ELECTION SPECIAL UNISON 2015

THEACTIVE! MAGAZINE FOR MEMBERS IN YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE SPRING 2015 | ISSUE 20 | £3 WWW.UNISON-YORKS.ORG.UK If Cameron wins on May 7 will the last person to leave the public service please turn out the lights PLEASE YOUR USE ( ) VOTE WITH NO APOLOGIES TO THE SUN UNISON members struggling through an unexpected crisis can get help from ‘there for you’ by:-

Contacting their Branch Welfare Offi cer Calling us on 020 7121 5620

You can also fi nd out more information by visiting our website

www.unison.org.uk/get-help/ - Financial assistance help-with-problems-at-home/ - Debt advice there-for-you/ - Wellbeing breaks Registered charity number 1023552 - Support & information

Please make sure our members are aware of the help that is available in these diffi cult times. SPRING 2015 UNISON ACTIVE! 03 WELCOME

THE KEY TO VICTORY e’re in the But many people redundant or who’ve OurUnion midst of the have still not left and not been DAVE closest registered – they risk replaced. General Secretary W PRENTIS Dave Prentis election in living having no voice and And if David GENERAL Regional Secretary SECRETARY memory – even no say over who Cameron remains in John Cafferty hardened political wins in May. There charge, there’ll be no

Regional Convenor pundits say the result is still time to sign let-up in the cuts. Wendy Nichols is too close to call. up but the deadline Much worse is

UNISON With everything to is April 20. coming down the Yorkshire & Humberside play for, the attention Since 2010 track if – despite all Commerce House, Wade Lane, Leeds LS2 8NJ between now and UNISON members their attacks on T: 08000 857 857 or freephone polling day is all on working in hospitals public services – the textphone 08000 967 968 W: www.unison-yorks.org.uk 100 or so key and local councils Tories somehow marginal seats – as across Yorkshire and manage to form a Lines are open 6am-midnight Monday-Friday and it’s here that the Humberside have government in May. 9am-4pm Saturdays election will be won. been on the receiving So don’t let them Several of these are end of the destroy the public Editor in Yorkshire and the Government’s harsh services you care so Barrie Clement Humber – in austerity programme. much about. Don’t Consulting Editor constituencies like Pay frozen or held leave the NHS and Mary Maguire Bradford East and back, spending local services at the Chief Photographer Dewsbury where the slashed, services mercy of the Tories Jim Varney votes of UNISON axed, hard-pressed for five more years. Contributors members could prove staff working hours of Make sure you have Peter Carroll, Amanda Dixon, Ryan Fletcher, Helen Hague, Mary Maguire, crucial in determining unpaid overtime to a vote on May 7 – Anne Mitchell, Paul Routledge and Tristram Sterry who gets the keys to cover for colleagues and use that vote No 10. who’ve been made wisely. Cover Image Adapted from Sun newspaper. David Cameron: Valsts kanceleja / State Chancellery, Rga, Latvija / Wiki Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic Let’s kick out the tax dodgers license, Lightbulb: Somchai Som / Shutterstock In the past five years our defend jobs and services. Published on behalf of UNISON by WENDY members have suffered a The Care UK strikers in Doncaster not only Century One Publishing Ltd. NICHOLS sustained and vicious attack on held out for 90 days to protect their own pay Alban Row, 27-31 Verulam Road REGIONAL St. Albans, Herts AL3 4DG their jobs and incomes from the and conditions, they also set the agenda for a CONVENOR T: 01727 893 894 Tory-led Coalition. national debate about privatisation. F: 01727 893 895 E: [email protected] W.Nichols From the start, they set out The Labour Party has pledged to put a halt W: www.centuryonepublishing.uk deliberately to destroy unions and to further NHS privatisation by abolishing Advertising enquiries privatise the public services which all of us the Health and Social Care Act the David Murray T: 01727 739 182 rely on. Government rushed through Parliament. E: [email protected] The Tories and their allies hate public Meanwhile, thousands more jobs will go in

Design and art editing services and – even more – the very principle local government as a result of huge central Miny Sharma and Sarah Ryan of unions defending the rights of government budget cuts. T: 01727 739 189 E: [email protected] members who provide the We must get rid of this Government next sservices. month and the only way to do that is to vote Printed by Unison Print But we have not folded. Labour.

Copyright reproduction in whole or part by UUNISON has led the fight We cannot wake up to find this any means without written permission of the publisher is strictly forbidden. UNISON and aagainst this corrupt bunch of heartless, the publisher accept no responsibility for errors, omissions or the consequences GGovernment. We have tax dodging thereof. ffoughto back at every turn millionaires have © UNISON 2015 aand fully supported our somehow clung on mmembers in every form of to power. We must aaction they have taken to vote them out. 04 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2015 ELECTION NEWS SPECIAL

More battles ahead over NHS pay

More than two-thirds of UNISON members working in the NHS voted to accept the latest pay offer after a last minute concession from the Government. The members were due to take further strike action in their long- running pay dispute with the Con-Dem Government. They were outraged when ministers refused to accept a recommended

one per cent pay rise / Shutterstock Apatsara Image: proposed by the independent pay review body. negotiation. to be done in future to and justice. The offer which was But he said the issue of bring about real and “The fact that there is a accepted included a one fair pay for NHS workers lasting improvements. General Election per cent payment for staff has not “Our members have approaching is probably up to senior level, an gone away been targeted by this why the Government has extra £200 for lower paid and there Coalition Government for come up with an offer, to staff and the bottom level is much the past five years. They avoid industrial action for of pay boosted to £15,100 more have suffered years of pay the time being. a year. freezes, which are pay cuts “Their record on the UNISON’s regional in reality as prices rise. NHS is appalling and they head of health, Tony “The industrial action want the health service Pearson, said the offer they have already taken pushed as far off the was the best that could shows they are prepared political agenda as have been gained through to stand up for fairness possible.” Tony Pearson Heather wins the argument over facility time at York council

Attacks on facility time lay officials to represent saved by employers employer. for UNISON activists to colleagues after listening through reductions in “But this is not an ‘us represent members are to the arguments of workplace injury and and them’ arrangement. still a grave threat as the branch secretary Heather illness every year. Facility time is a sensible Taxpayers’ Alliance McKenzie. Heather said: “One of and cost effective means pushes its anti-union She reminded them of the lines of argument is of ensuring good agenda. their legal obligations that they are in favour practice and fairness. Councillors in York regarding time off to of the system but want But I have no doubt this voted against a proposal represent members, and our members to pay for will rear its head again to slash paid time off for of the millions of pounds it instead of the somewhere else.” SPRING 2015 UNISON ACTIVE! 05

Only Labour can stop the destruction of our public services

There is a simple and Government,” said Ken. tax avoiders and Tory inflicted on ordinary stark choice for UNISON “I would say to Party donors to pay the working people and their members at the everyone, whether they tax they owe. He has families. forthcoming General are traditional Labour stood up to the “They are openly on Election, says regional supporters or not, go out powerful elites who the side of the rich and Labour Link chair Ken and vote for the only have dictated powerful. They cut the Curran. party that can Government policy for top rate of tax for He says that if the realistically stop the so long. millionaires and did Tories retain power, either Con-Dems from piling “It is clearly in the nothing to tackle tax outright or in an alliance even more needless pain interests of all trade avoidance. with other right-wing on our communities. union members, and all “That’s why they parties, they will complete Only one party can do working people, to get donate fortunes to the the destruction of our that.” this government out of Tory Party - for ‘services’ public services they set Ken believes Labour office. rendered. We have to rid out to achieve in 2010. and Ed Miliband are “I hope all of us ourselves of them.” If Labour gains power, offering voters genuine make sure our they will repeal the change for the better, families and privatisation charter characterised by the friends are known as the Health and battle with David registered to Social Care Act, clamp Cameron over MPs’ vote and that down on mass tax second jobs. they use that avoidance and invest the He said: “He has vote for resulting income in pledged that if he gains Labour. urgently needed social power in May, no “We must housing and job creation. Labour MP will be not let the “The decision for our allowed to have a second Tories extend members is obvious. They job. the misery have been cruelly treated “He has also made no they have by the Tory/Lib Dem bones about tackling the already

Ken Curran Ken Curran

In the 2010 election, 35% of Britons had no say about PLEASE who would represent them over the next five years. USE YOUR This included 9.1 million women. Some seats were VOTE decided by as little as 50 votes, so please use your vote

For those who are not registered to vote, the deadline is April 20. Go to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote All you need is your name, address, date of birth and National Insurance number. Otherwise you could contact the Electoral Registration Officer at your local council. DON’T SUFFER IN SILENCE!

UNISON’s welfare fund is unique in the union movement and it’s definitely ‘There for You’, says branch activist Anne Szcepanska. Peter Carroll reports

NISON branch welfare officer Anne Szcepanska is a firm believer Uin the maxim, a problem shared is a problem

halved. Andy Paraskos Images: She is working hard to get the message out to UNISON members suffering financial sponsored walks around of individuals and whole hardship that the welfare Hadrian’s Wall and the three communities, welfare services fund ‘There For You’ is ready peaks in Snowdonia. are going to be a vital lifeline and willing to come to their Members can apply to take for increasing numbers. aid. part in these events and we Anne, health and safety and are asking people to try to GENUINE welfare officer for Leeds raise £700 each in sponsorship When a member seeks a community health branch, has to make sure the service is completely confidential been involved in similar roles ~ financed. meeting with Anne, she talks in UNISON for more than 14 “We have regional welfare through with them what their years. committees and people are immediate problems are. Married with three elected onto them from They go through an children, she joined COHSE regional committee and application form together and in 1977 when she was a WHEN WE regional council. It is a key assess what the fund can do nursing assistant working SAY THE component of what we do as to help. with people with learning SERVICE a union and I am doing all I She said: “Obviously we difficulties at Meanwood Park IS THERE can to make sure we prioritise make sure that any Hospital in Leeds. FOR YOU, the service to our members.” application is based on “There For You is a charity WE MEAN IT And as the endless genuine need and then try to and we are the only trade austerity imposed by pay cuts work out the best ways to union to have one,” she says. and ever rising bills corrodes help. “We hold quiz nights and ~ the lives “I get around seven SPRING 2015 UNISON ACTIVE! 07 WELFARE FEATURE

applications a year, which is “For example, people with not as many as I thought there disabilities are put in touch would be in the current with DIAL which specialises financial climate. in that area and can give “I think a lot of people are invaluable advice and support. too proud to seek help, and “We also help others to gain perhaps some members are access to victim support not aware of the help that is services.” available. Figures across the country “We have newsletters and show a massive 38 per cent other information for increase in applications for members and we tell people help with heating bills and the about it when we have the best part of £1 million has chance. But I think we should been paid out – significantly be doing even more to up since the cuts started to be promote the service.” inflicted on public services. Applicants are not given STRUGGLING cash payment. The debt is A typical case dealt with by dealt with by UNISON welfare Anne involved a member who experts after they have seen was off work through ill- copies of the relevant bills and health and was on half pay. paperwork. s Above: Anne equally. That’s what we are The member was suddenly helps out at It is a demanding role St George’s Crypt here for. unable to pay rent and bills for because such financial worries foodbank, Leeds “I think it is certainly true gas and electricity and was can drive people to despair that a problem shared is a struggling even to buy enough and they are often very problem halved. food. emotionally and “I want to tell people not Thanks to There For You, psychologically damaged by to suffer in silence. If you are UNISON was able to help their experience. struggling to cope, contact with those bills and pay for Anne said: “Sometimes it your branch and ask to speak some food and clothing to tide can make me feel a bit to the welfare officer. When the family over until the despairing. Some people just we say the service is There member could get back to cannot see the full picture For You, we mean it.” n work. because they are in such a bad Anne said: “I’ve had people way. coming in and I’ve had to “You have to have patience direct them to a foodbank, to help people understand HelpAtHand usually the St George’s Crypt their situation. A lot of tact and in Leeds because we also persuasiveness are required to If you are a member and you are experiencing financial donate food to them. help people through their difficulties, whatever the circumstances, There for You “We have built up a rotation problems. can offer you support. list and we work with “And it is very rewarding organisations in Hunslet, when someone comes through There is no guarantee of financial help, but thousands of Beeston, Horsforth and Moor a crisis because we have been members and their families benefit from the fund every year. Allerton. able to help them. One “But it’s not only payments, member came to thank me and For more information call 020 7121 5620 or email we also provide advice with said she couldn’t have got [email protected] or contact your branch welfare things like debt and benefits through without us. That is officer. entitlements to help people get very striking, and you know For those who would like to support this vital work, the some longer term solutions to that you have made a monthly Octopus lottery is a great way to do it. You can their problems. We direct difference. find out more about the lottery at the website above. people to the best advice to “Our firm policy is that all meet their particular needs. members should be treated 08 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2015 FEATURE MEDIA REVIEW

GAFFES GALORE

First there was ‘Pinkgate’, then there was ‘Nungate’… closely followed by ‘Finkgate’.

The press loves to whip up a frenzy about something, says Mary Maguire ~ was sitting shouting at (Catholic Herald). Doncaster North, Mr Ed the television one Only a public flogging Miliband, landed a punch on Thursday evening. Not would redeem the situation. the Tories in that weekly bear IT’S NOT for the first time. It’s The Yorkshire Post’s pit known as Prime Minister’s WHAT THE Iusually provoked by reporting was typical ‘Hunt Question Time. About rich PARTIES some self-appointed, says sorry after nun Tory donors who avoided OFFER opinionated, right-wing gaffe’. Although the London tax. THAT ‘guest’ on Question Evening Standard’s Sam His attack sent the tax OBSESSES Time. Some billy-no-mates Leith naively avoiders, the Tory Party and THE MEDIA, blogger or some odious tax- asked: “Monstering people the media into a feeding avoider that the BBC seems into declaring a position on frenzy. The story totally IT’S HOW to think representative of nuns – is that where we’ve eclipsed Nungate and MUCH well, who exactly? got to in our political Pinkgate in impact, duration RAGE This particular Thursday debate?” and rage. It was a sensation. CAN BE was during the so-called long No, don’t be silly, Sam. The WHIPPED General Election campaign. colour of a bus is a much DODGERS UP The time of the zombie more interesting subject for a Tory donor Lord Fink, took Parliament. And it led to the political dissertation. Not exception and, egged on by first of the three BIG stories any old bus. Not a cerise Tory HQ, harrumphed to the ~ that characterises the finest of bus. Not a magenta bus. But nation’s media: political reporting. a full-on pink bus, well van, “If Ed Miliband whants to It’s not what the parties actually. The Labour ‘woman himply I did anything offer that obsesses the media. to woman’ van. impwoper in my welationship It’s not what they said. It’s Pinkgate: A modern tale of with HSBC, I would lake him more how they said it, what how Labour’s plan to reach to say that owtside Pahlament they forgot to say, how they the 9.1m women who didn’t where he is not hiding behind looked, what they wore and vote at the last General Pahlamentary pwivilege, at how much rage can be Election, crashed into a which pint I will soo him” whipped up. media storm. In common parlance: “Patronising to women” “Outside mate, if you fink PRAYERS screamed the Telegraph & you’re hard enough.” Labour’s Tristram Hunt fell Argus (et al). Then there was Ed, apparently was. As mouth first into a hole. He the shocking news: “Man to the Harrogate Advertiser sneered at the notion of nuns drive pink bus” (Yorkshire remarked: “Miliband won’t educating arch right-whinger Post). Regional newspapers back down and vows to go Cristina Odone. And so wanted to know when it was after tax dodgers.” Fink then Nungate was born. coming to their patch so that blinked first and confessed to Journalists were despatched they, too, could ridicule ‘vanilla’ tax avoidance with to find any nuns willing to be it. Yorkshire & Humber, you the breathtaking claim that Mary Maguire ‘incandescent’ (Mail), ‘deeply have been warned. everyone does it (NorthYorks is retiring as offended’ (Express), or even Inevitably, such is the news et al). And the media UNISON’S head of ‘a bit upset’ (Radio Coast fickle nature of the news, tempest continued. press and broadcasting, but radio). Sister Maria Concepta Pinkgate gave way to Vanillagate anyone? will continue to declared that she would Finkgate. Oh, and vote Labour, write for Active! remember him in her prayers The Rt Hon Member for please. n UNISON is proud of being a democratic member-led union. UNISON members should always be aware of this and encouraged to take part in shaping our union. The National Executive Council (NEC) elections begin on 7 April 2015, and voting ends on 15 May 2015.

When people are not on the electoral register and therefore not eligible to vote, it’s democracy that suffers. Politics becomes less representative and less effective.

In the 2010 election, 35% of British adults didn’t have a say in who would represent them over the next fi ve years. This included 9.1 8iXelibgXVbhagf million women. \ag[X:XaXeT_8_XVg\ba And when you consider that some seats were decided by ba*g[@Tl%#$( as little as 50 votes last time, https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote every vote really does count. 10 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2015 FEATURE ELECTION

Some of Yorkshire and Humberside’s most Ryan Fletcher precious public services will be impossible to resurrect if the Tories get in again. talks to regional officials

here's no time to "She's been working in that in this together.' In fact it has

mince words, says position for ten years on the been a typical Tory

UNISON regional correct pay band. They can't transference of wealth from secretary John just decide to lower it on a the many and the poorest to TCafferty. The ~ whim," says one UNISON the few and the richest. upcoming general election is officer into his phone. Similar People cannot underestimate the last chance to stem the conversations are taking place the damage they have done to severe and irreparable all over the building. public services and the damage being done to our LABOUR Nearly one million public quality of life for working public services and to society MIGHT sector jobs have been lost people," he said. at large. NOT BE since the Tories came to At the desks outside his power, and many more are DECISIONS office at the union's Leeds PERFECT under attack. Despite this, UNISON does all it can to headquarters phones are BUT IT'S austerity measures have not defend its members, but in ringing bearing messages CERTAINLY decreased the country's debt the end what dictates from members under fire A FAR and vital services are on their whether we will live in a from slash and burn Tory BETTER knees. Policy shifts benefiting country that values everyone policies. All day everyday CHOICE the forces of privatisation and - rather than just a powerful corners are fought for people THAN aimed at creating a country few - comes down to a public working under increasingly THE TORIES ruled by the rich have been vote this May. Friends, family, difficult circumstances. The disguised as a roadmap to colleagues and neighbours pressure is palpable and the recovery, says John. hold the cards now, and their clock is ticking. ~ "Their mantra was 'we're all decisions will affect Britain

SPRING 2015 UNISON ACTIVE! 11 ~ will create an environment suicide rates - it all comes where the wealth starts to from this fracturing of our transfer back from those communities and society." WE'VE favoured few down to the The drain started in 2010 SEEN majority." when the coalition abolished MONEY Tory governance has not Labour’s grant funding for SHIFTED just widened the divide local authorities in FROM between those with money economically disadvantaged NORTHERN and those without, it has also areas - which are TOWNS caused tensions between disproportionally in the TO THE various geographical regions. north. Since then more and MORE Britain is in danger of more money has been becoming fractured; a siphoned from the north and AFFLUENT situation reflected in the directed to the south. SOUTH growing influence of smaller For example instead of parties on the political funding being distributed landscape. equally, as happened before, ~ local authorities where more FUNDAMENTAL new homes are being built are Regional head of local allocated more. Most of that government Chris Jenkinson money has gone south to explained that in the authorities experiencing a Yorkshire and Humber robust economic climate. region Conservative policies The same thing has have not only decreased happened with business rates. funding but unfairly Once a centralised tax that reshaped how it is allocated. was wholly redistributed "The amount of money according to a needs based

Image: Marcus Gann / Shutterstock Marcus Image: provided to local formula, now only 50 percent government by central is divided up fairly, with the government has been cut by remaining half being kept by for years to come. 50 per cent. As part of that, the local authority. "Labour might not be we've seen money being Again areas such as perfect but it's certainly a far shifted from northern towns Barnsley have been hit hard, better choice than what's and cities to the more while areas such as facing them if the Tories get affluent and prosperous Westminster grow fat. Under back in again. We urge people south. Thanks to cuts in a new Tory government these to cast their vote the right refuse collection, grass disparities will only get way because if the Tories cutting and road mending. worse, says Chris. come back we won't be able the degeneration in our "This is exactly what the to remedy this in another five towns and cities is noticeable Tories want. A small state, years’ time. There won't be to everyone," said Chris. deregulation, pro- anything left to salvage. "What people don't see are privatisation, tax cuts for the There are services they've the cuts to quality of life and rich and the creation of an destroyed that we will never John Cafferty safeguarding services: day underclass. We need a change get back." John told me. centres for the elderly, of government," Chris said. "Labour would halt the libraries, children's and "We're absolutely clear, decline. It's not turning a young peoples' centres. unequivocal: Labour is the speed boat, this is turning a These services are only other party that bloody great oil tanker and fundamental for the well- represents a realistic chance of it's going to take years if not being of communities. Social forming the next government decades to repair the damage isolation, loneliness, the and we're asking people to they've done. Labour can deterioration in people's take that into consideration start to make changes that Chris Jenkinson mental health, the increase in when they vote.” n 12 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2015 FEATURE EMERGENCY SERVICE Image: Mark Harvey

AT THE SHARP END UNISON rep Emma Schofield never fights shy of a tough job. Anne Mitchell speaks to a young woman who daily deals with life or death situations

t only 30 years old the back of her hand. A and working closely with the

Emma Schofield former pupil of Elmhurst police. No two days were the has a tough job as High School in Worsbrough same and I got to see a lot of a despatcher for ~ Dale, she left school at 16 with the country. Part of me still ASouth Yorkshire plans to go into social work. regrets leaving.” Police. When a member of the She studied advanced health When on occasions fights public dials 999 or 101 she and social care at Barnsley broke out Emma, had to makes sure that all the details AS A CALL College but the job that caught restrain prisoners and she get to the right officer, in the her eye was as a prisoner sustained a number of right place to deal with the HANDLER custody officer for G4S - she injuries over her four years emergency - fast. Despite her YOU NEVER was just 19 at the time. with G4S. age Emma has ‘form’ working KNOW “Being young I thought “On one occasion I was in demanding jobs – firstly as WHAT why not? It was very hard handcuffed to a prisoner who a prisoner custody officer, YOU’RE work – imagine a nineteen- nearly pulled my arm out of then a neighbourhood warden GOING year-old girl transporting its socket damaging all the and more recently as a police TO GET mostly male prisoners – I got ligaments. It was a bad injury call handler. NEXT a lot of stick initially. But I and I was recovering at home Barnsley born and bred, enjoyed it, taking prisoners up when I saw an advert for a Emma lives and works in the and down the country Neighbourhood Warden with city and knows the area like ~ between courts and prisons Barnsley Council. It was

SPRING 2015 UNISON ACTIVE! 13 based in a police station going to get next. One ~ various departments and working closely with officers minute it could be a robbery, stress levels are rising. and Police Community a missing child or even a People are struggling and Support Officers and I saw it murder and the next IT CAN BE there are a lot of issues like as a route into the force. It something really trivial. It STRESSFUL sickness, capability and also meant working with can be stressful with people WITH fairness at work to deal with. people before they got screaming down the phone or PEOPLE As a rep UNISON has arrested and I was definitely in a real panic and you have SCREAMING arranged for me to go on interested in that.” to keep calm and get all the DOWN various training courses and information you need to send THE PHONE I have been accepted on an UNCERTAINTY help quickly.” OR IN A on-line employment law Emma became part of the course run by the TUC. Safer Neighbourhood Scheme PRESSURE REAL PANIC There is a lot to do and learn. working closely with police Around this time staff at “Lately I have been officers and liaising with South Yorkshire Police started involved in a project looking residents, councillors and to feel the impact of the ~ at staff morale focusing on MPs. Based on a council Governments’ cuts on the the comms section. We put estate in Barnsley, the job force. Jobs were slashed and in a report before Christmas involved visiting elderly districts merged and Emma with recommendations and people needing reassurance, was redeployed as a are waiting for a response. dealing with antisocial dispatcher. She relays calls “I have changed my mind behaviour, helping for help taken by the call about becoming a police youngsters to stay out of handlers to officers on the officer. I am happy where I trouble and sorting out street. It is another high am and I enjoy the job I do. I disputes between neighbours, pressure, round the clock job. work shifts, day and night fly tippers etc. Despite cuts in staff the centre and I couldn’t go back to a 9 It was a job Emma enjoyed is increasingly busy - they – 5 job. My partner Darren but there was no guaranteed dealt with more than 4000 has been a police officer for funding for the project after calls on Boxing Day alone. 14 years so we are used to it. three years. At that time The pressure of the cuts on Despite the difficulties and Government cuts were hitting staff and the small number of current pay dispute Emma Barnsley hard as in councils UNISON reps in the describes South Yorkshire across the region. With so communications department, Police as “A good place to much uncertainty hanging persuaded Emma to become work, certainly challenging over her, Emma spotted an more active in July last year. and where every day is admin post with South “We’ve lost 500 staff in different.” n Yorkshire Police. She admits to being a bit apprehensive about applying because she had never worked in an TheAgreement office, but saw it as a way of getting a foot in the door. UNISON police staff in England and Wales voted to accept a pay offer following an 87 per cent She started by arranging vote in favour. non-urgent appointments for police officers or PCSOs with The Deal the public. However, she n A 2.2 per cent or £400 increase, whichever is greater, on all pay points from March 1, 2015; quickly moved into a more n A 2.2 per cent increase on standby allowances from the same date. high pressure job in the n It will cover the 18 months to August 31, 2016 and UNISON hoped the increase would be in communications team as a March salaries. call handler dealing with 999 and 101 calls. Members rejected a 1 per cent pay rise last summer and strike dates were set for December 22 “As a call handler you and January 23. The action was suspended to allow further talks. never know what you’re DON’T TRUST UKIP WENDY’S WARNING

Ukip pretends to be the workers’ friend, but in reality it’s right-wing, racist and ‘all over the place’, says regional convenor Wendy Nichols. Barrie Clement reports

egional convenor its activists tell people that s Above: Wendy convenience because they - They’re playing Wendy Nichols they are on their side; the on people’s fears know the openly violent believes you can great defender of public racism of their former parties trust Ukip. “You services, particularly the NHS. holds little appeal for the Rcan trust it just “And it plays on people’s electorate,” she says. In fact about as far as you can throw fears over unemployment the membership of many its leader Nigel Farage,” she and low wages, blaming neo-Nazi and fascist groups says. immigrants for all the has plummeted to a 20-year As the general election country’s ills. The reality is low with many finding a safe

nears, Ukip is trying to be ‘all that it was City bankers like haven in Ukip, according to

things to all people’ in a Farage who created the campaigning organisation desperate effort to win votes, economic mess we’re in, not Hope Not Hate. says Wendy. immigrants. Basically Ukip is ~ Farrage’s ramshackle outfit “In the middle class shires a multi-headed racist has even attracted some of southern England it monster that has got too big disgruntled Lib Dems and portrays itself as an ultra- for its boots.” Labour members – and Thatcherite organisation: the YOU CAN people without any only party capable of keeping FASCISTS discernible politics the workers down and In a hard-hitting interview TRUST whatsoever. carrying the political torch of with Active! Wendy pointed UKIP There are some who have The Blessed Margaret. to Ukip’s general election AS FAR hopped from party to party. “In the South, it emphasises candidates in Yorkshire and AS YOU Wendy gives the example of its crusade to leave the Humberside, who are often CAN Amjad Bashir, MEP for European Union, cut taxes from the Thatcherite wing of THROW Yorkshire and the Humber, and rid the country of red the Conservative party and NIGEL who left Ukip to join the tape - or basic employment who think the Tories have FARAGE Conservatives in January rights as we call them. gone too soft. amid allegations of “In working class areas of “And then there are the irregularities. The Respect Yorkshire and Humberside, fascists sailing under a flag of ~ party says he had once been

SPRING 2015 UNISON ACTIVE! 15

THE FAR RIGHT FEATURE one of its members and that according to United Nations ~ transferred into the private he had told them that he had figures – and Ukip wants us sector, would also go. previously been an active to be more like the And for good measure, member of Labour. Americans. Has Farage taken WORKING Searchlight magazine, which “Most local and county leave of his senses? Well, yes PEOPLE investigates the far right, has councillors – of whatever he has.” SHOULD uncovered an emerging scab party – will tell you that Ukip To make Britain even more THINK union with close links to councillors are all over the like the USA, Farage wants VERY HARD Ukip and which seeks to place. Many of them have no millionaires to pay less tax. INDEED poach members from idea about their party’s Someone currently being BEFORE legitimate unions like policies – and when they do, paid £1m a year would VOTING UNISON. they disagree about them.” receive a £43,150 windfall FOR UKIP “Working people should As to being defenders of from all the tax changes think very hard indeed the NHS, Wendy points to proposed by Ukip at its before placing their cross by footage which emerged Doncaster conference. the Ukip candidate,” says recently of Farage saying he Meanwhile someone in the ~ Wendy. “They are not on our would feel more bottom 10 per cent (with pay side”. n ‘comfortable’ if Britain’s less than £6,284) of pay healthcare system was would receive nothing. opened up to the “Farage is desperate to ‘marketplace’. pose as the ‘worker’s friend’ HopeNotHate Speaking to UKIP to win votes outside the gin supporters just two years ago and tonic belt in the Home The campaigning organisation Farage said: “I think we are Counties – and there are Hope not Hate keeps an eye on going to have to move to an some on lower pay who will Ukip and far right groups like the insurance-based system of benefit from Ukip’s planned British National Party. The aim is healthcare.” That would tax policies - but the real to provide a positive antidote to make Britain like the USA, winners are those at the top,” the politics of hate. It combines where the healthcare you says Wendy. thorough research with receive depends on your “Ukip would widen the community organising and bank balance. massive and growing gap grassroots action to defeat hate between rich and poor even groups at elections and to build WEAPONS community resilience against further. Its plan to scrap extremism. Another loony policy, which inheritance tax, which raises would make us more like £3.3bn a year, will make it It says: “Hate is often the America, is the legalisation of even worse. consequence of a loss of hope handguns, a deranged “I’ve tried to find out and a political articulation of resolution passed by Ukip at about their policies on despair, but given an alternative, its conference last year in employment rights,” says especially one that understands Doncaster. Wendy, “but unsurprisingly, and addresses their anger, most Farage reckons the present UKIP focuses on leaving people will choose HOPE over hate. Our job is to expose and ban on such weapons is behind the ‘regulatory undermine groups that ‘ludicrous’. The Ukip leader burdens’ of Europe.” preach hate, intolerance criticised the ‘kneejerk’ That would put an end to and division whilst restrictions on handguns laws on working time, uniting communities imposed after the 1996 redundancy and sick pay around what they have Dunblane massacre in which among scores of other in common.” Thomas Hamilton killed 16 essential rights. Amid the schoolchildren and a teacher present mania for contracting To affiliate your UNISON branch before shooting himself. out and privatisation, the to Trade Union Friends of Hope not Hate, please email Jean at Says Wendy: “The murder TUPE legislation which [email protected] rate in the USA is nearly five protects workers’ terms and times worse than the UK conditions when they are 16 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2015 FEATURE NHS

IT’S LIFE OR DEATH Senior activists Ann Moses and John Campbell warn of deadly consequences for the National Health Service if the Tories get back in. Peter Carroll reports

eputy regional benefit from it. convenor John “We must remember that Campbell is this is all public sector money frighteningly clear that they are helping Dabout the themselves to. We are seeing consequences of another something similar to the Tory-led government after the massive lobbying in the USA General Election. against Obamacare, which was John says it would mark designed to provide health the death of the NHS as we care for millions of Americans know it. who currently have none. UNISON’s joint branch “These companies also have secretary at Sheffield their eye on the NHS as they Teaching Hospitals Trust, says seek to strip its assets and feed Government budget cuts, the profits to their wage freezes and the failure shareholders. We must not let to train enough medical staff them destroy our most have already caused a crisis in treasured public service.

every part of the country. “But the only way we can Health services are in chaos prevent it is to get rid of this This hypocrisy is not lost on

as most people - not least Government in May.” UNISON members. members of the coalition As a branch activist at government - knew they HYPOCRISY ~ Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, would be when the Health UNISON members had John has close experience of and Social Care Act was endured more than four years what is happening to front- passed. of pay freeze, leaving them line services. This situation has provided struggling just to meet the He said: “To take one the very opportunity right- ever-rising cost of food, WE MUST example, on a recent day in wing politicians desired - to housing and heating. NOT LET Sheffield there were 150 be able to argue that complete The Government had THEM patients in A&E and fifty privatisation is the only way refused’ to implement the one DESTROY waiting to be admitted. That to rescue the NHS. per cent pay rise OUR MOST is what the staff are having to John said: “It is a scandal recommended by the TREASURED cope with. that some MPs who loudly Independent Pay Review Body PUBLIC “This is the impact of cuts support ‘reform’ of the NHS – but eventually backed down. SERVICE to the NHS and to local meaning privatisation – are Yet MPs had all taken the 10 authorities who have had to also directors of private per cent rise that the same close care homes which companies and will directly body recommended for them. ~ provide after-care for patients SPRING 2015 UNISON ACTIVE! 17 NHS FEATURE

charging hospitals £1,760 a day for their services is part of a huge problem of retaining medical staff. The cost of agency staff to the NHS rose by 22.9 per cent in a single year from £2.1 billion to £2.6 billion in 2013/14. At the same time, evidence of appalling mismanagement and huge financial payments to senior staff at the Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals Trust has prompted UNISON to refer the matter to the NHS Fraud Team. And at Barnsley Hospital, a Freedom of Information request from UNISON has discovered non-executive directors have awarded themselves thousands of pounds in pay rises while preparing to cut front-line workers’ pay. This behaviour undoubtedly contributes to the fact that the proportion of NHS trusts in the red has soared from 10 per cent in

Image: John Jones Image: 2012/13 to 80 per cent last year. After 35 years as a nurse in discharged from hospital. s Above: Ann be more nurses retiring than acute medicine in coronary - new Health Act “Instead, far too many is just a racket there are coming in through care, Ann Moses is in no have nowhere to go for care NHS training. doubt that the Health and and so spend far too long in “We are ever more reliant Social Care Act is nothing urgently needed hospital on taking overseas medical more than a ‘racket’. beds. staff, damaging their Ann, UNISON branch “People paid national emergent health services. secretary at Grimsby and insurance so that they could “And with pay so low and Goole health branch, NEC receive care when they need work pressures so high, member and chair of the it. people are put off from going national nursing sector, is “But through no fault of into those professions. They appalled at what is their own they are not read all the negative happening to the NHS. getting those services. We headlines about the NHS and She said: “I think the need a government that will turn away. This problem pressur es on nurses and properly invest in health and must be urgently addressed.” support workers has social care. increased at least ten-fold in “Nurse recruitment is APPALLING the last five years. falling and in the next five to The shocking revelation that “In our trust alone they are s ten years there are going to senior A&E specialists are spending £5 million a year 18 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2015 FEATURE NHS

Image: John Jones Image: s ~ on agency staff. This is a the elderly in Grimsby. Like vacancies for the other racket and a tragic waste of many others, she sees that professional and support money. the failure to link health and staff. “NHS managers never RIGHT-WING social care in an effective “The increasing insistence used to be paid the POLITICIANS and coherent partnership on targets, paperwork and astronomical salaries they WANT has caused chaos. data collection audits all take get now. TO IMPOSE And she believes that front-line staff away from “Our members have had A PRIVATE community and health patients. no pay rise for four years but HEALTH services are now so “New rostering is now the chief executive of our SYSTEM. fragmented that ‘no-one generated by computers, trust took a £40,000 pay rise IF WE knows who is providing which obviously have no last year. which services to whom’. practical, human “It is sickening that these LET THEM, She welcomes the Labour understanding of health managers - who admit they MANY Party’s pledge to repeal the care. are running multi-million PEOPLE Health and Social Care Act “Some members are pound deficits - are giving WILL DIE to address these issues – but therefore being forced to themselves massive rises realises great care and work 60 hours in one week while our members suffer planning are needed to turn and the next week they work endless cuts to their pay.” ~ back the tide of funding just 16 hours. cuts, privatisation and the “Some staff regularly FRAGMENTED haemorrhaging of trained work 13 hour shifts. There is Ann now works in the staff into retirement or for absolutely no work-life community care sector for better pay overseas. balance in this system and Ann said: “I don’t know many medical staff recruited precisely how the Labour from abroad are leaving Party would bring all the because of this. services where they need to “If we don’t get out there be, back under one roof. and vote this Government “But unless we are to out, I am very distressed continue wasting vast about our future. amounts of money creating “If the Tories get back in, I widespread confusion which genuinely fear that that will

s Right: John - NHS is in crisis only leads to poorer services, be it for the NHS. all over the UK they must be brought under “The right-wing one roof. politicians want to impose a “The North Lincolnshire private insurance-based and Goole Foundation Trust health system. If we let has 14 vacancies for nurses. them, many, many people That does not include will die as a result.” n Could you be our Community Branch of the Year? To celebrate 125 years of UIA working with trade union activists and their community, we want to hear about all the inspiring things UNISON branches are doing to help their own communities. Tell us your story for the chance to win £1,250 towards your end-of-year party.

To enter or to simply find out more, visit: www.uia.co.uk/awards Competition closes 31st August 2015. For full terms and conditions visit www.uia.co.uk/terms-conditions.

CENTURY ONE PUBLISHING To plan your ad campaign in Unison IS THE UK’S BRIGHTEST Acve magazine contact: AWARD-WINNING David Murray CONTRACT PUBLISHING t: 01727 739 182 AND ADVERTISING SALES AGENCY. e: [email protected] WE WORK EXCLUSIVELY w: www.centuryonepublishing.uk WITH MEMBERSHIP ORGANISATIONS GENERATING ADVERTISING REVENUES AND MANAGING ALL OR PART OF THE PUBLISHING FUNCTION 20 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2015 FEATURE EBOLA Image: Andy Andy Paraskos Image: MISSION OF MERCY Leeds paramedic Bill Clucas was one of a highly dedicated team of medical staff who recently went to Sierra Leone to help fight the Ebola epidemic – and now he wants to return. Active! reporter Anne Mitchell interviews a true UNISON hero

hen UNISON s Above: Bill Africa and Gaza and he had of Defence base in York with member Bill - best way to stop put his name on a register of 50 other medical it spreading to UK Clucas was ~ people willing to respond to professionals, including 15 asked to join emergencies abroad. from Norway. He describes Wthe “Don’t get me wrong I was it as really good training international relief effort to nervous about going. Ebola is medically, clinically and help people suffering from THE STAFF a really nasty illness but if emotionally. Ebola in Sierra Leone, he people are in need, I feel a The overnight flight to didn’t hesitate. As an WERE moral obligation to help them Sierra Leone was long and experienced paramedic ENGAGING, and to stop the disease from Bill’s first experience of the working in the Hazardous WITTY AND spreading to other parts of the impact of the Ebola crisis Area Response Team (HART) MOTIVATED. world. The best way to avoid began even before he reached in Leeds, he had the medical THEY it happening to friends and the terminal. training, skills and knowledge FILLED ME family in the UK was by “Before we were allowed desperately needed to help WITH JOY going.” into the airport, each of us save lives. Before Christmas, Bill had our temperature taken Bill also had vital overseas embarked on 10 days of and we had to use a experience volunteering in ~ intense training at a Ministry chlorinated hand wash.

SPRING 2015 UNISON ACTIVE! 21 That smell of chlorine is one ~ more staff before it could His five weeks up, Bill of my abiding memories of begin to manage that returned to the UK just the country. We were always number. It opened with 10 before New Year and found washing our hands to combat EBOLA which quickly doubled to 20 coming back more difficult Ebola and that smell of ATTACKS and by Bill’s final week the than usual. chlorine was everywhere.” OUR BASIC number of patients reached “The culture shock was HUMAN 30. The turnover was high. worse and everyone was in a FRUSTRATING DESIRE “It was very hard the first sort of quarantine. We had The group split in three TO GIVE week, especially for staff to monitor ourselves, take and Bill was deployed to an A SICK without a medical our temperature and ring Ebola Treatment Centre (ETC) CHILD background, because the twice a day to say if we had run by the aid agency GOAL. patients were very poorly any symptoms. We were It was situated in Port Loko - A HUG - when they arrived and many asked to avoid going on in the country’s Northern BUT THAT’S died. Ebola is a very horrible long journeys, to stadiums, Province and one of the HOW IT disease and has a terrible or anywhere there could be a hardest hit areas. On arrival SPREADS effect on people and is awful lot of people.” Bill found the centre still to watch. You couldn’t stay “I have asked to go back under construction by the for longer than 45 minutes in but at the moment the British army with no other ~ the red zone because of the pressures on the NHS come medical staff, no water or heat working in protective first - I understand that. electricity. What they had clothing. I was lucky to have a was three tents in a field. “The second week we collection of skills and The red zone for treating started to get more survivors experience that allowed me Ebola patients, the green which was great. I remember to go over. I would say to zone for medical staff to put seeing a grandmother, her UNISON members - think on/take off their protective daughter and kids coming about volunteering. It is suits and equipment and a out of the red zone and local not suitable for everyone - third for administration, people making a guard of but use your skills and stores etc. honour and celebrating with experience to help other “The time from arrival to musical instruments and people. It is really fulfilling first patient was two weeks. singing.” and I can’t recommend it It was frustrating but we enough.” n were busy and we knew we FRIENDLY had to get it right before we Bill describes Port Loko as an opened. We needed to overgrown village – very HowToHelp employ and train a lot of new poor with mass staff, wait for the plumbing, unemployment. As more electricity, waste disposal - people were being treated Ebola is devastating and Sierra those were long days. and recovering, he found the Leone will take many years to “I was training volunteers locals relaxed and friendly recover.The outbreak will have cost West Africa an estimated from the Congo, Kenya, and they would come out $32.6 billion by the end of 2015. Zimbabwe and Nigeria as from their homes to thank well as local people. It’s very him. The aid agency GOAL is proposing important and very powerful “It is a very tactile country to turn the treatment centre in Port that those staff can still be with lots of parties, fetes, big Loko into a ‘centre of excellence’ there to help with this dinners but you can’t do that. for the training of clinical staff, disease when we are gone. You can’t touch, can’t upgrading its laboratory and The national staff were socialise, shake hands or pat opening a care centre for phenomenal people - someone on the back. Ebola vulnerable and orphaned children nearby. engaging, funny, witty, is so nasty it attacks our basic motivated - who filled me human desires to give a child You can donate to GOAL on their with joy.” a hug when they are ill, to website goalglobal.org The ETC was designed for comfort someone - but that is 100 patients but needed many how it spreads.” 22 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2015 FEATURE ANALYSIS

There’s only one party for working people and that’s Labour. In an

LABOUR exclusive analysis for Active! senior Mirror columnist Paul

Routledge issues a call to arms IS BEST ~ BET

o wonder political hope, if the work is done. APPALLED pundits hesitate to So let me introduce the key The laws of libel prevent me predict the runners and riders. from saying what I think of outcome of the THERE It should be all change in him, but his own fellow Tory Ngeneral election. ARE Bradford East, where the MP, Nadine Dorries, called It's shaping up to be an GROUNDS controversial Lib Dem him ‘one of Parliament's Alice-in-Wonderland race – FOR incumbent David Ward with nastiest, slimiest MPs’. He only in reverse. Everybody HOPE, a wafer-thin majority of 365 appalled parliamentarians loses and nobody wins prizes. IF THE votes, is highly vulnerable to with crude remarks about That's what will happen WORK Imran Hussein, deputy disabled people and the unless Labour supporters IS DONE leader of Bradford City bedroom tax. and union activists work to Council. Even so, his majority of prevent it. Every vote counts Next most promising for 2,940 will be a tough nut to on May 7. Labour is Dewsbury, where crack. John Grogan, who And regional secretary ~ Paula Sherriff, a healthcare campaigned for agency John Cafferty points out that worker and Pontefract workers’ rights and helped the election is absolutely councillor, is battling to get a memorial in Whitehall critical for members of overturn a Tory majority of to the role of women in UNISON and other unions. 1,526. After working for the World War Two, deserves all “The Tories are destroying police in victim support, she the support he can get. public services and have moved to the NHS where her Down the road in the almost brought the NHS to its job was privatised. So she's outskirts of Leeds, the knees. They’ve cut wages and experienced coalition cuts at constituency of Elmet and benefits for the poorest, while first-hand. Rothwell has been held by giving tax cuts to the richest. In Pudsey, my union Tory Alec Shelbrooke since Worse, they intend to do lawyer friend Jamie Hanley it was established before the more of the same if they get is seeking to regain the seat last election. in again.” lost to the Tories in 2010 by The Tories also want to only 1,659 votes. This is JUSTICE smash the organisations Jamie's second bid to bring But not for much longer, which protect working the constituency back where if Labour's Veronica King, a people. John warns that the it belongs and he's mounting campaigner for the Conservatives are proposing a big campaign with a lot of Alzheimer's Society, has to end employers’ ability to help from trade unionists. anything to do with it. She's deduct union subs from The same goes for the daughter of local employees’ pay and to make Keighley and Ilkley. teachers, and with several it much harder to take Whoever wins this former mining villages to industrial action. constituency usually forms look after, she's also active in With their freshly-found, the next government. John the Miners' Campaign for fake enthusiasm for ‘The Grogan, former MP for Selby, Truth and Justice about North’, the Tories are putting a seat that was abolished, is policing in the miners’ big resources into the region. Labour's man against Kris strike. If they win here, they will Paul Routledge Hopkins, the former Down in Lincs, Peter win the country. introduces the Tory leader of Bradford Keith, husband of But there are grounds for runners and riders City Council. Cleethorpes' former Labour MP Shona McIsaac is veteran Austin Mitchell. s Above: It’s Labour is eating away at contesting the consituency, Melanie has negotiated odds-on Labour Nick Clegg's majority in while in Brigg and Goole, living-wage agreements with Sheffield Hallam. It's a local lass Jacky Crawford, a councils in York, Doncaster tough call, but in the last qualified nurse and social and North East Lincs, and opinion poll, Labour worker and campaigner for campaigns tirelessly against candidate and UNISON the NHS, seeks to retake the the iniquities of zero-hour member Oliver Coppard seat lost in 2010 by just over contracts. As I wrote in the was just three points behind. five thousand votes. Daily Mirror last May, "This UNISON’s regional Up in the Pennines, local is a woman who gets it. The secretary points out that if lad Josh Fenton-Glynn is people of Grimsby would be the Conservatives get in chasing down a Tory wise to get her." they intend to change majority of 6,400 in Calder Labour is in with a strong constituency boundaries to Valley, and next door in chance to take – or retake – make it nearly impossible Colne Valley, international most of these seats. for anyone else to beat aid worker Jane East bids to We also have to defend them in future general overturn Dodgy Dave some of our high-flyers, elections. Cameron's man whose most notably Ed Miliband in “UNISON is therefore majority is only 4,800. Doncaster North and Ed encouraging members in Labour's biggest Balls in Morley and key seats across the region, challenge from Ukip is in Outwood. but particularly in Bradford Grimsby, where UNISON The Tories would dearly love East, Cleethorpes and regional organiser Melanie to ‘decapitate’ the party – Grimsby, to register to vote Onn is Labour candidate. but it's the Lib Dems who if they haven’t already done Born and raised in should fear this most. so and to vote for the party the constituency, she's that can make a real defending a majority IMPOSSIBLE John Cafferty – difference to the lives of of just over 700 votes Their vote is collapsing Vote critical for working people and that bequeathed by retiring throughout the region, and union members is the Labour Party.” n 24 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2015 FEATURE OPPORTUNITIES

CLOSING THE CIRCLE Image: Andy Andy Paraskos Image: Pam Johnson left school with minimal qualifications, but took advantage of the opportunities provided by UNISON and NUPE. Barrie Clement reports

t UNISON there’s returning to Yorkshire in 2011 The education provided by

no reason why as a regional manager. the union enabled Pam to activists or admin Pam has never forgotten enrol on a part-time basis at staff shouldn’t how she started her career and ~ Leeds Polytechnic where after Areach the most she’s keen that both activists two years she got a diploma in senior levels of the union. and admin staff feel able to politics and history, an A level Pam Johnson, who is tread the same path as her. equivalent. retiring from UNISON after 26 It was a path built on the EDUCATION In 1985 she went to years, is a case in point. foundations of education and IS A Newcastle University to read Pam started work for Nupe training provided by NUPE, politics and East Asian as a telephonist/ receptionist, the first union she worked for, LIBERATING studies, graduating in 1989. having left West Leeds Girls and then by its successor FORCE. And in 2002 she took an MSc High School with three UNISON. IT HELPS US in adult continuing education O levels and a couple of CSEs. “I left school with very few TO MAKE at City University, London. By seizing the opportunities qualifications, but the union DECISIONS Not bad for someone who left provided by the union, she provided me with the help I ABOUT OUR school at 16. eventually became head of needed. I took the chances that OWN LIVES Pam points out that she had learning and organising were available and I’d like to to leave a full-time job with services at UNISON’s think I made the most of the union in order to go to headquarters in London, them,” she says. ~ Newcastle University. “You

SPRING 2015 UNISON ACTIVE! 25 don’t have to do that now,” housewives and child carers.” ~ the picket line with them.” she says. Pam commends Pam hopes a new Labour Having worked for NUPE UNISON’s Return to Learn government will resurrect and UNISON in London for courses as a good starting equality measures they were UNISON nearly two decades, Pam is point and the Open University working on before they left MEMBERS glad to be back. Despite her as a means of entering further office. HAVE ‘retirement’, she will remain education without physically “The country appears to be SHOWN active in local politics. She lives going to university. slipping back as far as equal THEY ARE in the Keighley constituency “I am proud of the work pay is concerned,” she says. PREPARED which is one of Labour’s target NUPE did and UNISON Pam believes compulsory TO MAKE seats. And when she is not continues to do, to provide equal pay audits would force SACRIFICES being politically active, she education for our members. employers to be transparent. will keep constituents Education is a liberating force. She points out that Labour entertained with her ukulele It helps us to makes decisions has committed itself to band. about own lives and to resuscitating the Sure Start ~ “It was the right time for me influence the decisions of programme which provides to leave the union. I leave it in others.” childcare, early education and good hands. The organisers are A strong theme in Pam’s support to young families. It doing a fantastic job, career has been her has been decimated by the particularly with recruitment. commitment to women’s coalition government. Coming back to Yorkshire issues. She learned her Pam also points to Labour’s was basically closing the feminism the hard way. When pledge to repeal the Health circle for me. I’ve had a Pam started work at a building and Social Care Act which has fantastic working life. Now society at the age of 18, a young led to a massive increase in the I’m home.” n man joined the same day on private provision of public higher wages. That was before services to the detriment of the Sex Discrimination and patient’s and clients. CurriculumVitae Equal Pay Acts and it was She believes the coalition perfectly legal. “That has had a deeply harmful experience of discrimination impact on Britain. “This n 1970 Worked in a building society and then West Yorkshire made me think that things Government has undermined County Council where she joined NALGO and then NUPE. could and should be fairer,” the fundamental ethos of n 1981 Went to work for NUPE in Y&H divisional office as she says. public service and damaged a telephonist then secretary. Got involved in newly provision for the most established divisional women’s committee. DIFFERENT vulnerable people. Many Volunteered as adult literacy tutor. The battle is nowhere near elderly and disabled people n 1989 Short stint at Leeds City Council housing won. “Virtually every policy of no longer have access to benefits. the coalition government has support to keep them in their n 1989-1991 Researcher, trade union studies been detrimental to women. own homes. information unit in Newcastle. Men have been hit hard too, “Providing support for n 1991-1993 Constituency officer for Jim Cousins MP but women have suffered most vulnerable people is what (Labour, Newcastle Central). in terms of pay, redundancies, makes us civilised. It is one of n zero hours contracts and the most fundamental 1993 Equalities researcher at NUPE head office, benefits.” principles of our society. Woolwich. Pam takes issue with the “U NISON members have n 1996-2002 Education officer, UNISON’s national oft-repeated mantra that shown that they are prepared activist education unit. politicians are ‘all the same’. to make sacrifices to protect n 2002-2011 Head of learning and organising services She says:” “Labour offers a the services they deliver. (LAOS). Then head of new unit incorporating UNISON completely different vision. When they were needed they open college and LAOS. Labour sees women as equal stood up and were counted n 2011-2014 Regional manager, Yorkshire and members of society. The right across the public services Humberside. Conservatives see men as the despite the pressure they are breadwinners and women as under. I was proud to stand on WELL-OFF WILL PAY

UNISON activists won a personal assurance that university staff won’t pay the price for Labour’s cut in student fees. Barrie Clement and Lorraine Fitzsimons report ou ain’t seen Leeds, Liam set out Labour’s ~ reducing tax relief on nothing yet. When plan to cut the cap on fees pensions for those earning the Tories and their from £9000 to £6000. More more than £150,000 a year. little chums in the than half of students would VERY FEW The commitment to cut fees Y Lib-Dems whacked also get the maintenance CAUSES would be non-negotiable in up students’ fees to £9,000 a grant which would be lifted ARE AS any post-election deal. year we all thought that it by £400 to £3,800 a year. JUST AS Addressing the meeting, was disastrous for working Just as importantly, Liam THE LIVING UNISON’s Leeds Beckett class kids who wanted to get explained exactly how it WAGE University branch secretary a university education. And would be funded. James Appleby spoke of the it was. University vice chancellors massive differentials between These days students have warned that the policy vice chancellors on £300,000- graduate with personal debt would lead to cutbacks at ~ £400,000 a year and the Liam Byrne of £44,000 – courtesy of universities and UNISON lowest paid. Some VCs had David Cameron and his bag members were naturally total packages worth £1m. carrier Nick Clegg, LibDem concerned that they would “And yet many MP for Sheffield Hallam. pay for the policy with universities still refuse to pay Well, now the their jobs. the Living Wage. What can Conservatives have got a Speaking to the meeting, Labour do?” James asked little surprise up their called by Alex Sobel, Liam. sleeves. They are to increase Labour’s parliamentary Mobina Begum, assistant student fees to £16,000 – candidate for Leeds North branch secretary at Leeds making university education West, Liam categorically Beckett, spoke of the lack of the preserve of the elite, says assured UNISON reps that transparency about pay and Liam Byrne, shadow minister the initiative would be fully over the deliberations of for universities. funded. Leonie Sharp remuneration committees. In a meeting with UNISON Liam confirmed that the – universities run “Student money funds activists and officials in shortfall would be covered by like corporations salaries but students have no

SPRING 2015 UNISON ACTIVE! 27

HIGHER EDUCATION FEATURE input into the process,” she ~ back you up at the moment,” extremely important for said. Mobina pointed out he told the students. young people, although on that living costs for students Terry D’arcy, also an current predictions around were increasing, and most of HATS OFF assistant branch secretary at two million of them may their money went on TO UNISON Leeds Beckett, said not vote. accommodation. FOR ITS outsourcing and zero hours Ironically the younger Liam replied that Labour LIVING contracts, were causing generation had borne the would take action not just on WAGE misery and hardship for brunt of the Government’s tuition fees but on CAMPAIGN many staff. austerity measures and were maintenance grants. There worse off than previous was a shortage of EXORBITANT generations. accommodation and Regional organiser Leonie There were eight seats in sometimes students had to ~ Sharp said universities were the UK where students had Liam Byrne pay months in advance. being run like major the power to sway the result, People were ‘taking liberties’ corporations setting up tax said Liam. One of those – and that needed to be avoidance schemes, Leeds North West - is held by addressed. employing staff on zero hour the LibDems – the very party contracts and refusing to which broke its promise and SECRETIVE pay the Living Wage to their backed the increase in On the wages of university contract cleaners and catering university fees. Another was staff, Liam said it was not staff. Sheffield Hallam, the LibDem acceptable to pay less that the She added: “These leader’s constituency. Living Wage, while awarding universities are funded Labour had a plan for a 8.1 per cent average pay rise through students and public higher education reform to vice-chancellors. funds and it is critical they that would benefit everyone “Hats off to UNISON for are accountable and paying and was deliverable. The its Living Wage back into the public purse not party couldn’t offer free campaigning,” Liam said, simply siphoning off public higher education and adding that there should be money for exorbitant wouldn’t make false pay transparency, not packages to those at the top promises – but Labour would secretive discussions behind while paying the minimum reduce fees and improve closed doors. to those who really serve students’ grants. “It’s unacceptable that our students.” He was aware that some unions have to use Freedom Liam said that under a students were drawn to the of Information requests to get Labour government Green Party, but he pointed information on salaries. It is exploitative zero hours out that in reality students, tax payers’ money.” contracts would be abolished. like everyone else, had a One of the student He stressed that the choice: Ed Miliband or representatives at the meeting General Election would be David Cameron. n asked how Liam would keep up the pressure on VCs on the issue of the Living Wage. He replied that if Labour wins the election, he would personally ask why VCs were not paying the Living Wage. “Very few causes are as just as the Living Wage,” he said. Few students would disagree and they had the right to voice a view on how s their fees were spent, said Right: Reps Liam. “It’s a shame you and officials haven’t got a government to meet Liam Byrne 28 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2015 FEATURE EMPLOYMENT LAW

A RIGHTS RIP-OFF Five years of Tory government have been a disaster for workers’ rights. The number of sex discrimination cases has plummeted by 90 per cent. And there’s more to come if the Conservatives get back in, says Thompsons’ Tristram Sterry Image: Africa Studio / Shutterstock.com

queezed living making money. making a claim at an standards, savage One of the most dangerous employment tribunal due to public sector cuts, aspects of the Government’s the upfront costs. That means attacks on health and attack on workers’ rights is people who may have been Ssafety laws, unions the introduction of unfairly dismissed, suffered bashed and ordinary people employment tribunal fees, discrimination, had their priced out of the justice which risks making access to wages withheld can’t afford system. justice the preserve of the to access justice and bad Five years of a Tory-led wealthy rather than a bosses are getting away with government (ably assisted by democratic right for all. As running roughshod over their the Lib Dems who we must predicted by everyone but the rights. never forget voted for every Tories, fees of up to £1,200 are Alarming Ministry of cut and every vicious change proving to be a major barrier Justice figures show that the in the law) has been a disaster to thousands of workers and number of sex discrimination for workers’ rights. claims have dropped by more cases at tribunals has The Conservatives have than 80 per cent. plummeted by 90 per cent. repeatedly shown that they According to research by Citizens Advice says that are on the side of big business Tristram Sterry Citizens Advice, more than nearly half of people would and nothing must stand in of Thompsons four in five people having have to save for six months the way of their friends Solicitors, Leeds problems at work are put off just to get to a position where

SPRING 2015 UNISON ACTIVE! 29

EMPLOYMENT LAW FEATURE they could even start to afford ~ soared to £10,000. Depending requiring 40 per cent of all the fees. For many families, on the value of the claim, eligible union members to this is six months in which some will jump by more than vote for a strike before they will have to scrimp and HALF OF 600 per cent. industrial action can happen. save while the injustice they PEOPLE For many lower value This is a bit of a cheek given are suffering continues and HAVE TO claims, fees will increase by they gained only 37 per cent their negligent employer SAVE more than 200 per cent, of the vote at the last General enjoys a grace period in FOR SIX hitting working people hard. Election and have as many as which to build their defence. MONTHS These dramatic increases 34 MPs elected on less than TO EVEN are clearly designed to make 40 per cent of the vote! LIABILITY START TO the Ministry of Justice money They claim it’s a sign of It’s not just tribunal fees that rather than improve the legal their commitment to are causing misery for AFFORD system. They constitute democracy. But if the Tories ordinary working people. The THE FEE another huge barrier to justice were really committed to Conservative – Lib Dem FOR A for workers. democracy in the ballot box government has also taken TRIBUNAL then they wouldn’t the opportunity to attack RESTRICTIVE continually resist making health and safety laws that Most work-related accident electronic voting available to have been in existence since ~ cases are complex, and often unions. The fact that they do the Victorian era. They’ve require investigation and shows that their real motive brought an end to ‘strict reports, but with lawyers is to straitjacket unions and liability’ which since the time now facing no payment if undermine workers’ rights. of the Crimean War has forced they don’t win (no-win no- From tribunal fees to employers to proactively fee) and very restricted fixed health and safety to union ensure that the potential for costs if they win, people not rights, workers have suffered accidents is kept to a in a union are finding it an onslaught against their minimum. Getting rid of it harder and harder to get a rights. Making sure a Labour has ushered in an era which solicitor to act for them. That government is elected is the forces workers injured means employers take more only way to stop the erosion through no fault of their own risks because they know that of vital workers’ rights before to have to prove the employer many workers will be unable it is too late. n was at fault. to find a solicitor to pursue a With personal injury, the claim if they’re injured. guilty party no longer picks Workers need strong trade ToryAttacks up all the bill for their unions to safeguard their negligence. To help their rights and prevent the n Fees of up to £1200 for taking mates in the insurance economy slipping into a employment tribunals cases, industry, the Tories have seen situation where it only serves making access to justice the to it that the polluter doesn’t big business. But the Tories preserve of the wealthy. pay. Injured people who are determined to undermine n Court fees for claims at county aren’t in a union have to the trade union movement. and high court rocket by more pay up front for things like The right to strike is than 600 per cent. medical reports and court enshrined in the European n Weakening health and safety fees and don’t get 100 per cent Convention on Human legislation which has been in of their compensation Rights, but this Government place since the Crimean War. if they win. has shown no inclination to n A new rule in personal injury Court fees are also being respect that, or any of the cases, which means the guilty drastically increased. Since international supervisory party no longer picks up all the March 9 the maximum fee for bodies who have long bill for their negligence. claims lodged at county or condemned the UK’s n A new Tory government would high court - including for industrial action laws for insist on a 40 per cent vote to workers seeking being overly restrictive. authorise industrial action. compensation from their Quite the opposite in fact, bosses for injuries at work - ministers have talked of 30 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2015 FEATURE VOTING UNCLE KNOWS BEST Active! reporter Peter Carroll says we need to listen more to older people and make sure we vote to preserve the public services they fought so hard to build Image: Tyler Olson / Shutterstock.com

wo men are sitting and pork belly jumbo Of course the very next side by side in a baguette I’ve had since the day other scientists ramshackle old Millennium, having just read disagreed and repeated the people’s home in the papers that the long- ‘dangerous fat’ alerts they Twatching a standing medical advice issued 20 years ago, and I flickering TV in the corner. about fat has been wrong for one am more confused One of them turns and says: all along. than ever. “Do you realise that if we’d The scientists are now But the cartoon does spent our time smoking, saying fat (milk, butter, raise questions about what drinking and chasing eggs and cheese etc) is not the future holds for the women, we’d have missed only not bad for you, it is increasing number of out on all of this?” positively beneficial to Peter Carroll - people who now reach The cartoon made me health! I was delighted to older people are great old age. splutter on the first dripping hear it. a priceless asset Improved health and

SPRING 2015 UNISON ACTIVE! 31

VOTING FEATURE longevity are both key ~ people, not to vote. women aged 18-24 voting. indicators of humane and He believes it is the very Yet these are the very far-sighted societies which failure of young people to people who will in future place a high value on health SOMEHOW vote which allows Tory-led pick up the bill for the care for all. THE Governments like the current billionaire tax dodgers and The average life WEALTHY one to destroy the hard won party funders revealed in expectancy in the 19th ARE ABOVE services we have all created the HSBC scandal. century was 48, partly due THE LAW together over many years. There would be no to huge levels of infant AND ANY When he was three John ‘budget crisis’ if the mortality and partly MORAL badly damaged his ankle countless billions in because of appalling CENSURE while playing in the street. unpaid tax were collected exploitation, poverty pay, His mum and dad (a cleaner and ploughed back poor diet and lack of medical and a pick-and -shovel into investment in care and sanitation. navvy respectively) were democratically accountable Today, the average life ~ told by a doctor that they services. expectancy is 77 for men and would have to operate to Stories of tax-evading 80 for women. This is shorten the injured leg, and Swiss bank account holders startling progress in such a that their son would be fitted picking up bricks of used relatively short space of time. with a surgical boot for the notes to buy property for There’s no more rest of his life. cash have not yet produced compelling evidence than “They asked if there was the outrage whipped up these statistics of how something else that could be against benefit ‘crooks’ by properly funded public done and were told the Tory press. Somehow services, decent pay and ‘possibly’ but it would be the wealthy are above both medical care transform expensive and they might the law and any moral both individual lives and prefer the cheaper option,” censure. whole societies. he said. Lord Mandelson has now We should celebrate this “So they did a different warned Ed Miliband not to as a great triumph of the operation and the ankle has run a campaign of ‘us and people, over many been fine ever since. them’ saying: “You should generations, to create a “But every Friday evening, never use language, not better way of life for a man would knock on the even body language, that themselves and those who door to collect the two you are for or against any come after them. shillings a week they owed section of society.” But now we are told that for the treatment. He didn’t So not only must you these great steps forward are stop coming until I was 15. say nothing to the greedy actually a big and growing It took 12 years to clear the bullies ruining our economy problem: the old are too debt.” for their own vast gain, you expensive to care for through That is why he and many mustn’t even look at them national insurance and other older people, whose in a wrong way. taxation. They don’t make memories of the days before Our older generation profits and they are a drain the NHS are so vivid and fought against fascism and on scarce resources. shocking, cannot believe built trade unions and young people are not public services for all. FAILURE fighting to save it. Like in the cartoon I My uncle John is 90 this year mentioned, our old people and is as vocal as ever about BILLIONS are still making good jokes the need for people to At the last General Election, and, mostly, still voting on register to vote. 65 per cent of the population the issues that really matter. I don’t think he’s paid too eligible to vote, did so. But They are not a net cost to much attention to Russell that dropped to only 44 per society, they are our priceless Brand and others urging cent of 18 to 24-year-olds – inheritance and we need to people, especially young with only 39 per cent of listen to them carefully. n 32 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2015 THE COLUMN A TYKE’S EYE VIEW

PAUL ROUTLEDGE Political columnist on The Mirror You’ve got to believe in it to save it The crisis in the NHS is the most pressing problem of our time. Independent watchdog the King’s Fund says billions of pounds have been wasted on Cameron’s misguided reforms. We need a government with a gut feeling for the NHS to ensure its survival

HE NHS is in crisis virtually collapse quickly.” everywhere, and the This is a terrifying prospect, exacerbated Government is in denial over it. by an increasing reliance on agency staff in Eighty per cent of hospital trusts hospitals. The NHS spent £2.6 billion on Tare in the red, despite more than outsiders in 2013/14, a dramatic 22.9 per £1 billion of bailouts from the Department cent rise on the previous year. In some of Health. A&E departments, half of all consultants, In the year to March 2015, six of doctors and nurses are from agencies. Yorkshire's 15 hospital trusts are reporting Margaret Hodge, influential chair of the losses. The combined total exceeds a Commons public accounts committee, staggering £100 million. says these are ‘mad figures’, pointing out Other trusts – and remember they are that it costs £400,000 for the NHS to train a supposed to be profit-making consultant but some disloyal docs walk off organisations controlling their own destiny the job and come back to earn £1,800 a day. – will only break even by raiding cash She argues that consultants should be reserves or getting windfall payments. obliged to commit themselves to the NHS Coalition ministers have promised an for 5-10 years after qualifying – like the extra £2 billion emergency funding for next Army.

year, but this is a drop in the ocean and I say Amen to that idea but it only

Yorkshire will see very little of it. scratches the surface of the problem. The This is what happens when you turn the crisis in the NHS is the most pressing ~ NHS into a business, with the cavalier problem of our time, and only a ethics of the market and virtually no government that genuinely believes in it political control of a £100-billion-plus a can save it. year budget for the nation's health. EVERY NHS David Cameron's £3bn revamp is largely ETON WALL GAME to blame for the mess, says the King's Cack-handed Chancellor Osborne came to SERVICE Fund, an independent watchdog. “Billions Yorkshire to try his hand at drystone KNOWS of pounds have been wasted on those walling for the TV cameras. He'd make a FINANCIAL misguided reforms,” it says. better Freemason than a stonemason. DISCIPLINE Astonishingly, the Department of Health MUST remarks “We know the NHS is busier than DIRTY HALF DOZEN BE AS ever. Every NHS service knows that Six private sector employers in Sheffield, IMPORTANT financial discipline must be as important as Leeds, Barnsley, Wakefield and Ossett AS SAFE safe care and good performance.” were fined and forced to pay more than CARE There you have it. Money comes before £12,000 wages owing after being ‘named getting sick people better – and they still and shamed’ for failing to pay the national can't balance the books. Health experts say minimum wage. that without urgent agreement among all It's a fair bet the workers had no union, ~ political parties on funding, “the NHS will but like all employees they can access the Health Department reach a point at which finances could HMRC Pay and Work Rights Helpline. SPRING 2015 UNISON ACTIVE! 33

Better still, if they are in employment These measures might sound trivial, Fancy covered by UNISON, they would have the but they affect millions of passengers in strength of the union behind them. Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and a jug? UNISON has launched a campaign to Doncaster. ‘name and shame’ care firms who are People without computers to find They’re creating a exploiting workers by paying them less schedules will he hard hit, and I don't mile-long jogging than the minimum wage. suppose travellers will be happy standing loop in Bradford's An estimated 220,000 workers are knee-deep in rubbish at their local shelter City Park, for the missing out on their legal rights as they either. delectation of local work split shifts and don't get paid for The changes follow a 10 per cent - £7.6 people and visitors. travel time. million - cut In the 2015/16 budget of the I'd prefer to see a UNISON has set up an on-line petition transport executive made in the dying days jugging loop round to get justice for these workers. You can of the Coalition. A vicious sting in the tail the city pubs. It might sign on http://bit.ly/1tLFuWi. Go to it! of Dodgy Dave's five-year love-in with prevent so many of Nick Clegg. them closing. PEAKY BLINDERS For the public, this is a damned Police in West Yorkshire are giving up the inconvenience. But for the workers traditional bobby's helmet for peaked caps involved it's much worse. About 50 jobs Scroping after officers complained they are will go, halving staff levels of four years the Barrel ‘impractical’. ago. Impractical for what? I recall they once The big picture is truly devastating. proved very useful for hiding a rugby Leeds City Council is slashing 450 jobs Atten-Shun! Peter streaker's tackle (wedding, not rugby). after a £45m cut in the annual budget. Scrope (no, I'd never And they distinguish cops from traffic Labour leader Keith Wakefield says heard of him either), wardens, chauffeurs and suchlike. “Leeds, Huddersfield, Bradford and a ‘top businessman in Of course, top officers have always had Wakefield are all at the brink of financial telecomms’, has been peaked 'uns, to show off their silver braid. meltdown.” appointed Vice Lord Maybe lowly PCs will also now have If Cameron gets back in, Things Can Lieutenant of North swagger sticks, like chief constables. Not Only Get Worse. Yorkshire. so much a uniform, more a fancy dress. I SNUB YOU SIR PAUL I don't suppose this WELL-PLACED ‘Sir’ Geoff Boycott, as his fans call him, has anything to do An eight-foot-high bronze bust of Iron felt snubbed at not being given a real with the Vice Squad. Lady Maggie Thatcher has been unveiled knighthood in the New Year's Honours Maybe he just holds on the Falkland Islands, 7,913 miles away. List. He'll just have to make do with the his boss's sword Very wise positioning. Any lower, or modest title of Greatest Living while he goes to the nearer, and it would have been vandalised, Yorkshireman. toilet. like the one in Westminster. Quite why anyone needs a handle to their name is mystifying. Recognition for Whatever. One thing BUS FARCE doing a job, doing it well and getting the is certain: this gold- Sometimes it's the little things about the proper rate for it, should be enough. braided boloney, this Coalition cuts that bring home what's Thankfully, a knighthood will never farcical fol-de-rol, really happening. come my way. Thankfully, because after a this dressing-up for South Yorkshire Transport bosses are slight, face-to-face contretemps with Her numpties, is a waste scrapping paper timetables for buses, Majesty over the miners' strike in 1985, she of your money and shutting information centres and reducing might ‘accidentally’ behead me with the mine. the cleaning of shelters. sword of investiture. n 34 UNISON ACTIVE! SPRING 2015 FEATURE ROAD ACCIDENTS

DEATH TOLL RISES

Lawyer Amanda Dixon of Thompsons’ Leeds office says ministers have failed in their duty to road users and may be making the huge accident rate even worse rom our experience ~ was determined to continue says is needed. of working with working. Thompsons were When more than half of victims of road able to secure Jane the British adults believe roads accidents we know MORE THAN compensation she deserved are too dangerous to cycle Fthey can cause long- HALF OF for her injuries and loss of on, serious questions must be term, severe, physical and ADULTS earnings. raised about a government psychological injuries. BELIEVE that talked big but has failed to Take the case of UNISON ROADS HEARTACHE respond to the epidemic of member Jane Cannan, a civil ARE TOO The figures for road traffic cycling accidents. enforcement officer ‘(traffic DANGEROUS accidents in general are In fact, this government’s warden) from West Yorkshire. disturbing. In the year ending policies risk causing even She was walking down a road FOR June 2014 there were 1,760 more injuries and deaths in Otley when an elderly CYCLING reported road deaths, a three on Britain’s roads. Not only man, who was parking his per cent increase from 1,713 has it overseen falling traffic Land Rover, lost control and in the previous year. police numbers, it is also mounted the pavement. He ~ At the same time, the foolishly determined to hit her front on, pinning her Government has overseen a increase the speed limit for against a wall. 12 per cent drop in the HGVs on single track roads. n Jane was taken to hospital number of officers policing with injuries to her lower the roads. These statistics back, hip and severe bruising hide the tragedy and the across her midriff. She heartache behind them and SafetyFirst developed a serious are a stark reminder of how haematoma, a solid swelling this government has failed Road accidents blight lives. But real of clotted blood, that covered in its duty to make a (not phoney) political commitment the right side of her lower difference for all road users. can help reduce the suffering. back to the top of her right Take cycling. Despite a A good start would be: leg. The swelling took several clear boom in its popularity, months to improve. When she funding from this Tory-led n The introduction of Labour’s returned to work eight government is nowhere near road safety targets (scrapped by months later her back was the level it needs to be. the Tories and the Lib Dems); still swollen. Nick Clegg made a lot of n Tough new rules proposed by noise when he announced Labour to make sure HGVs are FLASHBACKS £214m of investment in fitted with safety devices to For months after the accident cycling infrastructure, but protect pedestrians and cyclists she was almost entirely this is just a drop in the alike; house-bound, only leaving to ocean. The Government will n Making sure all new road go to physiotherapy sessions. spend £24 billion on road schemes are assessed for In addition to the physical infrastructure by 2021! cycling safety. Every injury and injuries, Jane was left with Cycling infrastructure death on our roads is a tragedy flashbacks about the accident. investment in the UK still and government can and must She was forced to reduce stands far below £10 per do more to make the roads safer for everyone. her working hours, which Amanda Dixon person, the minimum had an impact on her - disturbing amount that Parliament’s finances. Despite the pain she accident figures transport select committee Meet the UNISON plus team UNISON plus working with Branches

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