What we face to today, and faced last year, has to be seen in terms of Foundation Trust status, Agenda for Change and now the new threat of the attack on our pensions, introduction of payment by results and the forcing the PCTs to put elective health care into private treatment centres.

On the one hand the government is pressing ahead with reforms which it tries to describe as choice and delivering care to the individual, but the reality is they are stealing tax payers money and putting into the hands of private profit to please their friends in the city.

Last years AGM gave us the mandate to defend our members losing out with A4C but at the same time to be the forefront of it should it be implemented. I think it would be fair to say that this union branch has achieved both objectives. We spoke vigorously at conferences on A4C in defence of our members and we are in the forefront of all of the joint working groups on A4C. More on that later. The preoccupation now is Job descriptions this will lead onto to reviews and maybe further action – we will see.

Pensions, at present there is a so- called consultation on pensions which concludes in April. So-called consultation because the government has already made it very clear which option they want. Prospect of an end to the final salary scheme cutting thousand of pounds off member pensions.

In addition to this they want us to work even longer. This is when they are stuffing money into the pockets of their friends in the city and private companies, voting themselves five star pensions…..

Tomorrow, we are holding a Forum on the plan of the government’s to move 15%- 30% of elective care into the private sector. Health Workers’ Forum what is its significance. It significance is we are facing a Tsunami wave of attacks, they are trying to drown us in one thing after the other. The issue is how are we going to use our great strengths our ability to think for ourselves, to unite together and to organise ourselves for that better world which has always been our goal.

Turning to Branch organisation. We were talking earlier about A4C. We would like to say some things about the work Rob Foley who has undertaken this work with real enthusiasm and has become a well known and influential staff side personality in the region. Whilst he has taken on this work full time he has as well continued operate as an active member of the branch and staff side member, as well as shop steward for the estates department. Think he is an example to any aspiring activist. Like to give our thanks to him on behalf of the branch.

Like to thank Dave Ramsey who has taken up the role of education officer enthusiastically and the re is a report from him.

On Health and safety have good fortune to have two health and safety officers who have battles away all year against overwhelming odds.

We would like also to thank Susan and Cynthia who have held the fort on occasions and contributed to the work over the last year and the many stewards who have been active and many other members who have come forward to work on A4C.

We would like to give a special welcome back to Myrtle, our treasurer after her long illness and we just really like to say again thanks to her.

There have been times when with the work we are facing now it has been almost impossible to see how we can carry on. Last year we identified that our success was really about keeping the initiative in our own hands and involving as many people as we can in the work of the branch.

We always need to strengthen this and bring in new, stewards, activists, nurses and self organised groups. ……

We are all health workers. I know it is fashionable to talk about health professionals but unison unites all in the health team in one union. That is why we all joined Unison.

We are health workers and we are force to be reckoned with in the hospital and PCT but let us go on and make health workers a force to be reckoned with in society.

Let us release the initiative of health workers to safeguard the future of the NHS. This is not only in our interests but it is in the interests of society.

From Marion and myself success in your work for 2005!