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Dear Patient

Welcome to Trolley Hospital WDCT (aka We Don’t Care Trust).

First we want to thank to the Coalition Government for providing us with the opportunity to earn some “‘Lolly from our Trolley!”

The new regulations in particular Regulation 75 have provided WDCT with an opportunity to make lots of money (lolly) from our latest groundbreaking innovative services known as ‘Trolley Hospitals’

It is such a simple idea. We aim to cuts costs by simply treating patients on their trolleys in corridors, and where possible in the fresh air as it is clear from all the planned ward and or hospital closures queues in NHS hospitals are going to get longer and stretch out into the streets.

We at WDCT thought why not start treating patients on their trolleys whilst they are waiting for the NHS service, that way we will be helping the Coalition Government reduce the cost of the NHS. 

Obviously there will be a charge, after all NHS is no longer free any more.

We prefer cash, but we will be prepared to take your cash point or credit cards. All you have to do is give one of our care shirkers……ooops care workers your security number and we will pop down the cash point and take out the money, whilst you sit in the comfort of your trolley!

Sounds great and we can’t wait to get started.

We have noted that there are a number of hospitals and wards closing across London and we all know what that will mean…….QUEUES and they are going to get bigger and bigger…… so we know we are on to a winner here

Look out for ‘Trolley Hospital’ flyers we hope we will be treating you on a trolley in your community soon. For more details contact trolleyhospital@nohotmeals.com and we promise not to get back to you within 365 days.

Trolley Hospitals ‘We are after your Lolly!’

If you would be interested in treating patients on behalf of the Trolley Hospital WDCT, don’t worry you don’t need any qualifications, we will take anyone. Payment will be on commission, no salary or paid annual leave.

UNISON Press Release 26/04/2013

UNISON wins unfair dismissal claim for workers transferred from Barnet to Croydon or Lancing

UNISON has won unfair dismissal claims* for six parking enforcement workers who were made redundant when the services they provided were sold off to a private company and their jobs relocated from Barnet to Croydon or Lancing.

When Barnet Council’s parking enforcement services were outsourced to NSL Limited in May 2012, the plan was for staff to work out of the company’s Croydon office.

An equality impact assessment revealed that many workers would not be able to travel to workplaces outside of Barnet due to caring responsibilities or medical and disability-related conditions that prevented them from driving or travelling long distances.

The council said that it would ask NSL to allow these people to work out of offices in Barnet. However, prior to the transfer, NSL decided to subcontract the postal and processing work that members of this claim were involved in, to offices in Lancing, near Brighton.

Following the transfer, the workers were made redundant after a month, as they were unable to move from Barnet to either Croydon or Lancing for the reasons above, and due to the cost and time involved with the lengthy journey.

Shantha David, UNISON legal officer, said:

“We are delighted that our members’ rightful case for unfair dismissal has been recognised. We are calling on NSL and RR Donnelly to pay our members what they are due following today’s remedy hearing and to avoid any further legal wrangling.

“The case should serve as a reminder to the growing number of employers considering outsourcing and relocating staff that they still have a responsibility to honour terms and conditions protected under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006.”  

John Burgess, UNISON branch secretary in Barnet, said:

“I am happy for our members as it has been a stressful time for them and for their families. This case reinforces the reason why it is even more important in this difficult economic climate for workers to join a union.”

*Paul Besagni & five others v NSL and RR Donnelly.

http://www.unison.org.uk/asppresspack/pressrelease_view.asp?id=3049

ENDS

 

About The Credit Union

The Credit Union is a not for profit co-operative dedicated to promoting saving and dealing with debt. Anyone living or working or studying in Barnet or Camden or City of London or Hackney or Haringey or Islington can now become a member of the credit union.

For more details click on link below 

 http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/sites/default/files/About%20The%20Credit%20Union.pdf

To Apply For Membership click on the link below

http://www.credit-union.coop/content.asp?section=4

 

Source: http://straighttothesource.wordpress.com/2012/03/23/welfare-spending-breakdown/

Here is the breakdown:

46% spent on State Pension

14% spent on Housing Benefit

8% spent on Disability Living Allowance

5 % spent on Pensions Credit

5% spent on Income Support

4% spent on incapacity benefit

3% spent on Attendance Allowance

3% spent on Council tax benefit

3% spent on job seeker allowance

2% spent on winter fuel payments

2% spent on Employment on Support Allowance

1% spent on Statutory Maternity Pay

1% spent on Carers allowance

3% on Others

 

Dear Colleagues

Please find below an update on the Tripartite TUPE consultation with Capita to date:

1. Transfer Date

As a result of the Judicial Review the date of transfer was moved from 1 April to 1 May. The Council and Capita are currently making plans for a possible transfer date of 1 May. However this is dependent on the outcome of the JR.

2. TUPE List – which posts are transferring

Throughout the Tripartite TUPE consultation meetings we have been seeking to establish which posts are transferring and the business reasons for jobs being exported out of the borough. On 18 March 2013 UNISON submitted the following communication to Capita.

Dear Capita

“In the Measures letter dated 7 January Capita refer to a number of service delivery relocations.

I am requesting information about the Capita proposal to restructure & relocate Council Services. In order that I can begin to understand the measures outlined in the letter dated 7 January I have produced a spreadsheet for Council Services, using the TUPE list information provided to the Trade Unions 7 January 2013 by the London Borough of Barnet.

Our spreadsheets simply ask you to provide two key pieces of information for UNISON to begin to comply with the TUPE regulations.

Workplace location

Please state which posts are being relocated and which are remaining in Barnet.

Redundancy Risk for those remaining in Barnet

It is clear in the Measures letter dated 7 January 2013 (view here) that there are posts at risk of redundancy as a result of a restructure as opposed to relocation. Please state if the any of the posts are at risk of redundancy as a result of a restructure.”

UPDATE: Although we have now had a second Measures letter (view here), it does not provide the details we have requested and we have sought a response to our correspondence for posts across all eight service areas.

3. Second TUPE consultation communication with Capita

In order we can understand the service business model for relocating services out of the borough on 18 March 2013 UNISON submitted the following request to Capita:

“Dear Capita

I am writing to put on record some of the concerns I have been expressing in the tripartite meetings and in subsequent follow up emails about the current lack of detail about some of the proposed measures identified in the Capita ‘Measures’ letter dated 7 January 2013. 

In the January ‘Measures’ letter Capita propose to change the pay date for the staff transferring to Capita. Capita helpfully commit that no employee will experience any financial detriment as a consequence of this measure. I welcome that response. It was agreed in a subsequent meeting held on Wednesday 6 March 2013 that you would provide an example of how you intend to ensure this commitment. Please can you provide the example referred to in our meeting?

Office Relocation Measure

In the Capita ‘Measures’ letter, Capita are proposing a significant measure which will see hundreds of posts transferred out of the London Borough of Barnet. Regulation 13 places a duty on Capita to provide information to the appropriate representatives and to consult with the appropriate representatives with a view to seeking an agreement. 

For the record we are not seeking to enter into the formal consultation process which will take place after the TUPE transfer, we are however trying to understand the scale and scope of your proposed measure to transfer services out of the borough. We have asked in the tripartite meetings for disclosure of all the documents you have produced which led to you justifying the service solution to relocate services out of the London Borough of Barnet, most recently on Monday 11 March 2013.

To date it is our contention that the above duty has not been met (in relation to relocation) in that insufficient information has been provided to the Trade Unions to allow us to make representations to Capita as specified in Regulation 13(7).

I am therefore asking for disclosure of all the documents you have produced which led to you justifying the service solution to relocate services out of the London Borough of Barnet.”

UPDATE: Although we have now had a second Measures letter, it does not provide the details we have requested and we have therefore sought a response to our correspondence for posts across all eight service areas.

4. Second Measures Letter

You should have all seen the Second Measures letter (view here). Unlike the first Measures letter it provides actual number of posts as opposed to full time equivalents (FTE) which is very different. UNISON will be formally responding but we have already made the following comments

·         FTE

The Trade Unions have asked that a column be added showing the total FTE for each of the eight services. This has been agreed.

·         Revenues & Benefits

UNISON notes the numbers of posts remaining in Barnet has been increased significantly from 2FTE to 28 posts. This is welcome news and we will continue to challenge Capita to seek ways in which posts can remain within Barnet and therefore reduce the loss of employment opportunities within our borough.

·         Role Reductions

This is a new column and is connected to the recent service staff briefing presentations. UNISON had picked up on the previous Measure letter that there were missing figures. These post deletions are relating to the transformation process after transfer which may or may not be related to the relocation consultations. UNISON is concerned to note that 207 posts are at risk of redundancy.

·         Relocation of Services

The number of posts being relocated out of the borough has been reduced slightly (it is now 176 posts at risk of redundancy) but it is still a significant number. UNISON is seeking further information as required in the TUPE regulations in order we can consult with our members and respond to Capita.

·         Reducing the number of posts lost to the borough

There are currently 385 posts at risk of being lost to the borough. UNISON along with GMB are seeking to negotiate with Capita other service delivery options to the proposals identified in both Measures letters.

 

5. Policies and Procedures – Staff Handbook

You may be aware that Capita have been publishing what is known as a Terms & Conditions matrix which sets out all the Councils Policies & Procedures. This would have been referred to in your TUPE meetings with HR as the staff handbook. The Matrix has been set out in three colours Red, Amber, Green. It is important to note that the policies in Red and Green will not change when you transfer to Capita

It is the Policies in Amber I want to bring to your attention as these are either changing or being amended to reflect the process carried out by Capita.

6. Suitable Alternative Employment (SAE)

This has been a critical subject for consultation as it will have an impact on our members entitlement to redundancy and their ability to find another job. The latest version of Capita’s Principles of Suitable Alternative Employment and Redeployment can be viewed here.

It is important to note there is a big difference between Suitable Alternative Employment & Alternative Employment options. If you need further information or have any concerns please come along to the next UNISON NSCSO meetings which are taking place on Monday 15 April 12 noon in Oak Room. 

***PLEASE NOTE***

Please note the following schedule of UNISON NSCSO/DRS meeting

Tuesday 30 April 1pm Oak Room

Tuesday 21 May 1pm in Oak Room

Links:

Capita First Measures letter 7 January 2013

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/sites/default/files/Pre%20ConsultationMeasures%20Letter%20V3%20070113%20to%20TUs%2007%2001%2013.pdf

Capita second Measures letter 25 March 2013

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/sites/default/files/Mid%20Point%20ConsultationMeasures%20Letter%20V5%20250313_0.pdf

Capita’s Principles of Suitable Alternative Employment and Redeployment April 2014

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/sites/default/files/Capita’s%20Principles%20of%20Suitable%20Alternative%20Employment%20and%20Redeployment%20v4.pdf