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The NHS Five years from now | NEC elections VOTE NOW UN

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Your pensionWhat governmentchanges mean FOR UNISON MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

500,000 march forpublic services

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WELCOME TO

from Dave PrentisUNISON’s general secretary

Talk to us: phone 0845 355 0845Monday to Friday 6am to midnight and Saturday 9am to 4pm

If you want to change membership details, call this number, visit the website orget in touch with your branch or region. Calls may be recorded for trainingpurposes. Textphone 0800 967 968

Visit our website at www.unison.org.uk

It was great to see so many of you marching forpublic services in London on 26 March. Hundredsof thousands of us got together to show the Tory-ledgovernment that its cuts to public services areunnecessary, unfair and unacceptable.

But it doesn’t stop there, while the attacks on ourpublic services continue, then so will our staunchdefence of them. We followed up on 26 March by

taking part in the TUC’s All Together for the NHS day on 1 April.UNISON members up and down the country visited their localcouncillors and MPs, held meetings and ran street stalls to get acrossour message that patients and staff will be the losers if the massivechanges to the NHS proposed by the government go through.

We’re also stepping up our defence of our members’ pensions. The government has announced that public sector workers will haveto pay 3% more into their pension schemes, to help pay for a crisisthey didn’t cause. If you’re paying 6% of your salary as a pensioncontribution at the moment then these changes mean yourcontributions will increase by a half again. On top of that they’rechanging the way that pensions rise with inflation – moving fromthe retail price index (RPI) to the consumer price index (CPI) –currently 2% lower. We’re negotiating hard with the government onyour behalf, but if we can’t get them to see sense we will have to lookat hard decisions on moving to industrial action.

Already we’ve made an impact: the government backed down onplans to introduce competition on price to the NHS, local campaignshave put a stop compulsory redundancies and we’re working hard toprotect each and every job.

You can make a difference. Elections are taking place across thecountry in May. If you can vote then do, and make your vote count –vote for public services.

VOLUME 19, NUMBER 1U is published by UNISON – the public serviceunion – and distributed to every member. Nonmembers pay £30 a year.

EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES UNISON Centre, 130 Euston Road, London NW1 2AY Tel: 0845 355 0845; Textphone 08000967968Email: u.magazine@unison.co.uk

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14THIS ISSUE8 Pensions under attack

What UNISON and its members can do to protect their pensions

11 26 MarchMarch for our public services

14 Animal magicUNISON members run a campaign to save the local zoo

16 NHS the debateHealth professionals and patients talkabout the biggest NHS shake-up ever

19 Oranges, sunshine, empire… and heartacheSocial worker Margaret Humphreystells her story

21 At home and on guardYvette Cooper tells of herdetermination to defend public services

24 Me and my jobMelanie Atkinson can’t help but getemotionally involved in her work

26 Second city first in cutsBirmingham’s council coalition showswhat the cuts could mean for the rest ofthe country

REGULARS4 News6 U@work28 Puzzles30 Letters

21

4 TALK TO US: 0845 355 0845 ● VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.UNISON.ORG.UK ●

YorkshireandHumbersideThe threat of strike action by local government workers in Kirklees brought theemployer back to the negotiating table where the council backed down from a threatto shed more than 1,000 jobs, including at least 100 compulsory redundancies.

However, the council has closed down its Connexions centre, causing 17 vitalyouth workers to lose their jobs and leaving hundreds of vulnerable teenagerswithout support.

In Sheffield, Liberal Democrat delegates were welcomed to their springconference in the city with a reminder of just how unpopular their leader Nick Clegg has become since taking the party into coalition with the Tories.

The UNISON Sheffield office is directly opposite one of the main conference hotels –and as delegates set out for the opening of their conference, they were greeted by thebranch’s ‘Cleggzilla’ banner, graphically showing the damage Mr Clegg has done to the city in his short time in government.

Cymru/WalesUNISON Cymru/Wales welcomed the “yes” result for March’s referendum on more effective law making powers in Wales.

Paul O’Shea, UNISON Cymru/Wales Secretary, said: “This is a good vote for Wales and is a good vote for the Welsh public sector. The result showsthat the people have confidence in the Welsh Assembly government and itdemonstrates the clear red water between Wales and Westminster.

“Not only that, but it is a loud and clear message to Cameron and Clegg thatthey can keep their cuts away from Wales – we will do things a better way.”

NorthernIreland“This is the most important budget our executive has had to producesince devolved government was established,” Northern Ireland UNISONsecretary Patricia McKeown declared after Stormont set out its plans todeal with the cuts imposed from London.”It needs not only the genuineco-operation of all government departments with each other; it requiresthe proper engagement and participation of the people of NorthernIreland,” said Ms McKeown. “This has not happened.”

The union believes that the budget proposals are fundamentallyflawed, that they fail to comply with the government’s own legalobligations, and that they will damage the fundamental rights of thepeople of Northern Ireland particularly in respect of health and socialcare, education, housing, the right to work and the right to an adequatestandard of living.

EasternIn Norfolk, the Norfolk Coalition Against the Cuts has been active inspeaking up for public services. Holding events and running stalls inAttleborough, Great Yarmouth, Thetford, Sheringham and King’s Lynn,the coalition has become a highly visible presence in the local community.

UNISON members welcomeNick Clegg to Sheffield

Campaigning in Kings Lynn

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REGIONALNEWS

SouthEastUNISON reps from across the south east, including from the Isle of Wight, handed in a letter to the TUC in London urging them tojoin the campaign to oppose the threat to privatise the NHS BloodService and pledging support for the TUC demonstration inLondon on Saturday 26 March

Debbie Jones, UNISON South East blood service convenor, said:“We are fully committed to maintaining the blood collection serviceon the Isle of Wight and a delegation from the Isle of Wight bloodcollection team will be attending the demonstration on Saturday 26March in London. We hope many of our blood donors will join us” EastMidlands

Kay Cutts, aptly named Tory head of Nottingham county council, hasno qualms about the council’s plans to cut £150m from its spendingover the next three years, although the cuts will lead to 1,000 job lossesas well as the closure of 35 specialist day centres, a massive hike incharges for social care and huge cuts to services for children and youngpeople, including services that support children with special needs.

But the union is fighting back, with a co-ordinated campaign rangingfrom examinations of the council’s finances, through leafleting todemonstrations – the union has found £14m potential savings for thecouncil, distributed more than 100,000 leaflets and saw 3,000 memberstake industrial action on the day of the council’s budget announcement.

5● TALK TO US: 0845 355 0845 ● VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.UNISON.ORG.UK

WestMidlandsUNISON has uncovered figures that show thatUniversity Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust isfacing a massive 17% spending cut. Electivesurgery is being cut, with plans to reduceadmissions by 3,000, while follow-up onoutpatients will be cut from 125,000 to 88,000.

GreaterLondonLibrarian Matthew Stead held a sold-out gig, Read and Shout, in March in supportof libraries in London and across thecountry. Described as a “a special event, a live music event, a mini-festival, anevening of sublime indiepop”, the gigfeatured bands and DJs and attractedsupport from band British Sea Power.

NorthWestUNISON has been working with GreaterManchester Police Authority to mitigate job losses caused by the government cutsto public services.

Labour MPs and councillors joinedUNISON members to demonstrate againstthe cuts and show support for police staffas well as to protest against the inevitablerise in crime that will follow the cuts.

SouthWest Plans to rush through major changes at a primary care trust in Plymouth have re-energised the local UNISON branch.The threatened changes, which wouldsee 2,000 staff moved out of the NHS bythe autumn, have inspired an impressivecampaign that has seen the branch gainboth new members and new activists.

In Swindon, home carers have beenbattling to keep their jobs working withsome of the most vulnerable in ourcommunities. A petition gathered morethan 9,000 signatures in just over twoweeks, with people queuing up to sign it.

ScotlandUNISON Scotland has launched a Scottishelection manifesto as part of its campaign to defend public services. The manifestohighlights the need for fair tax, the importanceof quality public services and calls for an end toPFI and PPP.

In health, NHS Scotland employers have agreedto implement a Living Wage in 2011/12. Anestimated extra £2m a year will be shared byaround 4,500 people as a result of the changes.Tom Waterson, UNISON Scotland health chair,said: “Two million pounds in workers’ pockets isa better use of public money than £2m as abonus to one senior Scottish banker.”

NorthernRallies have been held in Durham, Gateshead,Northumberland, South Shields, Newcastle,Middlesbrough, North and South Tyneside andStockton to protest against government cuts.

The protests are part of a series of eventsorganised by the Northern Public Servicesalliance, which has been formed to fight publicservice cuts.

NEC ELECTIONS

Use your vote –NEC elections now openApril is election time in UNISON – with the polls opening to elect your new national executive council (NEC) opening on 11 April and closing on 13 May.

The NEC decides on issues and campaigns between conferences and works with UNISON staff to support members. It is made up of elected representatives of service groups, regions, young members and Black members.

At least two thirds of the seats are held by women and 13 seats arereserved for low-paid women.

The NEC elected over the next months will take office at the close of this year’s national delegate conference in June and act as the union’s senior lay body between conferences until 2013.

Remember, the more members that vote in the NEC elections the more representative our union is.

Ballot papers are sent to members on 11 April and a ballot helpline is open for queries between 19 April and noon on 10 May. Ballot papers must be received by 13 May and theindependent scrutineer running the election will announce ballthe results on 7 June.

The full procedures for the election can be downloaded from the union website at unison.org.uk/elections.

FIND OUT MOREunison.org.uk/

elections

VOTE NOW!

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Please allow 28 days for receipt of your tickets and note that tickets are subject to availability. It may not be possible to fulfil your first choice in all cases.

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LV= Frizzell is offering UNISON members a pair of free tickets to the county game of their choice

HEALTH PAY

Freeze rejectedThe union’s health service groupexecutive rejected a two-year freeze onpay increments – which was on top of thepay freeze that has been imposed by thegovernment – in January.

NHS Employers had offered a nocompulsory redundancy agreement in return for the freeze but could notguarantee that all employers would abideby it and excluded staff such as matrons,senior occupational therapists andmidwife supervisors.

In March, the NHS Pay Review Body confirmed thegovernment’s pay freeze,recommending no rise fortwo years.

U@WO

RKLOCAL GOVERNMENT PAY

Employers refuseto make offerLocal government workers are facing a grim2011, after the employers in England, Walesand Northern Ireland refused to make a payoffer in January.

Workers in the sector have been hit withbelow-inflation pay settlements for five out ofthe last seven years.

Even those earning under £21,000 will not getthe much-hyped £250 increase George Osbornepromised them in the emergency budget.

“Our members – people who provide vitallocal services – are facing severe hardship,”noted UNISON national secretary HeatherWakefield.

“Meanwhile, the bankers who caused thiscrisis are collecting their bonuses, as if thiseconomic crisis they caused had never even happened.”

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8

PENS

IONS

The price of this financial crisisis being borne by people whoabsolutely did not cause it,”said Mervyn King recently.

“I’m surprised that the degree of publicanger has not been greater than it has.”

It’s quite something when thegovernor of the Bank of England agreeswith what UNISON members andgeneral secretary Dave Prentis havebeen saying for months.

But the government is not listening. It has announced that public sectorworkers will have to pay 3% more intotheir pension schemes to help reducethe budget deficit. And while askingpeople to increase their contributions, it has changed how it calculates theinflation rate, in a way that meanspensioners will lose out.

Until now, pensions rose each yearaccording to the Retail Price Index(RPI). But from April 2011 they will be linked to the Consumer Price Index(CPI), which is 2% lower – meaning thatpensions will rise by less each year.

The government commissioned LordHutton to look at public sector pensionreforms. One of his recommendations isto replace final salary pension schemeswith career average schemes, which basepensions benefits on average earningsover a whole career rather than what

you are being paid when you retire. Theaverage figure is often less than the finalsalary figure.

Hutton has also recommended thatthe retirement age increases in line withthe changes to the state pension age.This would mean all schemes increasingtheir retirement ages to more than 65:anyone now aged 42-57 would retire at 66, those aged 34-42 at 67.

Negotiations have begun with the government about the Huttonrecommendations, and will continueuntil June.

The good news is that public servicepensions schemes have around 7.3million pensioners and 5.4 millionactive members – along with deferredmembers, a total of around 20 millionpeople who can join together to defendtheir pensions.

It’s vital that every public serviceworker is informed about what’shappening to their pensions. UNISONis building up a network of fully trainedpensions champions, so that everybranch can have accurate informationwith which to build their campaigns.

There will also be at least onepensions contact in every workplace to talk to colleagues about the issues,encourage non-members to join theunion, and get involved in thecampaign.

“Asking workers to pay more andwork longer for less, is simply not anoption,” says Mr Prentis. “If we cannotmake any progress in our talks with thegovernment, to get it to see sense, wewill have to take very hard decisions onmoving to an industrial action ballot.”

Sarah Patrick, a local governmentworker currently paying into thelocal government pension scheme “When I first started working forAshfield District Council in my early

Pensionsunder attack

Sarah Patrick, a local government worker and Lillie MacNaughton, aretired police staffer are worried about government plans for publicsector pensions. U speaks to them and finds out what UNISON and its members can do to protect our pensions.

Hutton has alsorecommended

that the retirement ageincreases in line withthe changes to thestate pension age. This would mean allschemes increasingtheir retirement ages to more than 65

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twenties, my dad said, ‘Join the pension andjoin the union’ – so I did both,” says SarahPatrick. It was good advice. Sarah has beenworking there for 22 years, and is now aregeneration support officer and treasurer of her UNISON branch.

For Sarah, as for many local governmentemployees, a relatively modest salary is offsetby the prospect of a decent pension atretirement.

But with the government’s recent pensionchanges, and uncertainty over the HuttonReport, she is now very concerned.

“At the moment, I pay £105 into mypension every month. Now that they’reincreasing contributions by 3%, I’ll have to pay another £50 a month – so they say 3%, but for me it works out at 50%,” she explains.

“It’s not that I don’t want to pay the extra,it’s that I’m going to struggle to pay it,” shesays. “It’s hard enough already, month tomonth, once I’ve paid my mortgage and other bills. I’ll have to have a good look at my finances and see if I can squeeze outanother £50.”

The extra penny-pinching might seem

worthwhile, were it not for the fact that herpension will be worth less than before. Plus,Sarah may have to work longer to get it, if theretirement age is raised.

Sarah is considering opting out of the localgovernment pension scheme (LGPS) – andsays that she’s not alone.

“It would be different if you were getting abetter pension. As it is, it might make moresense for me to save that money and put itinto an account. I don’t know yet”.

UNISON’s advice to Sarah and others likeher is very clear: don’t let the governmentforce you out of the pension which is yoursby right – stay in the scheme and fight forits survival.

“There’s no other way of saving that canmatch the benefits you’ll get from the pensionscheme,” says national officer Colin Meech,emphatically.

“No changes can happen to the benefitssystem until 2015, and all the benefitsmembers have earned up to that point areprotected. You should wait and let the unionnegotiate the new benefit structure. If youleave the scheme now you lose those benefits.”

There are also concerns that if too manypeople start to leave the scheme, it will

When I firststarted working

for Ashfield DistrictCouncil in my earlytwenties, my dad said,‘Join the pension andjoin the union’ – so I did both

“

“

At Royal Bank of Scotland, one of the banks bailed out by thetaxpayer, the highest paid bankerEllen Alemany has just had a year’spension contribution of £736,000going into her pot – equivalent tothe average pension paid to 262women in the local governmentpension scheme.

DID YOU KNOW?

9

Sarah isconsidering

opting out of the localgovernment pensionscheme (LGPS) – and says that she’s not alone

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collapse – leaving those who are still in it stranded.

“There is a lot of misinformationabout public sector pension schemes,”says Mr Meech. “But the LGPS andNHS pension schemes wererenegotiated in 2006 to make themsustainable and affordable. Bothschemes are cash rich – there is moremoney going in than coming out.”

Sarah Patrick and millions like her are right to be worried. But leaving thescheme is not the solution. And that’swhy UNISON is stepping up itscampaign to save our pensions – andwhy industrial action over pensions is a possibility we can’t ignore.

Lillie MacNaughton, a retiredpolice control room workerEighty-one year-old LillieMacNaughton worked for 23 years in the Greenock police control room,before she retired 15 years ago.

“Until now I’ve managed quite well,”says Lillie. “I pay my bills by direct debitso I can be sure I don’t ever fall behind.But now, with the changes in food andenergy prices, I find an awful differencein the daily cost of living.”

Lillie gets £102 a month for her policepension, which is taxed, and the statepension of £102 a week.

“My budget is getting tighter andtighter. It’s been one of the coldestwinters for years, but heating chargeshave gone through the roof. And I stillhave my mortgage to pay”.

It’s not just rising prices that Lillie isnoticing – she is nervous that herpension will be smaller due to thegovernment’s switch from the RPI to the CPI. “That’s going to made a bigdifference,” she says anxiously.

“My worry is that things will never go back. This will become the norm,economic crisis or no economic crisis.This government is talking aboutchanging the winter warmth allowance,the future of the bus pass is uncertain,they’re taking away one thing afteranother. I don’t have any faith in them.”

In spite of her advanced years, Lillie isactively campaigning on pensions issues.“I’m campaigning from two angles. It’sour issue today – but it’s young people’sissue tomorrow. What we need is a

decent pension, and a wee bit of stabilitythat you can rely on.” UClare Bayleyc.bayley@unison.co.uk

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My worry is that things will

never go back. Thiswill become the norm,economic crisis or noeconomic crisis. Thisgovernment is talkingabout changing thewinter warmthallowance, the futureof the bus pass isuncertain, they’retaking away one thingafter another

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Keep up to date on thegovernment proposals and how they will affect you atunison.org.uk/pensions

Volunteer to be a pensionschampion for your branch, by speaking to your branchsecretary and emailing yourdetails to protectourpensions@unison.co.uk

Encourage non-members to join UNISON online atunison.org.uk/join

GET INVOLVED

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“ MARCH FOR PUBLIC SERVICESToday is a

magnificent day.Tomorrow wemarch on

“

UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis addressed the hundredsof thousands of marchers in Hyde Park: “Today is one day. Today is a magnificent day. Tomorrow we march on.”

Mr Prentis was addressingwhat police estimated to be half a million protesters,some of whom were still

entering the park four hours after themarch started.

To cheers and applause from a welcome “ocean of purple and green,” he said he was particularly proud ofUNISON members.

“Our people see on a daily basis thedevastation of what’s happening – toelderly without care, to children losingtheir chance, to communities beingblighted by unemployment and povertyand who are ignored by this ruthlesscoalition,” Mr Prentis told the crowd. Thepresent government had no democraticmandate whatsoever for “taking achainsaw to pubic services,” he added.

And to the government’s claim thatthere were no alternatives, Mr Prentissaid: “They should have the guts to goback to the bankers, the spivs and thespeculators and tell them: ‘You createdthis mess, you clear it up’.

“If there’s money to bail out thebankers, if there’s money for bonuses, if there’s money for war, then there’smoney for our public services.”

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“W hat can I say – I’ve neverseen so many people inone place from everywalk of life, young and

old, from every service and every part ofthe community,” said UNISON presidentAngela Lynes as she surveyed the crowdgathering to march off on 26 March.

“I’m really pleased with themagnificent UNISON turnout. There are UNISON balloons andbanners everywhere. We said we’dturn the streets purple and green and we have!

“I really hope the governmentlistens to us because this is only the beginning.”

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for people from ourregion. Sometimes wecan feel quite isolated.So to take part insomething like this,and feel the strength innumbers, is amazingMo Nicholson, Highland branch

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The Tories said I shouldn’t come andspeak to you today,” Ed Milibandtold the crowds crammed into thepark. “But I’m proud to stand

here with you because we know there is an alternative.

“The Tories say this is a march of theminority, but they are so wrong. We standhere today for the mainstream majority ofBritain: the midwives of Kingston standingup for their services, the teachers andstudents standing up for the nextgeneration.

“I say to David Cameron: the hundreds of thousands here today reject your attempt to divide this country.

“It is not politicians, it is the people, who make change happen.

“Who will stand up for the NHS? Let us say we will.

“Who will stand up for children’s centres? Let us say we will.

“Who will stand up for the hopes anddreams of the next generation? Let us say we will. Who is the voice of themainsteam majority? Let us say we are.”

So far the devolvedgovernment in

Wales is moderating theworst of the cuts.However, this is unlikelyto last given the scale ofthe cuts. We fear what is to come Daniel Titley, Aberystwyth

Who is the mainstreammajority of Britain? Let us say we are

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10 of us are here,from 62 years old

to 14. For some, it’s thefirst ever march – and it’sserious. We had to makeour voice heardLee Bradshaw from University of Central Lancashire

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Graham Wharton takes aslight step back as the alpacaon the other side of the fencelooks as though it’s ready to

spit. Alpacas usually only spit at otheralpacas, but occasionally they’ll take aim at humans too.

After making sure there’s enoughfresh straw for them to eat, thezookeeper reaches out to stroke hischarge, who had skittered down the field to be fed.

If someone starts talking about ‘local government’, the chances are theywon’t be thinking about jobs involvingalpacas. But just outside Bolton, GreaterManchester, three UNISON memberstake care of a variety of animals andbirds at Animal World and the ButterflyHouse – although the Butterfly House is now empty, closed as a result ofgovernment cuts.

Last year, the council announcedplans to axe the mini zoo in its entirety.But a remarkable campaign by theunion and the local community hasforced it to change its tune – at least a bit.

Once news of the plans leaked out,support flooded in. Supportive reportingfrom the local paper prompted dozens of letters that were just as supportive.

The branch produced posters to‘Save Animal World’. They appearedrapidly in the windows of homes

around the town, as people alsocontacted councillors and local MPs.Schools and playgroups wrote to thecouncil expressing the educationalvalue of the zoo as the campaignspread.

Branch officers Martin Challenderand Jackie Peplow say that thecampaign to save the zoo didn’t justdraw in schools, but lots of groups,including the Friends of Moss BankPark, conservation groups (impressed by the zoo’s bats) and the LancashireWildlife Trust.

Even in the coldest depths of winter,with snow covering the ground, localpeople gathered with the staff and union

representatives, outside Animal World, to make their voices heard.

Graham points out: “It’s part of our local history. There used to be amenagerie here in Victorian times andthis has been here since before the war.We had an estimated 180,000 visitorslast year.”

Four thousand people signed apetition against the closure. Evencouncil attempts to play off one serviceagainst another have fallen on stonyground. When Martin took the petitioninto his work, he half expected to be toldthat Animal World isn’t as important asthe mental health service they provide.

But that didn’t happen. “Bloody hell,”one of them told him, “It’s bad enoughthat they want to cut care and they wantto cut our jobs and they want to cut thisand that – they even want to take awaywhere we take our kids and ourgrandkids.”

At present, they’ve won a stay ofexecution, the council has givenAnimal World another six months. Inthe interim, they’ll put a charge of 50pon entry (albeit with reduced animalsand birds and butterflies) and turn thebutterfly house into a café.

Their campaign, which has galvanisedso many local people, has given AnimalWorld a chance. UAmanda Kendala.kendal@unison.co.uk

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Animal magicThe rabbits, alpacas and bats of Bolton’s Animal World are safe,after UNISON members run a campaign to save the local zoo.

Last year, the council

announced plans to axe the mini zoo in its entirety. But aremarkable campaign by the union and thelocal community hasforced it to change itstune – at least a bit

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With the government planning the biggest ever NHS shake-up in England, health professionals and patients talk to U about what it means to them.

U: What effect will the governmentplans have on the NHS?KJ: The government is removing all of the structures that keep the NHScomprehensive, so strategic health

authorities andprimary care trusts,which looked rightacross a regionalarea and plannedservices, will go. The governmentwill also beintroducing more of a market andcompetition so thatproviders will becompeting againstone another. NG: What this newplan does, as oneTory MP says, is tothrow a grenaderight into themiddle of theNHS. It disrupts

all of those relationships and structuresthat were starting to bed, in whichwould have continued to deliver whatwe were hoping for.

Any kind of major disruption isalways going to be a bad idea and in factpretty disastrous at this really criticaltime, but this particular reorganisationis as far as I can tell utterly wrong-headed. It introduces pretty unfetteredcontrol of big parts of the budget by GPsand, as a GP, I can say that we’re not ina position for the most part to managethose budgets. The idea that we as neworganisations – the GP commissioningconsortia – can do it is fanciful really;there’s no good reason why we should be able to.SJ: My concern would be that GPs arefocussed more on management, adminand looking after their budgets thanpatient care. I want my GP to bethinking about what’s best for me, not what’s best for their budget.JM: It’s going to be devastating. We’relosing posts all over the place and I

THE PANEL:Neil Goulbourne GP in Coventry and board member of a commissioning consortiumKaren Jennings UNISON assistantgeneral secretary and former nationalsecretary for healthSarah John mother of three childrenand NHS patientJim Mansfield systems recordmanager in a hospitalRachel Voller midwife

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As a GP, I can say that we’renot in a position to manage

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think it’s really leaving services open toprivate companies to pick up the cheapprocedures and of course they’ll get involvedin commissioning. Unless we’re very carefulwe’ll be effectively privatising the NHS.

What difference will it make if there isgreater privatisation in the NHS?KJ: First of all it will change the entire ethosof the NHS. What bringing in the privatesector and the market does is to give them a greater say so we will begin to see privatesector companies determining what care is offered rather than what’s in the public interest. NG: I think the big concern, much more thanprivate sector provision, is the private sectoralso doing the commissioning. That conflictof interest applies just the same to GPs whoare both providers and commissioners. It maybe that all of this turns out to be OK, but itmay also be that you have one organisationboth supporting the commissioning processand somehow benefitting from contracts as a provider.

JM: The firms are there to make money.They’re profit-makingorganisations so they’renot going to provide thecomprehensive care thatthe NHS does. They’renot in the market toopen geriatric wards,they’re there for varicoseveins and that sort ofstuff. So the NHS will beleft doing all the difficultexpensive procedures –that’s the worry.

What difference willpatients actually see infive years time if theseplans are implemented?NG: Well before then,what they will find isservices being cut in quitedrastic ways in order to

save money. We’re already seeing this now: in order to meet financial challengescommissioners are restricting who can havecertain operations. So for knee replacementsyou have to have a certainamount of disability or painor for cataract surgery youhave to have a certainimpairment of your vision.

But I think there’s also amassive risk of unintendedconsequences. It’s so hardto manage any kind ofhealth service and tryingto transfer those powers in a very confused way to new commissioners is bound to result inmistakes along the way.

Because you’re doing itin idiosyncratic ways, inhundreds of instancesacross the country,things are going to getmissed and I very muchsuspect that things willgo awry: there’ll bemore clinical error,there’ll be failure tocontrol servicesproperly and failure tomanage them in somecircumstances, so I fearthat it puts the public

at greater risk of those kinds of dangerous mishaps.RV: The government is saying there’ll bemore choice but actually there’ll be less.Take for example the ante-natal classes thatI teach – there’s already talk that they maynot be able to run those anymore on theNHS because they can’t afford to put themon, so there’ll be a smaller range of servicesavailable free of charge.

What does it mean to you to have theNHS there? SJ: It’s hugely important to me to know thatthe NHS is there for me. I lived in the US fora while and when my husband Andrew brokehis hand it was $50 straight off. You go intoA&E and take in your credit card. Before you

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can even get into triage you have to putin your card and enter your PIN andthat was even with the best healthinsurance. It’s ridiculous. I’ve alwaysbeen a big fan of being able to walk into A&E without my credit card.RV: I came in to work for the NHSbecause I believed in its principle ofdelivery – free at the point of need andnot for profit. People should be able toaccess the best quality services straightaway. We’ve seen vast improvements inthe services the NHS provides over thepast 10 years. My fear is that whenthere’s less money in the NHS, becauseit’s going to the private sector instead,we won’t be able to continue that workand therefore providing the excellentservice that we do is going to suffer.JM: I came into the NHS because it’sthe NHS. The nature of the job wasthat you were there doing somethingyou felt was good, for the benefit ofthe community, so that’s why a lot ofpeople went into the NHS and put upwith the low wages and conditionsthat they’ve had.

The government has promised to protect frontline services. Do you think that it is keeping its promise?NG: They’re very clearly not at all. Youdon’t have to read the newspaper forvery long to realise that thousands of

NHS frontline staff are losing their jobs.It’s clearly not the case – it’s nonsense. JM: Clerical staff have never beenregarded as frontline although theytake a lot of work off doctors andnurses and other professions. If thesestaff go, no-one’s really thought about what’s going to happen to those processes. You’re already seeingsome of that with nurses and doctorscomplaining about the amount of paper work they have to do. RV: I didn’t believe the governmentwhen they said it and I was right not to.They promised us they wouldn’t reformthe NHS – this is the biggest reform theNHS has ever seen so no, I don’t believethey’re protecting frontline services, Idon’t believe they ever intended to and Idon’t believe they believe in the NHS. UCelestine Laportec.laporte@unison.co.uk

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PUBLIC SERVICES

Social workerMargaret Humphreysis a true hero: now shetells U about her workto reunite the familiesof children deportedto the other side of the world, which isfeatured in a new film.

When Nottingham social worker MargaretHumphreys first startedto hear disturbing

stories about children who had beentaken from care in Britain, falsely toldthat their parents were dead anddeported to Australia, she couldn’tbelieve it.

The idea that a clandestine agreementbetween governments and charitiescould lead to children – some as youngas three – being packed onto boats andsent to the other side of the world,without the knowledge or permission

of their families and never to know their real identities, was too horrific for words.

But the scandal of the “lost children ofthe empire”, 130,000 children deportedover four centuries, was all too true.

Meeting some of these, as extremelyconfused and vulnerable adults, MsHumphreys learned that rather than the “better life” they had been promised,they were subjected to harsh, oftenbrutal conditions in orphanages andother institutions.

That was in 1986. Ms Humphreys, then working in child protection for

Oranges, sunshine,empire… and heartache

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Nottinghamshire County Council, decidedthat she had to do something to help.

The council agreed to fund hersecondment for two years – until,everyone assumed, the Britishgovernment would admit itswrongdoing and take up the mantle.

But almost a quarter of a centurylater, this courageous and indomitablewoman is still at the helm, as director of the Child Migrants Trust, which hasreunited more than a thousand childmigrants with their families, whileoffering counselling and support.

“The trust will outlive me, I can assure you,” says the UNISON member,who this year was awarded a CBE for services to disadvantaged people.

“Because the consequences of theseterrible, barbaric schemes will go on,every day, for child migrants. People still come forward, wanting to knowabout their past, about their family. The pain doesn’t get less with age, it gets more intense.

“Sadly, for child migrants now,finding their parent often means looking for a grave. But even that means so much to someone without any identity, without any knowledge of their background.

“And of course there’s the nextgeneration, their children, who havebeen impacted by this.”

In the post-war era, approximately3,300 children were shipped toAustralia, and a further 1,200 to New Zealand, Rhodesia and Canada.

These were children who had beenplaced in temporary care, or put up for adoption, but instead were used topopulate the Empire “with good, whiteBritish stock.”

In the past year, both the British andAustralian governments have madebelated apologies for the policy, whichcontinued up to 1970.

Gordon Brown called the scheme“shameful” and “a deportation of the innocents”.

His apology came with an increase inbasic funding for the trust, and a £6m“family restoration fund” which willenable people to return home and be a part of their families.

Now the story of the child migrants is told in a new film, Oranges andSunshine.

Based on Ms Humphreys’ bookEmpty Cradles and directed by JimLoach, son of Ken, it follows the socialworker (played by Emily Watson) as sheundertakes the enormous, fraught taskof reuniting families and dealing withthe emotional consequences, whileattempting to make the government and charities take responsibility.

It is a harrowing, but also upliftingtale as Ms Humphreys – with thestalwart help of her husband Mervyn,also a social worker and now the trust’sproject evaluator – start to change livesfor the good. And for UNISONmembers, the film’s release could not be more timely.

The union has just launched its “socialcare in the media survival guide” forbranches, to help them “swim againstthe tide of negative coverage” (availableat unison.org.uk/socialwork) in thepress. A film focused on a social workerwho can truly be described as heroic canonly be beneficial.

“It was a pretty surreal experience,”says Ms Humphreys, now in her sixties, of watching herself on screen.

“I thought almost immediately: ‘Who is this person? I know her’. Andthen, of course, I remembered that it wasme! And the film covers quite a span ofmy working life. I was just transfixed.”

She agreed to the film for the samereasons as she wrote her book, to raiseawareness and encourage more childmigrants to approach the trust for help.

Gordon Brown’s statement had thesame effect, she says, “bringing peopleforward who saw in his apology somehope, some recognition at last, that weas a nation have accepted what theseschemes did to them.”

When I tell her that she doesn’t seemto enjoy the spotlight, she laughs, with a sort of relief. “That’s very perceptive.”The book, the film, the appearancesbefore politicians and the media, “haveall been huge compromises” for this very private woman and her family.

Today, the trust operates from its base in Nottingham, and offices inMelbourne and Perth, with a team ofspecialist social workers. Although their task is a very particular one, MsHumphreys insists that it chimes withthe core values of all social workers.

“We deal with families, children,identity, connection, things that allsocial workers deal with. But also, thisproject is about delivering social justice,about a society accepting itsresponsibilities.

“And whether they’re working withpeople who are terminally ill, withchildren, with disadvantaged people,social workers the world over areworking on issues of social justice. Wedon’t often hear that, but they are.” UDemetrios Matheoud.matheou@unison.co.uk

Oranges and Sunshine (15) wasreleased in UK cinemas on Friday 1 April 2011.

Want to know more aboutUNISON social workers – and thesupport being offered by theunion? Visit our website atunison.org.uk/socialwork

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Rather than the“better life” they

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One day in January, YvetteCooper flew to Paris asshadow foreign secretary,for meetings at the British

Embassy. Her mind was exercised by the need for internationalcollaboration in tackling the economiccrisis, which the government wasbrushing under the carpet. Then her phone rang. Labour leader EdMiliband wanted her back in London – as shadow home secretary.

She laughs at the memory. “Ed just

called and said, ‘Can you come homeagain’. Obviously I was working on a lotof very interesting things at the time.But equally, now… The truth is they are both fascinating jobs.”

We read so much aboutparliamentary reshuffles – enjoying the melodrama of the latest axe orpromotion – that we’ve possiblyforgotten what such sudden switchesmight mean, in practice, for theindividual. The MP for Normanton,Pontefract and Castleford, who had

also been mooted (along with herhusband, Ed Balls) as a shadowchancellor and even leader of the party, could be forgiven if she’d felt a little disconcerted.

But today, she is impressively focusedon her current portfolio. And that role,along with her continued responsibilityfor women and equality, brings MsCooper very much into UNISON’sworld. The scale and nature of thecoalition’s cuts to public services, and its reforms to pensions and benefits all

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At home and on guardShadow home secretary Yvette Cooper tells Uof her determination to defend public services.

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“The problem is that by cutting too far, too fast, you end up costing us more,” she says of the coalition’saggressive economic approach. “Theresult is sluggish growth, then fewerpeople paying tax, businesses paying less tax, more people claimingunemployment benefit. So these cuts are counter-productive.

“But, of course, they’re also completelyideological. The real risk is that youcreate a lost generation. The longer thatunemployment is high, the harder it willbe for people to get back into work. It’snot just ‘tough times’ for a few years;this kind of strategy does permanentdamage. And that’s what is particularlynasty about what they’re doing.”

One injustice that Ms Cooper hasbeen crucial in bringing to light – usingall her experience as a former chiefsecretary to the Treasury, and a laser-like eye for detail – is the affect of thecuts on women.

Last year, she commissioned researchthat revealed that of the £16 bn thegovernment is raising through tax,benefit and pension changes, £11bn iscoming from women. She showed thatthe emergency budget hit women almostthree times harder than men, and thespending review twice as hard.

The Fawcett Society used her data asthe basis of a legal action against thegovernment, for failing in its dutyunder the Equality Act to give “dueregard” to the budget’s impact onwomen. Although the action failed, itled the government to concede thatgender impact assessments should have been applied.

At the time, Ms Cooper, a mother ofthree, spoke of the “costs and choices” at stake for women. “For the first time I started to worry,” she said, “about whatthis might mean for my daughters.”

Today, her concern is deepened by therecent calculation that of the thousandslosing their jobs in local government,two thirds are likely to be women, andby the increase in the pension age,which will have a tangible effect on thepensions of 300,000 women.

“There’s been a great deal of interestin the figures we’ve produced. I think alot of women are recognising that they

are getting hit more heavily – and areangry about it.”

While she agrees that one of her key contributions in opposition is her numbers analysis, it is with anaddendum. “I think it’s really importantto expose the government on the facts,but also to actually understand howthose facts will affect people’s real lives.

“When you speak to families you startto understand the impact the cuts haveon them, and on the choices that theycan make. It’s not just the amount ofmoney in your pocket at the end of theweek, it’s your whole life, your work-family balance.”

In person, it becomes quicklyapparent why Ms Cooper came top of Labour’s shadow cabinet election.There’s the blend of intelligence withgenuine commitment (which manifestthemselves in a quite unshakeable eyecontact), but also – lurking in thebackground of her business-like focus –a likeable human being. It’s notable thatas soon as we’re finished the interview,she enters into a very amusing chatabout “the terrible twos”.

The good news for UNISON is thatshe also has an instinct for issues-basedcampaigning, which has blossomed inopposition. “We have seen thisgovernment do U-turns underpressure,” she observes, “for example, in the delays on housing benefitreforms, forests, school sports, rapeanonymity. It’s possible to get them tochange position, we just need a strongenough campaign.”

One such campaign is against the cutsin police budgets in England and Wales,which are expected to result in the lossof 10,000 police officers over the nexttwo years, as well as thousands moresupport staff.

“To have 20% cuts, front-loaded, is justtoo far, too fast. The idea that this is not

hitting the front line is absurd,” she says,while commending UNISON’s campaignaround cuts to police staff, whichhighlights the number of people it takes toput a police officer on the beat. “It’s reallypowerful, and shows just how manydifferent jobs are at stake.” Labour’s owncampaign started in West Yorkshire,which is set to lose 500 officers and 1,000support staff, with Ms Cooper personallytaking it around the country.

What would she say of her ownexperience of public services? “It can be very easy to take public services forgranted. But they really matter to Edand me, whether it’s the midwives whowere just fantastic when our kids wereborn, or having to go to A&E with thekids, because of the inevitable thingsthat happen in family life, or local SureStart – and we’ve got some great SureStarts near us in Castleford.

“Sometimes I think the governmentreally doesn’t appreciate the publicservice ethos. You can’t put a monetaryvalue on that, but it makes a hugedifference to people’s lives.” UDemetrios Matheou

d.matheou@unison.co.uk

For the first time I started

to worry… about whatthis might mean for my daughters

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Most people outside Londonhave a vote on Thursday 5 May– for the Scottish Parliament,Welsh Assembly, NorthernIreland Assembly or in localcouncil elections.

UNISON members are beingencouraged to make sureeveryone votes to send astrong message to theConservatives and LiberalDemocrats in the government –stop attacking public services.

USE YOUR VOTE

For information on UNISON’scampaign for police staff, CutCrime not Police Staff, go tounison.org.uk/policeandjusticeFor information on UNISON’sLabour Link go tounison.org.uk/labourlink

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I’m a primary mental healthworker in children and youngpeople’s mental health services. I provide consultation andtraining to practitioners working

out in the community with childrenand young people, so I invite anypractitioner who has a concern about a young person’s emotional or mental health needs to give me acall for an initial consultation, thentogether think about the best wayforward to support the child or their family.

I cover Shoreham and Lancing andessentially I’m consulting with GPs,health visitors, school nurses, youthand Connexions workers and schools.

I trained as a general nurse from1980 to 1983 and then did mymental health nurse training,because I got upset working in A&Eabout the way that people weresometimes treated when they self-harmed or overdosed. There weresome staff who just probably neededto understand the problems a bitmore to be a little more empathetic,so I thought I would train andmaybe go back to A&E and try to dosome work around how we respondto those people who have attemptedsuicide or self-harmed in some way,but I didn’t go back.

Most young people…...don’t want to see and don’t need to see a mental health practitioner.They want the people that knowthem the most and that they trust the most to be able to work withthem. So my role came about to try to support staff who were working with those children.

Kids have got so many peoplearound them potentially who couldsupport them…...in that respect it’s more complicatedthan adult mental health servicesbecause you can’t really just work withthe individual. A lot of the time it’s notthe kid with the problem, some of thetime it’s the environment around themthat might have failed.

One of the significant causes ofpoor school attendance is…...kids being worried about an unwellparent at home. In this respect thekid’s doing what’s normal – they mightbe externalising their distress andshowing us – so we need to respondseriously to the child’s distress call but a way of responding might be tosupport the parent to get the servicesthey need from the adult team.

I feel really proud when…...I’m able to develop a meaningfulconnection with the young people andthe families that I’m working with andjust seeing little changes being made. I went in to consult in a school theother day and a lady who I recognisedwalked along the corridor. I said ‘I think I might have seen yourdaughter’, and she said ‘You did –

years ago’. It was in 2008 and she saidhow well her daughter had done andhow this girl still remembers me andhow I’d help her to not feel quite soanxious about stuff. It’s just the littlethings like that that make me feelabsolutely fantastic.

When you do hear that you’vemade a tiny bit of difference…...and it’s been maintained over time youthink: “Blooming yippee! That’s great!”

You do get emotionally involved…...but I think that’s really important in order to be able to be empathetic, but you have also got to be able todisassociate enough at the end of theday to deal with your own life.

I was quite lucky…...because I did a counselling courseafter I trained as a mental health nurseand that helped me to be able to developthe art of joining the client in theirdistress but also keeping one foot out.

I always make sure there’s oneactivity in the week that I can lookforward to…...whether it’s going to the cinema,having a meal with mates or whatever.

I go swimming everyday, which helps…...I do my swim in the morning beforeI come to work. I often find that in myhead I’m planning my response to theclients that I’ve got lined up to see that day when I’m in the pool. It’s notunwinding – it’s winding up, but it’squite good preparation for me.” UCelestine Laportec.laporte@unison.co.uk

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ATKINSONThe mental health worker from Brighton can’t help but get emotionallyinvolved in her work, but still finds it makes her feel ‘absolutely fantastic’

A lot of the time it’s not the

kid with the problem,it’s the environmentaround them thatmight have failed

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Public services are under attackacross the country. Localgovernment services are beingslashed as part of George

Osborne’s austerity measures, DavidCameron’s promise to protect the NHSis beginning to ring hollow as hospitalstaff face redundancies, school buildingprogrammes have been cancelled, policestaff are being cut and the communityand voluntary sector, a key to the BigSociety, is in crisis as funding from localgovernment dries up.

It’s a distressing story and can seemoverwhelming, but by looking at one cityperhaps we can see the impact that localcommunities, and UNISON, can make.

Birmingham is “the leading exampleof the Tory / Lib Dem coalition,” saysRoger McKenzie, UNISON’s assistantgeneral secretary for organising.

The council is the largest localauthority in Britain. “In many ways,” he explains “the rest of the country islooking at Birmingham to see what the Tory cuts mean in practice.”

The council expects to cut £320mover the next three to four years, with an astonishing £212m in the first year.The resulting service cuts run across allareas, from school transport to care forthe elderly, from Connexions services tocommunity work.

Some 7,000 jobs are under threat and in addition, the council is trying toimpose a contract that will see thousandsof staff, many low paid, lose valuableterms and conditions – for example:

800 home care workers, currentlyearning £15,400 a year are threatenedwith an average wage cut of £2,254.

Clinton Simmons was aneighbourhood manager recently madeunemployed under the cuts. He workedwith local residents, the police, the firebrigade, health services, schools andthe voluntary sector, in an area hedescribes as “economically and socially deprived”.

Neighbourhood management waspiloted in 10 areas by the council – thepilots’ success saw the scheme beingrolled out to 31 areas where it broughtreal improvements.

Residents were on the boards of the schemes. They “came first”, MrSimmons explains: “They know whatthe issues are, they identify what needsto be done.”

The service has now been drasticallycut and more than half of the centres closed.

Mr Simmons asks: “What is it being replaced with?” and worries thattaking away a structure that gives localpeople a voice “tells people your viewsdon’t matter”.

And as a service that empowered andprotected communities goes, protectionfor the most vulnerable has also been cut.

In Birmingham 11,000 people aredeemed “to have substantial care needs”,explains Mr McKenzie, but under thecuts they will “no longer be eligible forhome care, day care or residential care.”

Will those previously housed inresidential care be placed in acommunity which no longer hasneighbourhood schemes that make surecare reaches the people who need it?

UNISON has been negotiating hardwith the council and has won someconcessions. However, as Mr McKenzieexplains “Birmingham city councilworkers are rightly angry.” Two days of industrial action are planned.

While council services go, healthcare in the city is also suffering – UNISONfigures reveal that University HospitalsBirmingham NHS Trust is facing amassive £17% funding cut – £22,468,000– from South Birmingham PCT.

James Anthony, a local staff nurseexplains that the cuts will mean “fewerlife-enhancing operations such as heart,lung, kidney and spinal surgeryoperations: 3,000 people inBirmingham will have these operationscut or delayed.

This will have a major impact on their health, their quality of life, theirwork and their families. Follow up onoutpatients will go from 125,000 visitsin 2010/11 to 88,000 in 2011/12.”

Mr Anthony, who chairs the hospital’s

CUTS

SECOND CITYFIRST IN CUTSBirmingham’s council coalition, bringing together theTories and Liberal Democrats, is taking the lead in showingwhat the cuts could mean for the rest of the country.

UNISON hasbeen negotiating

hard with the counciland has won someconcessions

“ “

UNISON branch, has been campaigningagainst the cuts and what they will mean for jobs and services. He’s confident that thepublic is on his side and that the cuts make no sense.

“People in Birmingham need a healthservice that is financially fit to respond totheir medical problems,” he says.

“The 30% cut in follow-up for outpatientsmay save money in the short term, but it willvery quickly prove to be a false economy.Making sure that patients have a full recoverypackage can cut the cost of expensivereadmissions.”

In contrast to Birmingham, nearby Labour-run Sandwell has had a High Court victoryagainst the government over the cancellationof much needed repairs to a local school.

Woodgreen high school lost the fundingthat had been promised it as part of educationsecretary Michael Gove’s cuts to the BuildingSchools for the Future programme.

UNISON worked closely with the council to challenge Mr Gove’s decision, and theunion will, Mr McKenzie says “keep up thepressure on Mr Gove by continuing to

campaign for the school modernisation that is so urgently needed.”

In Birmingham the picture may be bleak but Mr McKenzie believes that theunion can make an impact: “Birmingham wasthe birthplace of municipal government yettoday it is at the coal face of Tory-led plans todestroy local democracy and public services,”he says. However, he believes that UNISONstaff, branches, stewards and members areworking together to build local networks toresist the cuts.

“Birmingham’s experience is beingreplicated right across the country,” heexplains. “Our task now is to weave a positive,alternative narrative. Through the difficultchallenges we face we will see imaginative,determined and positive organising.” Hebelieves that this organising will build theunion’s strength and ability to “campaign for our services, stand up for the weak andvulnerable and lead the public debate toensure we win, for our generation, the publicservices we deserve.” UDiana Harrisond.harrison@unison.co.uk

If you’re worried about redundancyUNISON can help.

Your union will represent you withyour employer and if necessary canoffer legal support and advice. Yourfirst port of call should be your branchor regional office, if you want to talkfurther then contact UNISON direct on 0845 355 0845.

UNISON welfare is UNISON’sregistered charity. It offers debtadvice, listening and support, financialhelp, breaks and holidays and personaladvice. Again, your first port of callshould be your branch or regionaloffice, if you want to find out more go to unison.org.uk/welfare.

Nationally, through our campaign A Million Voices for Public Services,UNISON is lobbying the government,providing support, advice andmaterials for local campaigns to defendpublic services and speaking out for an alternative to public service cuts.

For more information on how you can get involved go tounison.org.uk/million.

WHAT CAN YOUAND UNISON DO?

27

Connexions workers march for their services in Birmingham TIM SONNENSCHEIN/REPORTDIGITAL.CO.UK

28

Alphajig Each of the 26 answers starts with a different letter of the alphabet– solve the easy clues and work out where the answers go – usethe answer lengths to give you help. I’ve even given you a few tostart you off.

by Caper

w

wd

CROS

SWOR

DS Puzzle fun!

z

Right and left (with a nod to Azed)

A plain crossword with a slight twist. Apart from 1 across all acrossclues are actually two clues side by side leading to answers to go in thespaces of the numbers indicated – but the clues can be in either orderand you must determine in which of the two spaces the answers go –use 1 across and the normal down clues to help you do this.

ACROSS1 Member of eg

UNISON (5, 8)8 & 9 Stupid types heard

from the pulpit (6, 6)10 & 13 Representation of a

person or animal –show on the cinema(6, 6)

17 & 18 A special ability toirritate (6, 6)

19 & 20 Pop artist’s area ofground forcultivation (6, 6)

21 & 22 Line showingpressure of the shinbone (anagram ofBit Ali) (6, 6)

23 & 24 Crispy stalk mademoney from work (6, 6)

DOWN2 Lessen (6)3 Marked for certain death as

Dad’s Army’s Private Frazersaid we were all to be (6)

4 Of or relating to bears (6)5 Be emphatic and refuse to

budge (6)6 Standard and as expected (6)7 Old type of military

dictator of Japan (6)10 Heroine of classic Disney

movie (4, 5)11 Lake used to store water

for community use (9)12 Expand upon or rich in

ornate detail (9)14 Chatty (9)15 Try out a car one is

considering buying (4, 5)16 For a limitless time (9)

n

a S

■ Small metal container (3)■ Fib (3)■ Employ (3)■ Small truck (3)■ Highest cards in a pack (4)■ Timber (4) ■ Sharp tug (4)■ Resign (4)■ Look happy (5) ■ Devotional song (5)■ Grind one’s teeth (5)■ Denim trousers (5)■ Black and white striped

mammals (6)■ Long cream cake (6)

■ Connected by birth (7)■ Type of battery (3-4)■ Comedian from Knotty

Ash (3-4)■ Any disease (7)■ Photocopied (7)■ Sea fish commonly eaten

with chips (7)■ Covered in early morning

moisture (7)■ Decompose to alcohol (7)■ Unswerving conservative (4-4)■ General survey (8) ■ Killers (9)■ Silent (9)

b

OverlapsEach clue contains a definition of the answer as usual – but also aconsecutive letter mix of the answer – straddling more than one wordbut never “touching” the definition – for example4 Choking air contains smoke (5)

Gives CIGAR, which is defined by SMOKE, and can be found in CHOKING AIR CONTAINS – all mixed up

29

n

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d

a

a

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ACROSS2 Grab refreshing drink here (3)4 Choking air contains smoke (5)7 Long speeches about diaries

bore (9)10 Plan to obstruct some

soldiers (7)11 Snob is a beastly type (5)15 A golfer played game in the

playground (8)17 Deplorable car I’m in leaks (8)18 Worker probed influential

person (5, 6)19 Religious recluse from

Eire terrifies (7)20 Slip on an instrument (5)22 Pokes a stupid fool (3)

WINA DIGITALRADIOSend your answers to all three puzzles to the address below by Friday 1 July

fANSWERS FROM LAST ISSUEA plain puzzleAcross: 1 Vacuum, 4 Cardigan, 10 Lunchtime, 11 Slave, 12 Up-market, 13 Notice, 15 Easy, 16 Cast, 17 Error, 20 Train, 22 Lark, 23 Camp, 26 Season, 27 Moderate, 29 Lemon, 30 Turquoise, 31 Exchange, 32 Detest. Down: 1 Vol-au-vent, 2 Cinemas, 3 Ushers, 5 Aged, 6 Discover, 7 Glacier, 8 Niece, 9 Miserable, 14 Starboard, 18 Represent, 19 Insomnia, 21 Anaemic, 24 Avarice, 25 Secure, 26 Solve, 28 Stag.Alphajig Also, Biopic, Caviare, Doh , Enoch, Finds, Glue, Honestly, Italicise, Jamaica,Kinsman, Lei, Matches, Nullify, Ohio, Purcell, Queuing, Ratty, Sir, Tactfully,UNESCO, Vile, Weird, X-rays, Yashmaks, Zillion.OverlapsAcross: 2 Cam, 4 Monet, 7 Billy goat, 10 Poached, 11 Knead, 15 Waitress, 17 Alfresco, 18 Greengrocer, 19 Thiamin, 20 Again, 22 Odd. Down: 1 Tan, 2 Collie, 3 Merge, 5 Kitchenette, 6 Magnificent, 8 Cottage, 9 Madeira, 12 Bad, 13 Dairymaid, 14 Ace, 16 San Diego, 21 Add.

For your chance to win a digital radio, pleasesend your filled-in grids for all three of thisissue’s crosswords in one envelope, togetherwith your name and address, to U magazinecrossword competition, UNISON Centre, 130 Euston Road, London NW1 2AY to reach us by Friday 1 July.

The five lucky winners of a digital radio from the lastissue are: Mrs Sue Wilkinson, Cornwall; Deborah Cotton,Shrewsbury; Ms C Dobson, Leeds; E Clarke, Ipswich; Mr G Passmore, Eastbourne.

WINA DIGITAL RADIO!

ah b

DOWN1 Wanting a furtive cigarette (3)2 Boris tries continental style cafe (6)3 Paid real fast (5)5 Poisonous vine is better,

we think (11)6 We sprinkle identical plants (11)8 Corrects pupils’ minor mistakes (4-3)9 Old French writer from

Loire environs (7)12 The better maker of honey (3)13 Prisons contain dangerous little

creatures (9)14 Maniac takes whip (3)16 Reading about flowery shrub (8)21 Chops a snake (3)

Got something to say?U welcomes readers’ letters (we reserve the right toedit contributions). Please send them to The Editor, U Magazine, UNISON Centre, 130 Euston Road, London,NW1 2AY or email them to u.magazine@unison.co.uk

You must provide your full name and address although we will of course not print it.LET

TERS

30

campaigning for properlyfunded and publicly providedlocal services.

As a UNISON member, youcan get the special offer oftwo for one grandstand tickets– buy one ticket at £15 andget one free. The offer closesat 5pm on 22 July 2011.

To book your tickets, call01302 304200 and quote“UNISON race day offer”,together with your UNISONmembership number orUNISON branch code.Wendy WaltonYorkshire and Humberside

Unsung heroesPlease pass my thanks to all theunseen workers such as WattieWeir (U Winter 2011) whohelped make it possible formy family to travel intoEdinburgh for the birth of a newgrandson on Christmas Eve!

Also the maternity staff whoattended and enabled them toget safely home to their ownbeds for Christmas day wherebig brother and sister (agedfour and two) were waiting towelcome him, while grannycooked the Christmas meal

Con/Dem allianceBoth parties of thisgovernment the Con/Demalliance made promises intheir manifestos. However,those that mattered to theelectorate have been broken.In the world that I live in Iwould have been dismissedfor gaining employmentthrough false pretences.

Those elected MPs are our employees, so we theelectorate should callourselves Great Britain plcand therefore the governmentis our board of directors. This would mean that we asshareholders would have theright to call for a vote of noconfidence in the board.

Perhaps instead ofreviewing our public serviceswe should be reviewing theway this country is governed,not by political parties but byMPs whose only interest is GB plc and not the politicalparties they belong to.

I see no hope for this nationwhen both parties appear tobe lying through their backteeth to gain power andjudging by recent politicaldecisions cannot worktogether either. During arecent parliamentary debateClegg seemed to be squirmingon the front bench whileCameron was presenting hisparty’s idea for the future ofthe NHS.

Having recently retired from the NHS I realise that thestaff know there is room for

improvement and this shouldbe done on the inside bythose who understand whatneeds to be done in the bestinterest of the organisationand its patients. Not thecurrent wholesale slaughterplanned by the Conservativeparty under the auspicesCon/Dem alliance. Colin RolfeChelmsford

Royal weddingHaving recently retired, I nowhave more time to read Umagazine. Maybe that is why I found something to annoyme in the latest edition!

In Demetrios Matheou’spreview of the cultural yearto come his ‘event of theyear’ is the forthcomingwedding of Kate Middletonand William Windsor. WhilstI am always willing to wishthe best to anyone entering a civil partnership ormarriage (even those asprivileged as these two), U magazine is ‘for UNISONmembers and their families’.So, I guess that these twoindividuals must be membersof UNISON?

The timing of the weddingcould not be better of course.April is when the Tory-ledgovernment’s cuts will beginto kick in in earnest and is just before 5 May when thegovernment is due a goodkicking in the variouselections taking place that day.

No doubt, their acolytes in the press and the rest ofthe media (including thesubservient BBC) will be focussing on howwonderfully happy andcontent we all are at thisevent and ignore the pain andreal hurt being felt by people(especially those who arepoor and vulnerable, some ofwhom are featured elsewherein U magazine) up and downthe land on this day, andevery day to come whilst the cuts are in place. U magazine should be doing better.Eamonn McCuskerWest Norfolk Branch (retired)

Doncaster racesI’d like to let UNISONmembers know about theYorkshire and Humbersideregion’s annual race day whichis taking place on 30 July 2011at Doncaster racecourse.

UNISON members andfamilies are welcome to comealong for a good day out atthe UNISON for PublicServices race day, highlightingUNISON’s commitment to

UN

ISO

NW

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R20

11

FOR UNISON MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

Yourpublicservicesneed

YOU!

WATTIEWEIRploughs through the Scottishsnow to keepEdinburgh running

SARAH, NICOLAAND STACEYtell uswhy the educationalmaintenance allowancematters to them

WIN!a digital

radio

Join us on26Marchto speak out for public services

The timing of the weddingcould not be better of

course. April is when the Tory-ledgovernment’s cuts will begin“ “

between present openingand playing with new toys!It’s all these things we should besaying ‘thank you’ for, so here’shoping your pages might reachplenty more ‘unsung heroes’.Thanks to you all! Alison Harkerby email

The alternative?I voted Labour at the last electioneven though I believed GordonBrown had prudently managed toget this country into a financialcrisis. The reason I voted so beingthat we had Dan Norris as our MPwho had been an excellentrepresentative for this area.

During the election, all threemain parties warned of hard andunpopular times ahead to cut theenormous deficit and the interestpayments on the amountsborrowed by Gordon.

Now we have a coalition makinghard and unpopular cuts to publicspending and changes to taxation.Ed Miliband, Ed Balls and theshadow cabinet are all decryingthe efforts to reduce spendingalthough saying that they wouldhave had to make cuts but notin so short a time.

I, of course support UNISON in their attempts to protect publicservice workers and do not like

what is happening around me.What I would like to hear from the Labour party and UNISON isalternative policies to those of thecoalition with the same objectiveof making this country solvent. I must say that news I heardyesterday that the council inCornwall are spending £8m a year on consultancy and advisorybodies does not help to supportfeelings of thrift.

I am sure Dave Prentis has theear of Ed Miliband et al, so couldhe persuade them to put out thealternatives to current policies, notjust criticise everything, andmiracle of miracles try to workwith the government to bring thiscountry from its knees. I for onewould admire him for doing so.Laurence StevensBristolNote from editor: UNISON’salternative budget is available on our websiteunison.org.uk/million/branch-resources.asp

Fond farewellMe and my colleagues at theNorth Yorkshire Branch of UNISON would like to bid MaryO’Neil a fond farewell and happy retirement.

Mary’s contribution as a steward over 13 years has been

phenomenal and despite all the demands and pressures shealways managed to carry out the role with enthusiasm and asmile, no mean feat on top of the day job.

Prior to her retirement Maryensured that she had a dynamicteam of UNISON colleagues to follow on in order to keep thecredible UNISON presence andmomentum she had nurtured at North York Moors National Park Authority.

Mary’s colleagues and I would like to thank Mary for the exceptional contribution she made. Denis JefferyNorth Yorkshire

Education for allI am writing to you as a member of the Labour party about my concerns regarding the rise in student’s tuition fees.

I firmly believe that educationshould be for all the people andnot just the privileged few. I feelthat rises in tuition fees will detera large number of our workingpopulation, from entering intohigher education.

The privileged few who will beable to afford an education will thenhave an advantage over the lessprivileged in our society, they willhave more of a say in how the country is run, they will be able tocontrol industry and create wealthfor themselves while convenientlyignoring the needs of the many.

Is this not a return to feudalism?Where the rich lord over the impoverished few.

Forgive me if I am mistaken, but is this the plan of the presentgovernment to destroy the rightsof the many in order to servethose who already have powerand prosperity?

I feel that we also need to understand that in many cases ifthe working population does notreceive higher education then theycannot develop the necessary workskills needed to find employment.

We will create more and morepeople who are dependent on the state, we will not be able to develop industry and this countrywill be pushed further into recession. I feel that in order tocreate a better world for all of usto live in we need continuing education throughout our livesand this education should be there for everyone.Jon CosterBristol

Mary O’Neil

Wattie Weir I firmlybelieve

that educationshould be for allthe people and not just theprivileged few

“

“

31

If you want to make an equal pay claim, you should contact UNISON as soon as possible.

There is a strict time limit on making a claim. You have only six months from any change in your employment situation.

So you must contact UNISON urgently if you have for example in the last six months:

� ended your employment (eg you retired or resigned);

� changed your contract or terms and conditions (eg the number of hours you work);

� changed job, but stayed with the same employer;

� stayed in the same job, but transferred to a new employer (sometimes known as a TUPE transfer).

If you have already made a claim, you must tell us whenever your circumstances change (eg you move address or there is any change to your employment situation).

We cannot help you unless you register your claim and keep us updated.

Has your council implemented Single Status? If it hasn't you may have an equal pay claim!

Has your council implemented Single Status and given protection payments to people on the grade you've been been placed on, but not you? If it has you may have an equal pay claim!

Do you have an equal pay claim? Make sure you check the time limit!

For more information, or to request a claim form or fact sheet, call UNISON on 0845 355 0845 (textphone 0800 9 967 968)* or contact your regional offi ce on:Eastern 01245 608 918East Midlands 0845 355 0845Greater London 0845 355 0845Northern 0845 355 0845Northern Ireland 0845 355 0845North West 0161 661 6740Scotland 0870 7777 006South East 0845 355 0845South West 0117 968 9479Cymru/Wales 029 2072 9415West Midlands 0121 685 3127Yorkshire and Humberside 0845 355 0845

* lines are open 6am to midnight, Monday to Friday; 9am-4pm Saturday.

BUT UNISON STILL SUPPORTS LIFELONG LEARNING

GOVERNMENT CUTS WILL END FREE TUITION FOR MANY ADULT LEARNERS

� Learn for FREE with UNISON programmes like Return toLearn and Women’s Lives

� Learn at Work with UNISON/employer partnerships� Get UNISON discounts from leading distance learning

providers

Find out more from your Union Learning Rep or your branch or visit www.unison.org.uk/laos

Phone UNISONdirect on 0845 355 0845 for your branch and regional education team contact details.

PLAY

The UNISON Welfare Monthly Prize Draw

To play octopus simply fill in the application form and Direct Debit instructions below and post toFreepost RSAE-BEHJ-XTXB, Octopus Lottery, Kings Court, London Road, Stevenage, SG1 2TP

For more information about UNISON Welfare visit www.unison.org.uk/welfare

Registered Charity No. 1023552

After payment of prizes a minimum of 20% of ticket revenues will go to UNISON Welfare. Only 10% is used for administration costs.Octopus Lottery is managed by UIA Lottery Management Services Limited. UIA Lottery Management Services is registered as an External Lottery Manager under the Gambling Act 2005 and under the Companies Act No. 5448877. Octopus Lottery is registered with the Gambling Commission under licence number 008978.

With the UNISON Welfare Monthly Prize Draw you could win great cash prizes every month and support UNISON Welfare.

UNISON Welfare is a registered charity providing a unique and confidential service just for UNISON members and their families.

Return to: Freepost RSAE-BEHJ-XTXB, Octopus Lottery, Kings Court, London Road, Stevenage, SG1 2TP NO STAMP REQUIRED

Instruction to your Bank or Building Society to pay Direct Debits

Name and full postal address of your Bank or Building Society.

9 7 4 8 7 0To: The Manager

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I understand that this Instruction may remain with UIA Lottery Management Services Ltd. and, if so details will be passed electronically to my Bank/Building Society.

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Banks and Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit Instructions for some types of account.

APPLICATION FORM

This is not part of the instruction for your Bank or Building Society and must be detached

by UIA Lottery Management Services Ltd. before submission to the paying bank.

Title: First Name:

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2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (Note maximum entries 10 – each entry costs £1. Please tick where appropriate) Numbers will be allocated by UIA Lottery Management Services Ltd.

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Every year UNISON Welfare helps thousands of members with grants, wellbeing breaks, free debt advice and support.

You can buy up to a maximum of 10 numbers per month at just £1 each. Unlike other prize draws or lotteries you don’t have

to remember to buy a ticket for each draw. Once you have filled out an application form and direct debit instruction we’ll collect the money from your bank account and enter your numbers in each draw. You can cancel or change your direct debit at any time.

Over 50 CASH PRIZES every month!£1,000 first prize, £500 second prize,£250 third prize.

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Don’t you deserve better banking?

The 50 year partnership is also being marked by a further £50,000 donation from The Co-operative Financial Services to UNISON Welfare.

Colin Welby, Head of Partnerships at The Co-operative Financial Services, said: “We’re delighted to mark our 50th anniversary by launching a current account offer for UNISON members, and are keen to continue to grow our range of exclusive products and services in the years ahead. It’s been a pleasure to work with UNISON over the last half century, and we look forward to many more prosperous years in partnership.”

To mark our 50th anniversary in partnership, Britannia, part of The Co-operative Financial Services, has launched a new current account offer exclusively for UNISON members.

MAUREEN LE MARINEL, chair of the services for members committee at UNISON said: “We’re proud to have had such a longstanding and mutually beneficial partnership over the past 50 years and the launch of the Current Account Plus, with an offer which has been designed for our members, is a great way to mark this milestone.”

The new current account adds to a range of savings accounts, Cash ISAs and mortgages offered by Britannia to UNISON members, which have so far provided £1.3 million to UNISON Welfare since their partnership began.

The Co-operative Group launches Ethical Operating Plan

LONG STANDING UNISON member, Daniela Sommaro, was delighted to win £1,000 in a Britannia prize draw.

Daniela, who works in I.T. at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, filled in the form to win the cash prize at the Bath Health UNISON AGM, not expecting to win. Her name was picked at random from hundreds of entries.

Daniela said: “I was very surprised when I heard I had won and thought it was someone playing a joke on me! I’m spreading the word to other members that it could be them next time if they fill in the prize form.”

THE CO-OPERATIVE GROUP, which The Co-operative Bank and Britannia are part of, has also just launched a revolutionary approach to social responsibility with a new Ethical Operating Plan.

As part of the plan, it aims to grow its membership base to 20,000 in 2020, has pledged to invest £11 million to support the growth of co-operative businesses across the UK and dedicate £30 million to its Inspiring Young People programme. It also plans to reduce its energy emissions by 35% by 2017 and extend its ethical screening activities to the £1bn of investments underpinning its insurance products.

Daniela is quids in following Britannia Prize Draw

* The cashback and donation are subject to three £800 monthly deposits being received and the account being switched to become the customer’s main bank account.

During a special launch promotion the UNISON Current Account Plus will offer members £100 cash back, plus The Co-operative Financial Services will make a £50 donation to UNISON Welfare, the charity that supports UNISON members in times of hardship, in return for a minimum monthly deposit of £800.*

Members will also benefit from a £200 fee-free overdraft and secure online banking.

Members interested in the Current Account Plus can apply by calling 0800 917 7066, or visiting www.britannia.co.uk/unison where details of Britannia’s range of UNISON savings accounts or mortgages are also available.

CAR INSURANCE FOR UNDER £280?That’s what the majority of UNISON members pay.

CALL 0800 756 8155www.unisoncarinsurance.com For textphone dial 18001. Lines open Mon – Fri 8am – 9pm, Sat 8am – 5pm, Sun 9am – 5pm. Calls may be recorded.

Exclusive UNISON discount isn’t on price comparison sites

Top rated 5 STAR cover

Up to 75% no claims discount

UNISON acts as an Introducer Appointed Representative to the Liverpool Victoria group of companies for General Insurance. WS21118638 03/11

(Based on new policy sales 01 Mar 2010 – 28 Feb 2011)

For textphone dial 18001. Lines open Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat-Sun 8am-5pm.

0800 756 8692 quote ADVTwww.BritanniaRescue.com/unison

Britannia Rescue breakdown cover for just £59.15†

† Price for standard cover correct as at 1/3/11

Price Qty Total (£)

Glucosamine HCl 1,000mg 180 tabs £8.45

Glucosamine HCl 1,000mg 360 tabs £13.95

Omega 3 1,000mg – 120mg DHA + 180mg EPA 120 caps £6.45

Cod Liver Oil – Pure Icelandic 1,000mg 120 caps £5.95

Garlic 1,200mg 360 tabs £9.95

Ginkgo Biloba 6,000mg 360 tabs £10.95

50 Plus Multivitamin – essential nutrients 180 tabs £9.95

Glucosamine 500mg & Chondroitin 100mg 120 tabs £8.95

MY ORDER IS OVER £15 – PLEASE DEDUCT £2 -£2

Total £

Name (Mr, Mrs, Ms):

Address:

Tel No: Post code:

Please debit my Credit / Debit card – Security (CV2) Code*:

Card No: Issue No/Start Date: Expiry Date:

NUTRITION FOR A HEALTHY LIFESPAN

120 Glucosamine tablets 1,000mg

Our supplements are only available direct, so we cut out the cost of the middleman: no retail overheads and no hidden extras. That’s why we can afford to use only the very best ingredients and offer them to you at a fraction of high street prices. All of our 150 products are made to the

strictest pharmaceutical grade standards (known as GMP). With freephone or web ordering, tax-free prices, FREE DELIVERY in letterbox friendly packaging on every UK order and a ‘no quibble’ refund policy, there is no doubt we are the UK’s No.1 direct supplier of supplements.

Buy from Healthspan, the UK’s No.1 direct supplier of supplements

Glucosamine at a fraction of High Street Prices

www.healthspan.co.ukFREEPHONE ORDERLINE 0800 73 123 77

Please quote code:

SON-UMY

FREE Postage and Packing with every order†

Post to: Healthspan Ltd, PO Box 64, Guernsey GY1 3BT. Please make

cheques/PO payable to ‘Healthspan’

‘£2 off when you spend £15 or more’ conditions: Offer code may only be used once and not in conjunction with any other offer. Valid until 30.06.11.

Freephone orderline open 7 days a week. †Free P&P applies to UK delivery only. Allow up to 10 days for UK delivery. Your call may be recorded for

training purposes. Our Customer Charter provides a no-quibble refund on products and guarantees that your personal

data will not be passed on to third parties. *Last 3 digits on the back of your card. Holland & Barrett prices taken

from www.hollandandbarrett.com on 20.01.11. Holland & Barrett prices are on single purchase only and

exclude any price or multiple purchase promotions. For details visit www.healthspan.co.uk.

If you do not wish to receive future product updates, please tick box on the right.

When you spend £15 or more on your order.

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Only £8.45

180 Glucosamine tablets 1,000mg

120 caps

£6.45

Omega 3 Fish Oils1,000mg

360 tabs

£9.95

Garlic1,200mg

360 tabs

£10.95

Ginkgo Biloba6,000mg

180 tabs

£9.95

50 PlusMultivitamin

120 tabs

£8.95

Glucosamine & Chondroitin

120 caps

£5.95

Pure Icelandic Cod Liver Oil1,000mg

£ off2

Models illustrated: MY11.5 New Corsa Excite 1.0i 12v ecoFLEX 3-dr. Vauxhall Partners discount is on list price, delivery and factory-fi tted options. Offers are available on new vehicles, subject to availability, and are available to eligible Vauxhall Partners. UK supplied vehicles only. Contact Vauxhall Retailer for details. Vauxhall Partners includes all employees and pensioners of nominated companies and their nominated eligible relatives. Vauxhall Partners prices/savings include VauxhallPartners discount savings and additional customer savings (incl. VAT) where applicable, number plates, delivery, Vehicle Excise Duty and a fi rst registration fee. Excludes fuel and insurance. Vehicles shown may feature factory-fi tted options and accessories such as metallic paint available at extra cost. We reserve the right to change or withdraw any aspect of the Vauxhall Partners Programme without prior notice. Offers are available on selected Retailer stocks at participating Retailers only and cannot be combined with any other offer. Vauxhall Lifetime Warranty covers lifetime ownership of fi rst car owner, 100,000 mile limit, annual check required. The warranty excludes wear & tear and serviceable items and the vehicle mustbe serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s servicing schedule to continue the lifetime warranty. Terms and conditions apply. Offer available to all Vauxhall passenger cars (this offer does not apply to car derived vans) from 1 August 2010. Formore information contact your local Vauxhall Retailer or visit www.vauxhall.co.uk/warranty

Offi cial Government Test Environmental Data. Fuel consumption fi gures mpg (litres/100km) and CO2 emissions (g/km). Vauxhall range. Urban: 16.5 (17.1)-67.3 (4.2), Extra-urban: 35.8 (7.9)-91.1 (3.1), Combined: 25.0 (11.3)-80.7 (3.5). CO2 emissions: 265-94g/km.

www.partnersprogramme.co.uk

Preferential OffersThe Vauxhall Partners Programme.

Genuine discounts on brand new Vauxhalls for you and your family.

Visit your local Retailer now to claim your discount – plus any other exclusive

offers available. For further information visit partnersprogramme.co.uk and

login using the password UNISON, alternatively call the Partners Helpline

on 0844 875 2448.

ENJOY GENEROUS DISCOUNTS ON FACTORY-FITTED OPTIONS,

DELIVERY CHARGES AND LOTS MORE.

UNISON AUTHORISED MEMBERS BENEFIT

A warranty could now last a lifetime

Registered Charity No. 1023552

Answer a few simple questions online and find out instantly if you’re entitled to claim tax credits.

If you’re due over £150, you’ll have a choice – make the claim yourself, or let our fully managed tax credit service, provided by our partners at Tax Credit Solutions, handle everything for you.

Tax Credit Solutions Ltd, Reg. in England No 07378275

*16 hours per week if you’re over 59 years old

Do you have children under 20 years old OR do you work over 30 hours* per week?

www.mytaxcredits.co.uk/unisonwelfare

tax credit service

INFORMATION LINE: 0161 968 7441

To book call 01271 890890 orvisit our new website at www.croydeunison.co.uk

where our latest special offers are available

our Self Catering Cottages and Summer Chalets

plus

Same fabulous Croyde Bay...

now with ourHotel Accommodation

New