Contents:

A message from the general secretary
Nominate
Feedback
Campaigning
Reports
Weekly email news

The shocking news of a tube train coming off the rails at Camden last weekend, within 48 hours of another derailment at Hammersmith, begs the question - how many private sector failures will it take for the government to realise private companies cannot be trusted to deliver safe, high quality public services?

This week UNISON has launched yet another damning report into the use of the private finance initiative, this time at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon.

A brand new hospital which right from the start had too few beds, serious design faults and where costs spiralled.

We are sending a copy of the report to the Department of Health and the Chancellor to illustrate what UNISON has been saying all along: that not only is PFI failing to deliver for the taxpayer, it is failing patients, staff and the public.

Public Servants of the Year Awards 2004
Nominations have opened for the 2004 Public Servants of the Year Awards. We'd like to ensure even more UNISON members are nominated for next year's awards. Branches are being sent an explanatory brochure - since it was published UNISON has agreed to sponsor the 'Outstanding team award' rather than the 'Social inclusion award' as in previous years. Other categories include:

• Breaking new ground - the award for innovation
• Inspiring success - the award for leadership
• Raising the standard - the frontline worker award
• Nothing is impossible - the turn-around manager award
• Working together - the award for progress through partnership
• On board - the award of a non-executive's contribution.

There is also the award for the outstanding public servant of the year, and all entries also get the chance to win a relevant sector award (central government, local government, housing, education, health, uniformed services).

Contact Lisa McGuinness (020 7551 1308 or [email protected]) or more info from:
www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=1170

Grievances and disciplinary hearings
The Employment Relations Act 1999 gives workers the right to be accompanied by their union representative at grievance or disciplinary hearings. The DTI has asked the TUC to provide evidence of how widespread the use of this new right has been. The TUC has asked unions for an indication, including examples as far as possible, of how much use their members are making of this right.

It is assumed this would generally be in workplaces where there is no recognition agreement, as agreements commonly provide for representation in grievance and disciplinary procedures. Information should be sent to Mike Jeram, National secretary, Business and environment, UNISON, 1 Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9AJ or email [email protected], by 21 November 2003.

Positively Public
This month's Positively Public Briefing (Oct 2003) alerts readers to the progress made on UNISON's campaign against the introduction of foundation hospitals. It features stories on some of the problems faced by private companies in PFI/PPP projects. There is also a special feature exposing the health risks to patients at three PFI hospitals which were found to have unacceptable hygiene levels, poor design and bed shortages during investigations for the BBC One programme 'Kenyon Confronts'. Download it in PDF format from:  www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/B1041.pdf

Contact Sampson Low (020 7551 1484 or [email protected])

White Ribbon Day: 25 November 2003
Women all over the world will be wearing a white ribbon on 25 November - many UNISON members among them - to mark the International Day of Action Against Violence Against Women. UNISON is working with the campaign groups Woman Kind and Women's Aid, among others, to raise awareness of the issue.

The white ribbon symbolises the hope of a world where women and children live without fear of violence, say organisers. Join them in wearing the ribbon if you want to challenge the acceptability of violence. Wearing it also says you won't commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women. More info and details about campaign resource packs from: www.unison.org.uk/women/pages_view.asp?did=677

Contact Sue Davey (020 7551 1517 or [email protected])

Miners' strike: 20th anniversary
UNISON will be supporting a number of events planned to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the miners' strike. The Banner Theatre will be touring the country in March of next year with "The Miners' Show", based on real experiences of former miners and women's groups. If branches are interested in supporting the tour details can be obtained from [email protected].

Contact Liz Snape (020 7551 1441 or [email protected])

What is wrong with PFI in schools (stock no 2251)
This report rounds up the evidence on PFI schools and raises concerns about the high costs of using private finance to build schools in England and Wales. It cites examples of problems in PFI schools, many of which have been built to very poor quality standards yet at very high costs. PDF copies of this report can be downloaded direct from:  www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/13672.pdf

Not so great: Voices from the frontline at the Great Western PFI
Hospital in Swindon (stock no 2255)
This report, researched for UNISON by John Lister, is based on interviews with staff at the Great Western PFI hospital. The report describes the problems at the new PFI hospital in Swindon where, like the other PFI hospitals, there are not enough beds, there is shoddy workmanship and the contractor, Carillion, is unsympathetic to the workforce. PDF copies of this report can be downloaded direct from: www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/13673.pdf

Carving up the NHS (stock no 2260)
On 12 September 2003, the government published the names of the preferred bidders for the provision of a variety of privately run diagnostic and treatment centres to the NHS. This briefing sets out UNISON's position on them and questions the government's claim that it is needed in order to reduce waiting lists. PDF copies of this report can be downloaded direct from:
www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/B1042.pdf

To order multiple hard copies of any of these reports, write to Communications, UNISON, 1 Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9AJ or order via the communications online catalogue at: www.unison.org.uk/resources/publicity.asp

If your branch is registered with communications for telephone ordering,
you can phone 08701 555 568 to order direct. Please quote the stock numbers on all orders.

A reminder that anyone (members and non-members alike) can sign up to UNISON's weekly email news service at:
www.unison.org.uk/news/mailinglist.asp

You will receive an email every Thursday rounding-up the news, features and section developments on the national website.