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This issue includes articles on workplace bullying, the refurbishment of Eccles Ambulance Station, Van Conversions, reports on UNISON Health Conference 2010 and our Annual General Meeting plus lots, lots more…

If you would like to submit a question to our ask a rep section (for the chance to win a £10 HMV gift voucher!), or write a letter for our letters page, visit the matters minisite.

Click here to read the latest issue (PDF)

For the first time ever, the North West Ambulance Service Staff Network took part in the parade and ran a stall in the expo arena, distributing information about when it is and isn’t appropriate to call an ambulance, taking questions from the public and chatting to festival goers.

Here are the best photos from throughout the weekend.

If you’d like more information about the network or would like to be kept informed of future events, email them at lgbt@nwas.nhs.uk

UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis warned that no public service will be safe from cuts

UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis has given stark warning of the prospect of public service cuts and so-called ‘efficiency savings’ promised by the new coalition Government, which it is feared will hit members’ jobs hard across the public sector and risk a double-dip recession.

Speaking earlier today, he said: “We now face our biggest challenge ever. Without a strong union no public service will be safe from privatisation and cuts. Without a strong union no public service worker’s pay and pension will be secure.

“The LibDems have already ditched their promise to oppose the Tories plans for £6bn cuts this year. This will put the recovery at risk, and cost thousands of jobs. Plans for more cuts will follow, hitting communities hard. “We will fight tooth and nail to protect our members and the vital jobs they do. We will seek to build strong alliances particularly with local communities and service users to campaign against cuts and privatisation.

“I call on every member and activist – however you voted at the General Election – to join us in the fight of our lives to defend our vital public services.”

The union leader made his comments on the same day a number of left-leaning bloggers highlighted an article in the Daily Mail published last month, revealing that the Liberal Democrat Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, had advocated a ‘broken up’ NHS based on a ‘European style insurance system’ in a little-noticed interview given before he became leader of the party.

“I call on every member and activist – however you voted at the General Election – to join us in the fight of our lives to defend our vital public services.”

- Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary

Many are concerned this approach would lead to a rise in health inequality and severe attacks on jobs and services in the NHS if it were ever to be made a reality.

Join the Million Voices for public services – take action: http://www.unison.org.uk/million/action.php

You can get further information on this exercise by  visiting  the national UNISON pensions page on the subject. Most of our members who work in NWAS & are in the NHS Pension Scheme will at some point be sent CHOICE Packs which will include a Choice Statement which they will need to return to NHS Pensions within a 4 month timeframe if they wish to switch sections. Clearly many of you will have questions you would like answers to. However, we would direct you to the Unison website link above or UNISON Direct (reached on 0845 355 0845) for this purpose, rather than asking your reps for advice on which scheme to chose. Ultimately this is a personal choice and your lay trade union representatives cannot give financial advice.

Nick Hopkinson, LGBT Network lead, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to get together with our colleagues in the police and fire services to show Blackpool what we’re all about. I’d like to invite you to join us on the parade and take part in the celebrations.”

Staff will be meeting at Blackpool Ambulance Station, 105 Waterloo Road, Blackpool, at 10am on Saturday the 15th May. Transport will then be provided down to Blackpool Police Station, for breakfast and a short briefing before the parade begins. Everyone is welcome. Most staff will be wearing full uniform, but this isn’t essential.

“This is an exciting opportunity to get together with our colleagues in the police and fire services to show Blackpool what we’re all about. I’d like to invite you to join us on the parade and take part in the celebrations.”

Nick Hopkinson, LGBT Staff Network Lead 

After the parade, there will be a number of events and performances in the main Pride arena, as well as entertainment taking place across Blackpool’s numerous LGBT pubs and clubs, for those who want to stay and enjoy the festivities.

If you’d like to attend, please email lgbt@nwas.nhs.uk so that the network can estimate the number of breakfasts needed and arrange transport requirements.

The two members have both worked for the Ambulance Service in Planned Care for 17 years. Both staff were originally suspended following a complaint.

Although this experience has been stressful and upsetting, they were both delighted that an appeal panel had decided that the decision to dismiss in January had been unfair. UNISON made representation on their behalf at the appeal and have provided advice and support to both members throughout this process.

In a short speech before questions were taken, the minister told delegates that a fourth term Labour Government would build a more “people-centred” NHS, with preventative healthcare given a higher priority and a shift in emphasis “from volume, to patient and staff satisfaction”. He also told delegates he would “work at all times to ensure fair pay, pensions, and conditions” for staff, and that he was “passionately pro-NHS”.

Various other policies were discussed in brief, including plans for a future “National Care Service”, and free health checks for those aged between 40 and 74.

In his response to questions over potential job cuts, Burnham told delegates he would cut management costs by 30% and “work to protect the NHS front line at all times”, though he remained unspecific. Another question regarding the Boorman report on staff welfare in the NHS was met with a promise that a future Labour Government “will ensure all the recommendations are implemented in full”, which was warmly received by the floor.

However, another delegate who criticised Labour’s previous record on PFI and privatisation, and who told Burnham she had “heard it all before” was met with a half standing ovation. Health workers at the conference were clearly angry at Labour’s approach to many areas of health service policy over the past 13 years, for which the minister offered no apology.

We will be posting regular updates from health conference online here, documenting important developments and debates, as well as on twitter (@nwasunison) using the hashtag #unisonhealth

Addressing health workers at the Brighton Centre, Prentis highlighted the injustice of public sector cuts in the aftermath of a financial crisis caused by the banking sector, who are still paying out huge bonuses. He warned: “our members will not acquiesce to a pay freeze. If our members vote to take action, I will lead that action until we have won”.

He also praised Sodexho workers at Barnstaple Hospital in North Devon, who have won a total victory in their struggle for fair terms and conditions after well-organised and decisive strike action earlier this year, and highlighted other victories “building new strength, injecting new life into our union”.

Today is the first day of UNISON annual Health Conference, where delegates representing workers from across the NHS and beyond will debate the way forward for our union’s health sector. Key debates will be held on the Million Voices Campaign, Defending NHS Pay and Terms and Conditions, the implications of the Boorman Review and meeting the challenge of impending public sector cuts and job losses, amongst other topics.

We will be posting regular updates online here, documenting important developments and debates, as well as on twitter (@nwasunison) using the hashtag #unisonhealth