Mass Meeting Notes Friday 19th April

Members meeting on Friday 19th of April

Firstly, the trade unions at Derriford Hospital would like to thank all of the Guest speakers, Senior TU organisers and especially to Suzy Franklyn who assisted us in organising the event. Of course we would also like to thank all of you who attended the event.

The meeting was held in the Post graduate medical centre at Derriford Hospital, but anticipating a full house was probably a wish rather than an expectation. Turnout on this occasion was dissapointing.

For those who did attend they would have heard our guest speakers deliver a comprehensive overview of how the NHS and the staff and patients will suffer over the coming years. The evidence is damning, billions of pounds of public tax payers money is simply being wasted by the gross missmanagement and by a government hell bent of privatising the NHS ASAP.

There is much fear, apathy, submissive and a defeatist feeling in large groups of NHS staff (both union members and non members) which can only make the fight more difficult for Labour politicians and trade unions both natioally and regionally in our battle to defeat regional pay and in our fight to save our national pay agreement.

Staff ignorance on what exactly is going to happen or what is actually happening prompted staff side unions to hold this event to attempt to educate our members, non members and anyone else on exactly what those facts are.

Fear is the root of evil in any company, fear of retribution if employees highlight bad practice, fear of losing their jobs if they suggest ways to develop and improve service efficiency.

Dr Eoin Clarke, Labour left, delivered a superb, accurate, descriptive and compelling speech on the sick speedy degradation and privatisation of the NHS whilst making it very clear that the service is very quickly being cherry picked by a fast developing group of profit seeking private companies.

GMB Member, Tudor Evans, leader of Plymouth city council gave us a brief overview on how the plymouth city labour council is attempting to control and manage ever decreasing central budgets. "Funding will decrease by 33% over a period of five years". Obviously having a detrimental effect on the local economy, our communities and our public services.

Tudor was asked by the GMB how plymouth city council intented to improve a public transport service which is severely lacking in its ability to provide our members with a service they need to get them to and from work. During "off peak" times (between 7pm until 8am) you will all be aware that there are very few bus services which can get you to and from work at the times the NHS employer wants you there. Sadly the previous Conservative led Plymouth city council sold the "public bus service" for £20m. Now we are seeing that service dissapear, fewer, older buses selling every increasing unaffordable tickets. Sadly, PCC are going to be powerless to improve that service without major investment from our private sector cartels or massive investment from central government.

GMB national officer, Paul Clarke gave the GMB views on why we now find ourselves in a position where our "national" pay agreement is slowly being dismantled into a country by country agreement and potentially en route to regional NHS pay. GMB with UNITE and three other trade unions opposed the recent national proposals and voted NOT to accept. However, other unions voted to accept it and in the spirit of democracy it was unfortunately accepted overall by a majority vote. 

GMB will continue to fight its members corner, it wont give in and with the support of ALL of its members it will continue to campaign. One excellent example of GMB local success is the signing of a recognition agreement between GMB Plymouth Health Branch and Serco Derriford. This was a long hard battle, which was won by the determination of our local reps to keep up the fight.

Alison Seabeck MP, gave us the assurance that South West MPs are very committed to defeating the regional pay ideals of national government.

Over the coming months and years many more changes and cuts will threaten the NHS, any trade union is only as strong as its membership!

A football team with a crowd of 100 supporters cheering on the day is unlikely to feel supported or inspired to win, especially when the other 7,000 supporters are simply reading about the game in the paper the following day wondering why they didn't win!

7,100 supporters cheering on the day, the team would be stirred into a WIN!

Please remember GMB Has over 1,700 members working in plymouth health services, your voices are invaluable during events which give you to opportunity to voice your support, with that support we will win.

Thank you for reading this report, should you have any questions please contact us.

Regards

Ray Stewart, GMB Health Branch Secretary, Plymouth.