RepsDirect No 152 - 18 October 2002



From
Head of Health, Roger Spiller General Secretary, Roger Lyons

1 Recruitment of New Members to Human Genetics Commission

The Department of Health and Office of Science and Technology are currently seeking applications for Membership to HGC, not only to fill current vacancies but also to build up a reserve list which can be called upon to fill mid-term vacancies.

Applications are sought from those with expertise in clinical genetics (including a genetics counsellor), ethics, human genetics research, industry (pharmaceutical/therapeutic and diagnostics), law, consumer affairs/lay perspective, media, primary care, science education/public awareness and social sciences, and from people who can represent the wider patient experience of genetic conditions.

Details can be found on the DH website at:

http://www.doh.gov.uk/hgc_advert/index.htm

The closing date for applications is 31 October 2002.

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2 Pay Review Body for Nursing Staff

Please note that copies of the 'Evidence to the Pay Review Body for Nursing Staff, Midwives and Health Visitors' can now be obtained from our Health Sector Research & Policy Officer Colin Adkins - COLIN.ADKINS@amicus-m.org

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3 Right to Care Campaign Conference

26 November, Congress House, Great Russell Street, London, 11am-3pm

Join local people, charity workers and trade unionists from around the country, at a FREE one-day event, to set out ways to campaign for free nursing and personal care for all older and disabled patients.

Speakers include: Claire Rayner, Jack Jones, Robin Wendt

· Get advice on raising this issue locally from an MP and a BBC journalist
· Add your ideas and experience to the national strategy
· help make sure the message about long term care is being heard in your area

"The efforts of local people will be vital in persuading the government to provide older and disabled people with the care that they need." - Claire Rayner, patron of the Right to Care Campaign

A campaign resource pack will be available to delegates.

Your FREE ticket is available from the NHS Support Federation:
contact info@nhscampaign.org or tel :02076330801

Our society can be judged by the way that it provides for its older and more vulnerable citizens. 75% of the public in a MORI poll agreed with the aims of our campaign. Scotland recently decided to provide free personal care for its citizens. You can help to make sure that our politicians do the same.

This event is being organised by the NHS Support Federation on behalf of the Right to Care Campaign, a coalition of national charities and trade unions formed to campaign for free personal and nursing care for all older and disabled people.

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4 Pensions

You will recall from the 'NHS Pensions' article in Reps Direct 150 that the Secretary of State for Health, Alan Milburn, has re-affirmed his commitment to the NHS pension system.

However for Amicus members outside of the NHS their position is not as clear.

Please note that there are now supplies of the three 'Pay Attention - Don't lose your Pension' leaflets available to order from the Despatch Department at Head Office.

The Leaflets are:

1. 'The Crisis in Occupational Pensions' - an overview and summary of a major report published on the MSF website

2. 'Your Future Pension under Threat' - Illustrative examples of how a switch to money purchase can reduce your pension

3. 'Company Pensions - What Employees Think' - results of a survey of member opinion on trends in company schemes with quotes from affected members

Please e-mail your requests to JEAN.SMITH@amicus-m.org.

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5 Amicus MSF "We Won't Wait a Life-time" Demonstration

At 1pm on Sunday 24th November 2002 ,Amicus-MSF will hold a demonstration at the CBI Conference at the Manchester GMEX Centre, Windmill Street, Manchester. The core of the demonstration will be 18 girls who represent the 18% pay gap between men and women. These girls, and millions like them in the UK today, will have to wait for 40 years for equal pay with men if the gender pay gap is left to close at its current rate.

The reason that Amicus-MSF is demonstrating at the CBI Conference is because the CBI has pressed the government to refuse the demand for mandatory equal pay reviews. Mandatory equal pay reviews would put a duty on employers to root out and remove sex discrimination in their pay systems. The highly regarded, and business-led, equal pay report - Just Pay - confirmed that up to 50% of the pay gap between men and women is due to sex discrimination in pay. This report called on the government to introduce mandatory equal pay reviews as the only means to close this pay gap.

Amicus-MSF strongly condemns the CBI for refusing to endorse mandatory equal pay reviews. By their refusal, the CBI is consigning girls to a life-time of waiting for equal pay. Amicus-MSF is going to teach the CBI a lesson. The girls demonstrating won't wait a life-time for equal pay. Our message to the CBI is stop cheating the girls out of their rights. The girls demand their right to equal pay now!

To succeed on the day, the girls need all of us to be out in force. I ask you to support our demonstration and mobilise your region, your branch, and your trade union brothers and sisters to be there on the day. Bring your branch, group or regional union banners.

Swell the numbers - Strengthen the message. Equal Pay Now!

Coaches are being co-ordinated by the following contacts at our regional offices:

North East & Yorkshire
South West
Eastern & North Thames
South Wales
London and South East
East Midlands
Southern
Liverpool
Manchester
Kathryn Wild
Christine Armytage
Catherine Wells
Jan Weldon
Maureen German
Lorraine Reah
Theresa Collins
Alison Dealing
Dianne Kennedy
01977 550884
01454 275040
01279 755377
02920 869219
020 7939 7000
0115 9609100
020 8947 4441
0151 709 6209
01617457300

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6 Speech & Language Therapy Assistant Roadshows

In conjunction with the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists we are currently organising two Speech and Language Therapist Assistant Roadshows - in Manchester on Monday 25th November and in Glasgow on Thursday 12th December.

They are organised to address issues facing SLT Assistants and Bi-lingual co-workers, and will focus on :

· Assistants Re-grading
· RCSLT initiatives for Assistants & Co-workers
· Agenda For Change

For a copy of the flyer & to register for either event please e-mail NEAL.EVANS@amicus-m.org.

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