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Staff put clients first
• THANK YOU for bringing a wry smile to my face by printing Florence and Ivor Kenna’s letter (What did union do? October 19)
For the record, the democratic decision of the union members employed by Care UK – those in Unison and GMB – was to vote against taking industrial action. This decision cannot be overturned by me or any other official of this union.
One of the members’ concerns was the impact industrial action would have on the clients they were caring for. We respected their democratic decision – as we always do, albeit from a trade union view, reluctantly.
The union represented members both collectively and individually, and the details of those representations remain strictly confidential. I could not divulge this information even if I wished to (which I certainly do not).
In terms of the Kennas’ criticism of TP Luke not replying to their unsolicited letter of last March, it is Unison policy not to respond to communications sent to the home address of trade union officers – a point the Kennas conveniently ignored.
In this particular instance, I personally ratified his action in not replying. As a trade union we believe in the right of association and the right to a private and home life. These are basic human rights and as a trade union we will defend them, no matter how trivial or irritating the intrusions may seem.
If the Kennas wish to conduct a debate through the columns of this paper, that is their right of free speech, until such time as the editor sees fit to refuse – that is the editorial independence of a free press.
But my greatest criticism of their judgement is that they have completely missed the point. The question is not what did the trade union do, but what the council did.
Gwen Ovshinsky, who was responsible for the whole Care UK debacle, is now set to oversee the privatisation of Islington’s home care service. We as a trade union have no trust and confidence in her, given the manifest failings revealed in the Care UK investigation.
Islington Unison’s branch committee has called for her resignation, not out of a sense of vindictiveness or retribution but because we wish to see no repeat of the Care UK situation in another two to three years’ time or indeed at any time at all.
This trade union will always support its members, irrespective of perceived class status assigned to them by those who know little and whose opinions are valued even less.
JANE DOOLAN
Branch secretary, Islington Unison
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