"Man responsible for his own health? My arse!"

Great steal from the new IOSH e-bulletin and its link to the Men’s Health Forum website. Next week being “Men’s Health Week”.

“A man accused of neglecting his health is being put on mock trial as part of National Men’s Health Week, running from 9 to 15 June.

This year’s campaign by the Men’s Health Forum focuses on men and work, and IOSH is supporting Men’s Health Week as part of its "Back to Health, Back to Work" campaign. There is good evidence that even though men are reluctant to go to their GP with a problem, they will use services provided at work.

There are more than 25,000 health and safety professionals in the UK alone, but only 8,000 occupational health specialists.

IOSH is promoting the role of health and safety professionals and the skills they can use to ‘fill the gap’ in spotting early signs of workplace illness and supporting return to work after an illness or accident.

Interesting that men will use OH services at work rather than going to a GP and that there are so few OH specialists relative to H&S professionals? Discuss...

Update on my own personal health campaign is that “shock, horror” skimmed milk does not taste disgusting anymore and after only a week, semi-skimmed in tea now tastes even creamy! Yesterday, I cycled into work and back again. It took only 25 minutes (Forest Gate to Bow) by main road routes but an hour and 15 minutes home, since I could not find a quick way directly through the Stratford Olympic site anymore. The towpaths and footpaths are closed.

Update 07:05 - just found out that my bike was nicked over night - so need to find plan B!

Meet the Regional Council Officers

On right is the 2nd page from the latest “UNISON in LONDON” newsletter - spring 2008. The feature is about the elected lay Regional Council Officers (RCO’s) for London UNISON. We were elected at the AGM in February.

Social Services Officer, Gloria Hanson who is Regional Convenor; Hospital Electrician, Conroy Lawrence is Deputy Convenor; Hospital Finance Officer, Sarah Lewis is Young Persons Convenor; my good self is Finance Convenor; VAT tribunal officer, Lynn Bentley is Publicity Officer and last but not least College Administrator, Gill Brown is Equalities Convenor.

Double click on the scan and you should be able to read the text. I was definitely not having a “Kodak moment” when my pic was being taken.

UNISON Community & Voluntary Sector Pension Survey

UNISON's Pensions Unit is carrying out a short on-line survey (click on link) on pension provision currently being offered to our community and voluntary sector (CVS) members.

This is part of UNISON’s ongoing campaign to try to ensure good quality pension provision for members.

So if you are a UNISON member in this sector then give it a go. It only takes a few minutes.

If you are unsure about what pension scheme is offered you may have to talk to your scheme administrators. They are usually very helpful.

Since a company pension (if offered) is an important part of your pay you should have some idea of what is on offer.

(BTW - Here is a dig I had last year at some organisations who have pulled out of Final Salary schemes).

Getting Fit at Work?

I came across this new report from NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) via the HSE website. It is actually called “Promoting Physical Activity in the Workplace”.

It’s a worthy attempt to persuade employers to encourage workers to get physically fit. I will declare an interest. By co-incidence this morning I launched yet another fitness campaign with a run around Victoria Park before starting work. We are lucky to have access to a shower and I followed this up with a serving of Dorset Cereals (a nuts based muesli – quite nice) served with skimmed milk (Yuk).

The report states that “physical inactivity” in England alone costs £8.2 billion per year. This includes the cost of treatment and sickness absence. "Physical activity not only contributes to both physical and mental well being, it is essential for good health. It can help to prevent or manage conditions and diseases including coronary heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. Obesity can be caused, in part, by too little physical activity - dealing with the consequences of this condition costs a further estimated £2.5 billion each year.”

There are no really radical proposals. The report recommends that companies should consult with employees (and their trade union reps!) and draw up a plan or policy, introduce this plan and monitor it. Encourage employees to walk or cycle into work and be active during the day.

Some may say this is another example of the “Nanny State” or that it would end up with all employees being forced to take part in Company PT before a shift as they are supposed to do in certain Japanese car factories.

I think what is interesting is that to get fit and healthy, professionals have been saying years that you have to have a lifestyle change not just a change in diet or going occasionally to the gym. If as the report suggested 60% of waking hours is spent at work, then trying to build in exercise and activity while at work could encourage a sustainable lifestyle change.

The report thinks there is a business case for employers to spend time and money on this initiative. Active employees are less likely to have major health problems, take less sick leave and even have fewer accidents(?)

Surely this is a trade union issue? If the report is right then this inactivity costs lives and makes lives miserable. But, ill-health and sickness is also down to other factors such as poverty, education and access to medical services.

It use to be the case that many employers would sponsor annual works "Sports Days". Also, many professional football and ruby teams were originally set up by factory workers. Local team West Ham FC is known as the "The Irons" and the "Hammers" because it's original name was Thames Ironworks FC. The team received support from management in order to help get over the bitterness of a recent strike!

Of course a company just provides a shower and somewhere to chain up your bike, but still treats employees badly in other ways then I do not think that there will be any improvement.

However at the moment “65% of men and 76% of women in England do not achieve the recommended level of activity for health (to accumulate at least 30 minutes of at least moderate intensity physical activity on five or more days of the week). Moderate physical activity is equivalent to brisk walking (approx 5kph)". This is something that government, NHS, employers and trade unions should be tackling.

I’ll let people know how I get on with my "campaign".

From a Rural Idyll to Custer’s Last Stand

Slightly off message. Just back from a break in the rural idyll that is Dallington, High Weald, East Sussex. Definitely an “Area of Outstanding Natural beauty” (AONB).

We hired a “Cottage” (a converted cattery!) at the end of a “no through” road, next to stables and a forest, as well as the start of 5 public footpaths. We could look out of our living room window and see horses and from the kitchen window we could see wild deer. During the day we would go for lovely walks and in the evening, a 10 minutes stroll would take us to the local 14th century village pub (The Swan) for a pint (or so) of Sussex Best bitter. On route we would see more wild deer, foxes and even on one occasion, two badgers scurrying away down the road.

In London we live in a flat is outside a main road. There is constant traffic day and night. In our temporary Sussex home we saw 2 cars moving in that lane in the 5 days we were there.

Perfect break for Londoner’s in half term you might say. Of course not everything in Sussex is sweetness and light. In the cottage was a local history book about the parish which I found fascinating. The peace, quiet and solitude of the local countryside which we now find so attractive was not always so. In the middle of the 19th century the booklet estimated that there were about 100 farms in the parish. Although the vast majority of these farms were very small, less than 10 acres, most of them would have supported a large family. The few large estates would have a number of labourers and their families. When the booklet was published some 10 years ago there were only 5 farms in the entire Parish. Now, there are probably even less. So, a hundred years and so in this village there would have been large numbers of farming communities as well as local shop keepers, blacksmiths etc. Each of the quaint cottages that are now mainly owned by commuters or retired city folk, use to house 2 or more families. Such a way of life was of course doomed.

Incredibly also in 1943, in this remote and tranquil place, a German aircraft, dropped a bomb that destroyed 3 homes. No-one was hurt. These homes were immediately in front of our holiday cottage.

In the village net link there is a discussion about the tradition that someone originally from Dallington was a USA cavalry trooper who was killed while taking part in “Custer’s Last stand”.

If it is true that Trooper Timothy Donnelly, who died at Little Big Horn, was originally from Dallington, then no doubt the village will claim him as a long lost son. However, the main reason why his family emigrated to America from Sussex in the first place would be simply due to rural poverty and depopulation. The real reason why our countryside is now so green, quiet and peaceful.

Intermission

Taking a break from blogging for a few days.

Apologies in advance to anyone who has posted a comment for the late response.

Cheers!

Equal Pay Matters in UNISON

Quick report back on the London region UNISON briefing on Equal Pay that I attended on Thursday. The meeting was chaired by Gloria Hanson, Regional Convener and addressed by Mike Hayes, lay chair of the UNISON NEC Finance Committee as well as UNISON Finance staff.

This meeting is one of a series of regional briefings that are being held across the UK. UNISON is taking and contemplating legal action against a number of employers for unlawful discrimination over equal pay. It also has to defend itself in a small number of cases from “no win no pay” solicitors who are suing UNISON and other trade unions.

Check out trade union solicitors Thompson’s web site on “equal pay”. Taking such legal action against employers is potentially very expensive and legal costs in employment tribunals cannot be claimed back even if a member wins. UNISON has to decide how these costs will be funded.

The meeting was well attended by branch treasurers and secretaries. We had a really mature and sensible discussion. This is a not only a big issue for UNISON and employers.

The 1970 Equal Pay Act has been “in force” for over 26 years. It is appalling that after all this time there is still a 17% gap between male and female full time employees and a staggering 38% gap for part time workers!

The question surely is why should we face these huge legal bills for simply trying to enforce the law of the land?

(Photo: check out Belgium trade union campaign - "its not the hormonal rages")

Oh Mr Porter, what shall I do?

“WIPE OUT”; “Tories Hammer New Labour”; “Gordon is a moron” as well as being given a “bloody nose” and a “severe kicking” - these are some of the headlines following the Conservative victory in Crewe and (traditional Tory) Nantwich. Some humility in defeat should now be expected. But while we have lost this particular battle and admittedly the local council/ Assembly elections, it doesn’t mean that we will lose the war. However, what to do about all this?

The electorate is clearly very volatile. It was after all not that long ago that I posted “Success in Ealing & Sedgefield”. I don’t believe that the political make up of the nation has changed radically right wing in such a short period. What I do believe is that it is more to do with the Clinton argument that “it’s the economy, stupid”. I’ve just received notification that my monthly direct debit for gas and electricity has gone up by £20, I never used to think twice about the cost of filling up with diesel, now I watch with horrified fascination how the £’s symbols on the fuel pumps spin faster than the litres. Bread and milk does cost more and the local off-licence has now finally increased the cost of 6 cans of 5% lager from £5 to £5.50.

If you had a slight panic earlier this year about the safety of your salary or savings if your bank went bust and now also believe (wrongly in the vast majority of cases) that you are paying more income tax this year, then you can see some powerful reasons why people deserted Labour for bright shiny New Tories.

While I think we need more policies like “fairness for agency workers” that will attract and mobilise our core vote, I don’t think that there is any evidence that moving significantly to “the Left” is the answer. Not least, because it is the centre that decides elections and power in this country. It just doesn’t make any sense to say that people vote Tory because Labour isn’t lefty enough. Others may point to 1945 and 1979 as examples of where Political Parties adopted radical politics and won elections. In 1945 following 6 years of collectivisation and total war, a free health service, secondary education and nationalisation was “centre” politics. While Thatcher in the 1979 election did not portray herself, in any way, as any sort of radical conservative.

It is the economy that will save us or bury us. This means there is room for optimism despite the gloom. There are two schools of thought: one, either the economic fundamentals are in good shape, the economy will survive the downturn and the commodity/energy price hike is a speculative bubble and will soon collapse. Or two, we will move into recession.

Talking of 1979, on Thursday evening I went to a “meeting” and bought a badge for 50p from a dear comrade. The badge logo said “Don’t blame me I Voted Labour”. I remember going to a TUC unemployment march organised in Liverpool in 1980 helping to carry a banner saying the same thing. At the time male unemployment levels in my part of Wales was about 30%. I was actually too young to have voted in the election, but never mind. One of the things I do remember is how confident many of my fellow marchers were that Thatcher was only going to be a one hit wonder and obviously Labour would get in next time. Some prediction that one turned out to be...

The “New Labour Coalition” may well be faltering, battered and bruised but it is not dead. There is still everything to play for. Surely for no other reason, than the price of failure is just too much to bear.

(Poster of famous musical hall star Marie Lloyd singing “Oh Mr Porter” – click on link and you can hear a version of the song!)

$1,243,255 for 1 meal, 2 beers & 1 mineral water.

My cousin’s husband sent this scan of a café bill from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe in March of this year. Due to continued hyperinflation I hate to think what the price will be today.

It cost nearly 1.25 million Zimbabwe dollars for a snack.

Surely Mugabe’s horrible regime will not last. Never mind the morality of his quasi -fascist dictatorship, surely the economic incompetence and corruption of his government must surely mean that his end is nigh?

Previous posts here and here.

Fingers and toes.

UNISON London Europe & International Committee – Appeal for Cuba

A quick report back on my first meeting of this regional lay committee. It took place on Monday at the Chancellors Room, Hughes Parry Hall, London WC1. Just around the corner from UNISON national HQ at Mabledon Place. I had been elected as a delegate from the London Regional Committee.

I had been meaning to stand as a member of this committee for a while since I thought that it made sense since it compliments the work I am trying to do for the UNISON Capital stewardship programme (with member nominated representatives on funded pension schemes).

In fact several years ago this committee with help from the campaigning charity Oxfam helped kick off the “London UNISON Pension Network” (now London Capital Stewardship Forum) which I convene (next meeting to be confirmed but probably before the CWU meeting on 8 July) .

This was also the AGM, but there was a slight hick up since the previous secretary to the committee had retired and no-one could find a constitution. So national rules and guidance was adopted.

Ruby Cox from Tower Hamlets (Local Gov. Branch) was re-elected unopposed as Chair. There was an election for vice chair, which was comfortably won (hard luck this time to Jackie) by Ray Mouratsing (Health Committee).

The first real item was to register committee members “interests” in the topics/areas that the committee were concerned about (or to suggest new areas). This was a pretty vast field since we all had particular areas of interest. It was based on affiliation and budget headings agreed by the previous committee. I “expressed interest” (in being involved and informed) on Europe; Southern Africa (Zimbabwe); Iraq; Bangladesh; Trade/TU human rights/Core Labour standards; Burma and Cuba Solidarity.

A major item of business was the Greater London appeal to raise funds to rebuild the Havana (Cuba) City’s Ambulance Control Room. The campaign is to raise £50k. So far it is one of the regions most successful appeals. About £40k had been raised. Contributions from UNISON branches range from £25 to £6,000. This appeal has also been adopted by those who wish to remember former Unison activist and official, John Kelly-Chandler.

Next, was a depressing but topical debate on the decision by the new Nicaragua Sandinistas government (unbelievable) decision to support the law introduced by the previous conservative government that that all abortions are illegal. Regardless of the fact that they may have been necessary to save the life of the mother. Only 3 countries in the world adopt such a repressive policy.

Members of the committee were rightly absolutely furious at this decision. I think that it is fair to say that international support for progressive politics in Nicaragua has been dealt a really serious blow. Unless this measure is appealed then I think that Nicaragua will become a pariah state. Quite right too.

I had to go before the end of the meeting but listened to Nick Crook (UNISON International Officer) who gave a presentation which was a pretty convincing argument on the benefits to the union. from internationalism. Not only do we believe in solidarity but for example by promoting quality public services in the developing world and defending trade union rights we are actually also reinforcing the case for such services and rights in Britain.