via healthactivists@unionlists.org.uk

Dear all,

Congratulations to all the branches and campaigners for their work in opposing Virgin’s bid for primary care. We’ve done some work with Keep Our NHS Public to prepare for the Virgin roadshow in Oxford - information on www.keepournhspublic.org.uk

People may be aware that UNISON HQ has rulled that Karen Reissmann and Yunus Bakhsh can not stand for re-election to their seats to UNISON’s Health Service Group Executive.

Karen was excluded because she was sacked by her Trust in the run up to the election and was therefore not working in the health service! Since her sacking Karen got work for a health care agency but at the time of the strike its true she did not go back to work! The current highly controversial interpretation of rules by HQ staff is not reasonable. Our NEC members and General Secretary need to be lobbied and urged to overturn this decision.

The case of Yunus Bakhsh is slightly different. He has been suspended by his employers and suspended form office by UNISON for over a year. Yunus has not been found guilty of any wrongdoing by UNISON. He is being prevented from seeking re-election, a punishment. At the very least he is innocent unless proven guilty. Again the current interpretation of rules by HQ staff is unjust. Our NEC members and General Secretary need to be lobbied and urged to overturn this decision.

People may also be aware that UNISON HQ is taking action against branch leaders who criticised the decisions of the national standing orders committee to rule many resolutions to last year’s conference out of order. You can see their case here: www.stopthewitchhunt.org.uk

Pay. Our branch is running the pay campaign in opposition to the threatened 3 year below inflation pay controls. Material is at www.unisonoxonhealth.org.uk/pay.htm. It would be really good to know what others are doing so we could learn from you.

The next meeting of the Health Service Group Executive is 26th March - by which time we should have seen the recommendations from the Pay Review Body. We need to engage with members and see whether people are prepared to defend the value of our pay through lobbying and industrial action.

Regards, Mark Ladbrooke