RODNEY BICKERSTAFFE 1945-2017 RIP ESSENTIAL COVER WHEREVER YOUADVERTISING WORK SPACE in These Uncertain Times There’S Never Been a Better Time to Join UNISON

WINTER 2017 | ISSUE 28 | £3 WWW.UNISON-YORKS.ORG.UK

RODNEY BICKERSTAFFE 1945-2017 RIP ESSENTIAL COVER WHEREVER YOUADVERTISING WORK SPACE In these uncertain times there’s never been a better time to join UNISON.

For as little as £1.30 a month Annual salary Monthy cost our members get: Up to £2,000 £1.30 £2,001–£5,000 £3.50 • advice, support and help at work £5,001–£8,000 £5.30 • a helpline that is open until midnight £8,001–£11,000 £6.60 • legal help for you at work and your £11,001–£14,000 £7.85 family at home £14,001–£17,000 £9.70 • plus a wide range of exclusive £17,001–£20,000 £11.50 member discounts £20,001–£25,000 £14.00 £25,001–£30,000 £17.25 Join online at joinunison.org £30,001–£35,000 £20.30 or call free on 0800 0 857 857 over £35,000 £22.50 WINTER 2017 UNISON ACTIVE! 03 WELCOME

OurUnion A FITTING TRIBUTE

General Secretary Dave Prentis ecently our and the creation We already know Regional Secretary Runion lost a of UNISON. I’m the Government will John Cafferty true giant of our sure many of us seek to divide public Regional Convenor DAVE PRENTIS movement. Rodney recall the powerful servants, setting one Wendy Nichols GENERAL SECRETARY Bickerstaffe, our advocacy he group against each UNISON Yorkshire & former general provided to deliver other as ministers Humberside secretary and a these goals. cherry pick their Commerce House, Wade Lane, Leeds LS2 8NJ proud Yorkshireman, It is fi tting then, preferred recipients T: 08000 857 857 or freephone died on October that the union for pay rises. That’s textphone 08000 967 968 W: www.unison-yorks.org.uk 3. Rodney was the Rodney helped to why it’s so important very best of us – a build is currently that we stay united Lines are open 6am-midnight Monday-Friday and special man and a taking the fi ght to as a union. I’ve been 9am-4pm Saturdays special friend to so the Government clear from the outset many of us – and I on pay, through – we don’t want Editor will miss him. Our our Pay Up Now! a pay rise just for Barrie Clement thoughts are with campaign. those in uniforms, Consulting Editor Rodney’s family, I know that for we want a uniform Mary Maguire especially his wife many UNISON pay rise for everyone. Chief Photographer Pat who was an ever members, there is Jim Varney present support to no more pressing Contributors him in all his work issue. Peter Carroll, Ryan Fletcher, Helen and was the love of More than Hague, Mary Maguire, Rakesh Patel, Paul Routledge and Paul Shevlin his life. three-quarters of When asked you have told us Published on behalf of UNISON by what he believed you’re buying less Century One Publishing Ltd. his greatest food to cut costs, Alban Row, 27-31 Verulam Road St. Albans, Herts AL3 4DG achievements were, while one in ten T: 01727 893 894 he would respond: miss entire meals F: 01727 893 895 E: [email protected] the national to make sure your W: www.centuryonepublishing.uk minimum wage children can eat.

Advertising enquiries David Murray T: 01727 739 182 E: [email protected] Our message is getting through Design and Layout Caitlyn Hobbs T: 01727 739 189 There is no doubt now favour of well-funded public services, E: [email protected] that politicians are fi nally with fair pay and conditions for staﬀ . Printed by listening to what UNISON But their savage cuts continue Unison Print WENDY NICHOLS has been saying for years – across the NHS and local government. Copyright reproduction in whole or REGIONAL austerity has been a disaster. The Government talks of ‘fl exibility’ part by any means without written CONVENOR permission of the publisher is strictly It has been a tragedy for on lifting the public sector pay cap, forbidden. UNISON and the publisher hundreds of thousands of meaning they can pick and choose accept no responsibility for errors, W.Nichols omissions or the consequences people who have lost their who benefi ts and by how much. thereof. jobs, and for the communities They have, at least, been forced © UNISON 2017 in which they live and work. And to accept there is a massive funding as we said would happen from the problem in public services. Their start, it has damaged the economy political problem is that this crisis is a

WINTER 2017 | ISSUE 28 | £3 WWW.UNISON-YORKS.ORG.UK and created widespread fi nancial direct result of their own policies. insecurity. Our message is gett ing heard. So the fact that the Tory People realise how vital their public Government is publicly trying to services are, and how dedicated RODNEY BICKERSTAFFE distance itself from austerity shows staﬀ are being driven away because 1945-2017 RIP they are worried that the public of the pay cuts imposed on them mood has shifted decisively in by this government. 04 UNISON ACTIVE! WINTER 2017 NEWS

We lead the way on energy pay UNISON has led the way double an earlier off er. looking for, but also contractors or on agency in securing substantial As Active! went to their conditions of contracts. pay awards for our press, talks were under- work. Many members Regional organiser members in the energy way with Northern are adapting to what Leonie Sharp said, sector in the region. Powergrid and British management describes “UNISON members Awards as high as 3.4 Gas. as agile working (where in energy are working per cent plus £250 bonus Across the energy employees supposedly hard and should be have been achieved in sector the negotiations choose where, when rewarded, whether their Northern Gas Networks have been strengthened and how they work) employer is in recovery under a three-year deal by active steward or in pressured call or celebrating its profi ts. which will match RPI involvement, and an centre environments. “The message is but not fall under 1.75 organising approach to Some have performance gett ing out that we per cent in the next engage members. related allowances and are stronger if we two years. Members Pay surveys were see their colleagues pull together and that at npower are to get undertaken to establish awarded diff erent collective bargaining is 1.9 per cent – almost what awards staff were salaries as personal important and eff ective.”

ACTIVIST TRAINING

COURSE TITLE COURSE DATES CLOSING DATE RESIDENTIAL VENUE FOR APPLICATIONS DETAILS Organising Steward 29, 30 November, 4, 5, 6 November 2017 Non-Residential Commerce House December 2017 Organising Steward 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 February 8 January 2018 Non-Residential Commerce House 2018 Health & Safety Reps 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 19 January 2018 Non-Residential Commerce House February 2018 Representation Skills 1, 2 March 2018 1 February 2018 Non-Residential Commerce House Organising Steward 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 12 February 2018 4 Nights Residential Northern College March 2018 Introduction to 19 March 2018 16 February 2018 Non-Residential Commerce House Employment Law Introduction to Con- 20 March 2018 16 February 2018 Non-Residential Commerce House tracts of Employment Introduction to Work 21 March 2018 16 February 2018 Non-Residential Commerce House Life Balance (law)

To apply, please complete an application form and send it to your branch for approval. For more information about all courses (including more general ones for non-activists) please contact our education administrator on 0113 218 2330 or email [email protected]

WINTER 2017 UNISON ACTIVE! 05 True socialist and great union leader It was a sad day for he saw an injustice. He UNISON and for the became president of the trade union and labour National Pensioners’ movement when our Convention, president of former general secretary War on Want, and chair Rodney Bickerstaff e, died of Global Network, the recently after a short Ken Gill Memorial Fund, illness, writes Wendy and patron and trustee of Nichols. the International Brigades Rodney, or Bick as he Memorial Trust. was known by his friends He was a wonderful was a great trade unionist, orator and no-one who a true socialist, an heard him could help internationalist, champion but be impressed by his of the down-trodden and passion and commitment a great general secretary to ending poverty and both of NUPE and suff ering. Rodney was the UNISON. man who unremitt ingly, A Doncaster lad, and often single- Rodney was proud of handedly, campaigned his Yorkshire roots and for the statutory national Yorkshire was proud of minimum wage that gave him. He started working millions of workers a pay for NUPE in 1966 in the rise. region, ending up as Our union has general secretary fi rst of lost a true friend and NUPE, and then UNISON. champion. Our thoughts And he was proud to and condolences are champion the cause of our with Rodney’s family, members throughout those particularly his wife Pat, years. He retired in 2001. the love of his life, always I say retired, but he at his side, always his was far from retiring, greatest support. ever. Rodney continued to campaign wherever l P20: One of the greats Privatisation threat to NHS pay UNISON is leading would create ‘a wholly Yorkshire warning that Tony said that while a campaign against a owned’ company to the union would use “all the union understood damaging privatisation which NHS staff would available legal, the NHS was a victim of plan involving West be transferred as part political and massive funding cuts, he Yorkshire trusts which of a drive to share industrial was deeply sceptical of could spread further services and save strategies to the fi nancial benefi ts of through the region. money. protect our the scheme. The trusts are But UNISON’s members’ UNISON understands planning to set up a regional head of pay and that some trusts are private company to health Tony Pearson, conditions”. considering transferring provide services which has writt en to chief all facilities management could lead to cuts to executives services as well as pay and conditions for and senior pathology and portering already low-paid staff . managers services into the new The privatisation plan in West Tony Pearson company. FEATURE MEDIA REVIEW BREXIT STORM NEXT Mary Maguire on how the press reported the catastrophic hurricanes in the West Indies and the British political hurricane which will make the headlines next

he headline in the Yorkshire Post Anguilla and others savaged by Irma. ran: “Yorkshire hampered by rain in It reignited the climate change debate as bid to pull clear of trouble.” Really? boffi ns were brought out of mothballs to What an alarming thought. Had THE explain in detail how hurricanes are formed. Yorkshire folk gone soft? Closer BRITISH Sunday political programmes discussed the Tinspection revealed it was the cricket team, not RESPONSE impact on the economies of the countries the county. All those mud splashes just ruin WAS aﬀ ected. Satellite images showed the scale and one’s whites and who wants to play with soggy FOUND strength of the developing storms. bats and balls? We learnt how hurricanes are named, how Two lessons to be learnt from that: 1. Never WANTING a hurricane name can be ‘retired’. It’s when a trust a headline and 2. The weather is always storm has been deadly (Wakefi eld Advertiser, news. YEP). Others informed us how you could lobby Editors soon tire of the ‘Phew! What a to get a name retired. scorcher’ or ‘mostly cloudy with outbreaks Jose virtually caught up with Irma and, of rain’ and cry out for a break from the silly according to the Independent, more records season. were smashed as they topped speeds of Abroad always helps, especially if there’s a 150mph. local angle. Take Hurricane Gert. The Press, People in the deadly paths followed offi cial Telegraph and Argus, Calendar News, BBC advice, mostly, to evacuate their homes. But, North, reported Gert would drench Yorkshire, not all. As the Independent, Whitby Gazett e adding to the north-south divide by sweeping and BBC told us, one exasperated Florida in to soak the north. sheriﬀ had to plead with citizens not to shoot One jovial joker interviewed by a BBC at hurricane Irma, saying they ‘won’t turn it reporter in Grimsby in the midst of a deluge, arou nd’. said: “It were just a bit of drizzle. I don’t know The New York Times gave us the story of what folk are goin on abaat ….” The rest of the Harvey and Irma, married 75 years, who were interview was drowned out by a huge clap of marvelling at the storms bearing their names. thunder. Here in Yorkshire, local newshounds found a Tragically, though, abroad was then batt ered Huddersfi eld woman who was stuck in Florida mercilessly by more hurricanes, each one being to describe the evacuation ahead of Irma. worse than the last. Hurricane Harvey arrived, And the Hull Daily Mail discovered a followed by Irma, and Jose. The impact in some Hull mum stranded in Cuba who ‘thought places was catastrophic. her family would die’ in hurricane Irma. She Swathes of islands in the Atlantic, the graphically described their terror as they were Caribbean and parts of the USA were batt ered trapped in a hotel bathroom for 22 hours. and devastated by Irma, the ‘most powerful Now, we must brace ourselves for Hurricane hurricane ever recorded’, (Guardian). Our TV Brexit. n screens and front pages awash with dramatic, distressing images. Death and destruction followed. An epic disaster and worthy of HowToHelp saturation coverage, everywhere. The British response was ‘found wanting’ There are many charities helping hurricane and disaster victims. The Disasters Emergency Committee dec.org. according to the Telegraph as the Royal uk (covering 15 charities) or the British Red Cross www. Navy turned up late to bring relief to the redcross.org.uk are just two. British Virgin Islands, Barbuda, Mary Maguire ADVERTISING SPACE

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UNISON member Beverley Bell overcame racism to get her degree. Now she’s determined to help others get a good education. Ryan Fletcher reports

Photo: Robert Boardman

everley Bell grew a perfect life – Beverley’s “I was brought up on a up in the kind of parents left her with her farm. When the birds used to place most of us maternal grandparents, fall out of the trees, especially dream of visiting. after they made the diffi cult baby birds, I used to tend to IT’S ABOUT St Ann’s Bay in decision to work in the them and keep them in the NOT GIVING BJamaica is where British UK in order to provide chicken coop until they got UP AND tourists travel long-haul for a their children with more bett er,” Beverley said. FOLLOWING once in a life time holiday. opportunities. Nevertheless “Recently I was thinking YOUR UNISON member Beverley, she was surrounded by a about how I wanted to HEART who now lives in Bradford, close-knit family who loved become a vet. Sometimes you spent her entire childhood her, unspoilt tropical country- have to make a side turn in there. It might not have been side and a dynamic culture. terms of what you want to WINTER 2017 UNISON ACTIVE! 09 WHO SAYS I’M NOT UP TO IT? do in life but it’s about not and there were three of four “The union was very giving up and following your tutors who knew I was good thorough and I had a really heart.” at my studies and they fought good representative.” Beverley, 58, has never for me, but it was to no avail. I MADE Recently, Beverley has backed down, even when she “I made a promise to A PROMISE taken the union’s Return faced the most disheartening myself then that I was going TO MYSELF to Learn course and has experiences. Nor has she ever to get a degree.” THAT I WAS also trained to be a mentor. given up on her calling to Further obstacles faced GOING She plans to use her new help others. Beverley when she wanted to TO GET A mentoring skills to help Sadly, Beverley’s move into sixth form. Again DEGREE young people at schools and grandparents passed away the leadership of the school colleges. and she made the move stood in her way, by trying to “Considering what I’ve from Jamaica to Bradford keep her down a year, so she been through I would like when she was 14. Despite left to fi nd work. to help young people up the the obvious delight at being ladder. I want to help them reunited with a family she PROMISE do something with their knew primarily through After eight years as an lives that’s constructive. I photographs, including auxiliary nurse, Beverley want to encourage them to British-born siblings she’d took a foundation diploma at do what they really want never met, moving to a Bradford College and went to do and just go for it,” foreign land brought its own on to graduate with a youth Beverley explained. set of problems. and community work degree at Lancaster University. CREATIVE ADVANCED “I was elated when I Despite an established life The biggest challenge was graduated and I was proud and career in Yorkshire and school. that I kept my promise,” she the expanse of the Atlantic, When Beverley began said. Beverley’s Jamaican roots school in Bradford in 1973, Since then Beverley has have never dissipated. In her deputy-headmaster was worked and volunteered in 1999 she returned to the incapable of believing that the social care sector. She island for the fi rst time since she was a good student. joined her current employer she left as a girl. In fact, although Beverley’s Creative Support in 2008 – “It was lovely. The family curriculum in Jamaica was the same time as she joined home wasn’t quite the same more advanced than her new UNISON – as a support but they still grew their own school’s, the deputy-head worker for adults with vegetables and the open insisted she was moved out complex needs in assisted space was the same. I fi nd of English lessons – against housing around West Kingston very hot but it’s the advice of her teachers – Yorkshire. cooler in the country and in and into a class with children As with many public St Ann’s,” Beverley said. who were just beginning to service jobs, the work is “There’s a group of us learn the language. under-funded, under- going next year for a family “It was pure and simple appreciated and comes with reunion and I’m really institutional racism. I was risks. After being att acked by looking forward to it. We’ll already repeating stuﬀ a service user and suﬀ ering a get together again and be as I’d learned in Jamaica in hairline fracture to her skull, a family.” the normal English class. Beverley said UNISON made In the future Beverley I was moved from there sure her employer was held plans to take a creative into remedial lessons, even to account. writing course. With though I wrote well and was Beverley said: “There was perspectives shaped by able to speak the language,” nothing in his fi le to say both the UK and Jamaica Beverley said. he could get physical, but and such an interesting “It was awful and very we found out later on that family history, her work frustrating. My dad tried to someone else had also been should make for compelling explain I could speak English a tt a c k e .d reading. n 10 UNISON ACTIVE! SUMMER 2017 FEATURE

READY FOR POWER The Tories are panicking, but root and branch reform won’t happen until Labour is back in government, says Daily Mirror columnist Paul Routledge

abour has surged Survation, the pollster majority over the Tories and ahead of the Tories who got the June 8 result their allies in the latest opinion right, puts Labour on 41.5 June 8 “changed politics in polls. per cent, with Theresa May’s this country,” said Jeremy. If there was an faltering Conservatives on “We are the mainstream now, Lelection tomorrow, Jeremy less than 39 per cent. Other the common sense party of Corbyn would be leader polls tell a similar story British politics. We are ready of the largest party at Translated into votes and for an election.” Westminster. seats, this would be a net And the trend is inexorably “We remain in Opposition gain of 33 constituencies in Labour’s favour as Mrs for now, but we have for Jeremy, putting him TOP May’s botched attempt to become a government in in striking distance of TORIES unite her Cabinet over Brexit waiting,” he told cheering Downing Street. ARE IN lies in ruins. Top Tories are delegates at the Brighton He couldn’t form a OPEN in open revolt, and there is conference. “And our government on his own, but REVOLT talk of getting rid of her by message to the country with around 40 Scots and Christmas. Treacherous Boris could not be clearer: Labour Welsh nationalists he could Johnson is ready to strike. is ready.” easily muster a Commons All of which put heart into WINTER 2017 UNISON ACTIVE! 11 POLITICS FEATURE

delegates att ending the plus £800 lost during the were lobbied by UNISON conference in Brighton. austerity era. constituents. But they voted Deep divisions among MPs All eyes are now on the against Labour’s bid to and rank and fi le members PAY FOR November 22 Budget, when ‘Scrap The Cap’ for every were submerged in a tide of PUBLIC ‘Spreadsheet Phil’ will have public service worker. They support for Jeremy Corbyn, SERVICE to show how far he will go have been warned! who is now the ‘strong and WORKERS to meet union demands. With the clear aim of stable’ leader that Mrs May HAS The police and prison spiking Labour’s guns, wanted to be. deal was a bit of a con. Hammond announced the Along with Labour’s MOVED With RPI running at 3.9 per fi rst steps towards ending plans for a massive UP THE cent, police offi cers got only the cap on the very day investment in the NHS, pay AGENDA one per cent plus a one-off that Jeremy and Shadow for public service workers one per cent bonus, which Chancellor John McDonnell has moved up the political doesn’t feed into premium forced the Commons vote. agenda. rates. Prison offi cers got 1.7 This is almost certainly The Corbyn Revolution per cent - way short of RPI. only the beginning of has already claimed its fi rst It’s been a hectic Tory concessions to the success – over the hated autumn. At the Trades Corbyn agenda, driven by Tory pay cap. It’s only a Union Congress, also political panic. After Labour partial victory, but it opens in Brighton, UNISON championed the cause of the door to a campaign for general secretary Dave students to great electoral all who work in the public Prentis announced plans eff ect, the government is services. to target 27 parliamentary now planning possible cuts The batt le is now under constituencies where the in university tuition fees way to win justice for union has more members and lower interest rates for fi ve million workers, than the sitt ing Tory MP’s loans, currently running at after Chancellor Philip margin of victory in June an extortionate 6 per cent. Hammond buckled In Yorkshire, three Tories But best not to expect too under intense pressure to are in UNISON’s sights: much from this coalition dismantle curbs imposed Stuart Andrew, whose government. They’re still by George Osborne. majority of 331 in Pudsey Tories and hard-line Ulster Police offi cers and prison is dwarfed by our tally Unionists. Some reforms staff were the fi rst to break of 2,087 members; Craig will only come when Labour through the seven-year- Whitt aker, majority 609, is is back in power. long freeze, and UNISON is up against 2,684 members John McDonnell has at the forefront of demands and In Outwood and pledged to scrap David to secure equal treatment Morley, Andrea Jenkyns Cameron’s anti-Trade Union for everybody. defends a majority of Act, which outlaws certain In the NHS, all 14 2,104 in a seat with 2,964 public service disputes unions have submitt ed a members. and makes all industrial joint pay claim for 3.9 per In the run up to a action more diffi cult, cent - matching the Retail parliamentary vote on within 100 days of a Labour Price Index of infl ation - wage curbs, the ‘guilty 27’ government taking offi ce. n

OneYorkshire

Away from the national stage, a fierce battle of wills is taking place between Tory ministers and local politicians over devolution for Yorkshire, Paul Routledge writes. Communities Secretary Sajid Javid has ordered council leaders to accept his plan for city regions run by a directly-elected mayor. Regional council leaders and the unions want a county-wide deal – known as One Yorkshire – with an elected Mayor working with existing local authorities. The Tories want to split Yorkshire into competing city regions because they might have a better chance of winning mayoral elections, as they did on Teeside and in Birmingham. But council leaders – mostly Labour – are sticking to their guns. This is another issue that could figure in next month’s Budget, when Chancellor Hammond has to announced funding for local authorities. 12 UNISON ACTIVE! WINTER 2017 FEATURE WOMEN MPS STILL MORE TO DO

There are now more Labour women MPs than men in Yorkshire and Humberside – 19 out of 36. But women with political ambitions still face more obstacles, fewer opportunities and lower expectations, says consulting editor Mary Maguire

s that icon of women should be judged by women’s representation in post-20th century how they look or what they Parliament had wavered feminism, wear. And, cardinal sin, they between a little under three Dolly Parton, are often described by their THIS per cent and nine per cent. breathtakingly relationship with a man – the REGION But it seemed that women Asang: “Sometimes it’s hard to married mother of two, the IS FAMED were at last beginning to be a woman”. grandmother, the wife, the FOR ITS storm this most exclusive Well, I don’t know daughter, the sister, spinster STRONG boy’s club. So, it was, indeed, whether it’s any harder of this parish. Or a “Babe”. WOMEN a breakthrough and 101 of being a woman than being Who could forget the those MPs were Labour. But a man, but it’s hard to be glorious ‘new dawn’ in May oh how the heart sank when a woman in public life, 1997, almost 70 years after they were dubbed ‘Blair’s and hardest of all to be the passing of the Equal Babes’. a Member of Parliament. Franchise Act, that ushered These women, many of There are more obstacles; in a record number of whom were trade unionists, fewer opportunities and women MPs – 120 in total. councillors, workers, lower expectations. There An increase of 173 per cent. who had fought in many still persists the notion that Between 1945 and 1997, election campaigns on the same footing as men, were reduced to a decorative Emma Hardy status. They were no longer women with brains who thought about politics, who engaged in political debate and discussion, who thought about the world around them, about poverty, injustice and inequality and wanted to do something about it. But they showed what they were made of, helped change some of the old-fashioned practices in Parliament and influenced many of the socially progressive measures introduced during that time. They collectively brought a new dimension to Parliament. Importantly, though, their very presence changed public perceptions; it became normal for women to be at the centre of power, not some fairground spectacle to be gawped at. Melanie Onn

Twenty years later, we now have 208 women MPs elected in June – 32 per cent of the total – with 45 per cent amongst Labour’s ranks. Here in Yorkshire and Humberside, Tracey Brabin there are now more Labour women MPs than men – 19 out of 36. constituents waiting for ever elected exceeded the This region is famed for justice for what happened to number of male MPs in a its strong women. Its first them at Orgreave in 1984. We single Parliament. woman MP, Alice Bacon, a must ensure that the Grenfell Both the Fawcett Society miner’s daughter, elected victims do not wait as long.” and the Commons women & in 1945 to represent Leeds, They join a list of equalities select committee, was a Home Office and determined and dedicated are calling for all parties then education minister, Yorkshire and Humberside to ensure that at least 45 responsible for bringing in women MPs. Women such per cent of Parliamentary comprehensive schools across as Rachael Maskell, York candidates are women. the country. Central, shadow environment For more than 25 years, And who can fail to secretary; Sarah Champion, the political parties have admire Yorkshire-born Betty Rotherham, shadow women constantly repeated the Boothroyd who made the and equalities secretary; mantra that they want to interesting transition from Tracy Brabin, Batley & Spen, increase the number of being a tiller girl to become shadow minister for early female MPs. And at election the first female speaker of years; our own Melanie Onn, time, there is always a pitch the House of Commons? An Great Grimsby, now shadow to get the ‘women’s vote’. incredibly tough act to follow. housing minister and Louise In between, however, little Today, newly-elected MP Haigh, Sheffield Heeley, action is taken. for Hull West & Hessle, shadow police minister. Labour has achieved Emma Hardy, has taken up There are many too, 45 per cent women MPs the cudgels on behalf of good who have experience in through a mixture of state education. Her maiden THERE Government including sometimes controversial speech energised the House STILL Rachel Reeves, Leeds West; initiatives, including of Commons chamber, as she PERSISTS Caroline Flint, Don Valley; women-only short lists. blasted schools as ‘learning Mary Creagh, Wakefield; Trade unionists have played factories’ that cut out creative THE Yvette Cooper, Normanton, a huge role in bringing subjects such as art, drama NOTION Castleford & Pontefract, and about equal representation. and music. THAT Angela Smith, Penistone & The Labour Women’s Stephanie Peacock, elected WOMEN Stocklands. Network and the new Jo the first woman MP for SHOULD Of course, there are women Cox Women in Leadership Barnsley East, spoke in the BE JUDGED MPs from other parties, and Scheme run in memory of Grenfell Tower fire debate. BY HOW the Tories have produced the late MP, are helping She said: “Many people THEY LOOK their second female Prime potential candidates. will know about Barnsley’s Minister, but progress is still Until Parliament looks history, and there is so much slow. It was only in 2015 that like the people it represents, to be proud of, but still I have the total number of women democracy is an illusion. n JUSTICE NOT FOR SALE

UNISON’S ground-breaking tribunal fees victory could lead to further breakthroughs, says Rakesh Patel, head of employment rights strategy at Thompsons Solicitors

ith UNISON’s that access to employment by workers. Around 70 per recent tribunal tribunals has remained free, cent fewer cases were taken fees victory the coalition government’s to employment tribunals. The beginning attack on workers in 2013 biggest impact was felt by W to sink in, through the introduction of low paid women. it is clear that it has been fees was as symbolic as it was The Government’s an historic landmark for harsh. ‘justifi cation’ that the fees workers’ rights. The introduction of fees of were aimed at deterring While UNISON has stood up to £1,200 resulted in a cliff - large numbers of false or by its members over the edge decline in the number of unjustifi ed claims, was Rakesh Patel last four years and ensured tribunal cases being brought undermined when senior WINTER 2017 UNISON ACTIVE! 15 TRIBUNAL FEES FEATURE

minister Matthew Hancock, ‘reform’ is to turn the justice limit still on the horizon, the crowed before a business system into an income- Government is unashamedly audience that ‘our tribunal generator for the exchequer. loading the dice against those reforms are working. Jobs are THE And if it’s ordinary people who have suff ered an injury up and the number of cases BIGGEST that suff er, ministers think (in or out of work). taken to tribunal is down 80 IMPACT that’s a price worth paying. Despite raking in money per cent. The only work being WAS FELT The annual report for the from fees, the Government hit by our tribunal reform is BY LOW- courts and tribunals service has also made ruthless cuts to the workload of employment PAID (HMCTS) was released at the courts and tribunals staff . lawyers.’ And with little to WOMEN the end of July. It shows Some 940 full-time posts were no meaningful consultation that from breaking even destroyed last year, replaced with unions or the workers or making a loss HMCTS by contracted agency workers. who would be hit before their generated fee income of Public sector unions, introduction, the collapse nearly £800m, with £186m including UNISON, have of cases across the board from family justice fees and raised the alarm on the was as predictable as it was more than £602m from civil Government’s recent avoidable. justice fees. decisions to privatise the This was a wholly unfair collection of court fi nes. As policy which ran completely EXPENSIVE Labour’s shadow justice counter to the basic principle The civil courts service secretary Richard Burgon that the justice system is actually generating a recently commented: should be equally open to profi t for the Government “privatisation is at the all, regardless of wealth or - of £102m from fees for the expense of delivering a fair status. 2016-2017 fi nancial year. The system of justice for all.” Tories are turning access UNISON’s important SIGNIFICANT to justice into a profi t- victory shows that change is UNISON has led the way for making machine. Court fees, possible. We must keep the the movement on this issue, (often increasing at rates pressure on to make it clear but it is worth remembering far in excess of infl ation) that access to justice is not a that the Government fought are putting the burden of commodity up for sale, but a all the way to the Supreme responsibility squarely on basic and essential democratic Court before they were the wrong shoulders. Having right, and any attempt to forced to listen. Of course the a theoretical right to pursue reduce those rights will be next stop if they wanted to a case through the justice fought at every turn. n appeal, would have been to system when expensive fees the European Court which have coincided with a public they can’t wait to get out of! sector pay squeeze, means While this is a signifi cant something entirely diff erent victory, the wider battle in reality. continues. The truth is that And with the threatened the Tories’ approach to legal change to the small claims

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Commenting on the judgement of the Supreme Court, regional convenor Wendy Nichols (right) said: “It’s difficult to overestimate the importance of UNISON’s victory over employment tribunal fees, both in terms of the basic human rights of working people and the boost the judgement gives the union movement as a whole which is continuing to suffer from mindless prejudice at the hands of this Government.” If you are a UNISON member and you or a relative has been injured or involved in an accident, call the union legal service on 0800 0857 857. You will get access to leading legal expertise with the promise that you will keep 100 per cent of any compensation. To find out more information about Thompsons’ work with UNISON visit: www.thompsonstradeunion.law/trade-unions/unison. 16 UNISON ACTIVE! WINTER 2017 FEATURE POLICE SERVICE FEEL THE FORCE North Yorkshire police service is among the least diverse in England and Wales, but the dynamic UNISON branch is on the case. Peter Carroll meets the activists The activists

embers of Wales – is currently the least working closely with the the UNISON diverse force in the country North Yorkshire black police Branch in terms of minority group association. at North employees. “It is a support network M Yorkshire But the UNISON branch within the police force and Police are on a mission to is out to change that with police staff and we work encourage people from all a positive drive to attract closely with them and sections of the community to a more diverse intake of North Yorkshire Police to come to work for the service - employees, including black, support recruitment and and to join the union. disabled, the young and retention of staff from all North Yorkshire Police – LGBT people. groups of people, to make which serves a population John Mackfall, branch North Yorkshire Police truly of 602,000 across the largest secretary for more than representative of the people county in England and 30 years, said: “We are they serve. “We also want to increase the number of younger John Mackfall explains a point to reporter Peter Carroll people coming into the service. STAFF “We want to off er MEMBERS apprenticeships so that young people will see the ARE THE police service as a career FIRST option.” POINT OF Back in 2012, the service CONTACT lost a third of its workforce FOR THE as a result of central PUBLIC government cuts, and in SEEKING common with other police POLICE forces was under great HELP pressure to maintain service standards. In total 500 posts went, although almost all of the WINTER 2017 UNISON ACTIVE! 17 Photos: Robert Boardman LEARNING FEATURE

individuals affected were re- Communications officers to work here in the past but deployed within the service and radio despatch staff send many have not even got and there were 138 voluntary the police to incidents and interviews. redundancies. they also run the automatic GINNY IS “So we try to give Five years on and North number plate car recognition THE ONLY applicants help and support Yorkshire Police is now system to fight crime. BLACK to get to the stage where they more financially stable and UNISON members also AFRICAN can go forward and actually recruitment of both police run the front office and act as EMPLOYED get a job. We want to go out officers and PCSOs is being crime scene investigators and BY THE to communities we wouldn’t enthusiastically pursued. custody officers. usually reach. Most authorities in the The branch has elected SERVICE “And we can do that rest of the country made the a committee of members through UNISON’s decision to cut PCSO jobs but with responsibility for the organisations. We can North Yorkshire decided to self-organised groups (SOGs) advertise job opportunities save them. so they can raise pressing in hospitals and throughout With a 73 per cent UNISON issues, discuss what needs to the NHS, in local government membership among the be done to tackle problems and other public services.” 1,000 police staff employed, and promote more diverse The support system the branch has widespread recruitment policies. involves practical help with support. Ginny Oche-Hewson filling in CVs and preparing The list of vital jobs police chairs the black members’ for interviews. staff are responsible for is SOG. Ginny is the only black Mentoring people and long and the 1,500 police African employed by the pointing them in the officers in the county depend service and believes the self- direction of UNISON lifelong on their work to do their own organised groups in North learning opportunities is a jobs effectively. Yorkshire are crucial to the key part of the recruitment Answering 999 calls future of the service. strategy. is a highly skilled and She said: “I have been with Ginny said: “We have all responsible job and, like the the force for 14 years and these ways to help people get work of PCSOs, these staff there is a clear need to get a career here, but we have members are the first point of more people like me into the to get them to apply to come contact for the public seeking service. here first, and that is what we police help. “Black people have applied have set out to do.” 18 UNISON ACTIVE! WINTER 2017 FEATURE

Abid Khan was a founding member of the North Yorkshire black police association when it started in 1999 after the Stephen Lawrence inquiry into the murder of the black teenager by racist thugs in London. The association’s task was to break down historic mistrust within minority communities about the police what they are entitled to strengthens us at local, in general and, specifically, but we have to fight for regional and national levels. hostility to joining the police everything. They are succeeding, and service. “We have also recently had providing a very positive Abid said: “We wanted a ‘Good to Talk’ campaign and progressive example to to influence the policies encouraging people suffering other branches in this region and procedures of North from stress and mental and beyond.” Yorkshire Police and health issues to speak up Branch secretary John introduce positive action to about their struggles. Mackfall is proud of his recruit and retain staff from “We want to break down branch and the commitment minority communities. barriers between people and they share to change the “We feel it is important to reach those who need our culture of the police service make the service aware of help.” for the better. cultural differences and how Every SOG representative After 32 years as branch they can be barriers to people shares a common aim. secretary he has seen huge wanting to work here. Whether it is on behalf of changes in the way the “Simple things like disabled, black, women or service is run. changing shifts for people LGBT workers – they want But he is convinced that during Ramadan for example. the service to truly reflect all active recruitment of staff That is part of encouraging the communities it serves. from all backgrounds in people to join and help to UNISON regional society is the only way to change the culture of the manager Steve Torrance proceed in the years to come. service as a whole. said: “Equality for all is at “We have a long way to go “These measures do the heart of everything that towards achieving our vision not amount to positive UNISON believes in and of a genuinely representative discrimination. We just the North Yorkshire police workforce in this vital public set out to provide support branch is a good example service,” said John. through the sometimes of how branches can use “We are going against challenging process of their equalities groups to the trends because we have getting a job. reach out and attract more a very active committee of “At the end of the day, members to join the union. members who care deeply candidates must succeed at “For the branch to have about equality in the interview. It is up to them succeeded in having all workplace. at that stage, but we want to equalities groups fully “Everybody should be help people at least to get to functioning in one of WE WANT treated the same, without that stage.” the least representative TO BREAK any threat of bullying or Branch welfare officer geographical areas in terms DOWN harassment. Karen Brittan is fighting of minorities is a testament BARRIERS “We have gone a long another battle for equality – to their excellent work in this BETWEEN way towards this goal and in her case to achieve parity respect. PEOPLE I understand there is still a with the rights and facilities “They have developed long way to go. But I think provided for police officers. an inclusive agenda that we have gone further than She said: “The police get benefits members and many other branches.” n ADVERTISINGUNISON SPACE members struggling through an unexpected crisis can get help from ‘there for you’ by:-

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Please make sure our members are aware of the help that is available in these dif cult times. 20 UNISON ACTIVE! WINTER 2017 OBITUARY RODNEY BICKERSTAFFE

ONE OF THE GREATS Brought up in Doncaster, Rodney Bickerstaffe was one of us, but he was also an exceptional and much-loved general secretary of both NUPE and UNISON. Mary Maguire, who worked closely for many years with ‘Bick’ as his press officer, pays tribute to the father of the national minimum wage who died on October 3

odney Bickerstaff e confronting and persuading he was told “you can have could be downright the mighty T&GWU, AEU a car now”. “So, that’s the awkward at times. and GMB, unions opposed way of the union”, he replied He’d never give up. to a minimum wage, to taking the car. RHe’d keep coming persuading a Labour Bick was a union man to back to the argument and Government to do the right his core. And his dream of worry away at his opponents, thing. That took bottle and one public service union, like a dog at a bone. determination. to stop bosses driving a It was that tenacity that Bick’s mum Elizabeth was wedge between workers, was gave millions of workers a nurse, unmarried when he realised in UNISON. a pay rise in 1998 with the was born in 1945, viewed as As general secretary of introduction of the statutory scandalous in those days. NUPE and UNISON, he used national minimum wage. It Brought up in Doncaster, his considerable talents to was no easy achievement. But, his upbringing shaped his fi ght for the downtrodden, Bick, as he was known, knew outlook on life. At 21 he BICK low paid, vulnerable and he was right – all he had to do became an organiser in JUST elderly. He always put was convince the rest of the Yorkshire for NUPE, one of TOLD IT people before principles as world. UNISON’s founder unions. LIKE he put it - and he was an It took years. From an He had found his calling. IT WAS internationalist, a champion ideal, to addressing an Bick told how he had to of Travellers’ rights. And he adoring crowd of three travel the region by bus, battled to retain and build in a hall in Blackpool, to until a colleague died and a decent NHS and public WINTER 2017 UNISON ACTIVE! 21 RODNEY BICKERSTAFFE OBITUARY

services. He later rejected pensioner poverty was his And, along with opera singer a peerage. crusade, redistribution was Leslie Garrett, he was given Bick waged a, sometimes his mission. Memorably, he MEMBERS the freedom of Doncaster. one-man, crusade against would say: “we live in the Bick may have rubbed poverty pay and pensioner fourth richest nation on this LOVED shoulders with the rich and poverty. He believed in spinning planet of ours. If BICK. HE famous, but it didn’t turn his the dignity of work, of the someone takes more than WAS THEIR head. When he walked into individual and of the elderly. their fair share, someone else VOICE. AND a room, he greeted everyone In favour of universality, gets less”. WHAT A equally. When working late opposed to means-testing, Thankfully, his tenacity VOICE at night on a speech or letter, Bick’s line that no-one came to the fore time and he would ask whoever was should have to “parade their again. At Party conference in around to read it for sense, poverty” struck a nerve with 2000, Bick pushed through whether it was a cleaner or even the most hardened. the UNISON motion an organiser. A great orator, in the to restore the pensions When he retired (from old-style, Bick admitted link to earnings, despite UNISON), Nelson Mandela freely that he could play to the most ferocious and recorded a tribute to him the gallery with the best of constant pressure from the for his support during the them and he delivered some then Labour Government. Robben Island years. Actor barn-storming speeches that Gordon Brown flew in from Tony Robinson, famous electrified any conference an international finance as Baldrick and for his hall. His style direct, meeting to try to persuade presentation of the Time passionate, eloquent. him to drop it, but failed. Team history programme, When John Edmonds of Bick was a professional, was the MC at Bick’s final GMB tried to lecture him at he knew his stuff. He UNISON conference. There the TUC conference on the kept stacks of newspaper wasn’t a dry eye in the house rate of the minimum wage cuttings about the things as Bick paid tribute to Pat his Bick’s right of reply delighted he cared for. His mum, too, wife, saying: “still besotted delegates: had her own newspaper after all these years”. “I’ve been campaigning cuttings collection from the The members loved Bick. (on this) for more than 30 time of the Spanish civil He was their voice. And years, sometimes in lonely war. A few years back, Bick what a voice. n isolation, I don’t need published the collection in lectures from any Johnny- a book – A Spanish Civil Rodney with mum Elizabeth come-latelies to the concept.`` War Scrapbook, proceeds to A consummate the International Brigades communicator, Bick knew Memorial Trust of which he the power of an image. He is a trustee. knew the power of keeping Broadcasters liked his the message simple. As forthright style. He would when he delivered a plea at often meet celebrities from the Labour Party conference, all walks of life in the green holding up three one pound room, introduce himself and coins and three twenty pence chat to them about UNISON. pieces, saying: “Could you When he discovered his Cheri or Tony live on this?” father’s identity and three A reference to the minimum Irish brothers to join the wage initially set at £3.60 for one he already knew, he over-21s. was thrilled. His good luck He knew the power of story led to an invite onto repetition. No lectures, TV to announce national no economic essays. Bick lottery winners. He made just told it like it was. If the most of his 39 seconds abolishing poverty pay and to talk about a living wage. WE NEED EVERY PENNY

Highly-paid Hull University bosses have introduced a pensions apartheid with the lowest paid losing on average £1,000 a year. Ryan Fletcher reports

NISON has support personnel, mailroom all equally passionate and vowed to fi ght and grounds workers - will committed to the university. changes to lose an average £1,000 a “Therefore they should be pension schemes year in retirement, after treated with parity across U at the University the university’s fi nal salary the campus – pension parity of Hull that treat lower paid scheme was closed because of and parity of terms and workers like ‘second class a rising defi cit. conditions. They should not c it i zen s’. Under the new scheme, be treated like second class The reforms targeted their pensions will depend on citizens.” administrative and support how much money is available Under the old scheme, staff while pensions for to buy an annuity when they which was replaced in June, THE academics and senior retire – and the state of the workers received employer PENSION management were left market at the time. pension contributions of 16.4 TRUSTEES unscathed. The pension scheme for percent. These have now been “It’s unfair, especially when lecturers and executives, slashed to between 7 and 9 JUST WENT academics are on a diff erent however, remains percent. AHEAD system and will benefi t much guaranteed. Meanwhile, employer AND more than support staff . This UNISON regional contributions for senior CLOSED is clearly a two-tier system,” organiser Leonie Sharp said, staff continue at 18 per cent. THE said a UNISON member, who “All the staff on campus – Former University of Hull vice SCHEME asked not to be identifi ed to academic staff , support staff chancellor Calie Pistorius, avoid reprisals. and administrative staff – are who stepped down in January, Staff - including there to deliver excellent received £42,000 in employer administrators, student services for students and are pension contributions last WINTER 2017 UNISON ACTIVE! 23 PENSIONS FEATURE

changes worry me.” demanding University Another, who also spoke on of Hull leaders begin the condition of anonymity, negotiations for a fairer said: “I am a single parent. I pensions scheme. In July, WE HAVE get no financial support from around 60 staff staged a STRONG my ex-husband. I have no demonstration outside a SUPPORT living parents. university senate meeting to FOR A “I dedicated 13 years of protest against the changes. STRIKE service to the University of UNISON University of AND ARE Hull and feel it only right Hull members have voted KEEPING that more appreciation and in favour of continuing financial reward is given to demonstrations and are A FORMAL support staff. Pensions are considering a formal strike INDUSTRIAL included in this. I need every ballot if their demands are ACTION penny.” not met. BALLOT IN UNISON regional organiser Leonie said: “We have OUR BACK Leonie Sharp described the strong support for a strike POCKET changes as a ‘fait accompli’ and are keeping a formal that were pushed through industrial action ballot in our without proper consultation back pocket. with the union. “It’s not right or fair that “From the start the those who earn the least language of the university should be barred from was that the scheme would entering the same pension close. They didn’t share scheme that academics and information with us to have a senior management receive. year. The figure was not part full and proper consultation,” “We won’t be satisfied of Pistorius’s £249,000 annual she said. until every member of staff salary and £11,000 worth of “The university will still at the University of Hull has benefits. have to fund the deficit and a quality pension for their The pension reductions unless they are going to pay retirement.” have caused dismay to staff it all off in one hit, will have In response to the members, many of whom to keep funding it until it is campaign, the university have worked at the university cleared away. released a statement saying: for decades and have “The pension trustees “The University of Hull already seen their pensions just went ahead and closed operates a range of good downgraded. the scheme, despite their quality pension schemes for “I think it is totally obligations to look at its staff – one of a number of disgraceful that the amending it to make it reasons why we are regarded university has closed the more viable. It was a fait as an attractive employer in pension scheme, thus creating accompli right from the very this region. a two tier system,” said a staff beginning.” “Our pension schemes member who did not wish to The union has lodged a are comparable with those be named. complaint with the Pensions of other universities and the “I have been employed by Regulator and is advising broader education sector. the university for over 32 members to initiate individual “While our pension years and my pension has grievance proceedings schemes do differ slightly already been changed once in through the university’s from one another, all of them the past, reducing what I will internal system so that they meet and exceed the national get at retirement. can be taken to the Pension Pensions Quality Mark, “Now I will get even less. Ombudsman. which demonstrate they have I am 51 years of age and UNISON has also launched been independently ranked am now thinking about my a joint campaign with the as top quality.” The staff beg future retirement and these Unite and UCU unions to differ. n 24 UNISON ACTIVE! WINTER 2017 FEATURE TRAVEL TIME NOW YOU SEE IT, NOW YOU DON’T UNISON’s Rich Crowther played a blinder in ‘the case of the disappearing travel time payments’. Active! reporter Helen Hague on a key battle for care workers

t sounds like a script Autism Plus was ordered test case for the employment from a nineteen to pay care workers who tribunal, working with seventies sitcom, or a support clients in the regional organiser Sue case study in how not community for time spent RICH Cookman and UNISON’s to motivate staff . First travelling to and from their WAS national legal team. A – give low paid care workers fi rst and last appointments, AN further 25 UNISON members Iwho work in the community including back pay and AMAZING at Autism Plus were also money to cover travel time holiday pay. included in the union’s at the start and end of shifts. REP, HE submission. Then, a few months later, say LANDMARK GRASPED This is an important it was all a mix-up and stop So how did this all come ALL THE outcome for members in the payments. about? The story starts with COMPLEX Autism Plus and work is This is what happened a landmark ruling from the CONCEPTS now underway to recover the at charity Autism Plus, European Court of Justice QUICKLY arrears they are owed. where, until eight months two years ago. It found At the July hearing, Autism Rich Crowther ago, Richard Crowther was that time spent travelling Plus also admitted that they a team leader and UNISON to and from fi rst and last had been breaching the law on shop steward in Sheffi eld. appointments by workers how holiday pay is calculated, In May, he switched from without a fi xed offi ce should so UNISON is now collating workplace activist to be treated as working time. It further legal claims for working for the union full became known as the TYCO members for unpaid holiday time as a local fi ghting fund ruling, after the Spanish pay and the thorny issue organiser for the region. company was ordered to pay of how people are paid Richard - known as ‘Rich’ wages for travel time. for sleep-ins. to colleagues, spent a lot Reacting to the ruling, Rich relished of time on the case of the Autism Plus took advice being involved disappearing travel time from HR advisors Moorepay in the ET. payments. Working with and started to pay staff with “There was the legal team, he gathered no fi xed workplace travel a lot to take information and a test time for appointments at in at fi rst. case for an employment the beginning and end of Familiarising tribunal to get the payments shifts. But then Moorepay yourself with reinstated. It was the right said they’d got it wrong: the employment move. organisation did not have law is During the July hearing, to pay for travel time after one Autism Plus, which refuses all. They consulted with the thing, to recognise UNISON, workforce about removing but conceded on most points. the payments and then the how EU Employment Judge Rostant payments stopped without law and said he would have been agreement with staff . UK law ‘minded’ to fi nd in the UNISON was swift union’s favour if it hadn’t. to act. Rich identifi ed a Sue Cookman WINTER 2017 UNISON ACTIVE! 25 Photo: Mark Harvey TRAVEL TIME FEATURE

Rich Crowther

intersected and the fact legal is part of the regional team. and get involved.” minds were in dispute about We are lucky to have such a Rich believes that actions this, meant there were lots great colleague.” speak louder than words. of tricky details to get into. THERE Rich, 35, believes unions “Unions get more members by But I really enjoyed it, it was WERE are “absolutely vital” for showing people what they can a new challenge and that LOTS OF working people – and is keen do. But it’s ultimately a battle really gave me a taste for it. TRICKY to see more get involved at of ideas. Thatcher’s ‘I’m alright DETAILS the workplace. It certainly Jack’ attitude of individualism AMAZING TO GET worked for him. ‘I was became part of mainstream Sue Cookman has been INTO. BUT I lucky to have colleagues culture. A big counter- working with Rich to try and REALLY who were already active movement like Labour is get UNISON recognised. and encouraging. But I undertaking now, could help “Rich was an amazing rep, ENJOYED IT felt I should really put the push things back towards he grasped all the complex work in myself. I had an thinking in terms of working concepts quickly and quietly employer that would try together and not competing in made his point to Autism to get away with reducing isolation.” Plus, calmly running rings terms and conditions without Rich will be out there, doing round them. Once I had consultation if they could, so his bit to get the message put him in touch with Kate I wanted to keep a close eye across. An immediate priority Ewing from the national on them myself.” is ensuring that the Autism legal team he basically ran “We need to stick together Plus workers supporting things from this end. He is and the expertise and clients out in the field, get continuing to organise the organisation of UNISON will properly paid. Just as the Sue Cookman follow-up claims now that he help you if you step forward judge ordered… n 26 UNISON ACTIVE! WINTER 2017 FEATURE DONCASTER RACES

THIRST PAST THE POST Sometimes you’ve got to get away from it all – and what better than a day at the gee-gees and a drop of what you fancy in the sun? UNISON’s raceday at Doncaster on August 5 went down a treat Photography: Louise Pollard

Gee up! - Ruth Askwith, Rotherham local government

Ready for the off - Carol Irwin, Wakeﬁ eld local government and colleagues

Give us the money - Laura and Hazel Plunkett, Hull local government Going for the double - Barbara and Wish you were here - Dawn Ridges Sandra Oxley, Wakeﬁ eld health and family, Shefﬁ eld health

Gee up! - Ruth Askwith, Rotherham local government

Studying the horseﬂ esh - Simone Wilson, Goole local government

We’ve won! - Sharon Bent and chums - Halifax local government

Fun in the sun - Mid-Yorkshire health 28 UNISON ACTIVE! WINTER 2017 FEATURE NHS STAFFING

Photo: Mark Harvey

Liz Mawson EDGE OF DISASTER Ryan Fletcher reports on a health service suffering a ‘perfect storm’ with trusts failing to recruit and retain skilled staff amid a pay freeze and funding cuts. It is made worse by the replacement of NHS bursaries for student nurses with £50,000 loans and the threat of Brexit leading to much-needed European migrants quitting the service. If that was not bad enough, demand from patients is rocketing

ne evening this ray of sunshine in an health service jobs is closer to August, Gail otherwise cloudy outlook 40,000. Carpenter found for overworked NHS staff. UNISON lead steward herself at ‘the Unfortunately, Gail’s chance at Barnsley Hospital, Liz back of a very observation of a medical Mawson, has worked in Olong queue’ at a McDonalds professional skipping a meal the NHS for 20 years. She in Ripon. Gail noticed a is common across the whole says the staffing crisis at the paramedic, who was also of the embattled health hospital is unprecedented. in line, check her pager and service. Such conditions are “There’s too many leave to respond to a call one of the reasons why the pressures and it’s causing before she had a chance to NHS is buckling under the PEOPLE people to leave – especially order her dinner. pressure of a recruitment and ARE nursing staff. We literally The scene prompted Gail to retention crisis. GOING ON can’t keep them at all. write a Facebook post calling Official figures showed LONG TERM The pressure in A&E is for harried ambulance crews NHS positions advertised SICK unbearable. The management in the area to be allowed to by NHS England increased BECAUSE are coming down on staff queue jump. Her post was from 26,424 to 30,613 in the OF THE to meet the four-hour target shared hundreds of times year to March 2017 – around STRESS – but it’s impossible,” Liz and soon a number of local 40 per cent of which were for IT’S AWFUL explained. businesses signed up to the nursing or midwifery roles. “Staff are going home campaign. The Royal College of Nursing late and they’re not getting The news was an isolated says the number of unfilled breaks. People are going on WINTER 2017 UNISON ACTIVE! 29 NHS STAFFING FEATURE

Photo: Mark Harvey

long-term sick because of The scrapping of the bursary figures, compared to 13,321 the stress – it’s awful. A lot led to a 19 percent drop in the in 2015. A survey of NHS of people are struggling number of applications for trusts by Channel Four’s financially as well because THIS ISN’T nursing courses compared to Dispatches in March, found of the pay freeze. They’re JUST AN last year. 42 percent of European having to work as bank ISSUE FOR “The wage isn’t attractive NHS staff were thinking of nurses in addition to their WORKERS, and it’s a career that requires leaving within five years of full time jobs, which just IT’S A HUGE a lot of dedication and Brexit. makes them more tired.” sacrifice. Who’s going to “We need an urgent Massive NHS funding ISSUE FOR want to pay £50,000 to train guarantee on EU workers’ cuts – including plans to find SOCIETY on top of all that? When the right to stay and work in £22bn of ‘efficiency savings’ current generation of nurses Britain. If they continue by 2020 – coupled with a retire they’ll be left with a leaving and deciding not to continuing seven-year pay skeleton staff,” said nurse come to the UK at the rate freeze that has reduced the and UNISON member Kerrie they are doing, we’re looking annual wage of a nurse by Hall. at a public health disaster,” around £3,000 in real terms, Meanwhile, the number of said UNISON regional head does little to boost flagging EU nurses applying to work of health, Tony Pearson. staff morale. in the UK has dwindled to Tony also called for an The situation is being almost nothing since the end to the pay cap, a move made worse because Brexit vote. Statistics from away from austerity to demands on the health the Nursing and Midwifery proper funding for NHS and service are increasing as Council showed just 46 EU social care services and the people live longer and the nurses applied to work in return of nursing bursaries. population grows. the UK in April 2017, a 96 In the long term he said In August, NHS per cent drop on the 1,304 there is a need for more performance statistics nurses who applied in July teaching hospitals, in order showed that four million 2016 – one month after the to boost staff development patients in England were referendum. and prevent vital personnel waiting to go to hospital The numbers of EU NHS gravitating towards regions for surgery, the highest staff leaving the country are where there are more career figure for 10 years. The also stark. Around 60,000 EU opportunities. NHS Confederation, which nationals work in the health “This isn’t just an issue for represents hospital bosses, service. A total of 17,197 EU workers, it’s a huge issue for said the waiting list, along staff left their jobs in 2016, society – it affects everyone,” with a litany of missed according to NHS Digital said Tony. n targets for cancer care and A&E, demonstrated the Kerrie Hall health service could not cope with the unprecedented rise in demand. Two other factors are exacerbating the staffing crisis: the replacement of NHS bursaries with student loans and Brexit. Now the Tories have ended the £6,000 a year NHS bursary, student nurses, along with a range of other prospective healthcare professionals, have to take out loans averaging £47,712 in order to train. NO THANKS BROTHER Out of the blue Peter Carroll received an invitation to join a Bradford lodge of the Freemasons. Here he explains why he declined to bare his breast...

isten, do you want to all walks of life and meet as walked free from court because know a secret? equals - regardless of their they have secretly signalled Strictly between us, race, occupation or religion. their membership of the I have been invited to On the back of the glossy Brotherhood to a judge have join the Freemasons! leafl et is a picture of two been documented. LAn envelope came through middle-aged men clinking And evidence of preferential the post containing a leafl et their foaming pints and treatment for fellow Masons from the Shakespeare and beaming at each other. when lucrative building Equity Lodge in Bradford But, like many outsiders to contracts are awarded have asking if I was interested in the organisation, I have read dogged local government since Freemasonry. accounts of Masonic activities the Poulson and T. Dan Smith CLAIMS Apparently the ancient which paint a much darker scandal, which shocked the THAT brotherhood is keen to enter picture of ‘The Craft’ than my nation more than 40 years ago. CRIMINALS a new phase of openness, leafl et suggests. But in an interview with HAVE actively promoting their core Stories abound of systematic the BBC, Nigel Brown, grand WALKED values of ‘integrity, kindness collusion between Freemasons secretary of the United Grand FREE FROM and charity’ and opening their in the police, the judiciary, Lodge of England (a grand COURT lodges to curious visitors. national and local government title, you have to admit) said The leafl et explains that and politicians of all stripes. this image was a distortion of Freemasons are drawn from Claims that criminals have the truth. WINTER 2017 UNISON ACTIVE! 31 FREEMASONS OPINION

The Duke of Kent is the in London, after many years grand master of the United of violent persecution by Grand Lodge of England. He the Catholic Church and the is at the very top of a very big I WON’T dreaded Spanish Inquisition, hierarchy. BE Freemasonry espouses So if I joined, I would be JOINING equality in its formal rituals. part of an esteemed group of THEM, One of its key doctrines people, I’d be low down the EVEN is: “Meet upon the level of hierarchy I know, but still! equality, act by the plumb of The mysteries of their THOUGH your uprightness and part ancient historical origins in I KNOW upon the square of virtue.” Egypt would be fully revealed THERE Their often parodied to me after a long period of ARE SOME initiation ceremony – where studying. GOOD the newcomer has his left I would grasp the spiritual PEOPLE breast bared, trouser leg signifi cance of the lost Temple WHO HAVE rolled up while wearing of Solomon and become a blindfold and a noose expert in the meaning of around the neck – has dark symbols like the ‘All Seeing origins. Eye’ and the square and It was to show the initiate compasses. that they were now at risk of And I would share secret execution by the Inquisition knowledge with other for their pagan heresy. Brothers (a very few female All very interesting. But it Masons have their own was a long time ago, and one lodges but mixed ones are wonders why these arcane The BBC reporter announced forbidden) which would make rituals are preserved into the that: “Conspiracy theories us all, secretly, superior to 21st century. have dogged the Freemasons everybody else. If you want to do good throughout their existence, And that is how all deeds and have a pint with fuelled by their secretive hierarchies att ract willing your mates, why not just go image, but for some they are acolytes. They entice people to the pub and support their just a gentleman’s club devoted with the prospect of social fundraisers as best you can. to charitable giving.” self-bett erment, and being in So I won’t be joining them, Grand secretary Brown fl atly the proximity of power. even though I know there rejected the suggestion from Legendary Coronation are some good people who one caller on the show that Street butcher Fred Elliot have done so. Freemasons would ‘stretch’ once launched his own secret I am mindful of Groucho the rules if another Freemason society in the Rovers called Marx’s quip: “I wouldn’t join broke the law. the Square Dealers. any club that wanted me as a “Absolutely not”, he The members – small member.” declared. “Networking within business men and self- In my view, trade unions Freemasonry and trying to employed traders - had their are the true upholders of use it for personal gain is own secret sign, a square justice and fair treatment for completely forbidden.” made by joining the thumb all – and they have that most There are six million and forefi nger of each hand. important distinction: they Freemasons worldwide with an It was very funny and are democratic. estimated 250,000 in England. also controversial because And I’m not stupid. I Famous members from it was an obvious parody of am aware that I might be the past include Churchill, Freemasonry and depicted a targeted in the New Year’s Benjamin Franklin, George far more self-serving image Honours list as well as this. Washington and, traditionally, than real Freemasonry wants Well don’t waste your most of the British Royal to project. time. That’s a NO from me Household. Formally organised in 1717 Peter Carroll as well. n 32 UNISON ACTIVE! WINTER 2017 THE COLUMN A TYKE’S EYE VIEW

PAUL ROUTLEDGE Mirror political columnist Private hospitals’ £50m tax scam Fat cat Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is allowing private health care tycoons to cheat British taxpayers. Profit-making hospitals are registering as charities and their highly-paid bosses are trousering millions in business rate relief. Now’s the time for the Labour party to challenge a massive scandal

ulti-millionaire Health NHS Trusts across the country are joining Secretary Jeremy Hunt knows forces to demand that the Government a lot about making money. brings all hospitals into the business rate He’s the richest politician in discount scheme. Theresa May’s Tory cabinet of Fat cat Hunt faces a challenge to this Mmillionaires. But he’s clearly oblivious to the public-private anomaly in appeals against parlous fi nancial state of the NHS, for which huge bills faced by cash-strapped hospitals, he is responsible. an issue that he doesn’t want to talk about If Hunt was doing his job properly, he’d but which won’t go away. do something about the scandal of private, Getting the Government to face up to profi t-making hospitals getting away with the fi nancial crisis in the health service tax scams. is notoriously diffi cult, because ministers By registering as charities, as more than one retreat behind a mantra of “we’re giving in four do, the privateers are given mandatory more money to the NHS than ever before”. business rate relief of up to 80 per cent. They But on a specifi c issue like this crooked don’t even have to ask for it. business rates fi x, health unions and They’ll benefi t to the tune of an estimated Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary Jon £52 million over the next fi ve years – slashing Ashworth can win public support for a the £241 million bill they would otherwise pay. change of policy. It’s certainly worth trying. This Tory largesse to the private health sector, which gives them so many lucrative KILLED AS SHE SLEPT directorships when they retire or get sacked Lest we forget : Nellie Spindler, a nurse from by the voters, contrasts sharply with the Wakefi eld who lied about her age to get into treatment meted out to the under-funded front-line trauma surgery in the trenches, health service. was the only woman to die in the 1917 battle NHS hospitals in England and Wales will of Passchendaele which claimed the lives of IF HUNT have to pay business rates totalling £1.83 325,000 Allied soldiers. WAS BILLION over the next fi ve years, after the Nellie, 24 when she enlisted Government changed the system in April and (you were supposed to be DOING hiked up the bill by a whopping 21 per cent 25 to serve as a military HIS JOB over the same period. nurse) was killed by a PROPERLY, So, the NHS, a not-for-profi t public body German bomb as she slept HE’D DO funded by the taxpayer and in desperate in her tent, dying in the SOMETHING fi nancial straits, is taken to the cleaners, while arms of fellow Wakefi eld ABOUT THE the profi teering private sector, in large part nurse Minnie Wood. SCANDAL also funded by the taxpayer, is given a gigantic It’s people like her we hand-out. should remember, not the Hospitals in Yorkshire and Humberside are stupid politicians or the all hit by this crazy state of aff airs, and some gung-ho generals.

££ £ WINTER 2017 UNISON ACTIVE! 33

PRIVATE HEALTH CARE

SOFT IN T’ED get a better educational start than I got at All NOGUNS Callers to Radio Leeds suggested that Big Saints Junior Mixed and Infants, Normanton HERE Ben’s silenced bongs could be replaced by And if he turns out like his father and Eyup! Or Eebygum! grandfather, academic prowess will not be West Yorkshire police Thawat? his forte. chiefs were right to HE’S A LEG END SLOW DOWN! ask the public, and their own officers, Cricket legend Geoff rey Boycott has wanted HS2, the high-speed rail link due to open if bobbies should be a knighthood for longer than he held a long after many of us are pushing up the armed. county bat. daisies, should be scrapped, says think-tank Whether or not He rather likes friends calling him ‘Sir Policy North. they like the answer is Geoff rey’, even if he has nothing more royal It should be replaced by Hyperloop, in another matter. than an OBE. which pods travel up to 740 mph through Two thirds of the He’s been turned down twice, sealed tubes in a vacuum, cutting the force and members of presumably on the grounds of a criminal journey time from Yorkshire to London to the public don’t want conviction in a French court for assaulting thirty minutes. officers to carry guns his ex, Margaret Moore. Dunno about you, but I’d rather it was routinely. If he ever was going to become genuinely extended to thirty hours in that direction, But nine out of ten Sir Geoff rey, he certainly isn’t going to be such is my diminishing appetite for the officers and almost now, after a racist outburst. capital. the same number In fact, he’s lucky to be hanging on to of the public do his job as a Test match commentator for the BUTTY OUTRAGE want front-line law BBC. The perfect bacon sandwich, according to enforcers to be armed Boycott said he might stand a better Leeds-born (on the same date as me, but very with Taser electro- chance of his ‘K’ if he ‘blacked up’ - a much later) chef-star Marco Pierre White, is shock weapons – stun clear reference to the seven West Indian four rashers of bacon, microwaved, between guns, in plain words. cricketers who have been knighted. two slices of crusty white bread. This is a reassuring He thought he could get away with this No butter, or sauce, brown or ketchup. outcome. Armed cops slur because he was in ‘a private meeting’ - a None of your fancy cobs, or rolls or kill too frequently – up £300-a-head hospitality dinner. He should barmcakes or Scottish bridies. to a thousand times a know that in the age of the iPhone, nowhere And the pig probably once lived around year in the USA. is private any more. Humberside, too. Great swine country, that. I don’t want to Boycott was clean bowled by the Daily But microwaved bacon? live in a Trump-style Mirror, and was forced to apologise. Would society, and neither, it he have done so if the Beeb and his lawyers EARWIGGING seems do our police or had not advised it? Overheard a remark by an elderly lady on our citizens. That lingering doubt tells me faux the bus to Airedale hospital: “An old woman Sir G is not fi t for the public honour he so is a young woman who can’t understand embarrassingly craves. what’s happened!”

TOO TAXING SAME OLD SYSTEM Prince George, third in line to the throne, Archaelogists searching for a treadmill has started to attend a private prep school in former Northallerton prison need in Battersea. The fees are £17,604 a year, look no further than the nearest payable from our taxes. hospital to ﬁ nd that the system is still Well, bully for him, but I doubt if he’ll fully operational. n

The views expressed in this column are not necessarily those of UNISON 34 UNISON ACTIVE! WINTER 2017 FEATURE RIGHTS ANOTHER VICTORY

UNISON has won a major breakthrough on bargaining rights, says Paul Shevlin, an employments rights lawyer in Thompsons Solicitors’ Leeds office

NISON hit the should have been consulted, from collective consultation headlines again despite UK law excluding rights is a breach of the with another offi cers in the police service, European Convention of landmark case and their representatives, Human Rights, making ANOTHER which reached from these rights. The union it harder for employers to GOOD Uthe Court of Appeal only argued that the borough’s neglect staff in the process REASON a week after their major failure to consult breached of making changes to their TO BE tribunal fees victory the right to freedom of workplaces. A UNISON (page 14). This time, the association under the While the case is a victory MEMBER union was championing European Convention of for collective rights and the ability of unions to Human Rights. should send a message to demand consultation employers that they will over changes that aff ect SIGNIFICANT have to treat their staff with particular workers. In The Court of Appeal more consideration and winning the case, UNISON acknowledged that ‘the consistently consult with secured an important right to bargain collectively their representatives in a extension to workers’ rights, with the employer has, meaningful way, the detail of reverberating far beyond the in principle, become one this decision means there is particulars of the case. of the essential elements’ still an uphill batt le to ensure The case concerned of the right to freedom of that its principles can be police park offi cers, who association. The court said applied to other cases. are traditionally excluded UNISON could continue As UNISON has proved from collective consultation with their batt le for a yet again, unions will obligations. The employer’s protective award claim, fi ght to protect members’ exclusion from these which would compensate fundamental freedoms obligations usually means the workers for the and push the boundaries that the offi cers’ bosses employer’s failure to consult. of laws to ensure collective escape the need to consult The judgment has consultation when bosses with representatives of signifi cant wider seek to impose changes on employees when making implications for workers. It their workforce. Another potential redundancies, but could enable trade unions to good reason to be a UNISON the decision from the Court argue that other exclusions member! n of Appeal could change things for good. UNISON’s case was FreeAdvice against the London Borough of Wandsworth. It UNISON members and their families can access free legal advice, delivered centered on two park police by Thompsons, as part of their union membership. For advice or support call constables who had been 0800 0 857 857 or visit www.thompsonstradeunion.law/trade-unions/unison made redundant. A key for more information. Significant Implications issue was whether UNISON - Paul Shevlin ADVERTISING SPACE Public services need a pay rise For years now public service workers have seen their pay held back by government in the name of austerity. First a freeze then a cap, resulting in public sector pay rising by just 4.4% between 2010 and 2016 while the cost of living rose by 22%.

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION: In order to make your first claim, you must have been to see your dentist within the last twelve months for a full examination. Any pre-existing condition or ongoing treatment is not covered; only new dental conditions that occur after joining are covered by this plan. Cover is for NHS dental charges only as per the English banding charges and no cover is provided for any private dentistry charges on this plan. You can join the NHS Dental Plan up to your 70th birthday and use the policy for as long as you wish. 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 NHS Dental Plan is 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.

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