Health branch activists from across the West Midlands
region, gathered at the Bescott Stadium in Walsall for their 17th regional
annual health conference.
The general secretary, Dave Prentis, opened the conference
with a morale boosting speech to delegates. Dave reassured conference
that in spite of the barrage of anti trade union legislation UNISON remained
strong and popular amongst working people.
To illustrate this he told
conference that since this government came to power over 700,000 people of the
have joined unison which demonstrates that unions are as relevant today as they
always have been.
Delegates then split into 3 focus group sessions on:
Change Management and Downbanding – facilitated by Alan
Lofthouse
Managing Sickness Absence (incorporating stress in the
workplace) – facilitated by Robert Baughan
The Changing Face of UNISON - facilitated by Dave Johnson
After lunch delegates listen to 2 presentations followed
by QAs on:
- TUC’s Work on Public Services and Austerity – Matt
Dykes, TUC Senior Policy Officer for - Public Services
- Trade Union Bill – Rob Smith, Thompsons
UNISON is asking MP’s to sign an Early Day Motion (EDM)
which gives a voice to member’s opposition to the Health and Care Profession
Council’s (HCPC) plans to increase fees by 12.5%.
The 330,000 health
professionals, who will be affected by this change have no choice but to
register with the council, are calling for this increase to be put on hold
until the Health Select committee holds its annual accountability hearing.
Claire
Campbell, UNISON West Midland Regional Manager and Political Lead, said:
“The
proposed increase will have a significant impact on our members who have no
choice but to pay the fee levied on them by the HCPC. The increase of 12.5%
comes on top of a 5% rise in 2014,
this would mean a total increase of 17.5% in just 2 years.
The HCPC
successfully increased its general reserves by nearly £1 million last
year but continues with little public or parliamentary Scrutiny.UNISON
members have seen minimal pay rises and increased workloads over a number of
years and are struggling to afford continued increase of this nature.
This
motion (EDM41) simply asks for the planned increase to be put on hold until the
health select committee has met and held its
annual accountability hearing.”
UNISON is asking MPs from all sides of the house
to sign the motion as well as table written or oral parliamentary questions.
