TUESDAY 27 DECEMBER AT 2:30 PM IN THE MONET ROOM St CLEMENTS HOSPITAL

Present: Ted Moore, Marilyn Wright, Julie Harrison, Philip Bloyce (Chair), Matthew Robinson, Arthur White, Gordon Morris, Wendy Arbon, Annette Petty (Minutes)
Apologies: Jane Sutton, Ian Talbot, Cliff Dawson, Paul Taylor, Jamie Starling, Ray Hill

 

1. Minutes of the previous meeting
The minutes of the previous meeting held on 19 November were agreed as a true and accurate record.

 

2. Matters Arising

a) Page 1. Financial Assistance
£250 has been donated by the branch to the Local Fire Brigade Union via the Suffolk Hardship fund (statement attached). Nationally, UNISON has donated £10,000 to the Fire Brigades Union.

b) Page 2. Walker Close
Cliff Dawson and Philip Bloyce have met with Jo Douglas and have set up a monthly drop in meeting every 2nd Tuesday between 1230-1430, all members are invited to attend. Unison is playing an active role in achieving to improve circumstances for learning disabilities to include group homes. Group Homes Teams to meet for a 2 hour session bi-monthly to commence Feb 2003 - dates to be announced. This is positive news for learning disabilities to be well established, thereafter Stourmead Close in the West will be next on the agenda.

c) Georgia Murray
Georgia has recently attained assessor for improving working lives and is able to assess other Trust’s in the region.

d) Matthew Robinson
Matthew produced a report which was circulated around the group in respect of his recent attendance at the Lesbian/Gay conference in Plymouth. Overall he said it was a very positive conference with 350 attendees, the conference report has been forwarded to Matthew. The 2003 conference will be held in Blackpool.

e) Andrea Boakes (Lothingland) and Judith Wilson
Both been ratified as new stewards. Annette to contact Geoff Reason with regard to Judith’s nomination form and contact Ian Talbot with regard to SHC UNISON for reimbursement of her National Women’s Conference expenses.

 

3. Stewards reports across the County
a) Wendy Arbon - Hartismere, Eye.
Wendy has liased with Annette in respect of 2 members - 1 which was a repayment of subs having paid DD/DOCAS and the other a transfer in from Norfolk to Suffolk branch.

b) Arthur White - Patrick Stead, Halesworth
Staff contracts are gradually changing over but it is a slow process.

c) Marilyn Wright - Education Officer
Marilyn will be meeting with Vij Greuw in respect of education and NVQ’s on 10 Jan 03 to discuss basic skills in our region. They will also discuss that Managers should not stop staff’s basic needs. See here

d) Julie Harrison - Patient Services
There is an influx of new staff after the department had been amalgamated, and hopefully Julie will be recruiting new members in UNISON in the new year. Join UNISON here

e) Gordon Morris - Membership
Gordon is keeping the membership up to date, currently there are 1800 members of Unison. Philip has a shadow database which he will forward to Gordon to assist him. Gordon has over 400 members with very little or no information about them - Philip to contact Mike Stevens in Payroll with a view to obtaining monthly DOCAS sheets. A new membership system is being put in place at Chelmsford.

f) Ted Moore - Retired Members
Ted has over 150 retired members in UNISON health only. He regularly attends National Conference, National Pensions Convention and Regional Committees in Ely. In addition he produces a monthly newsletter which is circulated to his members with interesting articles on UNISON and other matters including Age Concern. You can contact Ted on 01473 329009 (ansa) or 01473 329010 (ansa), he usually works on Tuesday and Friday afternoons. See Link-Up the retired members magazine on this web site.

 

4. Any Other Business

a) Ray Hill and Marilyn Wright are the two delegates who will be attending the 2003 Healthcare Conference in Harrogate in April. Annette to send forms to Marilyn for completion.

b) Agenda for Change
Meetings are being arranged for all staff to attend one of these meetings to be held at various venues in February 2003. The Ipswich meeting is to be held on Friday 14 February at Allington Clinic, Woodbridge Road at 2.00pm. Annette to circulate dates to all reps/stewards in the new year (Wendy/Matt expressed a preference to attend a Norwich meeting). There will be briefing sessions but Philip pointed out to the group that we will not be accepting any proposals until the FBU has reached a decision on the current dispute.

c) TUC - Learning for Union Reps
A copy has been sent to Glyn Reynolds a Lothingland in addition to the other reps/stewards.

d)  FBU
A statement was handed around the group giving a brief account of what the situation is to date. This Branch of UNISON has donated £250 to the Suffolk Fire brigade Hardship Fund - to be circulated in hard copy to all with these minutes.

e) Britannia Building Society
A supply of posters and entry forms to win a pair of tickets for Ipswich Town v Preston North End on 18 January 2003 has been circulated around Suffolk Healthcare Branch Officers for their members. The closing date is 31 December 02 – contact Deborah Smith at Bury for further info.

f) Newsletter from General Secretary
Dave Prentis dated 13 December 02 No 63 to include National Executive Council Elections for 2003.

g) National Mental Health Nursing Conference 2003
14/15 July at Leicester University - contact Annette for info

h) TU Friends of Palestine
This Branch of UNISON has sent a donation of £200 in addition to a £10 fee for affiliation. see here

I) Dept of Health
NHSU Get Involved website www.nhsu.nhs.uk Marilyn Wright has further info if you wish to contact her. Questionnaire to be completed by 21 Feb 03.

j) Hotel Services Haromonisation
Philip explained that the present situation is that hotel services are paid for by the PCT’s but staff are employed by Shared Services. Julie Todd is investigating all PCT’s at Waveney initially on pay issues. Philip to get an update on the current situation from Julie in the new year.

k) Community Nursing Matters
Briefings and 67 Surveys to be sent out by Gordon Morris and returned to Rebecca Anderson Unison Health Group by no later than 18 Jan 03.

l) A5 leaflets on TUPE Update, Employment Act 2002, Agency Workers and Surveillance. see here

m) Unison Open College Courses 2003
Website http://www.unison-opencollege.org.uk copy has been forwarded to Marilyn Wright. Philip expressed his thanks on behalf of the Branch to Ted and Annette for all their hard work that they have contributed to the Branch in 2002.

 

5. Date and Time of Next Meeting
The first meeting of 2003 will be held on Tuesday 21 January at 2pm in the Picasso Room, St Clements Hospital, Foxhall Road, Ipswich.
 

PB/ADP