#TUC13 Congress Fringe "Whole person care - a future for health & social care?

This fringe took place on Monday evening. TUC Assistant General Secretary Paul Nowak chaired. 

Andy Burham MP was running a little late, so UNISON AGS (and former nurse) Karen Jenning started the event.

She said that the problems between Health and Social Care has been going on for decades. She used as an example the age old dispute of who pays for a health or a social services bath for a client.

If the NHS recommend this then it is free, if  it is social services, then this same bath could be means tested!

While she is explaining this, Andy Burnham comes into the meeting. Karen apologies for starting without him and he says "just carry on". Karen says that is okay since, I have just been very horrible about you! (joke)

Andy spoke about the 2009-2012 - 66% rise in the very elderly A&E admittance via ambulance. Hospitals are becoming warehouses for old people. We need instead to invest in preventive care to also save money.  

The Tories are running down the NHS. According to them "GPs are to blame for A&E waits" while all nurses are "uncaring" and hospitals are just "coasting".

The press and Tories criticised the last Labour Government proposal on this issue as the "death tax".  Yet we now have already the dementia tax,  Which is surely worse? Andy also reaffirmed his pledge to abolish the Tory Health and Social Care Bill and that the NHS will be the preferred provider in any future Labour NHS reforms.

Andy made it clear that markets are not the answer in health and social care. The UK is one of the few countries to spend under 10% of GDP on health care because it has such an efficient national service. 

Justin Bowen from the GMB  (another former Tower Hamlets bod) said that Andy's comments was music to his ears. The problem however is money. Health and social care reforms will not be totally cost neutral. It will cost more. The crisis in social care now is all about money.

Andy countered by saying that there will be huge savings by bring together health and social care but also provided people knew what they would get, they would be willing to pay more for quality services.  

My question to Andy and the panel was about the present decimation of wages in the social care sector (I mentioned the disgrace at the "charity" Future Directions which he was well aware of)  and what are we going to do about future pay in the voluntary care sector?  Much of which is minimum wage.

I think it is fair to say that Andy was very supportive about the need to have decent pay in our sector but he and Labour are not yet in power.  So, roll on 2015.  

Green Mean Hypocrite Machine - Support Brighton Cityclean workers

hat tip SERTUC "Dear Colleague

I am writing to you as you recently signed our petition against pay cuts for staff employed at Brighton & Hove City Council. As you may be aware the union is currently balloting for industrial action, and the result of the ballot will be announced this Friday 7th June.

It has now come to our attention that the Council is planning 'contingency measures' to attempt to bust GMB members taking industrial action. You can find out more about this at  http://www.gmb-southern.org.uk/brighton-green-council-planning-strike-busting-measures/

We are absolutely appalled that a Green administration, which stood on a platform of fighting cuts and supporting workers rights could be taking such action. We are therefore asking for your help:

What can you do to help?

1. Please sign the petition again - All comments made on the petition are sent directly to Brighton & Hove Councillors. You can sign the petition at www.gmb-southern.org.uk/bhcc

2. If you live in Brighton, please print off the attached poster and place it in your window, to show your support to our members;

3. Please consider making a donation to the regional dispute fund. This fund is used to support members in dispute throughout the region, and it is likely that members in Brighton will need to call on it heavily when the dispute begins. You can make a donation via paypal at www.gmb-southern.org.uk/bhcc

Thank you again for your support

Rob Macey & GMB Cityclean workers

Lab12: TULO reception (and the move to the right)

While waiting for Ed Miliband to come and speak to the packed out fringe organised by TULO (trade union liaison organisation). General Secretary of the CWU, Billy Hayes, made a request for the Labour Movement present to move to the right (and stop blocking the doorway to people trying to get in)

Harriet Harman spoke first about the need to get the Tories out and how the unions can help especially in areas such as East of England where we are still strong but the Labour Party are weak. She also made it clear that she wanted Labour MPs to be as representative and diverse as our voters.

Which was a theme taken up by Billy and GMB General Secretary, Paul Kenny. Who both made it clear that there must be more working class and trade unionists MPs. Paul said "People who know what its like to be shouted at by their bosses".

Ed talked about taking the fight to the Tories, need for self discipline, build more homes and make Banks serve the public, not the other way round.

Highlight was a rousing passionate speech by Laura Pidcock (see picture - sorry about quality) who reminded us that if MPs don't understand, talk, look or sound like working class people then they will not vote for them.   

TUC 2012: UNISON pressie to President

After close of business this morning the UNISON delegation met up with Congress President, Paul Kenny, to present him with a gift to thank him for his work during the last year.

Paul was very pleased but could not resist holding up the carefully wrapped box gift to his ear and said "in the past a GMB official would have very cautious about receiving a gift from UNISON and would have checked to make sure - it wasn't ticking". 

Trade Union Congress 12: Sunday afternoon

Picture of UNISON delegate Gordon McKay seconding the composite motion on "Trade Union and Employment Rights" at the start of Trade Union Congress 2012. Gordon finished his speech by offering some rather rude travel advice to Tories.

"Congress is the policy making body of the TUC, and meets each year during September. Each affiliated union can send delegates to Congress - the larger the union, the more it can send. At Congress 'motions' (resolutions for debate) are proposed and discussed. These form the basis of the TUC's work for the next year".

You can check out the TUC blogs and tweets here.  The hashtag is  #tuc12. You even watch it live online.

The UNISON delegation had a pre-meeting at 3pm where we decided whether to support or not motions up before Congress where we haven't so far made a decision. Conference started at 4pm. There was a lobby outside Congress and delegates were greeted with the traditional welcome chant "TUC get off your knees... General Strike Now".  

The President of Congress, GMB General Secretary Paul Kenny, chairs the meeting. A more relaxed and tolerant chair than others I have seen over the years. He even gently told off Unite GS Len McCluskey, for speaking longer than he should have done.

Composite 4 is on "Illegal Corporate Bullying" and describes the secret "blacklisting" of trade union and safety reps by the construction industry.  Which meant that many activists were refused employment for many years if not decades. Motion 16 on "Hidden Courts" was about concern over Justice and Security Bill.

5pm Paul Kenny addressed Congress and reminded us of the role of his predecessor Will Thorne in the formation of the unions. People should be proud of unions and the social justice they have created. Paul introduced the new TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady and gave thanks to the outgoing GS Brendan Barber.

At UNISON conferences we leave the teasing of the President until the end. Congress starts at the beginning. Paul was praised for being the "best ducker and diver in the trade union movement" by Gail Cartmail.  A point agreed with relish by Bob Crow who also thought Paul despite being a Millwall FC fan was a "decent bloke".

Battery in my laptop now running out.  Will try and post further tomorrow.

Save St Helier Hospital (Tory Cllrs join Union Protest)

UNISON press release. "Campaigners fighting plans to axe maternity, casualty and children's services at St HelierHospital in Sutton, Surrey took their protest to the doorstep of sacked Health Minister and local MP Paul Burstow (Sutton) at 12 noon Friday - 7thSeptember - and have demanded a meeting to discuss the proposals which are due to go to formal public consultation on the 17th September.

UNISON members from St HelierHospital were not only joined by their colleagues from the GMB but surprisingly by a number of London Borough of Sutton Conservative Party Councillors, who apart from pledging their commitment to Save St Helier Hospital held aloft a banner proclaiming "Vote Lib Dem Get Tory Cuts"

Michael Walker UNISON Regional Officer stated

"We have fought previous Governments who tried to close our hospital and won, we will do so again".

"UCATT Members Vote to Accept Local Government Pension Offer"

Ucatt members (Union of Construction, Allied Trades & Technicians) have also voted overwhelmingly to accept the new local government pensions scheme by 79%.

They join GMB members who voted 95% in favour, UNISON 90% in favour and Unite 84% in favour.

Seems pretty clear result. Now we need to be encouraging people to join the new scheme and using it as a model for schemes in the private sector.  Hat tip Unionreps e-newsletter.

UNISON members Vote by 90% to accept new LGPS!

Great news. UNISON has announced that members voted in a secret ballot by 90% to accept the new Local Government Pension Scheme 2014. Ignoring the moanie, fibbing misrabalist rejectionists who for selfish sectarian reasons wanted them to turn down a good offer to indulge in pointless strike action and the inevitable "glorious defeat". On Monday the GMB voted by 95% to accept.

While there were some who had genuine doubts about the new scheme, I would hope that everyone (apart from the miserablists who will be crying betrayal) will rally around the new scheme and encourage the shocking 25% of those eligible who haven't yet joined to join. There is still further work to be done especially around member representation and governance. The new LGPS will be a fair, affordable and sustainable model for a rebirth of private sector defined benefit pensions scheme.  In the meanwhile we should be also looking at encouraging other employers to consider joining.

This result will also encourage the union's in forthcoming campaigns since we can demonstrate that by a combination of rational argument, mobilisation and targeted collective action we can win for our members.

Update: Unite members have also voted to accept LGPS 2014 by 84%. Hat tip UNISONactive