Now more than ever the NHS needs our union

#uHealth2012 The first morning of UNISON National Health Care Service Group Conference kicked off with debates on organising, equality and diversity.

Health workers gear up to defend pensions

UNISON delegates to health conference in Liverpool yesterday voted unanimously to build capacity for taking strike action to defend the NHS Pension scheme up to and including a ballot for lawful national industrial action should the Government come after our pensions, writes Linda Hobson.

Future of NHS - well they did ask for this didn't they?

Today in a desperate bid to quell mounting opposition to the NHS reforms the Government has launched a ‘consultation’ which will include seeking views on:
- The role of choice and competition for improving quality
- How to ensure public accountability and patient involvement in the new system

Shadow Minister fails to catch mood of Conference

Following Dave Prentis' rallying of health delegates to the National Health conference, there was a rousing demo on the concourse outside the Echo Arena. Speakers from across Europe pledged solidarity in the fight to defend public services and public sector workers.

The Frank Hont Rap - A to Z of the NHS Workforce

UNISON members attending yesterday’s Liverpool rally for the NHS were treated to a master class in audience participation- by MC Frank ‘Onti’ Hont, who read out a roll call of the NHS workforce - to great acclaim from all present:

UNISON rallies for the NHS

Yesterday hundreds of UNISON members attended a rally for the NHS at Liverpool’s Kings Dock. Health conference delegates and members of local branches assembled to hear speeches from UNISON and international public service union leaders:  http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=6738

We either go up together or go down together - Rena Wong SEIU

Rena Wong, an Organising Director with the US union SEIU (Service Employees International Union), spelt out for delegates at the UNISON Health Conference the global realities of attacks on unions. Rena brought solidarity from our sister union and described the scale of the attacks on public sector trade unions in Wisconsin, Ohio and New Hampshire.

We fight on until NHS Bill is in the gutter - Dave Prentis

UNISON's General Secretary received a standing ovation from delegates at the heath service group conference this morning. In a passionate defence of the NHS and the UNISON members who deliver health care, Dave Prentis said that UNISON would not settle for delays or minor amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill, 'we will fight every step of the way until this Bill is left lying in the gutter'.

UNISON Nurses meet Labour after Government "pause" in NHS Bill‏

UNISON nurses and midwives meet Labour Health spokesman John Healey and local Tooting MP Sadiq Khan at the House of Commons last night to discuss the campaign against the Coalition's NHS and Social Care Bill, after Tory Health Secretary Andrew Lansley was forced to invoke a two month pause in the passage of the Bill because of growing opposition from NHS professionals and the public.

Cost of PFI comes home to roost

Private Finance Initiative (PFI) firms are raking in guaranteed profits at NHS hospitals even as cash-strapped NHS Trusts are cutting jobs and beds as well as asset-stripping sales of land and property in order to bridge the funding gap left by the Government's £20 billion cuts programme. http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/103069

Organising & renewing UNISON in Health

“We face the fight of our lives” said NEC member Clare Williams in moving motion 1 on organising in the first debate at the UNISON health conference. “Although in recent years UNISON has bucked the trend of declining union membership only 9% of our members are aged under 27. We face a major challenge reaching out to younger working people by pushing a positive workplace agenda organising around learning, equalities, health and well being.”

NHS is our future and it's not for sale

“We are all here to make our voices heard for the union's health campaign and our bargaining and organising agendas.” said Lilian Macer, Service Group Executive Chair, in opening the UNISON health conference today in Liverpool.

Andrew Lansley NHS Rap - 200k Hits - Now Nurses Anthem

Today's Observer has a story about the much loved anthem of NHS nurses, medics and staff, who are sick of the ill conceived NHS privatisation agenda of the Tory led Coalition.