Hands off our NHS says Prentis

#nhs299 (and @BBCNews in case you're missing this) UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis, in a speech to the 'wonderful people' at the Manchester rally, says the union will fight to keep the privateers out of the NHS.
   "55,000 people marching, speaking with one voice a clear message to the Tories, hands off our NHS", said Dave. He pledged support to the fight against privatisation at George Eliot hospital and for UNISON ambulance workers about to ballot. 
    He warned privateers would 'suck money' out of the NHS. "The NHS loses out, patients lose out, staff lose out: the only winners are the shareholders. Even the NHS chief executive now agrees that the government's ridiculous competition rules are holding back quality improvements.
   "Cameron said he could sum up his priorities in three letters: NHS. It turns out he was right. But in Tory language, this stands for 'National Hospital Sell-Off'."
   See also UNISON head of health Christine McAnea's speech on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b5iYLfBlv8&feature=youtu.be&a

Let's hear it for the Future Directions workers

#nhs299 Joining the Manchester rally are UNISON members from Rochdale on a 10 day all out strike in their campaign to reverse cuts in pay following outsourcing of adult social care services to Future Directions a community interest company 100% owned by Calderstones NHS Foundation Trust. http://unisonactive.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/future-directions-workers-striking.html

Photos from the march in Manchester today

#nhs299 As thousands upon thousands march for our NHS in Manchester, photos are coming in thick and fast from the front line.....

Andy Burham, Dave Prentis and Frances O'Grady head up the march in glorious sunshine

Tory Chutzpah - declaring war on unions in the first union city

In 1868 Manchester, Britain's first industrial city, gave birth to the Trades Union Congress. On Sunday the Conservative Party arrive in Manchester to read the last rites of the trade union movement. According to the Evening Standard a panoply of anti trade union measures will be announced at the Tory conference including ending DOCAS, imposing a 40% support threshold on strike ballots, scrapping the union learning fund and tightening up the already unworkable statutory recognition procedures. This is why our voices must be heard loud and clear in Manchester tomorrow - "you're not welcome here!"
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/crackdown-on-trade-union-perks-and-powers-to-be-unveiled-at-tory-party-conference-8843987.html

The myths behind NHS privatisation

#NHS299 Dr Jacky Davis outlines the main myths behind the drive to privatisation of our NHS - with patient choice and value for money among the familiar bogus justifications for opening up health services to private companies:
http://www.redpepper.org.uk/mythbuster-health-warning/

NHS - The Road to Privatisation. Say NO on 29 September

#NHS299 Check out this superb campaigning video made in response to the Government's continued programme of cuts and privatisation of the NHS. It includes a call to march to save the NHS at the Tory Party conference on Sunday 29 September 2013 in Manchester
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS8N0BHiVKg