A picture`s worth a thousand words ...

UNISON South West first annual photography competition 2009/2010

With so many of us carrying cameras and cameraphones around with us, there are thousands of images of UNISON at work.

We`re looking to celebrate that at regional level with our first ever photography competition.

View the full details including terms and conditions of entry HERE.

UNISON South West talks the talk, walks the walk...

Devon Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Roadshows

UNISON regional staff have been travelling around Devon on a series of roadshows, talking to District and County Council staff about Local Government Reorganisation. The Boundary Committee is currently consulting on two options for the possible reshaping of Local Government in Devon which could potentially see the administrative map for the county re-drawn, replacing the current "two-tier" system of a County Council and 8 District Councils (including the city of Exeter).

The two options that they are consulting on are:

a) a single unitary authority for the whole county of Devon, incorporating all the existing 9 council areas into one; or

b) a unitary authority consisting of Exeter, Exmouth, and the surrounding parishes, and another unitary authority for the rest of Devon.

The third option, which is not part of the consultation but is still an option, is to retain the existing 9 authorities and look at better ways of working together.

The Boundary Committee consultation period closes on 14th May, and they are due to announce their recommendation to the Secretary of State on 15th July. She will then make a final decision in September.

UNISON`s Devon LGR roadshows have seen our staff and branch activists listening to the views and concerns of thousands of council workers to help inform our response to the Boundary Committee.

For more details and to take part and let us know your opinions, please go to the dedicated website www.unisondevonlgr.org which will be regularly updated. You can complete the online survey there, and also sign up to receive our newsletters.

UNISON Success

Privatisation of Sterile Services in the South West Fails

After an intense campaign, working jointly with other Trade Unions, UNISON won the campaign to prevent the privatisation of sterile Services in the South West.

The project originally arose from the Department of Health`s National Decontamination strategy.  Sterile services are responsible for ensuring operating theatre equipment and instruments are sterilised before re-use to prevent the spread of contamination and disease.

In the South West this project would have resulted in the closures of seven sterile units throughout Devon, Dorset and Somerset and the creation of two super centres.

The success of UNISON`s campaign forced the Trusts involved to consider the implications of creating super centres and of outsourcing this vital NHS service.  It now means that staff at the existing centres will not be compulsorily transferred to the private sector, be forced to travel long distances, or lose their jobs, and that they can remain in the NHS.

By stopping these proposals from going ahead, UNISON has prevented an estimated additional 10 million miles of travel which would have been necessary to transport instruments used in medical procedures, and staff, which would have had a serious environmental impact by increasing the amount of traffic in the South West.  For the patients it would have meant increased risk of delays or cancelled operations because of traffic hold ups and risk of cross infection.

UNISON would like to thank all the members, activists and other trade unions who worked to acheive this outcome which benfits the NHS staff working in these units and the public of the South West.

Graham Parish, Regional Organiser, UNISON South West, led the cmpaign to its success.

For further information about the campaign contact Graham on

01929 555900 or at email g.parish@unison.co.uk

Home Care Campaign

Jean Long, who chairs the South West UNISON Homecare forum and is the South West delegate on the National Home care forum, has set up a petition on the central Govt petition website, concerning the in-house home care plight.  With 80% of the homecare nationally now in the private sector, this is an issue which affects everyone throughout the South West.

This petition is open until next May and we are seeking your support to get as many signatures as possible.  Please circulate this petition link to everyone you know, colleagues, friends, members and activists, and encourage them to support this important campaign.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/SaveHomeCare/

For further information, visit the homecare campaign page at unison.co.uk