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ACTIVE! WINTER 2020 UNISON ACTIVE! 1 MAGAZINE FOR MEMBERS IN YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE WINTER 2020 | ISSUE 34 | £3 WWW.UNISON-YORKS.ORG.UK PLEASE UR USE YO VOTE! P4 P5 COVID LATEST - SURGE IN MEMBERSHIP P14 P16 P34 Plaudits not enough, says Wendy Our frontline heroes Your legal rights
2 UNISON ACTIVE! WINTER 2020 UNISON members struggling through an unexpected crisis can get help from ‘there for you’ by:- Contacting their Branch Welfare Officer Calling us on 020 7121 5620 You can also find out more information by visiting our website www.unison.org.uk/get-help/ - Financial assistance help-with-problems-at-home/ there-for-you/ - Debt advice - Wellbeing breaks Registered charity number 1023552 - Support & information Please make sure our members are aware of the help that is available in these difficult times.
WINTER 2020 UNISON ACTIVE! 3 OUR UNION IT’S BEEN A PRIVILEGE I ’ve been so proud to justice for all our members. general secretary Dave Prentis regional secretary serve as UNISON general In the past five months I John Cafferty secretary for 20 years. It have seen our members, regional convenor has been the honour and our staff, our public Wendy Nichols privilege of my life to services and our union at UNISON Yorkshire & Humberside be able to represent our their very best. Regional Centre, Quayside House, Canal incredible members from New members are Wharf, Leeds, LS11 5PS t 0113 218 2627 or freephone across our four nations, joining us faster than ever textphone 08000 967 968 and never more so than before because they value w www.unison-yorks.org.uk during the pandemic. what a strong union can Lines are open 6am-midnight UNISON members have provide – support when Monday-Friday and helped save lives and they need it, strength to 9am-4pm Saturdays protect our communities. fight for change and a You have been, once again, community that means you editor the foundation on which are never alone. Barrie Clement our society rests. As the health crisis turns consulting editor I can think of no tougher to an economic crisis, we Mary Maguire time for members, but will face more challenges. chief photographer also no time in which your I will be here to lead this Jim Varney incredible skill, dedication union until the end of this and care has been so clearly year – we still have a great contributors Christine Buckley, Peter Carroll, Ryan demonstrated. deal of work to do together. Fletcher, Helen Hague, Tom Jones, Mary This will be my last Thank you, for Maguire, Danny Marten, Ruth McGuire, column for this magazine, everything you have done. Paul Routledge, Gerard Stilliard DAVE PRENTIS as I retire on December 31. And everything you will GENERAL cover image Every day for the past 47 continue to do – for our SECRETARY Kate Evans years, I have been driven union, for public services Published on behalf of UNISON by by a belief in fairness and and for our communities. Century One Publishing Ltd. Alban Row, 27-31 Verulam Road St. Albans, Herts AL3 4DG t 01727 893 894 f 01727 893 895 e enquiries@centuryonepublishing.uk YORKSHIRE’S FINEST I n the eye of the storm of reflected in their pay packets. w www.centuryonepublishing.uk advertising enquiries this deadly pandemic, And we are getting stronger Jonathan Knight our members have once by the day. Our membership t 01727 739 193 again shown their heroic is growing as more and more e jonathan@centuryonepublishing.uk commitment to the nation’s public sector workers realise design and layout health. how vital UNISON is for their Caitlyn Hobbs It has been our members future under this most hostile t 01727 739 189 in the NHS and local of Tory governments. e copy@centuryonepublishing.uk government who have battled So much of our success printed by on the front-line, at great is down to the superb Unison Print personal risk, to keep us all leadership of our outgoing Copyright safe and well. general secretary Dave reproduction in whole Public expressions of Prentis. or part by any means gratitude are certainly Dave has been a tireless without written permission of the welcome, but the gushing leader of UNISON for twenty publisher is strictly praise of Tory ministers has years and his legacy is a forbidden. UNISON and the publisher accept no responsibility for a ring of hypocrisy. That is powerful, dynamic union that errors, omissions or the why we continue the fight for is fully prepared for the many consequences fair pay for all our members. challenges which lie ahead. thereof. They cannot pay their bills Heartfelt thanks from us WENDY © UNISON 2020 and feed their families with all to Dave, one of Yorkshire’s NICHOLS government rhetoric. We will finest exports. All the very REGIONAL CONVENOR never stop fighting for their best for a long and happy ols skill and dedication to be retirement. W.Nich
4 UNISON ACTIVE! WINTER 2020 NEWS CHRISTINA McANEA NOMINATED The Yorkshire & Humberside • Record of campaigning, • Credibility across the regional committee has particularly on issues Labour and trade union nominated Christina McAnea affecting women, equalities movement; to be the next general and low-pay; secretary of UNISON. • Vast experience negotiating Her election would The committee felt pay and conditions for also mean that a union Christina was the best members at a national level; representing over a million candidate to deliver on our • Proud record of defending women will be led by a members’ priorities, because our members across all woman with all the relevant of her: service groups; experience. Christina McAnea PLEASE USE YOUR VOTE Members are set to elect a new best represent them. 10 and will close on November 20. leader for UNISON in our general Ballot papers were issued on Branches have a key role secretary election. October 28 to all eligible members in increasing participation – The general secretary is the with a prepaid envelope and helping to spread the word about most senior role in the union the election period will close on this election and encouraging and it’s important that as many November 27. members to have their say. Click members as possible take part A voting helpline for members the links below for resources to and vote for the person who will will be available from November get you started: 10 things branches can do to increase participation Q&A for activists ▼ ▼ Q&A for members Download the election poster ▼ ▼ PROTECTING THE UNION The union has issued important but to protect others. Reusable conduct criteria. guidance to branches wishing cloth face coverings must be Face coverings bought to give out face coverings as a washed before and after each use. by branches must be given promotional item to members, or It is suggested that branches to members with the clear potential members. use UNISON’s licensed supplier instruction they are not for work Face coverings are not personal of promotional items, TC use under any circumstances and protective equipment (PPE) and Branding Group. This ensures must not be UNISON-branded. are not designed to protect the that products meet UNISON’s This is important to protect the wearer from infectious agents, strict supplier and code of union.
NEWS WINTER 2020 UNISON ACTIVE! 5 SURGE IN UNISON MEMBERSHIP UNISON membership in Yorkshire and Humberside has increased substantially since the start of the pandemic. Since January 1, UNISON experienced a net rise of 2,600 taking total membership in the region to around 133,000 as activists and officials reached out to workers in schools, care homes and other frontline workplaces ensuring they were fully aware of their right to work in a safe environment. Regional manager Trevor Johnston, who joined from northern region in April, said there were concerns initially that recruitment might be more difficult because the lock-down meant the union could no longer have face-to-face contacts. “But as the crisis took hold, Yorkshire and Humberside UNISON’s systematic campaigns gave us an even higher profile than ever,” says Trevor.”This meant that as people became increasingly aware that they needed protection they knew UNISON was there for them.” Trevor has ensured that all new joiners are contacted and that members in the most high- risk areas such as social care are aware of the has recruited 152,000 new members over the help available from the union. first nine months of the year. The net increase is He has instituted a systematic weekly check estimated to be 32,000 when leavers and retiring on membership figures on a branch-by-branch members are taken into account. It is calcu- basis so that resources can be concentrated lated that three in ten of all new members are where they are needed. Nationally UNISON employed in the private sector. Trevor Johnston UNIVERSITY STAFF NEED TESTS Thousands of university students and staff need hosting these national Covid testing centres they urgent government action to provide test and are not open as a priority for students and staff.” trace facilities to avoid a “huge rise” in Covid “The centres have been outsourced by the infections. government to private companies such as Deloitte The government’s SAGE committee of medical when they should be run by the NHS and priority and scientific advisors has warned of “huge should be determined locally not from a national spikes” in coronavirus in university towns and call centre hundreds of miles away. cities. “Meanwhile our security staff are having to Nick Allen, chair of UNISON’s regional higher break up mass gatherings by students in halls education service group, said: “We have a major of residences who are ignoring government crisis now because although universities are guidance and university instructions.” Nick Allen
BEWARE 6 UNISON ACTIVE! WINTER 2020 THE ’BOTS! Did consulting editor Mary Maguire write the fascinating media review below? Or was it a cunning robot? If the Guardian can carry a piece written by a droid, so could UNISON Active! I t’s been a sombre news season. A global Editors lined up the usual boffins to analyse plague. Daily death tolls. PPE fiasco. Exam claims in the Sun and other terror-spreaders that results fiasco. Incompetent government. robots would “raise one in three children in the Masks in banks encouraged. Social bubbles. future” – droids would feed, exercise and teach Social distancing. Lockdown. Kids back at kids, change nappies and tell stories. school. Kids quarantined. The R Rate. Test, track Artificial wombs would be the norm. Parents and lose the trail. Incompetent government. Go would be as obsolete as floppy discs. Fun times. on holiday. Don’t go on holiday. Doom and gloom. “Could we see robots wearing flat caps on Suddenly, from a galaxy far, far away a saviour Yorkshire farms?” asked Leeds-Live, as it gaily arrived. Not so much a knight in shining armour, reported that bots will take over 2.3 million jobs. more a tin man, aka Star Wars’ R2-D2. The Reports of robotic dolphins, robotic dogs herding loveable android came to earth via the Humber sheep, robot firefighters, fruit-pickers, cleaners Bridge to raise money for a human charity (BBC and, according to the Mail, a robot that sweats like Look North, Hull Daily Mail). human beings. Nice. Picture desks across the region were in It was only a matter of time before the raptures. And editors had a new best friend – headlines screamed of “killer robots”. To be fair, the robot. Bots, AI, droids, became all the rage though, these weapons systems select and engage and were soon harnessed to fight Covid19. BBC targets without human control – “ban ‘em” says reported that Leeds University trialled robots the Mirror, along with 30 major countries. Only to sanitise parts of the city centre and Leeds 30? Bradford Airport. The robots found an area to Stories of workers deliberately sabotaging sanitise then sprayed a fine mist. Clever. robots and people kicking them when they are COULD The Yorkshire Post told us robots could “ease rolling down the streets, rang a bell. Apparently, WE SEE loneliness in older people in care homes”, beside not comforted by the tech boffins who were ROBOTS a picture of a jolly elderly gent backed into a chair divided over whether robots will eventually kill WEARING by a white plastic-encased, straight-backed bot us all in a terminator-style apocalypse. FLAT with round flashing blue ears. The robot, called Of course, if they don’t get you physically, CAPS ON Pepper, is apparently “culturally competent”, they may get your mind, as Bots and AI posing YORKSHIRE has had several interesting outings, including as ‘people’ with realistic human characteristics, FARMS? visiting major newsrooms and giving evidence to features and personalities, invade social media parliament. as ‘virtual influencers”. To demonstrate their Piers Morgan and Susannah Reid invited a capacity, the Guardian employed a robot to write droid called Sophia, onto ITV’s Good Morning a 500-word op-ed on why humans have nothing Britain. Sophia, it transpired, could convey to fear from AI. Robot GPT-3 included this: realistic facial expressions like smiling and “I am a servant of humans. I am only a set of blinking, although her hair did need some work. code, governed by lines upon lines of code that She told a joke and, when Morgan asked Sophia encompass my mission statement.” It added: if she considered herself human, Sophia smiled “Robots are just like us. They are made in our indulgently before replying. image”. Yep, scary. n Mary Maguire
WINTER 2020 UNISON ACTIVE! 7 Great deals for work and play If you’re a member of UNISON, we won’t just look after you at work, we’ll be there for evenings, weekends and holidays too. We’ve chosen a range of fantastic deals to make your down time the best time. For more information on UNISON Living visit benefits.unison.org.uk
8 UNISON ACTIVE! WINTER 2020 ‘A CREDIT TO UNISON’ Activist Tony Smith has been dismissed by his employer after winning sick pay for 2,500 of his workmates. But Tony used a prolonged suspension from work to set up a food bank, writes Peter Carroll W hen health and safety after years of austerity, has created The employer, FCC, is a privatised rep Tony Smith was something extraordinary. waste recycling company, and suspended from The UNITY foodbank is now Tony’s problems began when he led work, he pledged to up and running in Hull, helping the fight for sick pay for the drivers put the time to good hundreds of people to feed their who handle the waste. use - by setting up a pioneering families. It is a hugely impressive One of the 22 drivers, a UNISON foodbank in Hull. achievement, particularly given steward, was suffering from Five months later, Tony has been the stress he must be under as his cancer and having chemotherapy dismissed – but his determination bosses do all in their power to sack treatment and his colleagues went to help those suffering the most him. to visit him.
WINTER 2020 UNISON ACTIVE! 9 Tony (left) with nurse Matt Whale, UNISON steward at Hull Royal Tony remembers the visit dismissed Tony anyway. Hull at a time of increasing well. “We could all see UNISON campaigned poverty, and a tribute to that he was actually more against the decision and the Tony’s strength and socialist OUR worried about paying his company had to re-instate principles. MEMBERS bills than about the cancer. I him. The trades council in Hull MUST HAVE thought, right, we’ve got to Tony said: “Ultimately I and district discussed the THE RIGHT do something about this. It is think they thought it would urgent need for grassroots TO BE disgraceful and causes great be easier just to get rid of me. organisation to alleviate suffering. If they can sack me it would rising poverty. PROVIDED “At that time the company be very useful to them. It was agreed the foodbank WITH paid no sick pay at all to its “People would see that project was vital. PROTECTIVE staff. Before the transport happen and no-one would Tony set about organising CLOTHING service was put out to tender come forward to be health suppliers of food and signed in 2015, staff who became ill and safety reps. They would up the Fairshare scheme were entitled to full pay for be frightened off it because where supermarkets that six months and half pay for the consequences are so over-order donate the food to six months.” serious.” the foodbank. The members voted for The company’s next He has been to schools strike action over the issue attack was related to the and community centres and won a memorable victory way asbestos is taken away throughout Hull and secured - but one that put Tony firmly after being removed from donations from unions – in the crosshairs of the buildings. Drivers collect UNISON, Unite, the NEU, company’s fury. asbestos dumped in rubble GMB and others. The victory in the strike bins and take it away to be And in a great example meant the company not only crushed. of community solidarity, had to provide sick pay to its But often they are not the Kurdish community in employees in Hull – they had aware that asbestos is present Hull have donated premises to start paying it to their staff on the site. rent-free. at other sites throughout the “I argued that our Many foodbanks will only country. members should wear white provide food for individuals The total number of protective suits when dealing six times a year, and some workers at FCC who now with this toxic waste. I reckon require documentation to receive sick pay is 2,500. that this is happening all prove need. Tony said: “It took us over the country, putting Tony said: “We want to about a year to organise the people’s health at risk. cut bureaucracy, to help strike and get to the ballot. “That’s because it costs anyone in need. I have been About 20 of us went out on average £700 to remove very busy delivering food on strike in Hull and we asbestos safely. Our members around the city. We are also won it for 2,500 people must have the right to be out to help zero hours and around the country. It was a provided with protective minimum wage workers very important victory, but clothing.” and the demand for help I remember thinking at the The company again is growing. It is wonderful time ‘they’ll never forgive me suspended Tony for allegedly to deliver food to people for this’ and they obviously breaching health and safety who are destitute, to help haven’t.” rules. The irony is stark. them survive, and most IT IS The first shot fired was In total Tony was importantly give them hope.” WONDERFUL when Tony went down to suspended for more than Regional organiser Joe TO DELIVER UNISON’s annual delegate a year before his appeal Gibbins praised Tony for his conference in Brighton. was finally rejected by achievement. FOOD He hired a car to make the his employer. UNISON is He said: “He is a TO PEOPLE trip and inadvertently went currently preparing to take wonderful human being. WHO ARE 5mph over the speed limit the case to an employment Despite all he has been DESTITUTE on a road he wasn’t familiar tribunal alleging unfair through, he has always TO HELP with. dismissal. worked tirelessly for the THEM The speeding charge had to But the Unity foodbank is poor and the oppressed. He’s SURVIVE be dropped but the company an inspirational initiative in a credit to UNISON.” n
10 UNISON ACTIVE! WINTER 2020 I t’s been four and a It was further amended so While the Government has half years since the that ‘vulnerable road users’ tweaked the bill, so far it then Chancellor of the (VRUs) – cyclists, pedestrians, seems unconcerned about Exchequer, George motorcyclists and horse the impact that the proposed Osbourne, dreamed riders – together with legislation will have on up plans to increase the “protected people” including workers across the UK. “small claims limit” for road children - were exempt from For generations, the accidents and workplace any increase in the limit. fundamental principle in claims from £1,000 to £5,000. The Bill came into effect law was that the “polluter It would have meant a in April this year but its pays”. In this case it meant person injured through no implementation has been that those responsible for the fault of their own would delayed by the pandemic injury to the worker paid for THE have to pay legal fees for until at least April next year. his or her independent legal ANSWER any claim worth less then The delay gives the advice. Under this system ISN’T TO £5000, rather than the person Government time to reflect the injured party got the or organisation who was on who is the real target of full compensation for their UNLEASH responsible for the injury. this legislation. Is the Act injuries and losses, without CLAIMS Since then, we’ve seen going to stick to its stated aim lawyers’ fees being deducted. COMPANIES the publication of the Civil - to curb allegedly outrageous The Johnson government AND COLD Liability Bill which was whiplash claims - or are appears willing to rip that CALLERS tweaked to limit the increase ministers willing to limit up. The 90 per cent of injured ON INJURED for work accidents to £2,000. access to justice for others? workers whose claims are WORKERS
WINTER 2020 UNISON ACTIVE! 11 A DENIAL OF it is noticeable that no insurer has said (or even mentioned) that it is essential for EL and JUSTICE PL to be included in the small HERE IS claims increase in order for A TEST them to deliver the premium FOR reductions promised. It’s clear MINISTERS that taking EL and PL out of WHO GOT Tom Jones, head of policy at the equation won’t have any Thompsons Solicitors, urges ministers impact on premiums. ELECTED In Scotland, accident at WITH LOTS to scrap proposed changes to the small work claims don’t go into their OF WARM claims limit which would deny justice to equivalent of a small claims WORDS hundreds of thousands of injured workers process. If the Prime Minister ABOUT means it when he talks about WORKERS’ a “United Kingdom”, a good RIGHTS place to start would be to have a system in place that means that workers in England and Wales are offered the same legal protection and recognition as those north of the border. The answer isn’t to unleash claims companies and cold callers on injured workers – which is a real risk. And doubling the small claims limit for employer’s liability cases will place strains on an already creaking justice system, by increasing the number of unrepresented claimants and encouraging worth less than £2,000 face Unlike with whiplash claims management fighting well-funded insurers claims, no one has said that companies and their dreaded on their own, or see lawyers’ there is a problem with cold calling (which the fees come out of damages the fraudulent EL or PL claims Government chose not to court had decided should be or a boom in them. In fact, clamp down on). for them. the numbers are, thankfully, Here is a test for ministers Since August last year, dropping due to better who were elected with lots of Thompsons, shopworkers’ health and safety. Ministry warm words about workers’ union USDAW, the of Justice figures show there rights being safe in their hands Association of British were around 27,000 personal after Brexit. Will they stand by Insurers (ABI), the Law injury claims in the final injured workers’ rights now? Society and the British quarter of 2019 – down five Will the Government listen Safety Council supported per cent on the previous to those who are normally by UNISON, have been quarter and the lowest level their friends at the Association making the public case that since 2011. of British Insurers and back off Employers Liability (EL) and The Government has from an increase in the limit Public Liability (PL) claims promised that the whiplash in workplace injury claims aren’t the same as road reforms will result in lower before it is too late, or plough accident whiplash claims motor insurance premiums. on regardless and in doing so - which is what the Civil Putting to one side our reveal how unsafe workers’ Liability Act was meant to be doubts that there will be any, rights really are in their all about. or any long term reductions, hands? n
12 UNISON ACTIVE! WINTER 2020 HOLD ON TO YOUR SEATS! UNISON members face a period of extreme political turbulence at a national and local level. With the benefit of years of experience in Westminster, Mirror man Paul Routledge looks into his crystal ball W hat a difference challenges. sent from London in a pre- less than a year Former Tory premiers recorded virtual appearance to makes! Sir Keir publicly despair, and even his the so-called Great Northern Starmer is ahead friends in the media have given Conference. of Boris Johnson up. One prominent pal urged Chancellor Sunak, favourite as the nation’s choice of prime him to “get Brexit done” and to succeed Johnson, scrapped minister. quit. his autumn budget in favour And Labour is neck and neck That won’t happen. My of a one-year spending review, with the Tories – ahead in some judgment is a stalemate at pledging long-term investment polls - an extraordinary change Westminster, with Johnson in the “cornerstones of our of fortune after the party’s worst doggedly hanging on, hoping society, like the NHS and defeat in living memory. for a coronavirus vaccine to schools”. We’ll see. He’s very Sir Keir’s forensic rescue him from a potential much a “balance the books” performances at prime revolt by his back-benchers. man. minister’s questions leave Desperate to hold on to last Another political pachyderm blustering Bojo looking like an December’s political gains – lurks in the room: Europe. Oxford Union debating society nine Labour seats in our region Leaving the EU institutions was amateur. Which is precisely – he’s promising (yet again) to easy. But this government isn’t SO MANY what he was. “level up” by decanting 22,000 up to the hard part of creating a HAVE DIED The Covid-19 pandemic found civil service jobs here by 2030. coherent new relationship with BECAUSE him out. His jokey, arm-waving, All we’ve had from him so far, Europe. JOHNSON policy-on-the-hoof style of are some patronising remarks I’ve always assumed that FAILED AT leadership simply isn’t up to about “selfless Northerners” Johnson and his swivel-eyed EVERY the crisis. Thousands have died determined not to be beaten by Brexiteer pals like Sir Rentagob STAGE because he failed to meet the the virus. And even that was – Iain Duncan Smith – don’t
WINTER 2020 UNISON ACTIVE! 13 and MP for Batley and Spen, They will have whatever useless has also thrown her hat into the communities secretary Robert ring. Jenrick decides to give them. The winner will oversee the With reports of up to 3,000 UP TO county’s five local authorities council posts in the region 3,000 – Leeds, Bradford, Kirklees, under threat, UNISON says it COUNCIL Calderdale and Wakefield – will oppose any compulsory job POSTS with a “mayoral authority” cuts. Wendy Nichols, regional UNDER of five elected members from convenor, says: “Our members THREAT each council, plus three more are busy delivering essential to reflect the county’s political services and supporting the make-up. Sound complicated? response to the Covid-19 It looks like the proverbial emergency. camel, a horse designed by a “Local government committee. reorganisation is the last thing And this for a paltry – in they need now. However, we public spending terms - £38 are pragmatic, and we recognise million plus a greater say in the government’s intentions local transport. That’s massively are clear. They want a unitary less than has been taken from system from April 2022, and our councils in the last decade. focus across all our branches Judith Blake, Labour leader of in North Yorkshire will be to Leeds, admits: secure the best outcome for our “We recognise this is the members and the communities only show in town, and the they serve.” only opportunity to get money These two coups d’etat for out of Whitehall and under our local government are just part control.” of a pattern. Dozens more Frankly, I see this as a elected mayors and council glorified Leeds city region, in abolitions are coming down the much the same way that Dan track in a bid to smash Labour want a comprehensive trade Jarvis’s South Yorkshire is strongholds. agreement with our largest Sheffield plus the rest. The new At Westminster, the single market. They want to mayor will have limited powers, Yorkshire cohort of Labour crash out, putting the ailing as the pandemic shutdowns in MPs has significant clout in economy in even greater risk to Manchester showed. Keir Starmer’s shadow cabinet. satisfy their ideological hatred In the aftermath of last Rachel Reeves takes on Michael of Europe. As Active! went to December’s partial demolition Gove at the cabinet office, press, negotiations restarted. of the “Red Wall” of traditional John Healey has defence and Away from turbulent Labour parliamentary Louise Haigh has the heavy Westminster, politics is no less constituencies, the Tories responsibility of Northern seething in our region. Having believe they can do the double: Ireland. refused to heed the voice of win against the odds in West Among the influential local people who supported Yorkshire and install a patsy commons committee chairs, a One Yorkshire devolution politician in a county that Hilary Benn has future relations plan, Tory ministers are now currently has a complete Red with the EU, Clive Betts retains imposing new systems of local Map of councils. local government and Yvette government. The picture in North Cooper at home affairs holds to West Yorkshire is to have Yorkshire is much less clear. account Priti Patel, arguably the a metro mayor, elected in The Tories want a single most unpleasant member of the council polls on May 6. Susan unitary authority, but their cabinet. Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford own councillors are squabbling My crystal ball for 2021 is city council, is emerging as like ferrets in a sack over the partly-cloudy. But through front-runner to be the Labour proposed abolition of their the haze I see the better days Wendy Nichols: candidate. Tracy Brabin, the long-established authorities promised by Capt Sir Tom Union focusing on best outcome former Coronation Street actor like Hambleton and Ryedale. Moore. n for members
14 UNISON ACTIVE! WINTER 2020 PLAUDITS DON’T PAY THE BILLS Regional convenor Wendy Nichols welcomes praise for UNISON members for their courage during the crisis, but now she says they need tangible improvements in pay and conditions T hese past nine health and our economy. get us through it. months have been Covid-19, just like other Elsewhere in this edition the most unsettling major global catastrophes, of Active! we document the and frightening has redefined the true worth experiences of an ICU nurse period most of us of “service” workers. When in Leeds General Infirmary will have experienced. The you are sick or dying with and a Barnsley care home trauma of dealing with Covid, when you can’t go worker. These harrowing coronavirus will be with to the shops for food, when accounts are typical of the FROM us all for a long time. We you want your kids to feel stories told by so many of our SOCIAL may have our own personal safe at school, when you lose members on the front-line, WORKER, fears, for loved ones who your job, it’s not the company battling to keep people alive. TO STREET are shielding, for our elderly directors, or the hedge fund I am so proud of relatives in care homes, for managers or the bankers our members in all the SWEEPER, our children’s futures, for you turn to, it’s UNISON public services. They UNISON colleagues in the thick of members and other service have demonstrated their MEMBERS it, or we may have suffered workers. And, whether or not dedication and commitment ARE personal tragedies. The we have a further wave of to keeping communities KEEPING impact of this pandemic has this dreaded virus, it’s those safe and well, keeping SOCIETY magnified the fragility of our workers who will continue to gas, electricity and water TOGETHER
WINTER 2020 UNISON ACTIVE! 15 supplied, providing safety In the debate on schools members locally, and and security whether for re-opening to all pupils, nationally demanding students or the vulnerable. again the Government proper protection for They’ve kept going, despite chaotically announced its workers and arguing the WHATEVER the personal risks, many on decision with no plans in case for sick pay for those HAPPENS low pay, many not knowing place, yet again putting who had to self-isolate. NEXT, WE whether they will have a job public sector workers at Our Charity, There For CAN’T at the end of it. risk. Nearly 60 per cent of You, has had a record In councils across schools staff are support number of calls for help GO BACK Yorkshire & Humberside, workers, many UNISON as members themselves TO THE many of our members have members, whether a struggle to make ends meet. WAY WE been organising and helping teaching assistant, an And many of our branches, WERE with food distribution to the administrator, school meals including my own, donated vulnerable and to those who worker or a cleaner. Of money to local food banks. are shielding, keeping the course children should We’ve had a considerable streets safe and clean, finding be in school, learning growth in membership with shelter for the homeless and and socialising with their a net increase of 2,500 in the dealing with the fall-out as friends, but with a plan region. more people are pushed into in place to keep them, poverty. From social worker, their parents and staff DAMAGING to street-sweeper, UNISON safe. UNISON has been Whatever happens next, members are keeping society working with headteachers we can’t go back to the way together. in the region to make sure we were. We can’t allow proper safety measures are the Government to get WARNINGS in place, that cleaners and away with expecting our The Government’s response other staff have the right members to pay the cost has been nothing short PPE. of Covid. There cannot be of criminal, whether in Some employers have another damaging round lockdown measures or in not covered themselves of austerity. We want the the spectacular failure of with glory in the way they plaudits for our public emergency planning and treat their staff. Managers sector workers, who put the provision of proper PPE. at Sheffield University, for themselves in harm’s way For ministers, clapping example, threatened to during this crisis, turned for carers was something fire and rehire 8,000 non- into tangible improvements that looked good on TV. Or academic staff on worse in pay and conditions. The thanking key workers was terms and conditions, but road-sweeper, the refuse just more warm words. UNISON forced senior collector, the cleaner, the They were never going managers to withdraw the bus driver, the delivery to put money where their threat. And workers in St. driver, the shelf-stacker mouths are. Publicly, they Anne’s charity care homes and all the other unsung pledged to do “whatever it in Bradford, Leeds, Sheffield heroes – they all deserve takes”, but cash has been and Kirklees faced the our thanks – but they also dished out on unusable PPE, threat of slashed pay and deserve a decent standard to private companies for conditions. of living. n failed testing and tracking systems, but not where it UNSUNG is most needed. The Tory UNISON itself has been Government’s tribute to fantastic in the way that it nurses, for example, was has supported members and to send warnings to them the community throughout every day that unless they the pandemic and will pay £120 registration fee, continue to do so. Advice, they won’t be allowed to support and guidance is practise. This, when we constantly updated on the needed every single health website. Our officers have care worker. been in action supporting
16 UNISON ACTIVE! WINTER 2020 TO HELL AND BACK The impact of the pandemic on frontline staff was little short of horrific. But there were moments of triumph too. Peter Carroll and Barrie Clement meet two UNISON members who, like members of the RAF in the Second World War, can truly be described as ‘the best of us’ T he ritual public “When we all first became “We were all anxious, applause and aware of the virus and how we knew we were all run saucepan banging it was spreading there was down and many of us were for NHS staff a period of eerie silence. getting sick, and still are, as dealing with the It was the calm before the a result of all the mental and Covid-19 pandemic are now storm,” said Janie. physical stress.” a distant memory. The devastating storm Wearing PPE masks, But for those still risking duly arrived and Janie and gowns and gloves their physical and mental her colleagues were urgently throughout a gruelling health caring for the sick needed at the LGI and St 12-hour shift is far more and the dying, the battle, James’s as the numbers of exhausting than most of us more or less unreported, Covid-19 patients started to can imagine. goes on. surge. “It is really hot and very Intensive Care Unit nurse “Dealing with this uncomfortable. And most of Janie Saxton has worked was strategically very us have facial skin problems throughout the pandemic challenging because we from wearing the masks all at Leeds General Infirmary were working in pods day and night. But there is and St James’s Hospital. to make sure we weren’t no other way to keep staff MANY OF The 28-year-old UNISON spreading the virus. It was and patients safe,” says US WERE member has been nursing very stressful and we could Janie. GETTING for six years, and trained as all see the toll it was taking However, she embraces SICK, AND a specialist ICU nurse. on us and all the NHS staff. all the “positive outcomes” STILL ARE
WINTER 2020 UNISON ACTIVE! 17 that she has witnessed with by any means. We expect to survive what was, at some some very sick patients and the pressure to continue.” stages, akin to a frontline tells one heart-warming At the start of the crisis, hospital in a war. story: everyone, quite rightly, paid To some extent her place SOME “Many of our patients homage to the frontline of work, Valley Park Care PEOPLE were critically ill and in hospital staff like Janie Home, Wombwell, near HAD TO SAY grave danger of passing who were coping with the Barnsley, was ahead of the GOODBYE away, however a handful pandemic. Few, unless they game. A fortnight before TO LOVED of them turned a corner were directly involved, lockdown the manager over a period of four weeks. were aware of the horrific decided to stop relatives ONES VIA One patient in particular situation in which care visiting residents. THEIR was critically unwell home workers found For some time those MOBILES and unstable during the themselves. she cared for displayed peak, but then I saw him In particular they were no symptoms. Then one a couple of weeks later unaware of the sheer morning one of the residents and he was awake with a numbers of Covid-carrying said he felt unwell. “We took tracheostomy tube in place elderly hospital patients his temperature and found - an intervention that many who were dispatched to care it was just under 38 degrees of our recuperating COVID homes to meet whatever fate and we panicked a little bit,” patients needed to improve was ahead of them. Many said Samantha. “Within ten their condition. I was of them died and infected minutes, another resident delighted to see him. He other elderly residents, felt unwell and started was fine and was recovering placing a huge burden on throwing up.” Within hours really well. It is such a low-paid, under-valued care five elderly people had been positive outcome and very home staff. More than 20,000 sent back to their rooms encouraging for us. care home residents in with a range of serious “That helps us to balance England died of the disease symptoms. “That day was all the sad and upsetting up until the end of June. At just a blur,” she says. situations we have to deal the peak of the pandemic “We sent them to hospital with during this crisis.” 400 were dying every day. and they were all sent back Obviously there were Hundreds of care home staff the same day some of them situations which Janie lost their lives. hadn’t been treated. The and her colleagues found UNISON activist staff were scared. extremely distressing. Samantha Hobson managed “I told them they needed › ”We have had to turn some relatives away due to our strict visiting regimes ICU nurse Janie Saxton – heart-warming stories (including temperature checks on arrival) which Photo: Vicky Matthers completely goes against our caring nature with many of us finding these particular situations very very hard; especially when the patients they’re trying to visit have been so sick. “Some people had to say goodbye to loved ones via their mobiles and that is very upsetting for any bereaved family. We have been called heartless by some families because we have to enforce those rules but we have no choice. “And this virus is not over
18 UNISON ACTIVE! WINTER 2020 Photo: Mark Harvey Residential care worker Sam Hobson told colleagues they should join UNISON to join UNISON and seven were back in the care home her because she was working of them did. I told them the by tea time. One died within 12 hour shifts, six or seven union had been fantastic for 24 hours of being sent back. days a week. “There was no me.” “On one occasion three question of giving up work. A sense of solidarity of us went into a resident’s I wouldn’t be able to live on certainly came in useful. At room to get her on to her bed Universal Credit,” she says. one stage they tried to admit and she passed away soon The owners offered to put a patient from hospital, but after. Within 20 minutes £100 in the pay packets of management were given an another lady took her last each member of staff to show ultimatum. “We had eight breath. It was awful she appreciation for what they staff working that day and seemed to be drowning and had been through. “It was six of us said we are going choking. We were trying to insulting,” said Samantha. home if the patient wasn’t keep calm. After an hour “It was a kick in the teeth. tested. We put our foot another resident passed Everyone turned it down. down. We said if you bring away. One of the staff had passed this resident in, you will “Eventually we were the disease on to her 10-year- lose your staff. I don’t know numb to it. We would walk old son. She nearly lost him. if this is the right thing to in each morning and ask “One of them told a say, but the staff at our home who else we’d lost during manager that he could shove have got balls on them. the night. One week at the £100 up his arse.” “At one stage we had least one resident a day A meagre, one-off handout seven ambulances in our car passed away.” There was an is offensively inadequate. park. Everyone of the care occasion when a member Society owes them our deep home employees was helping of staff just dropped on the gratitude, but it also owes out. The senior care staff, the floor saying: “It’s just awful them decent wages and manager, deputy manager, to watch them and there’s conditions. SOME the admin staff. One day nowt you can do. You’re just Janie and Samantha were RESIDENTS there were so many poorly helpless.” among “the few” - doing so residents it was unreal. In order to protect her much, for so many. It is a WERE “Some residents were 10-year-old daughter from sentiment we have cherished TAKEN TO taken to hospital and the disease, Samantha took from an earlier, deadly HOSPITAL they were sent back to her to stay with her mother. threat to the world. AND THEY die without anything to She would sit in the garden Like our RAF in World WERE SENT help them. No oxygen, and talk to her little girl War Two, people like Janie BACK HERE no nothing. Some went to through the window. But she and Samantha are the best TO DIE” hospital in the morning and had very little time to see of us. n
WINTER 2020 UNISON ACTIVE! 19 RACE TO The Black Lives Matter movement THE TOP has rightly focused attention on racism in all its forms. Here feature writer Ruth McGuire assesses the barriers to promotion faced by black people in the region Y ou’ve heard of the “Glass Ceiling”, well allow me to introduce you to the “Snowy Peaks”. Basically it means the higher up you go in public sector organisations, the whiter the staff. The topographical analogy works when you apply it to the presence of black and minority ethnic (BAME) people in senior leadership roles, but it also applies to the challenges faced by BAME staff in climbing their way to the top. The vivid phrase comes from a 2014 report by Roger Kline “Snowy white peaks of the NHS: a survey of discrimination in governance and leadership and the potential impact on patient care in London and England.” Fast forward to 2020 and Yorkshire & Humberside where the discrimination clearly continues - the higher the NHS pay band, the lower the proportion of BAME staff. Across the region, the percentage of BAME people appointed to executive level posts in trusts, ranges from zero in the vast majority of cases to 22 per cent in one trust (Workforce Race Equality Standard 2019 data). The picture is similarly Photo: Mark Harvey bleak at local authorities. A 2018 “Local Government Leadership” report carried out by recruitment agency Green Park didn’t mince
20 UNISON ACTIVE! WINTER 2020 its words. “The proportion April 2018 to 31st March 2019” indirect discrimination in the of BAME representation in confirmed that BAME staff are lack of opportunities and lack local government leadership underrepresented in the most of promotion of BAME staff. positions is woeful.” senior roles. Members also feel that they Precise figures for all the have to be twice as good as a employers covered by UNISON BARRIER white person to get promotions. in the region are not available. John Campbell, deputy For black women, the situation But Abdul Rashid, chair of regional convenor, suggests is even worse, they are even UNISON’s regional black that “unconscious bias and less likely to get into senior members’ group, suggests that white privilege” are two positions.” the representation of BAME of the reasons for the poor In theory the Equality Act YOU’LL SEE staff in senior roles at local representation of BAME staff in should protect members from LOTS OF authorities remains as Green leadership roles. racial discrimination. However, BLACK Park describes: woeful. He says: “I know of nurses enforcing the law is another FACES This is confirmed by a within a South Yorkshire mountain that BAME members AROUND report for Leeds City Council, hospital who were often asked have to climb. Abdul says that THE PLACE, “Equality Improvement to mentor and support others only about thirty percent of BUT YOU Priorities Summary 2018 - 2022 such as matrons and directors cases he and his colleagues deal WON’T SEE Tackling poverty and reducing in their new roles. These with are sent onto Thompsons THEM AS inequalities. Update August nurses were considered good Solicitors. “Often, this is 2019”. It makes clear that enough to be mentors, but not because members have left it MANAGERS “increasing the representation good enough for promotion. too late to submit a claim and John Campbell of employees with protected I also know a black man who by the time they decide to act, characteristics at leadership has three degrees including they have already passed the and management levels” a Masters but he’s only a three-month deadline.” in the local authority is an clerical officer. He’s constantly In addition to racial area in need of substantial applying for promotions but discrimination, some black improvement. never gets the job.” members face outright racist The report points out that, He adds: ‘‘You’ll see lots of abuse at work. John Campbell “our current workforce profile black faces around the place, said: “I know some nursing demonstrates that we are but you won’t see them as staff who’ve been called the ‘N’ not representative of the city managers.” Similarly, Abdul word but when they reported (compared to 2011 census who works with members the abuse, managers were data), and the five year trend from local authorities, reluctant to call in the police. since 2011 shows that there has education and other local “It was only when UNISON not been much real change or public services, believes that intervened that action improvement in our workforce indirect discrimination is also was taken. I also know of diversity.” Meanwhile in a barrier to the progression of international nurses who Sheffield, the second largest BAME staff. “Equality policies faced horrendous abuse and city in the region, its “Council are in place but not always the were even spat on. Incidents Workforce Employee Report 1st practice,” he says. “You see the were reported to managers,
WINTER 2020 UNISON ACTIVE! 21 but nothing was done.” In Fine sounding policies and UNISON in leading by example. other cases, while explicitly often superficial equality BAME members in senior roles racist language has not been training courses are not within the union are few and used to abuse staff, derogatory enough to ensure that black far between and according FOR BLACK language has been. members are treated fairly to one official, applications WOMEN, A case in point is that of and equally. “Activism” is to senior roles from BAME THE IT engineer Sandy Sheun needed by both employers and members are “disappointing”. SITUATION who brought a successful UNISON. Employers need So, can UNISON do more to IS EVEN claim against his employers, to actively review and revise ensure black members are well WORSE Northern General Hospital their recruitment practices represented in senior roles? Abdul Rashid (Sheffield Teaching Hospitals to root out the unconscious Are senior roles advertised NHS Trust) for racial bias which leaves recruiters widely and in ethnic media harassment. appointing people that look for example? And given that His complaint was like themselves. discrimination is not going successfully upheld by an “Organisations need to look away anytime soon, UNISON employment tribunal in at recruitment panels to make needs to do more to ensure January and widely reported sure that there is someone on members and union reps are in the media. The tribunal the panel who understands competent and confident to upheld Sandy’s complaint and equality and diversity issues,” take legal action to “stand up to found that his dignity was Abdul suggests. “More needs racism”, racial harassment and ‘undermined’ by the behaviour to be done at the recruitment discrimination. of colleagues who regularly stage but also to support mimicked the Chinese accent BAME members when they ABHORRENT and made ‘Kung Fu’ noises. are appointed to senior roles Convenor for the West Yorkshire A further barrier faced because they will face double Combined Authority Pam Sian by black members is the the issues faced by their white points out that events that have disproportionate risk they colleagues.” taken place across the world face of being disciplined or Positive action is also needed since the murder of George being subjected to capability to encourage and support Floyd have not only drawn proceedings. National NHS BAME members to apply for attention to the abhorrent police statistics show that BAME more senior roles and to ensure brutality that led to Mr Floyd’s staff are more likely to face they have equal access to the death. “The Black Lives Matters disciplinary action than their training and opportunities movement has also rightly white colleagues. From his that will equip them to take focused attention on systematic work with members in other on leadership roles. John says: and structural racism more sectors, Abdul agrees. He “Staff need to be encouraged to widely in our society. It has says: “Black members tend to take on supervisory roles and given us all cause to question get pulled up on capability the boardroom has to lead on whether we are doing enough to issues, but white members get this. NHS England also has to create change and reduce racial IT HAS training, development and take the lead.” inequality.” n GIVEN support to improve.” There is also a role for US ALL CAUSE TO QUESTION WHETHER WE ARE DOING ENOUGH Pam Sian
22 UNISON ACTIVE! WINTER 2020 IT’S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE In Norway around 36 per cent of the 5.5 million people in employment are in unions, compared with 21 per cent of the 26.5 million employees in the UK. So why is Norway so successful at union recruitment? UNISON local organiser Danny Marten finds out I t’s summer 1985 in Oslo Each summer, the This model of recruitment and the Norwegian TUC Norwegian law dictates that became known as the Landsorganisasjonen workers get three weeks “Summer Patrol”. It’s a model i Norge (LO) are leave, the result is that many that’s lasted more than 30 walking through town youngsters, who may still years, and has ensured introducing themselves be at school, get their first the continuation of mass to young workers. Their crack at work. It’s during this union membership. It’s this IT’S A mission, to make sure the window that LO decided to summer patrol method MODEL people they meet, working patrol the workplaces, more that a group of young trade THAT’S in offices, cafes and bars, all often than not, signing them unionists from Yorkshire LASTED know their rights at work. up to a trade union. have bought to the UK. 30 YEARS
WINTER 2020 UNISON ACTIVE! 23 Members of the patrol - UNISON activists Lois and Chris Things have moved on a campaign, a partnership times of the year. He said: bit since 1985. Gone are the between Sheffield Trades “It’s really simple, we go into “scrunchies” and shoulder Council and the Bakers, Food a workplace, usually where pads. In are selfie sticks and and Allied Workers’ Union. young people are likely to EMPLOYEES smart phones. And this is Last summer the be employed and we engage KNEW how I found a group of 35 campaign, backed by trade them in a conversation. It’s NOTHING young trade unionists on unionists from all over all about the worker, what ABOUT THE the streets of Barnsley town Sheffield, won two months’ issues do they face and how CLOSURE centre last year, as they back pay for employees can trade unions help them. UNTIL performed their very own at a Papa John’s pizza “Often the trade union summer patrol, talking to franchise in Ecclesall Road. movement think we need to THEY young workers in shops, The businessman running do something really clever or TURNED UP pubs and restaurants; talking the franchise shut it down re-invent the wheel to recruit FOR WORK to them about their rights at without notice. Employees members. In reality we just work. Alas it wasn’t possible knew nothing about the need to get back to bread and this summer because of the closure until they turned butter organising, talking to pandemic, but the campaign up for work and found the members about their issues.” is very much alive. premises locked. The Sheffield campaign VICTORY REACTION has also kept going via social Chris, 23, points out that The questions young people media. “We’re in regular before the Job Retention were being asked were contact with people through Scheme was announced simple: “Do you know what WhatsApp groups, in fact last March the campaign the minimum wage is and the whole thing has been recorded an important are you being paid above snowballing,” she said. victory over pub chain it?”; “Do you have a written Mitchell and Butlers. contract?”; “Do you know OPTIONS Workers organised across how to complain if things Lois, a 27-year-old shop Sheffield branches of the aren’t OK at work?” and most steward at Sheffield Teaching chain and bosses gave in to importantly “are you in a Hospitals where she is demands for sick pay and a trade union?” a clerical officer, said: “I guarantee of no job losses. The reaction was far better think all young people in Kent Logan Jelle, who than you might imagine. Britain agree that work works for the Norwegian Young workers appreciated brings with it big problems, TUC, was one of the half- being spoken to like adults. low wages, casual work, dozen of his compatriots For many, this would form underemployment and who coached and mentored a positive first impression of harassment. It’s important the young British trade trade unions. Young workers young workers are told about unionists. He said: “Because are sometimes so engaged, their options, told they have of Brexit there are lots of trade unionists can get drawn a voice. questions about workers’ into 30-minute conversations. “Young people seem to rights in the UK. Lots of UNISON NEC member believe the myth that if politicians talk about the Lois Tavernor went on a things are bad at work their ‘Norwegian model’ but series of patrols until the only choice is to move on and in Norway most of the lockdown last March and try to get a better deal, or put workforce is in a union. one socially-distanced up with it. That simply isn’t “These young British patrol since. She says the true, all the best places to workers might not always be recruitment initiatives have work are highly unionised. in shops, they might go on to slowed down in some senses The only effective way to work in public services. They because of the pandemic, but improve things for young may join USDAW as a result speeded up in other ways. workers, is to stand together of a conversation, but in a IN A FEW Along with Christian in trade unions.” few years they may become a YEARS Townsend of the UNISON Chris, a shop steward UNISON member.” n THEY MAY branch at Sheffield and membership officer BECOME University, she has joined the at his branch, has been on Additional reporting A UNISON “Sheffield Needs a Pay Rise” numerous patrols at different by Barrie Clement MEMBER
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