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Eleanor Smith, President of UNISON (Britain's largest public sector union) addressed CUPE's health care sector meeting this Sunday, in Vancouver. In her speech, she highlighted some of the major issues related to the English National Health Service, and drew parallels between the situation in the UK and in Canada.

Both the Francis report into the failures of care at Mid Staffs, and The Keogh Review into high hospital mortality rates, released today, highlight how important the right skills mix and sufficient numbers of staff are to providing top quality care. Having the right staff cover is increasingly important out of hours – at evenings and weekends, said the union.

“We are pleased that the Keogh Review, as the Francis Report before it, has recognised the relationship between quality care and safe staffing levels. UNISON has been campaigning for safe staffing levels and the right skills mix on wards for many years. This includes in the evenings and at weekends - there is clear evidence that out of hours cover isn’t safe. It is time for the government to start listening and take action by committing to minimum staffing levels. They must also listen to staff and patients who are the best barometer of an organisation.

Unison member said tired staff have 'detrimental effect on patient care'Jane Smith likened longer working hours for NHS staff to 'slave labour'Called for more research to examine the impact on workers' health 

17 April 2015

Nurses forced to work 12-hour shifts amid staff shortages are treated like 'slave labour', a union has claimed.With a growing demand for nurses to work long hours, Unison has called for more research into the effects of workers' health.At the union's healthcare conference in Liverpool this week, one member highlighted how staff at a hospital in Staffordshire are expected to work six long days a week, totalling up to 78 hours a week.Jane Smith told colleagues: 'The fact staff are so tired has a detrimental effect on patient care and (also) puts other staff at risk.'

UNISON’s international guest today warned of the 'loaded dice' presented by the international trade agreements currently being negotiated in secret on both sides of the Atlantic. Paul Moist, national president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), said that TTIP and other free trade deals will lead to "democratically elected governments ceding power and authority to private corporations, to public interest being trumped by corporate interest."

Public sector union UNISON is calling for protests by healthcare workers in a campaign for fair pay in the NHS.

Unions call off scheduled industrial action in England and Northern Ireland after fresh pay offer from Department of Health

Tuesday 27 January 2015 17.56 GMT

Planned strikes by health workers in a dispute over pay have been suspended after a breakthrough in talks. Members of Unison, the GMB and Unite were due to walk out in England and Northern Ireland on Thursday, and again next month, in protest at the government’s refusal to accept a recommended 1% wage rise for all NHS staff. Extensive talks between union leaders and officials at the Department of Health led to fresh proposals, which will now be put to workers.