability to pay its staff all along. It could have easily avoided this strike.

“UNISON and Unite have called off further action. Mitie must now get this money into the pockets of its workers immediately.”

The article Dudley NHS staff gain Mitie victory first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Getting pay right is key to turning around NHS fortunes, says UNISON

Commenting on the National Audit Office report on the NHS long-term workforce plan, UNISON head of health Helga Pile said today (Friday):

“Simply having a plan isn’t going to be enough on its own to turn the staffing crisis around. Wishful thinking won’t get the NHS very far either.

“The assumption that overseas staff will want to keep coming here to fill the gaps in the workforce is wildly optimistic. Especially given the increasingly hostile environment fostered by the government.

“Getting pay right is key to turning around the fortunes of the NHS, its staff and patients, and slashing the backlog too. Ensuring decent wages, manageable workloads, workplaces that are free of harassment and discrimination, and truly flexible jobs is what will make a huge difference. Experienced staff will then be more likely to stay and recruitment rates soar.

“But when it comes to pay, ministers are already failing. NHS staff should be getting this year’s wage rise in less than two weeks. They won’t though, because the government’s chosen the lengthy review body process over direct talks with health unions.

“Unless there’s a new approach to staff wages, much of the workforce plan will remain pie-in-the-sky thinking.”

Notes to editors:– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.ukAnthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

The article Getting pay right is key to turning around NHS fortunes, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Getting pay right is key to turning around NHS fortunes, says UNISON

Commenting on the National Audit Office report on the NHS long-term workforce plan, UNISON head of health Helga Pile said today (Friday):

“Simply having a plan isn’t going to be enough on its own to turn the staffing crisis around. Wishful thinking won’t get the NHS very far either.

“The assumption that overseas staff will want to keep coming here to fill the gaps in the workforce is wildly optimistic. Especially given the increasingly hostile environment fostered by the government.

“Getting pay right is key to turning around the fortunes of the NHS, its staff and patients, and slashing the backlog too. Ensuring decent wages, manageable workloads, workplaces that are free of harassment and discrimination, and truly flexible jobs is what will make a huge difference. Experienced staff will then be more likely to stay and recruitment rates soar.

“But when it comes to pay, ministers are already failing. NHS staff should be getting this year’s wage rise in less than two weeks. They won’t though, because the government’s chosen the lengthy review body process over direct talks with health unions.

“Unless there’s a new approach to staff wages, much of the workforce plan will remain pie-in-the-sky thinking.”

Notes to editors:– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.ukAnthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

The article Getting pay right is key to turning around NHS fortunes, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Swift compensation needed now to right huge pension wrongs

Commenting today (Thursday) on the report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman on changes to the state pension age for women, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“Raising the state pension age, with barely any notice, was catastrophic for a whole generation of women. It left their retirement plans in tatters.

“It’s only right the thousands of women left in dire financial straits are given compensation now. This has all taken far too long.

“Recognition of this appalling injustice is entirely down to the remarkable resilience of all the women who’ve campaigned over many years for this pension wrong to be righted.

“Those on low incomes have been particularly hard-hit. Some have been forced to sell their homes and endured dreadful poverty.

“The government must move swiftly to find the money to correct this terrible mistake.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk

The article Swift compensation needed now to right huge pension wrongs first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Swift compensation needed now to right huge pension wrongs

Commenting today (Thursday) on the report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman on changes to the state pension age for women, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“Raising the state pension age, with barely any notice, was catastrophic for a whole generation of women. It left their retirement plans in tatters.

“It’s only right the thousands of women left in dire financial straits are given compensation now. This has all taken far too long.

“Recognition of this appalling injustice is entirely down to the remarkable resilience of all the women who’ve campaigned over many years for this pension wrong to be righted.

“Those on low incomes have been particularly hard-hit. Some have been forced to sell their homes and endured dreadful poverty.

“The government must move swiftly to find the money to correct this terrible mistake.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk

The article Swift compensation needed now to right huge pension wrongs first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Pace of change must increase to drive out NHS discrimination

Responding to the publication of the workforce race equality and disability standards by NHS England, UNISON head of health Helga Pile said today (Tuesday):

“Discrimination is still rife within the NHS. Progress is welcome, but it’s far too slow, especially when the proportion of black health workers is rising.

“Initiatives across the NHS are needed to stop black staff being held back. They are much more likely to be disciplined and face harassment and bullying from patients and colleagues. This has to stop.

“In addition, a quarter of the NHS workforce either has a disability or a long-term condition that affects them in some way. The NHS is getting better at removing barriers that prevent people from working for it, but the pace of progress has to increase.

“The culture of NHS organisations must change and funding found to make that happen.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

The article Pace of change must increase to drive out NHS discrimination first appeared on the UNISON National site.