via healthactivists@unionlists.org.uk

1) Biggest item was PENSIONS.

Dave Prentis gave introduction on Government proposals as part of deficit reduction ie no money gained going into pension schemes.

a. 50% Increased contributions 1. 2% in April 2012, 1. 2% more in April 2013, and 0. 8% more in 2014. Equivalent to being ion strike for one day every month for rest of working life.

b. Retirement age increased to match state pension ie 66 now going up to 68!.

c. Lower pensions as it is increased by CPI not RPI which is 0. 7% less a year so you get 17% less over 10years.

2) Hutton then added a recommendation for career average and end of protection for privatised staff to have equivalent pension.

3) All public sector unions have been negotiating together with the government but have achieved very little change on original proposals. Only shift is that those earning (full time equivalent) under £15000 will not pay increase (which Dave said was hardly anyone in NHS) , £15-18, 000 will pay half, over £21, 000 will pay more than 3. 2% to compensate. Also any accrued pension is protected on old contributions.

4) Treasury negotiations have now ended. Unions have moved to scheme by scheme negotiations. Some of us clearly felt the government set the terms of those negotiations which are as originally proposed (or sharing attacks in slightly different way between us) . Therefore there is no solution apart from fighting. Talks can delay us, with the government setting the pace and therefore if we wait til the bitter end they define the pace of our action as well.

5) Dave Prentis felt that there were possibility of change- restricting increase to first year only, changes in 67 and 68 retirement age, and possibility of negotiating career average although he felt this may be smokescreen to reduce payout further. All these are minor changes, unlikely and if agreed will mean somewhere else we will pay more.

6) Danger of these local negotiations is that a) it separates us rather than unites us b) it delays us (last meeting scheduled for October 2011) c) it puts us with health unions and professional organisations not other public service unions which means we can be held back by professional organisations. Dave P felt to keep public opinion we needed to make sure we tried our best in negotiations (Yet public opinion swung towards our case after 30th June strikes and Dave P angry strike speeches)

7) Bob Abberley, assistant general sec, who coordinates UNISON’s industrial action, talked of anti trade union laws which made it hard to have legal ballot, which tie us up in bureaucracy, and divide us. To make ballot legal he said we have to be in dispute with employers ie Dept of health not treasury.

8) He said it would take 17 weeks to try and triple check everything for legal ballot but some of the work has already been done and it could be concertinaed. So if ballot called today then strike may not happen before 11/11/11. If we wait until Sept it could be January 2012!! Some of us were very clear this is too long to allow united action with others. Pace is very slow and risks losing unity with other TUC

9) Health exec agreed process to allow for chair of health exec to call strike ballot of health members with our full consent if needed prior to our next meeting on September 21st . Roz Norman from east Midlands is current elected chair.

10) Some of us preferred UNISON wide call and they did say they would try and coordinate but legally it is scheme by scheme and could not win this. We could not shift the committee from this.

11) Bob also talked of NHS maybe not doing strike action but considering other action to keep other professional bodies on board. We cannot afford to concede any ground that NHS workers should not go on strike. It is ConDems who harm patients with 50, 000 staff already gone and 100, 000 more planned. It is them who are closing and rationing services. Some of us felt that strikes are easier to organise, more visible to the public and therefore can engender solidarity. Also work to rules tend to hurt patients and colleagues not trusts, they can divide not unite. We talked of some work needs to be done to equip branches to organise strikes and emergency cover. Some work will be done to raise issues of how health workers strike.

12) Also some of us felt united strike action across public sector is best way to a) build confidence of members, b) convince government we are serious, and that we need to start with a one day national strike where we all act together and feel together.

13) Unison seem to prefer regional action, rolling programmes of sectional action. One of the things that makes members feel better about fighting now is seeing us doing together with other unions and other industries. We should not throw this mood for unity away.

14) No clear strategy agreed beyond

a. we will probably end up with strike and need to prepare for one NOW with our members and branch lists which has already started.

b. No date or timetable set but health exec give full permission for chair to start process before our next meeting on 21st Sept if she feels it is right to do so but in meantime scheme by scheme talks are taking place likely to offer very little change as government sets terms of talks. We should try and coordinate strikes but Unison seem more likely to try first for NHS unity not TUC unity.

c. Need to discuss further what sort of action. If you want a national strike of all public workers starting with a one day, if you think we need to announce timetable sooner rather than later so we can get started this year, if you think health workers should strike, TELL US.

15) If your branch has any comments thoughts on this I would strongly advise you to make these known to Dave Prentis who is coordinating for whole TUC and Roz Norman chair of health exec. .

16) National health conference. Regional health committees will be consulted as to whether they would like a) to keep 3 day conference b) to have 2 day health conference and one day jointly with local government and community sector as we have increasingly common employers, services and issues or c) just reduce to 2 days.

17) Casework/campaigning. Lots of branches are now employing private caseworkers to deal with those members contracted out. Some jointly funded by a couple of branches through bids to regional fighting funds. It was said that the regional officer changes over the last few years have increased regional officer input into branches although I am not sure branches feel the same. Roger McKenzie talked to us later about projects like companies project which not just represented but organised members and organisation. Raised problems of branches feeling abandoned as regional support for casework has been significantly reduced and the burden of casework has passed to branch officers who then feel overwhelmed. Some real depth of feeling re this. One of the biggest recruitment of stewards over the years has been the strikes we have had so if we ever do strike over pensions maybe we will get the next generation of stewards.

18) NHS bill. Due for third reading in week beginning 5th Sept. It is planned to ask branches to do activity on Saturday 3rd September in town centres, to target MPs and adopt a Lord (http://action.goingtowork.org.uk/peers/) and on day of reading to organise candlelit vigils outside hospitals and parliament.

19) Understanding NHS budgets. A good idiot’s basic intro has been produced including how to challenge budgets. May help unearth money hidden or excessive demands for cuts but in light of £20 billion cut all trusts struggling.

20) Southern Cross -- moving very fast. Staff TUPE transfer.