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SPRING 2017 | ISSUE 26 | £3 THEACTIVE! MAGAZINE FOR MEMBERS IN YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE WWW.UNISON-YORKS.ORG.UK FROM ZERO TO HERO AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP LEFT LAURA RILEY AT ROCK BOTTOM. NOW SHE HELPS OTHER WOMEN P08 UNISON:ESSENTIAL COVER FOR THOSE DELIVERING PUBLIC SERVICES DONCASTER RACEDAY SATURDAY AFTERNOON 5 AUGUST 2017

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FOR THOSE DELIVERING General Secretary Dave Prentis n diffi cult times, counted. achievement after PUBLIC SERVICES Regional Secretary our union has At a dark time sixty years. And John Cafferty Ialways pulled for those who value supporting the public Regional Convenor DAVE PRENTIS together and fought rights at work and service champions, Wendy Nichols GENERAL without whom our SECRETARY for our shared values. fi ght bigotry in all DONCASTER UNISON Yorkshire & UNISON members its forms, UNISON communities and Humberside are resilient and members don’t just our loved ones would Commerce House, Wade Lane, Leeds LS2 8NJ spirited, passionate stand fi rm, they not be cared for and T: 08000 857 857 or freephone and dedicated – and continue to march protected. RACEDAY textphone 08000 967 968 W: www.unison-yorks.org.uk always supporting in the direction of Your union will each other. justice. stand by you every Lines are open 6am-midnight That’s the kind of Together we can step of the way SATURDAY Monday-Friday and 9am-4pm Saturdays members we have. continue to make throughout this year That’s the kind of great strides in the and the years to Editor union we are. And year ahead. come. Fighting for AFTERNOON Barrie Clement at times like these Providing the the best deal at work, Consulting Editor – when the battles best possible public fi ghting for rights at Mary Maguire ahead are expected services – from work and at home and Chief Photographer to be diffi cult and it local government standing up to those 5 AUGUST Jim Varney can feel like those that still gives so who wish to do down Contributors who share our much despite years our public services. Peter Carroll, Helen Hague, Ryan of savage cuts, to So let’s stand Fletcher, Tom Jones, Peter Lazenby, values face an uphill 2017 Mary Maguire, Annie Mitchell, Paul struggle – UNISON the National Health together – let’s stay Routledge members continue Service – still our strong, and lets win Cover Image to stand up and be nation’s greatest together. Mark Harvey

Published on behalf of UNISON by Century One Publishing Ltd. Alban Row, 27-31 Verulam Road Tories’ Big Lie about austerity St. Albans, Herts AL3 4DG T: 01727 893 894 F: 01727 893 895 The Government is has been an ideologically-driven Exclusive special ticket E: [email protected] systematically starving the attack on working people and the W: www.centuryonepublishing.uk public sector of the funding communities they serve. offer for UNISON members Advertising enquiries WENDY it needs to provide essential But we continue to do everything David Murray NICHOLS T: 01727 739 182 REGIONAL services, and our members are in our power to fi ght for our E: [email protected] CONVENOR bearing the brunt of the misery members` jobs, pay and conditions. Early booking incentive Art Editor W.Nichols this is causing. We have joined forces with the drinks voucher for ‘2 for 1’ Grandstand Tickets Heena Gudka E: [email protected] They have suff ered years of public to stand together against the each of the first 400 real-terms cuts in their pay while numerous attacks on services in our Total price £13 (2 tickets) Design and Layout ticket sales courtesy Caroline Jakobsson coping with ever greater pressure on communities. of UNISON Living. On sale: from 1 February 2017 T: 01727 739 189 them in their working lives. I cannot praise our members E: [email protected] The fear of redundancy looms over too highly for their resilience Offer closes: 5.00pm on 28 July 2017 Printed by members in local government and and solidarity in such appalling Unison Print the NHS and there seems no end circumstances. They know that Copyright reproduction in whole P14 Please note: there will be a NEW LOW FOR BOSSES in sight to the Tories’ war on public their union will continue to fi ght for Cleaning company’s disgraceful To book tickets call and quote attack on sacked Kinsley strikers 01302 304200 or part by any means without P20 Convenor‘THEY’RE Wendy’s emotionalINCREDIBLE’ visit to a school in The Gambia

P22 INSULT TO INJURY them and their written permission of the Ministers want the injured to fund services. They have slashed budgets £2.50 transaction charge per UNISON insurance fat cats ‘the UNISON raceday offer’, your UNISON publisher is strictly forbidden. in the name of austerity and the communities, order except for purchases UNISON and the publisher THEACTIVE! MAGAZINE FOR MEMBERS IN YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE accept no responsibility for FROM ZERO SPRING 2017 | ISSUE 26 | £3 result is the crisis in the NHS and leading from of four or less tickets. TO HERO WWW.UNISON-YORKS.ORG.UK membership number or UNISON branch code. errors, omissions or the AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP LEFT LAURA RILEY AT ROCK BOTTOM. NOW SHE HELPS consequences thereof. OTHER WOMEN P08 the destruction of local government the front in the

© UNISON 2017 services. battle against Yet the budget defi cit has risen to the cruel UPGRADE! Members can upgrade to two County Stand tickets for £30 (These are usually £32.50 each!) historically unprecedented levels, injustices of revealing the lie that austerity this dreadful would bring economic stability. This government. 04 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2017 NEWS Fight for NHS EVENTS 2017 April – September Campaigners in the ended up at the head of UNISON-led battle to the march. Our campaign Yorkshire Barrio Fiesta 2017 save the A&E department has inspired people from Saturday June 10 (10 am- 5 pm) at Huddersfi eld Royal across the community The Ripon Racecourse, Boroughbridge Road, Infi rmary took their to get involved and fi ght Ripon, North Yorkshire HG4 1UG message to a national for our treasured health rally in London. service.” Natalie was Durham Miners Gala Thousands of people interviewed for Channel Saturday July 8, Durham City from across the country 4 and ITV national gathered on March 4 to programmes giving the First UK Pride Event, call on the Government to Huddersfi eld campaign an Saturday 22 July, Hull fund the NHS properly, even higher profi le. writes Peter Carroll. Local Tory MP Jason Bradford Festival Friday July 28 – Sunday July 30 News of the campaign McCartney has been in Huddersfi eld had trying to get in on the act, UNISON Doncaster Race Day spread to other parts of alleging the campaign Saturday August 5,Doncaster Race Course the country, according has been ‘politicised’. He to UNISON regional claims to have spoken Leeds Pride organiser Natalie to ministers about the Saturday August 5 and Sunday August 6 Ratcliff e (below). closure plan, but has She said: “Some produced no evidence South Yorkshire Festival campaigners have sought of it. Saturday August 13. 12 Noon – 17.00 hours advice from us so they Now the campaign is Wortley Hall, Wortley can use our experience considering seeking a Sheffi eld S35 7DB as a blueprint in judicial review into their own areas. the closure decision. Hull Freedom Festival “We took Natalie said: Queens Gardens, Hull three full coach “Lawyers think Friday September 1 – Sunday September 3 loads from we have a very Huddersfi eld good case, but we Rotherham Show down to London will continue to Saturday September 10 and Sunday September 11 Clifton Park, Clifton Lane, Rotherham S65 2AA to make our voices explore all available heard and we avenues.”

would keep the promise Snape said the lives Theresa’s Test she made at Conservative of millions of workers party conference in had been transformed Melanie Onn MP, former out’ by Conservative October last year, that by these hard-won regional organiser for MPs. workers’ rights will be workplace rights. UNISON in Yorkshire Melanie, who maintained. “But they could now and represents Great Melanie said: “Theresa face a future fi lled with Humberside Grimsby, drew up a May failed working job insecurity and a (left) was bill to safeguard every people at the fi rst hurdle labour market where left furious aspect of employment by enlisting her MPs to zero-hours contracts after her legislation currently talk about their favourite become the norm. Bill to protected by EU law. radio programmes for “Laws that protect preserve These include rights, four hours instead of people’s right to a decent workers’ such as maternity pay, this Bill. The fi ght isn’t family life and stop rights TUPE and equal pay for over. I will be keeping injury and death in the post- part-time workers. the pressure on the workplace could be Brexit She said her Bill Government.” undermined. That’s why was would form the fi rst test UNISON assistant it’s essential we protect ‘talked of whether Theresa May general secretary Liz them.” SPRING 2017 UNISON ACTIVE! 05 £2000 for Mencap workers

UNISON in Yorkshire less than the national should be paid around should be paid correctly. and Humberside has won minimum wage, writes an extra £168.30 a month “We are very pleased a major battle in the fight Peter Carroll - £2019.60 a year. with the outcome but for fair pay for carers who The judge agreed that Regional organiser also very surprised that carry out ‘sleep-in’ duties. the member, in common Ashley Harper said: Mencap intend to spend One member took her with other colleagues “UNISON’s view is that even more money from employer Mencap to an working for the charity in if you are doing a sleep- the charity’s coffers to employment tribunal East Yorkshire, should be in at a care home for pay lawyers in a bid to because she calculated paid for remaining on the vulnerable people and continue underpaying they were paying her premises at night. you are required to be on our members.” Mencap announced the premises throughout UNISON has now after the hearing the night, you should taken a collective that they intended be paid the national grievance nationally to appeal against the minimum wage for every against Mencap on behalf judgement, hour worked. of members who are in a but as it “These carers are similar situation. stands the available at all times “It is a very important ruling means to deal with any victory for our care members in a emergencies or other workers everywhere,” similar position incidents and therefore said Ashley. Eric ‘the best’

UNISON lost a true union’s president. champion when our Eric never thought of president Eric Roberts himself, he always put (right) died suddenly others first. A Scouser at the end of last year. at heart and a staunch Eric was also my friend Liverpool fan, he was and I am devastated, part of the campaign writes Wendy Nichols. to win justice for the Born and brought Hillsborough 96 and up in Liverpool, Eric their families. was a lively, bubbly We were together man who just wanted last year at the health to help others. After conference when the a brief flirtation with inquest delivered wine waiting, repairing its unlawful killing drums for the Beatles, verdict. Eric was very and selling pots and emotional, but I thought pans, Eric found his it right that he make way to London, to the the announcement to ambulance service and conference not me. to UNISON. Eric understood the For 42 years Eric concepts of solidarity worked for the London and loyalty and would Ambulance Service - as never do anything that a paramedic, UNISON would harm the union. branch secretary and He always said UNISON NEC member. He was was the best union. For the first ambulance me, though, Eric was member to become our simply the best. 06 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2017 FEATURE MEDIA REVIEW TYKES AND TRUMPS The US president’s dangerous antics sent shockwaves across the world – including Yorkshire and Humberside. Our media expert Mary Maguire reports

orkshire folk are well hard. Trump’, or ‘Tens of thousands of fraudulent According to the Metro, the Clinton votes found in Ohio warehouse’, while biggest earthquake to hit Britain breathing collective sighs of relief that they for ten years, merely left people SHEFFIELD hadn’t been taken in. In typical British style, a Yin God’s Own County ‘shaking TRUMPED parliamentary inquiry into fake news was set with laughter’. The magnitude 3.9 ‘quake THE LOT up (Harrogate Advertiser, Wakefi eld Express struck in the North Sea off the Scarborough WITH MORE et al). coast. There were no reports of any injuries, THAN The real Trump then indulged in ‘shock or damage to property. A couple of wheelie 13,000 and awe’ by keeping campaign promises bins were knocked over, but it was unclear SIGNING that everyone had assumed were fake. In whether this was the ‘quake or local foxes. response, the people marched. Everywhere. One unconcerned resident said: “I didn’t THE Women in Yorkshire and Humberside, a feel a thing”. And one wag tweeted a PETITION sizeable proportion of whom were UNISON photo of the ruins of Scarborough Castle, members, joined millions around the world saying it was “hard to believe it was once a marching for equality. The Halifax Courier Travelodge”. reported marches also in Bradford, Leeds, But as we all know, drop a pebble in the York and Shipley and ‘24 Calderdale residents middle of a Yorkshire pond and the shock joined the Women’s March in London’. In waves are felt around the world. Across the Hull, Bradford and many other cities, other pond, the earthquake released a political marches took place to protest at the US Great deals for tsunami as the wise folk of America elected a president closing borders to refugees and trump as their president. people from seven Muslim-majority countries The American presidential election was (Hull Daily Mail). a spectator sport for editors around the work and play world. The biggest news story around for ANTI-TRUMP MAP months. With thousands of reporters writing And then there was the wall. Not content or broadcasting millions of words, enough with a tower, this Trump wanted a wall. “A pictures to stretch to the moon and back big one. China has a big wall. One that can and commentators pontifi cating at great and be seen from outer space. So America should tedious length. have one. And Mexico should pay”, he said (Telegraph & Argus). However, this 1,900 SHOCK AND AWE mile wall ‘could be built in Sheffi eld’ (YP). It Amidst all the media fl urry, it was hard revealed that a Sheffi eld-based company, a to separate fact from faction. Citizens world market leader in perimeter security voraciously devoured every little tit-bit systems, could benefi t. The YP published an about their favoured candidate. Fake news artist’s impression depicting a wall with no If you’re a member of UNISON, complete with fake photographs, from fake bricks. Just steel. we won’t just look after you at work, we’ll be there news sites travelled around the world in Here in Britain, the weapon of choice for seconds and became hard fact. keeping out undesirables such as The Donald for evenings, weekends and holidays too. We’ve chosen a range Using fairly simple web tools, these is the petition. Launched by a solicitor in of fantastic deals to make your down time the best time. modern day propagandists made their Leeds, it reached a million within a couple of claims look so authentic that many were days and kept growing. The Doncaster Star For more information on UNISON Living taken in. BBC Yorkshire, Radio Leeds, and the Wakefi eld Express helpfully produced Yorkshire Post, Calendar News and most of an anti-Trump map of the county. Sheffi eld visit benefi ts.unison.org.uk the nationals. ranted and raved about fake trumped the lot with more than 13,000 signing news stories, such as ‘Pope endorses Donald Mary Maguire the petition. This one will run and run. ■ Great deals for work and play

If you’re a member of UNISON, we won’t just look after you at work, we’ll be there for evenings, weekends and holidays too. We’ve chosen a range of fantastic deals to make your down time the best time. For more information on UNISON Living visit benefi ts.unison.org.uk 08 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2017 FEATURE RETURN TO LEARN FROM ZERO TO HERO UNISON member Laura Riley (below) has used her painful experience of an emotionally abusive relationship to help other women. Helen Hague reports

aura Riley founder of Mums in Need, knows from experience just Lhow hard it can be for a mother to get her life back on track after leaving an emotionally abusive relationship. Laura, a mental health nurse, has been there herself. Her ex-partner left her feeling undermined, manipulated and isolated, especially after she became pregnant. So when he told her to go when their young son was a baby, Laura managed to do just that – despite her crumpled sense of self- esteem. She moved up to Sheffi eld from a town in the south, started to rebuild her life with her son, and vowed she’d do what she could to help other mothers move on from emotionally abusive relationships. For UNISON member Laura, setting up Mums in Need (MiN) was ‘the best therapy ever’. She started building the website in 2013. It went live the following year – reaching out to mothers seeking advice and non-judgmental support. Her voluntary organisation - it plans to register as a charity soon – has already helped women navigate through the family justice system. Photo: Mark Harvey Photo: Mark “The courts can be very scary for mums who have suff ered emotional abuse which is why we try and help them prepare”, says Laura. “Cuts in legal aid SPRING 2017 UNISON ACTIVE! 09 EMOTIONAL ABUSE FEATURE FROM ZERO TO HERO

have made it even harder for legacy of emotional abuse publicity generated by the women locked in custody or and intimidation. story line – which fl agged up access battles over children Due to a lack of resources, the new off ence of ‘Coercive to get support. MiN has a the group is not off ering on- WE KNOW Control’ and showed how strong team in place – four line support at the moment, THERE ARE devious and manipulative trustees, 25 volunteers and but hopes to re-establish A LOT OF emotional abusers can be: two therapists. the service later this year. WOMEN the constant undermining, “Many of us have fi rst- However it is still accepting OUT THERE cutting mothers off from hand experience of the referrals, and mums who WHO ARE friends, raiding joint bank family courts,” says Laura. contact the organisation LOOKING accounts. “The family justice board will be placed on a waiting FOR HELP But she reckons that in Sheffi eld invites us to list. Fundraising has been emotional abuse and its training days. We can stepped up to provide a eff ects on mothers are not explain the process to mums service which meets an recognised enough by the who get in touch’’ says evident need against a family courts. “Often, what Laura. Mums in Need also backdrop of legal aid and has happened between a has links with ‘McKenzie council service cuts. woman and her partner is not Friends’, who can help “We know there are a lot seen as relevant to the court mothers put their case. of women out there who are case so is often overlooked”. looking for help and support One mum, who found SUPPORTIVE after diffi cult break-ups with the family court experience As the magazine went to abusive partners. We hope ‘tough, unforgiving and press, Mums in Need was to get back to giving online invasive’, says she dreaded about to embark on a new support as soon as we can. to think where she would phase. Though the website We are giving priority to be now without MiN’s continues, there is a fresh group meetings for mums ‘invaluable support’. focus on meeting the needs in the Sheffi eld area at the Mothers like her who had to of mothers in the Sheffi eld moment” says Laura, who face their abusive ex-partners area who are grappling is pleased to see that more in court, could ‘easily with emotional abuse and people are becoming aware crumble’ without it. its confi dence- busting of the destructive eff ects of Laura is keen to point out aftermath. emotional abuse – from the that Mums in Need does not Thanks to a supportive legal establishment to radio hate men. “We off er support local organisation, Mums soap operas. specifi cally to mums because in Need has a new ‘home’ The Archers’ plot line, that is our experience for the next twelve months. where repellant Rob and who we can relate to. It is off ering group support Titchener humiliates, We recognise that men/ to local women who isolates and undermines fathers can also experience have left an emotionally his wife Helen, highlighted emotional abuse and signpost abusive relationship, crèche the potentially devastating them to organisations where provided. The group eff ects of emotional abuse. they can receive help.” ■ is a safe space to share Helen was cleared of experience and build mutual attempted murder after support. stabbing Rob following Testimonial “We want to help mums months of manipulative cruelty and control – and feel more confi dent and in ‘The Founder (of Mothers in Need) control so they are in a better repeated marital rape. not only cares passionately about situation to help themselves After the court heard what she does, but also has a deep and their children”, says psychological reports, knowledge of her subject. She is a he only has restricted great listener and her friendly and Laura. Mums will also welcoming personality makes you be encouraged to boost supervised access to their feel instantly at ease’ - A 36-year- their life skills and learn baby son. old mum from Sheffi eld. strategies to cope with the Laura welcomes the 10 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2017 FEATURE FINANCE AND ADMIN HAVE KNOW-HOW, WILL TRAVEL Does your branch desperately need a hand sorting out admin and fi nance? Lynda Dye (right) could well be the answer. Editor Barrie Clement reports

’m absolutely loving my has helped 15 branches get She can also help to manage role,” says Lynda Dye. their systems ship-shape the adjustment to new union “ “I’m really embracing and each year another three rules which will require everything about it.” or four branches request his IT’S quarterly reviews of budgets. I Not everybody can assistance. ABOUT But is she sometimes say that about their jobs, but John decided that if it TRYING seen as a spy from regional Lynda is bubbling over with worked for IT, it would make headquarters? “There’s not enthusiasm. sense for administrative and TO GET ALL been one branch which has Lynda works for UNISON’s fi nancial systems which is BRANCHES been defensive when I’ve Yorkshire and Humberside where Lynda came in. SINGING arrived. I suppose they might region as - for want of a Lynda comes from a FROM feel that before I get there, snappier title - peripatetic Rotherham family with THE SAME but they quickly see that I’m branch administrator. strong links to the labour HYMN only there to help.” Since September 2015 movement and worked for SHEET Lynda has been a sort of the Royal College of Nursing FAMILY LIFE travelling trouble-shooter before she joined UNISON Lynda is loath to sing her who goes in to branches more than 16 years ago. own praises as a trouble- in diff erent parts of the She started at the sharp shooter, simply saying that region sorting out their end, having initially been the function she performs administrative and fi nancial attached to the Rotherham seems to be going down well problems and helping to local government and health with branches. “I’m aware make sure they fi le their branches, so she knows the that apart from full-time returns on time. ropes. convenors, the majority “It’s really given me a new Lynda points out that of branch activists have lease of life,” she says, “I’m some branches have substantive jobs as well. meeting new people and I been struggling to fulfi l I understand the pitfalls feel I’m making a diff erence their functions because of trying to balance work, on a region-wide basis.” government cuts have family life and activism in Lynda’s role emerged from squeezed employers which the union.” an initiative by regional in turn has meant fewer Demand for her services is secretary John Caff erty who union members. Increasingly increasing. “A lot of branches felt the region’s 62 branches branches have to take tough weren’t aware of the role but – constituting one of the decisions “They have to it seems to be getting around biggest regions in the union - prioritise more; they have by word of mouth.” needed back-up. to be more restrained, Lynda points out that Originally the focus was especially in funding such many branch treasurers have on IT. things as social events.” only had a day’s training to Yunus Ravat was the point Meanwhile the union’s perform their duties and so man for computer systems at national conference decided sometimes a helping hand is the regional offi ces, but his that branches should welcome. “It’s basically about role was expanded by John to receive extra fi nancial help, trying to get all branches include branches. especially where they fi nd singing from the same hymn Yunus now spends 80 per it diffi cult to mount vitally sheet administratively so cent of his time out and about important recruitment that there is a more uniform in the region, developing new campaigns. approach.” computer and phone systems. Lynda can help branches to Clearly some branches Over the last four years he apply for that extra funding. have less need of Lynda’s SPRING 2017UNISON ACTIVE! 11 Photo: Andy Paraskos Andy Photo:

support, particularly the actually the fi rst time this and that they often need larger ones where branch region managed it and John professional support to fulfi l offi cers have facility time, was kind enough to say that their obligations as employers says John. “But in most it was down to me,” says I ASKED towards branch employees,” branches, offi cials have to Lynda. MYSELF says John conduct union business and While the idea to provide WHAT “When I was appointed activities in their own time IT, administrative and COULD regional secretary I asked and that’s hard for them to fi nancial systems back- I DO IN myself what could I do in the do.” up was implemented in THE FIRST fi rst few months to improve Yorkshire & Humberside FEW the lot of branches. That’s how TROUBLESHOOTING there are growing numbers the idea emerged. It is not If you think your branch is of requests for help from MONTHS a quick fi x, however, this is in need of Lynda’s help, you Lynda and Yunus from other TO about long term solutions.” ■ should fi rst go to the regional regions. IMPROVE organiser who can then Both Lynda and Yunus THE LOT OF contact the branch support have been to a branch in BRANCHES HelpatHand team leader, Laraine Senior, the union’s northern region to discuss the issues. Laraine to help out with their If you think your branch is in need can advise if and when Linda organisational processes and of Lynda’s help, you should fi rst go or Yunus, or both, can assist, IT, but recently demand for to your regional organiser who can says John. their services has been such then contact the branch support It seems the that they have been fully team leader Laraine Senior to troubleshooting approach occupied in Yorkshire and discuss the issues. Laraine can advise if and when Linda can has literally paid dividends. Humberside. assist with admin and fi nance “Last year Yorkshire and A national initiative is systems or Yunus with IT systems. Humberside together with now being considered by the It may be decided that the branch Ireland were the only two union to provide HR services can sort things out without regions of the union to get to branches employing external help, or it may need the all their branch fi nancial staff . ”We never forget help of one, or both of them. returns in on time. It was that these are volunteers 12 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2017 FEATURE POLITICS BATTLE STARTS NOW

Corbyn looks safe after a victory for a UNISON offi cial in the Stoke by-election. But now the party needs to win or hold hundreds of other seats, says Mirror columnist Paul Routledge

t woz UNISON wot regional secretary, welcomed Union. This isn’t just a wun it! the Stoke victory, saying: faraway thing, it aff ects all Labour’s Gareth Snell, “This could be the fi nal nail UNISON members. THIS a UNISON offi cial, won in Ukip’s coffi n. Labour’s Former Unison offi cial COULD Ithe crucial Stoke on message there is clear: there Melanie Onn, Labour BE THE Trent by-election, defeating is more that unites us than MP who saw off the Ukip FINAL cocky Ukip leader Paul divides us.” threat at Great Grimsby, NAIL IN Nuttall. “But we can’t be has vowed to continue her UKIP’S It was a tough fi ght that complacent. The message fi ght at Westminster to keep COFFIN went right down to the wire, from Copeland is that Labour EU-created protection for but a resounding victory for must wake up and smell the working people. hope not hate, for decency coff ee. People like Jeremy’s over division. policies, but the best policies UPHEAVAL This was easily the more in the world are no use if The Government has important poll of the two you’re not in power. promised to ‘cut and paste’ by-elections on the same “UNISON members can’t into UK law regulations like day. The Tories snatched aff ord another fi ve years of the working time directive Copeland in Cumbria from Tory rule after 2020. Public and maternity/paternity Labour, but that was on the services won’t exist, they’ll leave. “But we can’t just take cards. be destroyed. their word for it. I will make Ukip staked everything “The anti-Corbyn attempts sure they’re in the Great on winning in the Potteries, last year were absolutely Repeal Bill,” she pledged. putting their new leader reprehensible. It is not Prime Minister May into the fray – and lost by a the time to question the refuses to give a ‘running healthy margin. Talk of a big leadership. commentary’ on what breakthrough in Labour’s “But the bottom line is Brexit means, but even the heartlands proved just that unless you can get elected dimmest Tory MP knows – talk. there is nothing you can do. she wants the most access to We have to have the best trade in Europe while giving PROTECTION possible chance of getting the fewest concessions. Labour leader Jeremy elected and if that means The status of EU migrants Corbyn now looks safe in changing leader next year here, without whom the his position, though he has a that is what we have to do.” NHS would be unable to political mountain to climb All eyes are now on the operate, remains unclear before he can become Prime impact of the March Budget, as Active! goes to press. Minister. and the progress of Theresa Ministers have refused to John Caff erty, UNISON’s May’s negotiations to take promise that they will be Yorkshire and Humberside the UK out of the European given the unconditional SPRING 2017 UNISON ACTIVE! 13 POLITICS FEATURE

right to stay would require legislation – realise they might lose their Brexit hogs the headlines, which the Government will seats too. but the old saying ‘all not allow. While some local Labour politics is local’ is still true So much for local people parties are talking about SCOUSE in Yorkshire. The NHS making local decisions. The getting rid of their MP by WINDBAG crisis, local Government Government is behaving like re-selection, I honestly PAUL upheaval and public service Henry Ford, who said his don’t think that threat will NUTTALL cuts are closer to home than customers could have their materialise either. HAS BEEN Brussels-bashing. cars any colour they liked – Scouse windbag Paul SEEN OFF Hospital trusts across the as long as it was black. Nuttall has been seen off in region are posting record There are few fi ghts for Stoke, and I don’t think we’ll IN STOKE defi cits, school budgets are council control in the county hear much from the new Tory under pressure and councils this May. Leeds, Sheffi eld, MP for Copeland. But the are making thousands Bradford, Wakefi eld, battle to hold or win those redundant. And rising food, Kirklees and Calderdale seats – and hundreds like fuel and energy prices aff ect don’t have elections this them – has to start now. ■ all UNISON members. year. Labour will remain The long ‘devolution largely in control. In war’ being fought between Doncaster, voters will TheResults Whitehall and Yorkshire and choose a new council and Humberside is coming to decide whether directly- STOKE (TOP FOUR) a head, with a confl ict over elected Labour mayor Ros a new deal for the region Jones should have a second Labour - Gareth Snell 7853 inevitable. term in offi ce. (37.09%) I understand that majority Ukip - Paul Nuttall 5233 (24.72%) Labour opinion has moved NEW BLOOD Tory – Jack Brereton 5154 in favour of an elected Westminster has got some (24.35%) mayor for Yorkshire, with new blood with the election Lib Dem – Zulfi qar Ali 2083 (9.84%) some executive powers but of ex-Corrie actor Tracy COPELAND (TOP FOUR) reporting to a consortium Brabin as MP for Batley of local Government leaders and Spen in succession to Tory - Trudy Harrison 13748 from towns and cities. murdered Jo Cox. And the (44.25%) The Tories have poured threat of parliamentary Labour – Gillian Troughton 11601 cold water on this idea, constituency boundary (37.34 %) with so-called Northern changes, which could have Lib Dem – Rebecca Hanson 2252 Powerhouse minister cost four Labour seats in (7.25%) Andrew Percy, MP for Brigg Yorkshire, has receded Ukip – Fiona Mills 2025 (6,52%) and Goole, claiming that it as Tory MPs in the South 14 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2017 FEATURE KINSLEY DISPUTE

BOSSES HIT NEW LOW Sacked strikers at Kinsley Academy (above) have been the victims of disgraceful allegations in an attempt to frighten them into abandoning their courageous fight against pay cuts. Peter Lazenby on how a cleaning company has scraped the bottom of the barrel

osses who wage of £7.20, and cut holiday The allegations stunned sacked three pay and sick pay. and upset the women, who women cleaners The three, who are were then sacked on the at a Wakefield AT THE UNISON members, bravely spurious grounds that their Bschool have made END OF resisted and took strike vampire demonstrations outrageous accusations THE DAY, action. They were out had upset Catholic religious against them in an apparent WE for 12 weeks, regularly sensitivities. bid to frighten them into picketing, staging protests Marice said: “We were ending their battle for justice. HAVEN’T and demonstrations, with suspended for taking photos, Leslie Leake, Marice Hall DONE UNISON rallying support. something about child and Karen McGee were ANYTHING On Halloween night they protection, which we hadn’t cleaners at Kinsley Academy, WRONG dressed as vampires and done. They threatened us a primary school converted demonstrated outside the with the police as well. into a self-managing academy, Barnsley headquarters of “That night I couldn’t taking it out of the control cleaning contractor C&D. sleep. I felt sick. I had a panic of Wakefield Metropolitan attack and I’ve had to have District Council. PANIC ATTACK treatment for that as well.” Academy bosses They returned to work but The three were called ‘outsourced’ the three were suspended after being to a disciplinary hearing, cleaners’ jobs to a profit- falsely accused of taking but there the allegations hungry private contractor, photographs of children at about photographs were not which slashed their pay from the school, in breach of child mentioned. £7.80 an hour to the minimum protection legislation. “When we had the SPRING 2017 UNISON ACTIVE! 15 KINSLEY DISPUTE FEATURE

have to be on tablets and cover it. Luckily I’ve got my going to the doctor because partner but we’re struggling. of a cleaning job. I’ve borrowed money off my SINCE “At the end of the day mum and dad to cover bills BEING we haven’t done anything just to see me through next SACKED wrong. At the end of the day month. WE HAVE we just want our jobs back, “We are keeping a roof GOT A and now it has escalated into over our heads but we’re FEW this.” struggling fi nancially.” She said she had felt Lesley said: “We’re just DONATIONS ‘really intimidated’ by the getting by really. I’ve got BUT IT company’s actions. a partner and he has got a DOESN’T The third cleaner, Lesley pretty good job. I’ve had a COVER IT Leake, said: “The allegations part-time job at Next for 13

Photo: Neil TerryPhoto: Neil were disgusting, really years. disgusting. It’s aff ected me. “Obviously the bills and Marice had a panic attack. the mortgage come fi rst. I’ve not been very well But life is on hold at the myself. I can’t sleep properly. moment. All the money goes I’ve not been able to sleep on bills. It was a bit rough at properly since the strike, Christmas.” and it’s getting worse.” UNISON has vowed to pursue the three women’s BOSSES HIT NEW LOW STRUGGLING disciplinary hearing they just cases for as long as it takes. swept it under the carpet, UNISON is pursuing the The three won the support but I haven’t forgotten. They sackings though an appeals of Labour leader Jeremy tell lies. They tell lies. It’s a procedure, and if that fails, Corbyn when he was on the very serious allegation and I the cleaners’ cases will be campaign trail in Yorkshire just can’t believe it. They are taken to an employment during last year’s leadership scaremongering to make us tribunal. challenge, which encouraged go away.” But in the meantime them. They also have the The other two cleaners the cleaners are suff ering support of their local Labour were also badly aff ected by fi nancially – on top of the MP, Jon Trickett. the false allegations. disgraceful emotional Karen was full of praises Karen McGee said: pressure and intimidation for the support the three “They said something to which they have been have received. about photos. I didn’t know subjected. “All the support we’ve what accusation it was. I Their pay has been had – often it’s been people was stumped, but it was stopped, and while all three we don’t even know. We’ve really upsetting. I didn’t have partners who have been to rallies and stuff like know where it had come incomes, the loss of their that. It’s been absolutely from. I was a dinner lady wages is a big problem. brilliant.”■ at Fitzwilliam school for “It’s rough really,” said 15 years and had all the Marice. “Very hard.” checks you have to have, She has a second job PleaseHelp working with children. Then which helps. Ironically for someone to turn round it is at Kinsley Academy, UNISON has set up a support fund and say stuff about child working as a dinner lady. and is asking for donations to help protection to you – I’ve got She is employed directly the three Kinsley cleaners manage grandchildren myself. by the academy – not by a until their brave battle is over. “Really it was slander. It’s contractor. Cheques should be made out to been really upsetting. I’m on Karen said: “Since being Wakefi eld UNISON and sent to 18 tablets now because it’s been sacked we have got a few Gills Yard, Wakefi eld WF1 3BZ. getting me down. I shouldn’t donations but it doesn’t 16 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2017

NISON members at the University of York are getting the adult learning Ubug – thanks to fi nancial help from their branch. Branch secretary Helen Adcock realised that members were stressed out and demoralised after a series of highly disruptive restructuring exercises. These were prompted by fi nancial concerns as the university projected a loss of income because of a fall in student numbers. IT’S A Some members have left their jobs through voluntary redundancy while others have endured the uncertainty NO-BRAINER of re-deployment and changed job descriptions. Not all branches can fund additional learning for Helen said she wanted to do something positive and members, but where the cash is available, it’s a practical for members and great use of resources, says Peter Carroll came up with the idea of the branch providing them with bursaries so they could sign up for a wide range of courses. She said: “I took it to our branch executive committee CONFIDENCE completed a BA Hons in Above: Helen (centre) and and we agreed to pilot the But it is not only practical Management. colleagues scheme last year. subjects that members are “I wanted to have an “So far 17 members keen to study. up-to-date CV and I tell our have benefi ted from the Popular courses include members it is important for branch’s support and taken painting and drawing, fl ower them too. up courses. We are hoping arranging, dressmaking, “I am very pleased that they will spread the word to cookery, health and fi tness, we have had four people others about the benefi ts of drama and history. who went on courses and learning new skills.” Helen believes that have returned to continue The courses available whatever course members learning this term. through York City Council’s choose, the experience “They have got the bug ‘York Learning’ network is helpful in building and I hope they will carry include programmes confi dence and stimulating on and spread the word to enhance people’s the minds of people who among their friends and employment prospects. may not have been in a colleagues. Improving mathematics learning environment for “We try to make the and languages and many years. process as simple as learning practical skills like She said: “I went back to possible, so there aren’t accountancy, computers and college 10 years ago because I piles of forms to fi ll in. I feel IT can give people a major wanted to become a teaching sure there will be even more boost when they send their assistant. I also studied members taking up the CVs to potential employers. accountancy and have just bursaries in the year ahead.” SPRING 2017 UNISON ACTIVE! 17 LEARNING FEATURE

success.” UNISON has long led the way in promoting adult I THINK learning among its members. IT IS AN Lifelong Learning is a EXCELLENT fundamental policy of the IDEA FOR union. Learning is regarded as being intrinsically good, THE whatever the subject being BRANCH studied. TO SUPPORT POWERFUL MEMBERS It broadens the mind, LIKE THIS enhances lives and builds greater confidence and self- esteem, as well as providing social contact for people who might otherwise be isolated. But it is also true that rapid changes to the world of work are taking place, with the prospect of ever more automation threatening traditional jobs. The need to be prepared for these changes is also a powerful motive for learning new skills. Office manager Vanda Castle has seen her role change considerably in recent EXCELLENT idea for the branch to support times. The cost of courses members like this.” “It has changed hugely depends on whether they Research Grants co- over the past 20 years and I are introductory or more ordinator Shirley Foster feel it will continue to do so. advanced, ranging from £125 wanted to improve her health “I decided that up to £350. and fitness and put in an bookkeeping would be a Mark Brown cycles to application to the branch to course that would back work at the university every take a course in yoga. up some of the financial day so he snapped up the She said: “It has been work I do currently in my chance to take a short course wonderful! I am really existing role and may well be in bicycle maintenance. feeling the health benefits transferrable to roles I may Mark said: “I used to and I’m a lot fitter and more take on in the future. take my bike to be mended flexible. “The course was great and I used to watch them “Also, the social side of because it was on an evening and think to myself I could getting out and meeting and near where I live. The probably do that myself with new people in a comfortable teaching and support were a bit of training. and friendly environment very good.” “So I went on the course is something I will continue Vanda is continuing her and UNISON paid the fee. It doing. studies and is delighted she was very good and obviously “Many thanks to has been able to add another I have benefitted from it in UNISON for giving me the qualification to her CV. my day-to-day life. opportunity to do something “Having a family and “I think it is an excellent that is, for me, a great young children it is always a 18 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2017 FEATURE LEARNING Learning in UNISON

Return to Learn and Women’s Lives will run from September 2017 in the following areas:-

Women’s Lives – Huddersfi eld, Leeds and Sheffi eld Return to Learn – Barnsley (inc. Wakefi eld and Rotherham), Bradford and Halifax More information about venues and times will be available from July 2017. For more information or to register your interest in these courses please contact Tanya Shearer:- Email: [email protected] Tel: 0113 218 2330.

Closing Residential Cost to Members’ Courses Dates Venue date Details branches

Commerce House, Pre-Retirement Workshop 28 Apr 17 28 Mar 17 Non-Residential £10 Leeds 15, 16 Commerce House, Coping with Change 15 May 17 Non-Residential FREE June 17 Leeds Commerce House, Facing Change Together 11 Jul 17 9 Jun 17 Non-Residential FREE Leeds York University activists Commerce House, Dementia Workshop 17 Jul 17 16 Jun 17 Non-Residential FREE Leeds 16, 17 Northern College, Pathways into UNISON 14 Aug 17 Residential FREE challenge, putting yourself Annette Johnson, a their own language. Sept 17 Barnsley first. Having the bursaries UNISON member for 26 “So I have plenty of chance available through UNISON years, couldn’t agree more. to practise my Italian even UNISON Closing Residential Cost to was a fantastic opportunity. Since doing a degree back when I’m at work in York. Activist Courses Dates Venue It gave me the nudge I IS DOING A in 2008, Annette had done “The main thing is, I’m date Details branches needed to do something for BRILLIANT no more formal learning. using my brain and I think UNISON Workplace 5, 6 Northern College, myself.” THING Last year she decided to that is important throughout 5 May 17 Non-Residential £100 FOR ITS change that and started to your life, whatever age you Refresher Course Jun 17 Barnsley RESOURCES BRANCH learn Italian. are. 26, 27 Commerce House, Discussion Leaders 26 May 17 Non-Residential £50 Helen realises that many MEMBERS She said: “I did it for fun “Both my kids are at June 17 Leeds UNISON branches do not but also, when I go away, I university and it is very have the resources to provide like to be able to speak the costly, as other parents in my similar financial support to language of the country I position will know.

Yorkshire and their members. am in. “So the UNISON bursary Humberside Her branch has not had to “I used to be good at gave me the chance to do For our full Education Programme, our members fund lengthy and expensive languages when I was this course which I probably full education programme Education Programme and for our application forms industrial action among younger but it gets a bit wouldn’t have done without 2017 members and so has more more difficult later on. So it. please visit our website at:- resources than others. it has been good to push “Quite a lot of people in www.unison-yorks.org.uk/education But she wholeheartedly myself mentally and I’m my class are retired and believes that adult learning doing fine. they seem very happy and is the best way to invest “Also, we have a number mentally stimulated by it. For more information about any courses please contact any available branch funds, of Italian academics in the “UNISON is doing a our Education Administrator on 0113 218 2330. bringing a wide range of department I work in and brilliant thing for its branch personal and professional I think it’s a good thing to members and I can honestly benefits to members. be able to speak to them in say I love it.”n Learning in UNISON

Return to Learn and Women’s Lives will run from September 2017 in the following areas:-

Women’s Lives – Huddersfi eld, Leeds and Sheffi eld Return to Learn – Barnsley (inc. Wakefi eld and Rotherham), Bradford and Halifax More information about venues and times will be available from July 2017. For more information or to register your interest in these courses please contact Tanya Shearer:- Email: [email protected] Tel: 0113 218 2330.

Closing Residential Cost to Members’ Courses Dates Venue date Details branches

Commerce House, Pre-Retirement Workshop 28 Apr 17 28 Mar 17 Non-Residential £10 Leeds 15, 16 Commerce House, Coping with Change 15 May 17 Non-Residential FREE June 17 Leeds Commerce House, Facing Change Together 11 Jul 17 9 Jun 17 Non-Residential FREE Leeds Commerce House, Dementia Workshop 17 Jul 17 16 Jun 17 Non-Residential FREE Leeds 16, 17 Northern College, Pathways into UNISON 14 Aug 17 Residential FREE Sept 17 Barnsley

Closing Residential Cost to Activist Courses Dates Venue date Details branches

UNISON Workplace 5, 6 Northern College, 5 May 17 Non-Residential £100 Refresher Course Jun 17 Barnsley 26, 27 Commerce House, Discussion Leaders 26 May 17 Non-Residential £50 June 17 Leeds

Yorkshire and Humberside For our full Education Programme, our members

full education 2017 programme Education Programme and for our application forms please visit our website at:- www.unison-yorks.org.uk/education For more information about any courses please contact our Education Administrator on 0113 218 2330. 20 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2017 FEATURE THE GAMBIA

‘THEY’RE INCREDIBLE’ Wendy Nichols (above, centre) paid an emotional visit to The Gambia to assess the impact of her record-breaking presidential charity. Mary Maguire reports

hen I saw UNISON president’s charity former regional offi cer Jim for myself usually raises between £10,000 Bell, who ran the project “ the poverty and £15,000 in the year. for the union but has since and how IT WAS The money for Wendy’s retired, Wendy visited the Wpeople lived, LOVELY nominated charity was used school the day after she contrasted with the sheer TO HEAR to build four desperately landed. It was a Sunday so enthusiasm of the children THE KIDS needed classrooms. Yorkshire Wendy could see what the to learn, I was inspired. And SINGING and Humberside region had union had done before the I knew that it was absolutely HOW adopted the school some children arrived. It was the right thing to do. I found UNISON years back. The funds raised a poignant moment. She it all very emotional at times.” helped build a toilet block, recalls: So said regional convenor WOULD provide cleaner kitchens and “The classrooms look Wendy Nichols who visited ALWAYS help kids grow their own absolutely fabulous and Bijilo, The Gambia, at the end BE CLOSE vegetables. are really well built. But of her UNISON presidential TO THEIR The school was such a my satisfaction was tinged year, eager to see a mission HEARTS success that it became too with sadness. Just before accomplished. She had small and needed funds we arrived, the monsoons reason to be proud. Her to expand. From small had wreaked havoc. Three charity had raised a record beginnings, the school now of the four older classrooms £28,000 to provide school has 1200 pupils, ranging in were destroyed, leaving one facilities and bring education age from fi ve to nine-years- old one and our four new to some of the world’s most old. ones standing. Without our deprived children. The Accompanied by UNISON’s contribution, they would SPRING 2017 UNISON ACTIVE! 21

have ended up with just played me and one of the refused to leave offi ce. He one classroom after the boys played Jim, talking grabbed power in a coup in monsoons.” about how we would help the 1994 and in his 22 years of Wendy wanted the WHEN school. They were incredible. rule, tens of thousands of children to know where the THEY “During the week, when Gambians had fl ed to other money had come from to FOUND they found out it was my countries. Neighbouring build their classrooms. So OUT IT birthday, they bought me African countries were the region’s banner machine WAS MY a cake and brought in the threatening to step in and was put to work to produce BIRTHDAY, school choir to sing happy remove him by force if he a map of the UK for each THEY birthday to me. At times, it did not go. He fi nally stood classroom. Each map records BOUGHT was diffi cult to hold back the down in January and went the name of every branch and tea rs”. into exile. every region that donated ME A CAKE Wendy met teachers’ money. AND THE TURBULENT union leaders and forged Each classroom has a SCHOOL One of the teachers who links with the local UNISON-inspired name in SANG spoke good English was hospital, meeting hospital recognition of extraordinary HAPPY Wendy’s guide for her staff and the 12 Cuban donations. There is the Lucia BIRTHDAY visit. He invited her to his doctors working there. The McKeever, Eleanor Smith and home which she found a next part of the project, UIA room. Another is named ‘humbling’ experience. she said, will help raise after Wendy’s own branch, The contrast between rich money for a container to North Yorkshire; another and poor was enormous. stock medical equipment, after Dukeries health branch “Most people still live in towels and bedding for that in north Nottinghamshire, poverty in shanty towns,” hospital. due to disappear with NHS she said. “But you have a When Wendy chose the changes; and the fourth after few living in opulent luxury. Bijilo school project as her veteran fund-raiser and south And everything had to stop charity, she told me that east region health member for Gambia’s president, Yahya she had thought long and Peggy Smith. Jammeh. We were stopped hard about which charity When Wendy went back to by soldiers one day to allow to support. At the time she school on Monday morning his cavalcade to pass – he said it felt right to reach out to meet the teachers and went by waving a hankie across the world to help pupils, she didn’t go empty- seemingly oblivious to the children get a better start in handed. She had with her poverty around him.” life. She told me: three complete football kits, President Yahya Jammeh “I want to continue to enough pencils and crayons subsequently faced an help the children. It would and books to sink a ship and election at a particularly be great if we could raise a stack of purple UNISON turbulent period in The even more money to replace ponchos for the next Gambia’s history. He lost the classrooms destroyed monsoon. that election, but initially by the monsoon.” n The children put on an opening ceremony in her honour that featured on the BareEssentials news. Wendy said: “They made up a song The Bijilo School Project provides essential equipment and improved amenities about UNISON and it was for a school in Gambia, West Africa. Over the years, UNISON’s Yorkshire and lovely to hear the kids Humberside region has raised money to provide such basics as tools and equipment for the school’s kitchen garden, a water pump and a freezer. Toilet singing how UNISON blocks, cleaner kitchens and a water storage tower have also been built. The would always be close to more money the project gets, the more places for children can their hearts. They bought be provided. The school urgently needs funds to replace us gifts, and the ceremony classrooms destroyed by the monsoon. Cheques, made also included a play they payable to the Gambia Schools Project, can be sent to Joan had written about me and Walker, UNISON Centre. 130 Euston Road, London NW1 2AY. Jim Bell. One of the girls 22 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2017

INSULT TO INJURY Ministers want to force the vast majority of injured people to pay legal costs to claim compensation. Tom Jones warns of a bonanza for insurance fi rm fat cats

inisters have If the Government gets its claims, this is a dangerous taken a critical way, the small claims limit con. It is a fi g leaf cynically step nearer would increase to £5,000. In deployed to create a false their plan to a single, destructive stroke impression. introduce severe this would force 95 per cent M HELL-BENT restrictions on the ability of injured people to pay the of injured people to access costs of running a case from The Tories launched a Tom Jones justice. their own pockets rather than consultation which ran for Slipped out just before from the party at fault. an extremely short time over Christmas, the Government’s Experience from the eff ect the festive period, limiting proposals would aff ect nearly of the introduction of fees the scope for interested one million people every year, in employment tribunals parties to fully interrogate removing free or aff ordable suggests that many will the Government’s arguments independent legal advice. simply be put off bringing (such as they are). Currently, the system a case, even when they are The consultation document allows the injured to claim fully entitled to. proves ministers are hell-bent back their legal expenses if While the Government on imposing this fi ve-fold their claim has a value of says its proposals, fi rst increase in the small claims more than £1,000. Everything announced in November limit. The change will aff ect below £1,000 falls into the 2015, are designed to tackle all personal injury claims, ‘small claims limit’ where a perceived problem with whether they occur on the expenses are not recoverable. so-called ‘fraud’ in ‘whiplash’ road, in the workplace, or SPRING 2017 UNISON ACTIVE! 23 INJUSTICE FEATURE

anywhere else. It would directly attack Government would not This cannot be justifi ed on injured people’s right to work for the ‘privileged any legal, moral or economic pursue damages using an few’ but for those who are IT WILL grounds and is not supported independent solicitor. ‘just about managing’. It LINE THE by any independent evidence. The Government has been is hard to think of many POCKETS While UNISON’s legal talking up scare stories of a people who better fi t the OF RICH scheme has protected ‘compensation culture’ and defi nition of ‘privileged INSURANCE members from most of the ‘whiplash fraud’ for years few’ than these insurance COMPANY harshest Tory meddling to despite two Government CEOs. BOSSES date, these latest changes reports stating that there The insurers are - if successful - would is no such culture. In fact raking it in and are undermine the funding of their own statistics show happy to see premiums union legal services. It would that the number of work go up. Meanwhile it is make it more diffi cult for injury cases has dropped hardworking people on low the vast majority of injured 12 per cent over the last ten incomes, who struggle to workers to enforce their right years. They also admit there aff ord a car to get to work, to compensation. is no suggestion of fraud by who bear the brunt. It would also line the injured workers. And it is the same people pockets of the super-rich The Government skates who are being told that insurance company bosses over the fact that the their injury, worth ‘just’ who already get eye-watering insurance industry’s own £5,000 is too ‘minor’ to pay packets. fi gures show they have deserve the support of an saved a staggering £8.7bn expert lawyer. Let Theresa SLAPDASH BOSSES in costs for motor insurance May or justice secretary The changes in eff ect mean claims in the last fi ve years. Liz Truss tell a carer, nurse a huge cheque from the And they happen not to or cleaner that £5,000 is Government to insurers, their mention that premiums are insignifi cant and see how multi-millionaire bosses and higher now than they were they react. their shareholders. in 2010 and have increased If we are to defeat these The insurance industry by 17 per cent in the last unfair and vindictive has spent years lobbying year alone. proposals, it is essential that its mates in Government to We investigated the pay the entire union movement change how the legal system of the CEOs of the top pressures the Government works. They have been three insurers and found to think again. ■ rewarded with changes that that their salaries, benefi ts, make it harder for slap-dash bonuses and dividends bosses to be held accountable gave them earnings in 2015 JoinTheProtest for health and safety failings. ranging from £4.82m (paid Disgracefully, their lobbying to Direct Line’s Paul Geddes) In opposition to the proposed even tried to get legal costs to £37.82m (Admiral’s Henry changes to the small claims limit, imposed on victims of Engelhardt). AVIVA’s the #FeedingFatCats campaign asbestos disease. Mark Wilson was launched by Thompsons The proposed doubled his pay Solicitors. change to the small to £5.67m. To help prevent nearly one million people a year from losing On the claims limit would their right to legal protection, take away a basic, steps of the campaign is urging UNISON long-established Downing members and others to write to principle of UK Street, when their local MP and lobby justice law that those who she was secretary Liz Truss by signing cause injury should appointed the online petition at petition. pay for all of its prime parliament.uk/petitions/173099 consequences – the minister, Find out more at so called ‘polluter Theresa May www.feedingfatcats.co.uk pays’ principle. said that her 24 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2017 FEATURE GETTING INVOLVED

twice a year taking her maximum two weeks paid holiday and insisting on two BUILDING weeks unpaid. “My mother became ill with emphysema and I always said that when she A CAREER needed oxygen for more than 12 hours a day, I would Phyllis Foster (right) was thwarted in her ambition come home. My husband to be a bricklayer, but eventually built a career in didn’t want to leave so we split and I left America with occupational therapy. Now she is on a mission to get Joe. I moved back home to more members active in UNISON. Annie Mitchell Bridlington. It wasn’t easy caught up with a busy woman caring for my mother who was very poorly and looking after a two and a half year old.” However, Phyllis found hen Phyllis abroad for some excitement time to do a GCSE in maths Foster left and ended up going to and complete a child- school she Camp America, which minding course at East wanted to be provides summer camps IT WASN’T Riding College. In 2005, the Wa bricklayer for youngsters, working as EASY year after her mother died, but that ambition proved a dance teacher. “It was CARING she took a part-time job in elusive. “No one would there,” she explains, “that FOR MY support services at East have me” she says matter- I met a man, married and MOTHER Riding Council working of-factly and her surprising stayed ten years.” AND with the occupational response to this setback “I had a well-paid job in LOOKING therapy team, where she still was to go into management. New Hampshire working as AFTER works today. Born and raised in Hull, a customer service manager A TWO “I cover a broad area one of eight sisters and two at Unicast – an alumina of support for the public, brothers, Phyllis’s home life factory. When I got pregnant YEAR OLD clients or organisations was unusual from the start. I found the rules and who ring up or call with Her parents rented privately regulations in America were questions about ramps, bath from people who had very different and I only had lifts, extensions – all sorts.” temporarily gone abroad, - six weeks’ maternity leave. which meant she did lots of I went back to working 40 ENTHUSIASTIC moving about. hours a week, but was only Phyllis was clearly “It could be six months there for six months before I enthusiastic about her job or three years and I just quit. I had to leave.” but had little to do with bounced around junior UNISON until a flyer came schools until I got to seniors INVOLVED through her door about - then I got lots of different Phyllis spent the next two Return to Learn courses. buses!” years taking jobs that fitted “I thought it sounded Instead of bricklaying, around their young son. interesting - especially the Phyllis went to college in She worked evenings and free weekend in Leeds at the Sheffield and for the next weekends as a receptionist end of the course! This was three years studied for a at a YMCA gym and as in 2013 and I hadn’t done BTEC National Diploma a nanny, taking Joe with any studying for years, but in construction and land her. But her thoughts were Return to Learn gave me use. Then, like many young always with her family. She confidence in my abilities. 20-year olds, she looked returned home to Yorkshire “At the end of the course, SPRING 2017 UNISON ACTIVE! 25

someone from UNISON came along and said how people could get involved in the union and that caught my interest.” Phyllis went to her branch AGM and found that they were looking for people to get active. “I was really surprised, I would have got involved years ago but I didn’t know. We have 2,500 members spread over a wide area, but very few people to help. Even a workplace contact can make such a diff erence.”

EYE-OPENER Phyllis is now the branch health and safety offi cer. “It’s been a steep learning curve, but fun. This year I went to national and local government conferences in Brighton, which were a real eye-opener. It was my fi rst time and I was on my own so it was quite diffi cult, but it was incredible and I

learnt a lot. I am now being Jones John Photo: mentored by our UNISON area organiser with a view to standing as branch money for planters and HerStory secretary next year.” baskets in the old town She is keen to crack on where the council has made IF YOU Phyllis Foster, 44, was born in Hull, and build a strong branch. cuts. We also support one of eight girls and two boys. “I only want to fi ll the gap WANT a local charity for the She studied for a BTEC National so that in a couple of years TO GET homeless.” Diploma in Construction in someone else will say - I THE MOST Phyllis is a very busy Sheffi eld. At 20 she went to could do this job.” OUT OF woman and is on a mission America where she later married Between a hectic family YOUR to get members more active and had a son. In 2000 she life, work and the union, UNION, in UNISON. “It’s good for returned to Bridlington with two Phyllis still fi nds time to your social life and gives and a half year old Joe, to care for GET her sick mother. belong to Bridlington’s Old your confi dence a boost. INVOLVED Since 2005 she has worked Town Association. “I am The one thing that really part-time in support services at responsible for the Secret struck me at conference was East Yorkshire Council with the Gardens open days. I when someone said - you occupational therapy team. She love my gardening and wouldn’t join a gym and completed UNISON’s Return to in June local people can expect to get fi t without Learn course in 2013 and is the visit private gardens and going – so if you want to get health and safety offi cer for East allotments as well as old the most out of your union, Riding local Government branch. churchyards. We raise get involved.”n 26 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2017 Photo: Mark Thomas

‘THEY DON’T SCARE ME’ Mary Maguire meets actor and writer Tracy Brabin (above) on her 100th day as MP for Batley & Spen. Elected following the brutal murder of Jo Cox, Tracy has since been forced to suffer the revolting abuse of ‘pathetic’ far right trolls

met Tracy Brabin in job. The previous week use her constituents’ stories Parliament just as she she took part in the NHS which are often ‘compelling completed her fi rst 100 day of action (her sister and heart-breaking’ to days as an MP. Actor, Maxine is a theatre nurse). FOR ME bring to life the way the Isoap star and writer, Then she spent 24 hours IT’S A Government is savaging the Tracy is MP for Batley and with Yorkshire Ambulance HUGE NHS. She said: Spen, elected following the Service paramedics, seeing PRIVILEGE “One told me how her brutal murder of Jo Cox. the pressures under which TO CARRY gran needed a doctor’s Tracy has written they worked. She said: ON JO’S home visit and was told TV episodes, including “They didn’t have WORK that there were 100 people Hollyoaks, Heartbeat, one second spare. They ahead of her. Well if people Crossroads, Doctors, and answered call after call. can’t see a GP, they will acted on stage. Coronation There was a really diffi cult go to A&E. So there’s no Street fans would recognise road traffi c accident point telling them not to her Tricia Armstrong and I was so impressed and blaming them if A&E is character. Or the parts by their slickness and swamped. We have a real she’s played in other TV professionalism.” fi ght on our hands with this soaps and dramas, such as Tracy is campaigning Government.” Peak Practice, Eastenders, to halt the downgrading Emmerdale and Midsomer of Dewsbury hospital. STAUNCH Murders. An issue she’s raised in Tracy is no stranger to Now she’s playing Parliament in questions campaigning. A staunch herself. Unspun. In that to health secretary Jeremy trade unionist, she has great debating theatre that Hunt, at PMQs and in worked for refugees and is the House of Commons. several other debates. victims of torture. She’s And getting stuck into the As a writer, she is able to a member of Equity, the SPRING 2017 UNISON ACTIVE! 27 TRACY BRABIN MP FEATURE Photo: Mark Thomas

actors’ union, and of the had no buddy to show her ambulance workers. She Writers’ Guild. She has the ropes. Her offi ce is 7 said: campaigned for equal minutes and 20 seconds from “We should not let these representation for women, the Chamber. So she has MY abusers win. They are pensions for writers, and just eight minutes to ‘leg it’ TWITTER pathetic individuals hiding has spoken in the European to vote. Early on, though, she ABUSERS behind social media. We Parliament about gender found herself in the wrong ARE SAT must call them out every portrayal in fi lm and TV. queue. She said: IN THEIR time. Tracy explains: “I didn’t recognise anyone, Y-FRONTS “99.9% per cent of my “There may be lots of then realised I was in the IN A Twitter abusers are sat in women in a production, but wrong place. I had to dash BEDROOM their y-fronts in a bedroom if all you see is the woman through the Chamber, but in their mum’s house. But putting down the dinner in was halted by the deputy IN THEIR we must call out all threats front of the man. Or, when speaker, who was on her MUM’S and violence against two women are talking, all feet, and ordered to sit HOUSE women. Take it all the way, they are talking about is a down. I did so slap bang in involve the police. Don’t let man – that’s just not good the middle of the Tory front them get away with it.” enough.” benches.” Tracy feels she has Tracy learned fast and achieved a lot and learnt a AMAZING is very ‘switched on’ now. lot in those fi rst 100 days. Tracy campaigned with Jo But as she says, if no-one And her ambition for her Cox in her home town in tells you, you won’t know. next ‘thousand days’ is the 2015 general election. She invited kids from her to set up a youth theatre Both women came from the constituency to Parliament in Batley and Spen - an same area, had gone to the to show them that they, too, apprenticeship institute same school and shared belong there; it’s not just the that would help ‘raise common values. When Jo preserve of the public school, the bar of aspiration’ and was murdered, Tracy was Oxbridge educated elite. And attract much-needed jobs in selected out of 70 candidates. she’s working on a project for the fi lm and TV industry to She said: Labour on how to improve her area. n “Jo was amazing and we pathways into fi lm and TV were very lucky to have her. for working class kids. CurriculumVitae When I was asked to stand, I knew it was something AMBITION n Born May 9, 1961, Batley. I wanted to do. I wasn’t Brought up on a council n Married to Richard Platt in afraid, although my mother estate, Tracy believes in the 2005. Two daughters Nancy and family were. For me transformative power of and Lois. it’s a huge privilege to carry acting and culture to provide n Education: Heckmondwike on Jo’s work and an honour ambition and opportunity Grammar School, to work for constituents in and to build a more Loughborough University, my home town. But that by- empathetic society. “A lack University of the Arts London. election should never have of empathy is what allows n Career: Tracy has written taken place. My CLP is still the kind of violence and episodes for TV soaps, grieving. A tragedy for us, abuse, particularly against including Hollyoaks, Heartbeat, was seen as an opportunity women and girls, that we are Crossroads and Doctors. by many far right groups to seeing”. She has also acted on stage and played the part of Tricia spout their rotten views in a She’s spoken out in Armstrong in Coronation Street. by-election.” Parliament about such She has appeared in Coming to Parliament violence, using her own Peak Practice, Eastenders, was a ‘shock’. The experience. When she was Emmerdale and Midsomer procedures, ancient abused on twitter, her CLP Murders. traditions and the maze of members cleaned up her n Elected MP for Batley & Spen the Palace of Westminster time line by re-tweeting October 2016. can be overwhelming. Tracy pictures of her day with the 28 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2017 FEATURE CARING GIVING SOMETHING BACK UNISON activist and grandmother Carol McGrath (right) has a tough job in social care, but still finds time for a wide range of other activities. Ryan Fletcher reports

hey say that work to get her foot on the sorted and delivered parcels music is food for career ladder she wanted, but at the crack of dawn for the soul and as a Carol’s husband Peter, who is FedEx. I’d walk out one door I DO MY choir singer one of a passenger transport driver and Peter would walk in BEST, TCarol McGrath’s for Leeds City Council, has another,” says Carol. BUT responsibilities is to sing in been there over the years to “I just felt that we were I THINK unison with her colleagues provide support. never going to get anywhere I’M ONE to produce sounds that an “We’ve been together 38 if I didn’t make something OF audience can escape to and years,” says Carol proudly, better with my life. I started MILLIONS enjoy. “I had a gang of friends. I the degree when I was 26. I While singing in the Leeds was one of the girls and he worked nights at a nursing WHO FEEL City Council and the Holbeck was one of the boys. He sent home three times a week to LIKE THAT Underground Ballroom his friend over to ask me to bring some money into the choirs is a hobby for the dance at a disco one night. house and did the degree 58-year-old, doing things that We got married after that and during the day. It was the benefit others is not. had a family quite young.” only way we could afford to Whether in her role as a After having three children do it.”

principal commissioning - Rebecca, Daniel and Rory - Photo: Jim Varney officer for adult social care, Carol stopped working as a DAMAGING or as a UNISON learning rep nurse to manage the family. The days of juggling a young and shop steward, Carol’s In the end giving up her job family, a job and a degree objective is clear: She aims to was a relief, because nursing are now over, with Carol’s help people. wasn’t an occupation that she subsequent career taking her “I do my best, but I think enjoyed. Says Carol: “I didn’t through roles in the private I’m one of millions and like not having enough time and voluntary care sectors millions of people who feel to do my job properly and before she began working for like that. We need to make how nurses weren’t always Leeds City Council’s social sure we don’t lose that respected by doctors, but it care services 12 years ago. because we’re getting to be was a long time ago.” Since then Carol has seen such a materialistic society,” Once the youngest child huge changes to service says Carol. was born, however, Carol provision, and while she “That message is so strong began thinking about what is desperate to see the - it’s everywhere you go, to set her mind to next. damaging cuts inflicted by on television, in the media, Following her humanitarian the Tories reversed, her focus just everywhere. We tend impulses, she signed up for a is on making sure the people to forget that what really university access course and under her care are looked matters is each other.” then began a social policy after as well as can be. Carol has spent nearly degree. “Unfortunately the her entire working life “When the kids were little negatives are outside of our caring for others in one I had part time work, but control. You’ve got to make form or another. It took it was just make-do jobs. I some really hard choices and determination and hard worked behind a bar and sometimes you’re pushed SPRING 2017UNISON ACTIVE! 29 GIVING SOMETHING BACK Photo: Jim Varney

down a route you wouldn’t had’. She has attended a “As young as my want to go down. But I do see number of UNISON courses grandchildren are, I let them a lot of positives,” says Carol. herself, including classes on know what I’m involved “I enjoy getting to work OLDER how to be a union rep and in, so they know early on on projects where reducing PEOPLE how to handle grievance and in life. I tell them about loneliness and isolation is a DON’T disciplinary procedures. responsibility, fairness and key driver: making sure that GET Carol decided to take up equality and about why older people have the best life A FAIR an active position within I’m in a union. Listening possible open to them. That’s CRACK OF the union four years ago, to my UNISON colleagues, important to me because THE WHIP after receiving support from many of their families were older people don’t get a fair her convenor ‘during a very involved in unions so they crack of the whip and they’re very difficult time’. She adds: learnt from a young age,” often not appreciated.” Without that support I don’t says Carol. In her capacity as a think I would have stayed in “Instead of coming to it UNISON learning rep, the job. I felt I needed to give later on in life, I wish I’d had Carol runs a book club something back.” that earlier. I’d have been for members. In general Even outside work, where a rep a long time ago and I she likes the role because Carol enjoys knitting, would have gone as far as ‘there are rewards in seeing leading a Brownie troop and I possibly could with the somebody flourish and spending time with her six union. So it’s good that my access opportunities they grandkids, the union is still grandchildren know about otherwise wouldn’t have influential. these things now.” n 30 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2017 FEATURE DARK ARTS

JUST DEAL ME OUT

Everybody’s a ‘deal-maker’ these days, especially Donald Trump. But the US president’s kind of deal is based on dishonesty, says Peter Carroll

f we wanted to bring other imaginable skill that Trump - who make their the Sermon on the a person may have worked vast fortunes from oil and Mount right up to to acquire, from scientifi c coal - in their ravaging of the date, we would have to knowledge to the ability to NO DOUBT earth. Ireplace ‘Blessed are the speak foreign languages. HE WAS Speaking about his father, peacemakers’ with ‘Blessed And so it follows that ABLE Trump said because he are the dealmakers’. these mavericks and TO SELL didn’t have a degree he was Donald Trump, the hucksters must dismiss and SNOW in awe of people who did. world’s most powerful man, ridicule ‘experts’ whose TO “In most cases they didn’t proclaims his own ‘greatness’, understanding of complex ESKIMOS deserve it. My father could saying it is based entirely on issues like climate change run rings around most the brilliance of his deal- threaten the deal-making academics,” he announced. making. process. No doubt he was able to Meanwhile back in Are we already sell snow to Eskimos or sand Brexitland, our politicians dangerously close to to desert Arabs and all those rave about their newly destroying the planet, and other noble achievements acquired ability to cut our own future, because of great deal makers and stunning trade deals with the of the eff ect of fossil fuel conmen. world’s markets. emissions, as people like That is the highest virtue This view of politics and of David Attenborough there is in their world life, that everything is about constantly warn us? and Trump himself has how good a deal you can get Well, no, because they demonstrated those dark for yourself, your business are only ‘so-called experts’, arts with chilling eff ect in empire or your country, is possibly involved in a the US elections. now the only show in town. conspiracy to impede We know now that he is It trumps (I know) every the billionaire backers of Peter Carroll prepared to forge ahead with SPRING 2017 UNISON ACTIVE! 31 DARK ARTS FEATURE

new coal production and Numerous shows like rumbles on. oil pipelines across ancient Deal or No Deal, starring The problem is that only Native American land. Noel Edmonds, in what feels a very few people are party DEALS ARE By these means he says like his centenary year on to such deals and very few ALWAYS he will make America great, our screens, gently hammer of us understand the details ON inevitably accelerating home the message that deals being agreed. TRUMP’S the melting of the ice caps are what it’s all about. But we will all know, TERMS and throwing the delicate And in towns and villages and soon, if, as has been BECAUSE ecological balance of the up and down the land, we get reported, Trump is poised HE HAS planet into chaos. to witness real deals taking to do a deal with the Tory And he is getting his place on our screens. Government to sell off THE message through. To “You’ve got this Victorian our NHS to US private POWER my surprise I have had card table here Eric,” says companies. conversations recently with the bow-tied buyer. “It’s got Meanwhile back in two different people who a £250 price tag. Can I have it the daily grind, I lost my both repeated the argument for £100?” electronic cigarette in that the world has always “I can’t go that low. £200 is mysterious circumstances experienced major climate the best I can do.” and a friend offered to change and there is no “OK, what about £200 drive to a shop and buy a connection between fossil if you throw in these two replacement. fuels and global warming. Edwardian vases?” I gave him £20 and when I honestly thought “Ok, it’s a deal.” he came back I saw on this view had been Obviously they are the receipt it was £25 and comprehensively debunked both involved in outright offered him the difference. by scientists. We can see dishonesty, the seller for “You don’t need to, I said with our own eyes the heavily overpricing his I only had £20 on me and he collapsing ice flows and the wares, and the buyer for said OK, it’s a deal,” he told rapidly rising oceans, at the trying to pay less than he me. click of a TV remote. should, so he can make a Everybody’s at it, and even bigger profit. though my mate saved me a DISHONESTY Depressingly, we will fiver, and I am very grateful But despite all this clear continue to be bombarded to him, I fear for a future evidence, the argument with the rhetoric of the big- where the deal is the only shamelessly promoted by the shot political deal makers ethical component of world fossil fuel industry persists. for years to come as Brexit politics. n Could a deal be struck with the President which ‘The Donald’ meant he would stop lying to the world about climate change? Of course not. That’s the thing about being a dealer like him. Deals are always on Trump’s terms because he has the power. The other guy always gets shafted in his negotiations. And appropriately enough for this former TV celebrity, his principles are reflected everywhere in popular culture. 32 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2017 THE COLUMN A TYKE’S EYE VIEW

PAUL ROUTLEDGE Mirror political columnist More to come from spiteful Tories Imminent changes to union law will make life at work much worse. They are intended to tighten the legal straitjacket in which UNISON is forced to operate and drastically diminish the rights of members. Sadly there’s almost certainly more of this to come. The union-hating Conservatives haven’t finished yet

NISON members rarely go on that they are ‘reasonable and proportionate’. strike, and there’s a good reason. The proposed law was thrown out when Being in the front line of public Scottish Nationalist MPs joined Jeremy DOGS service is both a privilege and a Corbyn’s Opposition to vote it down, 206-127. BARK, Uburden. It’s not easy to walk away Labour’s Kevin Brennan said: “Dogs bark, BIRDS from the people who need you. birds fl y and Tories attack workers’ rights.” FLY But the freedom to do that, when all else One in three Tory MPs backed the proposed AND fails, is still an absolutely fundamental human anti-strike law, and the odious Transport TORIES right, a principle of British liberty, recognised Secretary Chris Grayling says the Government in international law. is keeping trade union law ‘under review’. ATTACK The Tories hate unions. But they loathe So, watch this space. The union-hating WORKERS’ and detest strikers. Industrial action stirs Tories haven’t fi nished yet. RIGHTS an atavistic hatred of something they fear is beyond their control. ENCORE FOR ED So their instinctive reaction is to repress. There’s talk of a musical starring Ed Balls after The new Trade Union Act 2016, coming his huge success in Strictly Come Dancing. into force soon, will require a 50 per cent I wonder what they’ll call it? Moulin Huge, minimum turnout of all eligible members maybe, or Fatman Of The Opera. Ed and the in ballots for industrial action – or it will be Amazing Technicolor Waistcoat would suit. unlawful. Whatever. I’d sooner see him back in The law will be even tougher in ‘important Parliament as Shadow Chancellor than public services’, including health and the tripping the light fantastic on stage. Ed, The education of under 17s. It will also make Comeback Kid! ‘check-off ’ of union dues harder and restrict ‘facility time’ for workplace union reps. New OATH FIASCO members will be encouraged not to pay the Just when you think the politicians can’t get political levy. any dafter, they come up with something These changes are not designed to make that’s completely bonkers. life at work better. They are intended The Government proposed to make millions to tighten the legal straitjacket of people in public service swear an oath of in which UNISON is forced to allegiance to ‘British values’. The scheme, operate and diminish the rights aimed chiefl y at migrants, was greeted with of members. widespread derision. Some want to go even My bet is it will never happen. Not least further. Croydon South Tory because the most British value of all is to resist MP Chris Philp introduced a bullying. Bill to ban all strikes in public services, including the NHS, BOOZE BOOTHS unless a High Court judge ruled Like every hospital in the country, my local, SPRING 2017 UNISON ACTIVE! 33

Airedale General near Keighley, was parking, or should it be free like Wales and Sell - Out ordered by Public Health England to Scotland? enforce a ‘no smoking’ ban. Charges brought in £120 million last Pupil numbers are And, like nine out of ten other hospitals, year, but they infuriate motorists and rising rapidly, and it can’t. Designated smoking booths are patients’ organisations. school places are provided on the fringe of the site. Across Yorkshire, routine charges under tremendous I don’t mind the fag addicts getting their raised £17.8 million. The biggest earner pressure. due, but when will they provide a bar for was Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, with So, what does the us sherbeteers? The profits would boost £2.8 million, followed by Leeds Teaching Government do? It NHS coffers nicely. Hospital Trust, at £1.8 million. Hull cuts spending per and East Yorkshire and Calderdale and child by eight per BLESSED THERESA Huddersfield both raked in £1.5 million, cent in real terms by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Mid-Yorkshire £1.3 million and Barnsley the year 2019-20. Sherlock Holmes, believed that the famous £1.2 million. Education Cottingley Fairies were real. So did These are big sums. But if all parking Secretary Justine thousands of others. was free, the spaces would soon by filled Greening has But they were a fake, created by by commuters, shoppers, tourists and ordered schools to make savings of £3 schoolgirls Elsie Wright and her cousin casual visitors, especially in cities and BILLION, inevitably Frances Griffiths with a cheap box camera towns. bringing job cuts and in their Yorkshire garden. There has to be a practical compromise redundancies in the The centenary of their hoax falls this here. Staff, who matter most, should have classroom. year, renewing interest in the story. Elsie parking permits, especially if the hospital Even the eventually revealed that the ‘fairies’ were is poorly served by public transport. Government’s own held in place by hat pins, clearly visible in Registered disabled, parents of sick National Audit Office the photographs. children staying overnight, relatives of thinks this plan is Some people still want to believe critically ill patients and some cancer dangerous for kids, they’re genuine, but then, some people patients should also qualify, but the rest warning that it will think the Prime Minister is Mother should pay reasonable charges. ‘put educational Theresa reborn. The comparison with Wales and outcomes at risk’. Scotland is false. Densely-populated Ms Greening is HULL MAP SHOCK England simply can’t afford to throw open a Rotherham lass, Hull is this year’s UK City of Culture. hospital car parks to Uncle Tom Cobley educated at a local Never my favourite place, but still well and all. comprehensive. worth a visit. Hospitals would become a motorists’ She’s obviously let power go to her A new liner terminal is proposed, aimed battleground, with staff on the receiving head. Instead of at the Chinese tourist market. Council end. Charges are unpalatable, but practical. fighting for people director of regeneration Mark Jones says NURSING SLUMP from her own cruise operators are ‘excited’, adding ‘Hull background, she is on the map’. Applications to study nursing have fallen tramples on their I have news for Mr Jones. Hull has been by a fifth since the Government withdrew hopes. on the map since at least 1193 AD, after bursaries and forced students to take out An object lesson being founded by the monks of Meaux loans for their £27,000 course fees. in politics: you don’t Abbey. Ministers claimed the move would create get far in the Tory 10,000 extra training places. The opposite is Party unless you sell NICE LITTLE EARNER happening, to the long-term detriment of out to the hard-faced Should hospitals in England charge for car the NHS. n men of the Right.

The views expressed in this column are not necessarily those of UNISON 34 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2017 FEATURE MOTORING INSURANCE £££ Great deals for UNISON Living everyday life

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www.youbenefit.co.uk for UNISON Rewards - Free £10 Bonus Plus get paid cashback, loads of discounts special offers and offers at over 2,500 online retailers. Wendy Freeman 0800 037 0753 John Eccles 07833 450 067 [email protected] [email protected]

UNISONDrive For all new and used cars, any make, UNISON Croyde Bay Holiday Resort any model. and Conference Centre Richard May 0845 122 6923 Self catering and half board [email protected] accommodation, indoor pool, sauna, gym and jacuzzi and right next to the Union Energy beach. Also ideal for conferences and Gas & Electricity price comparison service training courses. owned by the TUC. Mike Jones 07901 229204 Simon Willis 0127 189 0890 [email protected] [email protected]

UNISON Living on the web. For more information on all the services available and the great savings you can make visit www.benefits.unison.org.uk Don’t let the rising cost of everyday healthcare take a bite out of members finances.

Remember, UNISON Living has an approved range Keep your members regularly updated of Health and Dental Plans to help members with special offers and exclusive free bite back. prize draw promotions by entering your details at We know our NHS does a fantastic job in looking after us all but sometimes we need to fork out for some of the www.unison-zone.co.uk day to day stuff. That’s why these plans help. For a few or call Freephone 0800 037 0753 quid each month, when those glasses need changing or a filling falls out members aren’t having to foot the bill themselves. They’re sorted.

Options include health cover with no age limit to join and cover for pre-existing conditions. Plus, there’s free cover for up to 5 children too. Or just get money back for each visit to a NHS dentist with £500 of cover for under a few quid a week.

Health & Visit the website for more details www.youbenefit.co.uk Dental Plans

Policy terms and conditions apply. Claims are handled directly by the insurer who is a ‘Not for Profit’ organisation with a 135-year heritage of providing affordable healthcare. UNISON Health & Dental Plans are designed and administered by Protego Group Ltd. Registered Office: 260 – 268 Chapel Street, Manchester M3 5JZ. UNISON is an introducer appointed representative of Protego Group who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (304363) © Protego Group 2017

UNISON MEMBER BENEFITS Home Insurance you can trust Protecting the homes of trade union members for over 125 years. Call FREE • New-for-old replacement* for a quote on • Interest-free monthly payments 0800 66 88 55 • Alternative accommodation for family and pets if needed Please quote reference: ACTIVE117 We also provide

competitive travel Lines open 8.30am-8pm and pet insurance. Mon-Fri, 9am-1pm Sat

*Except clothing and household linen. UIA Mutual is a trading name of UIA (Insurance) Ltd. UIA Buy online at Travel and Pet insurance are provided by third parties, see www.uia.co.uk/terms-conditions for details. UNISON is an Introducer Appointed Representative of UIA (Insurance) Ltd and UIA www.unisoninsurance.co.uk/active117 (Insurance Services) Ltd. UIA (Insurance) Ltd is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority. UIA (Insurance Services) Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FOLLOW US ON: