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Tuesday
14 December at 2pm,
Present: Ted Moore, Cliff Dawson, Ray Hill, Philip Bloyce (Chair), Annette Petty (Minutes), Arthur White, Barbara Gutowska, Ken Abbott, John Cripps, Kevin Nunn and Ian Talbot Apologies: Gordon Morris, David Edginton, Paul Taylor, Wendy Arbon, Liz Potter, Steve Cook and Cheryl Godber
Philip welcomed Kevin Nunn (Finance, Ipswich East
PCT) to the meeting and his nomination for steward was accepted and ratified by
the committee. Annette to send confirmation letter/notify employer. Action -
Annette Petty 1. Minutes of the last meeting The minutes of the previous meeting held on 16 November have been deferred to the first meeting in January 2005. 2. Urgent Correspondence
a) UNISON Service
Group and National Conferences 2005 - Health Group Conference takes place in
Plymouth 25-27 April (Jenni Saunders organising accommodation through delegation
to Conference and money goes back to the branches. All delegate forms must be
returned to Region by 7th March 2005. National Conference takes place in Glasgow
from 19-24 June (further details to be sent to the branch in Jan/Feb 05). Anyone
interested in attending, please contact Annette at the branch office in the
first instance.
b) Statistical
Report from Thompson’s Solicitors Jan-June 2004 c) Access All Areas - News for UNISON Disabled Members - please contact the branch office for a copy and UNISON Eastern Region Disabled Members Group. Autumn 2004, Newsletter Issue No 2 d) Political Fund Ballot 2005 - letter from Greg Grant Regional Secretary - there is a vacancy for the post of political officer in the Branch at present - please contact Ian Talbot in the first instance. e) The Big Bite - Why it’s time for the minimum wage to really work Submission to the low pay commission by UNISON and YMCA England - November 2004 - copies available in the office. f) UNISON News from the General Secretary - Numbers 160 and 161 and Positively Public Briefing - November 2004
g)
Affiliation to Constituency Labour Parties 2005
h) Liverpool
City Branch UNISON - A letter dated 25th November has been asking branches to
financially support the strike action fund for all 116 Child Care Social Workers
who withdrew their labour 3 months ago following a total breakdown of
negotiations for better user conditions within Liverpool City Council. i) Affiliation to South America - deferred to January meeting. j) Letter from Rochdale UNISON branch dated 24 November - appeal for financial assistance for UNISON’s overseas project (report did not arrive) - deferred to January meeting.
k)
Suffolk County Branch Rep - Paul Taylor has been made aware that several
UNISON business cards left in the work’s diaries at Learning Disabilities at
Walker Close, have been distributed from a Michael Parmenter of Suffolk County
Branch. Ian to contact Michael and ask him kindly not to distribute his cards
around the Suffolk HealthCare constituency branch areas as members seem confused
why local government representatives are asking members to contact him at this
time. l) Branch Insurance - Suffolk HealthCare has been insured with the UIA for several years to provide insurance cover against fire, loss of data, theft or damage to all branch owned equipment, personal injury to all reps whilst on official duty and so on. However, on 29th October the policy expired and no renewal or cover notice has been received from the UIA despite being contacted several times. The underwriters, Norwich Union, are negotiating a new deal with the UIA and under the Financial Services Authority (FSA) the insurer (UIA) will remain fully liable should any claim be submitted. m) Winning in the Organised Workplace Course - rescheduled for 9th and 10th February 2005 at the Bury St Edmunds Training Suite, St Edmunds House, Lower Baxter Street, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Details will be emailed or posted to all reps. Branch Planning Development Day planned for 9th March. n) Health & Safety Risk Management Committee - the first meeting has been arranged to take place on 4th January 2005, 2pm, Board Room, Suffolk House (CD/BG/KA attending) - apologies from Philip Bloyce. It is hoped that as many H&S reps employed by Suffolk Mental Health Partnership Trust can attend these meetings set up by the employer/union and subsequent sub-groups formed to work through the H&S Policies. o) Election of the General Secretary - information had been sent through to the branch but due to the short notice, Suffolk HealthCare was unable to send a nomination to region as the deadline date of 10th December had passed.
p) Invoices for
reps on UNISON Activist Courses - Ian re-iterated to the meeting that it is
important that reps inform Regional Office if they are unable to attend a course
for any reason as the Branch is financially penalised for non-attendance. 3. Steward/officer reports
a) Kevin Nunn - Kevin reported that the
Ipswich PCT is merging with Central and Coastal. Carol Taylor Brown is acting
interim Chief Executive - her post will be formally confirmed in the
infrastructure/JD. The process used is to be challenged and central will be
taking out a collective grievance. A meeting will take place on Friday 17th
December, 10am, Hadleigh Health Centre in respect of the East System Joint Staff
Forum - formal consultation with employers/unions. Kevin has produced a
questionnaire entitled UNISON East Suffolk PCT’s b) Arthur White - Arthur was concerned regarding extra holidays following the Agenda for Change Steering Group which Mark Halliday attended at the meeting last week. 4 extra annual leave days are now available and the local managers have been informed of the additional holidays - 50% additional holidays were introduced on 1 October and with effect from 1st April 2005 all A/L will be based on hours and not days.
c) John Cripps - John reported on the
Department of Health’s website in respect of
XANSA i.e.
shared service departments in the UK which the NHS may be transferred across.
There are currently two departments based in Bristol and Sunderland. XANSA
affects members in support/shared services and will be making financial savings
with no job losses for members. There are 16 regional centres across the UK
which XANSA
want to get to grips with. The proposed partnership with the NHS has been signed
- copy to be sent to Philip Bloyce and Region. Philip agreed to write to Geoff
Reason at Region to set up a meeting at regional level and discuss the situation
and report back at the February meeting. d) Ken Abbott - Philip to send Ken the latest AfC information by email: Kenneth.abbott@smhp.nhs.uk as he has been unable to get any information from the helpdesk. e) Philip Bloyce - AfC - Philip reported that even though the working groups, terms & conditions and knowledge & skills framework have been running for 6 months in mental health, the job evaluators have not met and consequently they are 16 weeks behind schedule, the deadline for completion is September 2005. There is a moderate service until the end of January 2005. Members’ pay has been backdated to October 2004. The Health Service reduction in the working week has been reduced to 37.5 from 39 with effect from 1 December 04. This means the rate of pay increases same and hourly rate is increased with the reduction in hours. The new rate will not be in place until it is assimilated across AfC. Training has been requested for the past 4 months on Job Evaluation Panels. Philip re-iterated that it is a good opportunity for SMHP reps to become involved in AfC. Progress in general is slowly ongoing. f) Julie Hammett - Julie reported that nursing staff morale is at an all time low in respect of their jobs and management changes at the Felixstowe Hospitals. Theresa Broad attended the last staff side meeting and staff raised their concerns. Philip suggested that the sickness issue which is a concern should be referred to the East System Forum Meeting held on Friday 17 December at Hadleigh Health Centre where the future of Community Hospitals will be discussed e.g. Felixstowe. The General is a GP funded hospital and the Bartlet is funded by the patients through the Ipswich Hospital. There is a continual reduction in beds, communication from management to unions is non-existent and another surgery is pulling out in January. Philip/Ian suggested that Julie talks to the management/JSF to find out what, why and evidence, and secure meetings for Philip/Ian to attend. We also need to speak to members and find out if they are completing work related stress incident forms so that a way forward to help can be found. 4) AOB a) Philip Bloyce - Philip reported that the West Suffolk Branch has retained existence of the £30million, the Walnut Tree Hospital in Sudbury, which has been given a three year reprieve. Congratulations as they are going for Foundation Trust Status. b) Barbara Gutowska - Barbara is concerned regarding the government’s proposals in respect of pension negotiation with the health side of UNISON and the proposed strike action threatened by local government employees due to fundamental changes which continue to erode future superannuation pension rights. There will be a review in January 2005 by UNISON and a better picture of the situation will then be judged and discussed at a later date. c) Branch AGM Dates - The main Branch AGM will take place on Tuesday 15th March 2005 and individual local AGM’s will take place the week beginning Monday 14th March. Nomination forms will be sent out to all reps in February.
d) Ken Abbott
- Ken has had a turbulent
year of bullying and harassment allegations made against him by a fellow
steward. Human Resources have not written to him to
date in respect of his appeal (no action taken) and Dean Bevan should be
following this up. With respect to the branch panel set up in respect of the
vote for steward at Felixstowe, the 1st protocol was not adhered to, thus the
original vote would have been valid if agreed procedures had been followed
correctly. Therefore there was no second official vote, even though it was sent
out and subsequently called invalid. Ian and Gordon had previously agreed
following the first vote that a second vote would not be necessary and could be
resolved at branch committee level, but this agreement had subsequently been
retracted by Gordon. Ken explained he felt aggrieved and unfairly treated by the
branch when the panel was set up. It was explained that the membership is the
most important role of the branch and with the two stewards covering the
Felixstowe Hospitals, members would have full cover. The reason’s for Ken’s
nomination for steward was merely “put on hold” whilst the disciplinary hearing
took place and there was no case to answer, and Ken’s nomination was ratified at
the subsequent branch committee meeting. Ken felt that the panel’s decision was
not adhered to and the panel should be reconvened to discuss the situation. Ken
has also contacted Human Resources with details of a member who has been bullied
or harassed by the opposing steward, but to date no response has been received.
Philip explained that bullying/harassment is the responsibility of the employer
towards the member. Ken felt that procedures were not followed correctly and
would not be satisfied until a meeting was arranged with the panel members,
himself, Margarita and a regional officer to discuss the situation. He is also
writing to Gordon Morris in respect of the Felixstowe Ballot.
e) Frizzell Motor Insurance Prize Draw
- Annette to send out draw leaflets to stewards for distribution to members.
Complete personal details and Frizzell will contact you when your motor
insurance renewal is due. You will then be automatically entered in to a prize
draw with a chance to win £500! Date/Time Next Meeting The first meeting of the New Year will take place on Tuesday 18th January, 2pm, Monet Room, St Clements Hospital (following the in-house training session from 9.30am to 1pm). Lunch will be provided as usual from 1.15pm in the Monet Room. Apologies have been received from Cliff Dawson.
2005 Branch Meeting Dates
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| ADP/IT 28/12/04 Print Version |