A message from Roger

The UCU general secretary ballot result has now been declared and Sally Hunt has been elected. The union and our members face major and difficult challenges from employers and government in almost every aspect of our working lives. The turnout was just 13.9 per cent which in itself suggests the scale of the challenge the union faces. I wish Sally Hunt very well in meeting those challenges. To meet them successfully will require a clear strategic vision and a determined articulate response which members can have confidence in and ownership of. I will seek to play my part in ensuring that is the case through my continuing role as Head of Equality and Employment Rights Finally I would like to sincerely thank the hundreds of members who sent messages of support and campaigned during the election.

Friday, 9 February 2007

Tuesday 6th February

Health Education

"There are thousands of health educators in UCU membership. What are you going to do to support us?"

Susan, Bradford University

The briefing posted on my web site summarises my views. I worked for many years as a trade unionist representing health service staff, firstly for the Health Visitors Association, and then as Head of health for MSF (now Amicus). My wife is a health visitor, midwife and nurse by background and now works as a nurse manager in East London.

Major changes in the NHS are placing our members at risk as health professionals training budgets are foolishly cut. Cuts in commissions are already affecting pre and post registration provision affecting the community sector as well as acute provision. This is turn affects workloads as posts are not being replaced.

It is essential that we build up our organisational support for health educators much better than it currently is. We need a clear profile, national structure and network, web space, and seminars so that their voice can be heard loud and clear not just on their own pay, terms, conditions and professional position, but about the NHS as a whole which affects us all.
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A trade unionist all his working life. An activist and a proud campaigner, Roger has consistently worked to defend human rights of workers. As the leader of the Equality and Employment Rights team in the newly formed UCU he continues to unite the movement around equality and keep employment rights at the top of the agenda.