This threatens to open the way for the wholesale transfer of NHS services to the private sector. NHS Together the umbrella group of all health unions has agreed to be part of a joint campaign against these plans. As part of Unison’s Million Voices for Change campaign every health worker is being asked to get involved and to take the campaign into workplaces and communities.
It is crucial that members, non-members, and the public come together to send a strong message to the Government that there is no support for these plans, and there will be a strong fight against them. Unison has sent this message to the Labour Government – do you want your legacy to be bringing neo-liberalism into healthcare.
A range of issues agreed at Health Conference from challenging personalised budgets, to holding Foundation Trust’s to account, to terms and conditions were all discussed. Of particular importance is the commitment which has been given by the Government not to seek to re-open the current 3 year health workers pay deal. This is good news for health workers at a time when a Right Wing press are raising the cry for public sector pay cuts. Pensions, another area coming under political attack from both the Liberal Democrats and Tories need to be defended. Unison negotiated a new pension scheme and, as part of the package all NHS will be offered the choice to join the pension scheme. Information packs for union representatives have been produced.
To maximise member involvement in all our work, the way health members are organised is under review with the aim of ensuring Unison is engaging, listening and representing member’s interests and views. Building on this it was also agreed to strengthen Unison’s negotiating abilities by increasing lay member involvement on national bodies determining pay and conditions, employment practices for NHS workers.