RE_OPEN NOW PAY CAMPAIGN

UNISON has launched its "Re-Open Now" campaign to build support among NHS staff for re-opening the 2009/10 pay rates.The campaign recognises that months of soaring prices in the shops and at the pumps since the multi-year pay agreement was established in April this year have left more and more NHS workers struggling to make ends meet.That’s why UNISON has launched the "Re-Open Now" campaign to run alongside the submission of evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body, for which all the staff side unions have joined together to seek a review of the pay rates.Copies of the campaign poster and leaflet are shown in the attached files. If you would like colour copies of the poster and leaflet to distribute in your workplace, please contact your regional office or send an e-mail setting out your requirements to health@unison.co.uk

Poster http://www.unison.org.uk/file/17741_Re-open_recrut_poster_A4.pdf

Leaflet http://www.unison.org.uk/file/17740_Re-open_recrut_leaf_A5b.pdf

PAY SURVEY

Pay survey to support review of 2009/2010 pay settlement

In preparation for submitting evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body for a review of the 2009/10 pay rates agreed last year as part of the three-year pay settlement, UNISON is seeking the views of members through the attached survey.Therefore, we would be extremely grateful if you can spare the time to print off and complete the attached survey. Working jointly with staff side, UNISON will be making the strongest possible case that the review body should recognise the significant changes in recruitment and retention and wider economic and labour market conditions to trigger a recommendation to the Government for re-opening the multi-year pay agreement. The survey should be returned to the FREEPOST address shown on the front of the questionnaire by Wednesday 24 September 2008.

http://www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/A7528.pdf

Health Care Assistants Conference

A report and papers from this years Health Care Assistants conference are available below

http://www.unison.org.uk/healthcare/nursing/pages_view.asp?did=7480

Dental Nurses and Technicians – Registration Deadline 31/7/08

From 31 July 2008 Dental Nurses and Technicians have to be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC).

Failure to be on the professional register will result in ineligibility to work in related jobs whether or not you were in the job before the requirement to register became compulsory.

Dental nurses and dental technicians who do not have the required professional qualifications may be eligible to join the register if they have enough experience. However this option will end on 30 July 2008.

Nurses and Technicians who don’t fully meet the experience criteria can register with a combination of less experience and some qualifications. However from 31 July 2008 new registrants will only be admitted on a strict qualification basis.

DON’T DELAY – REGISTER TODAY

For further information and application forms see the GDC website at http://www.gdc-uk.org/ or telephone 0845 222 4141.

Union Response to HPC Consultation

UNISON has responded to the Health Professions Council (HPC) Consultation on Annual Registration and Scrutiny Fees in July 2008

http://www.unison.org.uk/file/A-HPC%20consult%20140708.pdf

NHS@60

As the NHS celebrates its 60th anniversary year, UNISON is leading the call for continued investment and support to sustain our NHS and its staff for the next 60 years and beyond.

UNISON NHS@60 Web Page http://www.unison.org.uk/healthcare/nhs60/index.asp

UNISON NHS@60 Posters http://www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/B3967a.pdf

http://www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/B3967b.pdf

UNISON NHS@60 Fact Sheet http://www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/B3993.pdf

UNISON HEALTH EXECUTIVE CALLS FOR PAY REVIEW

UNISON’s senior health activists have voted to trigger the reopener clause on the three-year pay deal for NHS workers.The call for a better pay deal comes in the wake of increases in the costs of fuel, energy and food which are driving inflation beyond the 2% increase predicted when the deal was negotiated in spring.UNISON head of health Karen Jennings said: "Nurses and other health workers are already struggling to cope with almost daily increases in the cost of basic necessities such a food and energy."The reopener clause was central to this year's multi-year pay talks because it provided a much-needed safety net against just this situation."Ms Jennings continued: "Our members reluctantly accepted 2.75% this year but the 2.54% and 2.5% increases negotiated for the next two years now fall well short of all expected inflation figures."UNISON will work with the other health unions to submit new evidence to the NHS pay review body making the case for reviewing the 2009/2010 pay rates.

Press Release http://www.unison.org.uk/asppresspack/pressrelease_view.asp?id=1233