Wednesday 18 July 2012

Support Remploy Workers Yorkshire & Humber

As notified last week, Remploy workers are taking industrial action on Thursday 19th July and Thursday 26th July.
Remploy was established after the Second World War to provide employment for members of the armed forces injured in battle. Remploy quickly became the largest and most important employer of disabled people in the UK, and continues to provide sustained employment for ex-military personnel injured in modern conflicts. The government has ignored a 100,000 signature petition to save these factories, and plans to issue compulsory redundancy notices to staff by 17th August.
All Union members and our communities are urged to support our GMB and UNITE colleagues on strike.
Please find attached list of sites where there will be Remploy picket lines on Thursday.
Contact Details below

Chesterfield  Sheffield Road, Whittington Moor, Chesterfield. Derbyshire S41 8NJ
Telephone  01246 572 800   Shop Steward Kevin Shand GMB

Huddersfield Tandem Industrial Estate,Wakefield Road, Waterloo,Huddersfield.HD5 0AN
Telephone 01484 428 627  Shop Steward  James Stribley GMB

Leeds Manor Mill Lane, Millshaw, Leeds. LS11 8DF
Telephone 01132 726 970 Shop Steward Tony Gledhill GMB/Apex

Pontefract Skinner Lane, Pontefract, West Yorkshire WF8 1HX
Telephone 01977 702 374 Shop Steward David Thorpe GMB

Sheffield  Brightside Lane, Sheffield. Yorkshire S9 2RR
Telephone 01142 543 900  Shop Steward James Stribly GMB
                            

Sunday 15 July 2012

Charges start for Some NHS services in Sheffield

UPDATE FRIDAY PM:
COUNCILLORS SLAM "DISGRACEFUL" NHS WALK-IN CENTRE CHARGE

Sheffield councillors have reacted furiously to news that the NHS Walk-in Centre on Broad Lane in the city centre – which is managed by a private company - charges patients with whiplash injuries £25 for treatment.

As we reported previously (see below for more), the company – One Medicare – operates on a contract from NHS Sheffield which runs until 2016.

NHS Sheffield has so far declined to say how much the contract is worth.

Walkley councillor Ben Curran, who serves as chairman of the Central Community Assembly which covers the walk-in centre, has written to NHS bosses to complain about the “disgraceful” policy.

“It flies in the face of the basic NHS values of healthcare being provided free at the point of use.”

His colleague Labour's Coun Mary Lea, Sheffield's cabinet member for health, care and independent living, said she too was “very concerned” about the charge.

“Treatment is free under NHS principles and it is what we all expect. If this is going to be a trend under the health reforms this is a very worrying development,” she said.

Political opposition to the charging policy also came from Sheffield’s Liberal Democrats.

Shaffaq Mohammed, Leader of the Lib Dem Group on the council, said: “I’m appalled by the actions that have been taken and I’d like to thank Postcode Gazette for bringing this discovery to light.

“The NHS is founded on the basic principle that treatment is free at the point of use, so any deviation from that needs to be taken very seriously. I will be writing to NHS Sheffield to make my views clear.”

Interesting to note that Broad Lane is near the Sheffield Int'l College, which many overseas students, predominantly from China, attend; many live in the block where the walk-in centre is situated.

Walk in Centre In Sheffield to charge £25.00

UK Uncut


Tuesday 3 July 2012

Save our NHS

 Message from UKuncut

Saturday 7 July 12 noon

outside Virgin Phone Shop, Fargate, Sheffield

The Health and Social Care Act has accelerated the privatisation NHS services.
One of the biggest profiteers is Virgin Healthcare.

Virgin companies are well known for their off shore tax status and tax avoidance schemes.

Virgin Healthcare already run NHS services across the country.

•£500million contract for community health services in South West and North West Surrey
•Sexual Health Service for Milton Keynes
•Dermatology service in the Isle of Wight
•Shortlisted for running Children’s services in Devon

In 2010 Branson bought loss-making Assura private health company for knock down price of £4m, saying Virgin had been waiting to find ”the right entry point” into the health market.

•That acquisition of a GP provider company put Virgin in pole position to have influence in the government’s new commissioning arrangements.

•A year later Virgin was the private health company with most links on the shadow commissioning boards.

In the week of the NHS Birthday come and join us at Virgin Phone shop on Fargate to protest against the privatisation of the NHS!

We will be leafleting the staff in the shop beforehand to ensure they understand the protest is not directed at them.

Sheffield Uncut



UK Uncut is a grassroots movement taking action to highlight  The Alternative