SOCAP members say yes to Industrial Action

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Dear All,

SOCAP members have voted to go for industrial action over the proposed changes to NHS pensions.

So it will be interesting to see what happens next.

Will be interesting to see how this is received by the Tax Paying Public and users of the variety of services provided by SOCAP members and the other striking professions.

David

 

NHS podiatrists who are also SoCaP members voted. I'm a SoCaP member and I believe I wasn't even asked, probably because I'm one of those large minority of Private Practitioners who are supernumeraries in the eyes of the Society. (and I don't have an interest in NHS pensions, doh! :boxing:but still!)

Dave

 

BTW is this :boxing: a striking professional

This is definentely a striking professional




Dave

 

As a former NHS employee with 20 years contributions into my NHS pension pot i am a little disgruntled that it is now being buggered around with.

Now if MP's led by example and had a pension that matched the rest of the population!!!!!!

But i believe they voted a nice comfy pension for themselves and are now attacking other Govt employees pensions.

Does not seem too erm erm looking for a word that is not an obscenity.

It is a fact that the western world cant afford to draw a pension from 65 to 90.

There is not enough money any where to underwrite this.

So we know what the problem is . Increasing longevity.

The solution:

Soylent Green happy deathday to you:butcher:

or raise the retirement age to 80. This will restore pensions to 1948 parity. ie work till 65 and die at 68.:deadhorse:

Thanks David. I never worked with such a stunningly skilled female colleague.

David

 

SOCAP member with absolutely no interest... I don't qualify for an NHS pension and the tax paying public don't pay for my sick days or maternity leave either. Some would say that I live in the "real world". Many people who work in the public sector might like to engage with it from time to time. Here's my reality, I don't get paid if I don't go to work be that through holiday or sick time. End of...

Option? Stop paying into your NHS pension plan and instead invest in something likely to accumulate in value over the next few years. The price of 80's bmx bikes has gone through the roof recently.

 

SOCAP hasn't existed for sometime, it is actually SCP.

All members were asked if I am not mistaken, maybe you didn't read your emails Dave?

As a pp I simply do not have the luxury of being able to strike, however many moons ago in the NHS in another profession I refused to strike as it would have left the department severely under manned .

Cm

 

What does SCP stand for?

What did SOCAP stand for?
Exactly.

 

All,
I am curious to know what these SCP members think they will achieve?

I worked in the NHS for over 20 years and if I took a day off for sickness (rarely) or holidays (necessity) the work continued and I had to catch up when I came back.

If the SCP wants to make a stand against the NHS they would do better by growing a backbone not kowtowing to them over Assistant Practitioners - but that's a whole different argument....

regards

catfoot

 

Simon,

Just because I keep being asked to contribute here goes.

SoCaP refered to the Society of Chiropodist and Podiatrists. That Society represented non managerial Chiropodists and Podiatrists a few Podiatric surgeons, and the educators.

When the Camden accord was negotiated it bought together three separate bodies SoCaP the ACCO the association of chief chiropody officers (the managers) and the Podiatry Association, Podiatric surgeons.

SCP was supposed to be a combination of letters in the 3 titles S for the Society C for ACCO and P for the Podiatry Association. They made a nice little cross picture.

The accord had high hopes of uniting the profession.

Bob

 

www.scp.org.uk/

 

The acronym Socap stood for- society of chiropodists and podiatrists
Now the acronym scp stands for - society of chiropodists and podiatrists

Can't imagine why anyone would use these interchangeably when they so clearly represent the names of two different organizations.

 

Another private practitioner here who wasn't asked (or was and ignored the email).

I would've voted against striking. I cannot stand the concept of it.

I'd be first in the queue to kick Bob Crow in the goolies given the chance.

 

Bob Crow is the definition of a complete and utter arsehole!!

I also agree that no matter what the problem is striking is not the way to solve it, especially at the moment, far likely to make more enemies than friends!

 

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/polit...es-are-about-pensions?-asks-tuc-201111034499/

`Nother PP not asked. Whilst my heart bleeds for those who are having their pensions tweaked.....this week I`ve been mostly concerned about keeping business afloat after being forced to close for a minimum of 2 weeks by my landlord. Nice. Are the SCP interested in my loss of income?

BTW, my Jess has often been likened to Sarah Chalke....any offers since her heart has just been broken?

 

Why worry about pensions?

I have a badge to prove I'm a member.

He will provide.

 

I'm a bit conflicted on this one.

On the one hand, the Gubbermint have treated public sector employees pretty shoddily. Consultation was initially almost non existant. In those circumstances I'd EXPECT my union to make a fuss.

Also this is a global public service action and it would be a shame if we missed out on a better deal just for want of joining in.

On the other hand....

We are clearly, as a nation, rather deep in the soft and brown. The gubbermint WILL screw that money out of the public sector somehow. And bluntly, I'd rather lose my pension than my job, something many, many people are facing at the moment. Jostling for a bigger space at the trough becomes less acceptable when its such a small trough and with so many people jostling at it!

Same issue 5 years ago, I'd have been voting yes. Given the bigger picture I'm afraid even whinging liberal lefty that I am, I had reluctantly to vote no. And will be turning up to work on 30th.

Also its playing merry hell with clinic bookings:bang:.

 

I am a young NHS worker, I am not striking as we move to a PC system on the 28th November, my admin has been of sick for the last 8 weeks and I have had no cover, so I am in enough poop as it is.

Also my view on things are, I am 23, things will change again before I retire, also we are a ageing population, my partner is a doctor and she was saying that you have to be over 90 to get onto the geriatrics ward now!!!!!! so we have shot our selves in the foot really, with medical advances we are living longer, and guess what someone has to pay for it, us.

But hey it would not be human if we did not moan about it, we are all good at that at the end of the day we can moan and strike but the money has to come from somewhere, we can all say to the fat cats take a pay cut and pension cut, but will that feel the huge gap, don't think so.

Finally at least we have a job at present.

 

The industrial action is in response to the government proposing that public sector workers work longer,pay more contributions to their pension and then receive less. The government wishes to impose these changes without negotiation with public sector workers.
The industrial action is not against the NHS or any other employer but against the government.
The strike action is voice the anger many public workers feel about the gov's decision.
Contributions paid in by NHS workers every year always result in a surplus which goes into the treasury.
Only NHS pods were balloted because there are laws relating to industrial action.(I'm sure Industrial relations will explain this if asked)
SCP represents all its members both private practitioners and NHS practitioners.

 

I am not aware of British union activities, but here in Australia the bulk of the award conditions are negotiated by them. That's why, being a full-time public podiatrist I am a member, as it would be wrong/unethical/? not to. I believe non-members should contribute a percentage of their pay rises to the union. The same if I was private I'd belong to a podiatry association, which are quasi-unions anyway. The strongest 'union' in Australia is the Australian Medical Association (AMA). Just as employers have the right of 'lock-outs' so employees have the right of striking. I would strike if ALL members were accessed? and if a majority voted for it. Society would be in a pitiful state if not for the unionisation? of workers in the past, Mark, off-topic but I feel better...

 

Simon,

Can't imagine why anyone would use these interchangeably when they so clearly represent the names of two different organizations.

I agree with you 110%.

Unfortunately both acronyms on a Google search return lots of uses of them, and the Society is not top of any of the lists. Instead for SCP it is No 8 with a silly entry for 'feetforlife.org'. This is 3 below the Society of Catholic Priests.

On the other hand try Google SMAE! The whole page belongs to them!

Sad innit?

 

A good point, well made Helen. Given that nearly 1,000,000 of the tax paying public are probably NHS employees who can ill afford to fork out an EXTRA £90 per month pension on top of their current fee, I'm sure the governemtn will have to listen to the NHS sector, who contribute 2 Billion extra to the coffers, than it shell out for on pensions to former NHS workers.

 

Ya reckon? How and where does it `represent` private practitioners?

 

Hi all

It's not just pps that are disenfranchised, I've worked for the NHS for 20yrs as an SCP member, local branch member for last 5 years and I didn't receive ballot papers. I was emailed and advised whom to phone if papers hadn't arrived - I did and still no papers. It seems that of my colleagues the majority have not in fact received ballot papers, or received them too late to vote.

Another triumph for the SCP then ......

 

It is not a requirement to practice that you are a member of the society. If you do not feel it represents you as a private practitioner then do not pay your money to be a member. If more people did this then the society would be forced to change their (perceived) focus. However, it will take many members to do this to get their attention. A little like what ‘we’ are doing to try and get the government’s attention about the proposed changes to the NHS pensions.

Also, I find comments like “my heart bleeds” about having our “pensions tweaked” rather inflammatory and insensitive. People feel strongly about this and losing a day’s pay to go on strike is not a decision that is taken lightly - especially given the time of year. The industrial action, by podiatry, will have a very limited impact on patients as the clinics are just busier before and after the action, but hopefully it will show people that we are not happy with the way in which the government is treating public sector workers and their pensions.

 

Thank you, I am aware that it is not a requirement to belong to any professional body to practice. I was questioning the statement: “..SCP represents all its members both private practitioners and NHS practitioners" and asked for evidence of this representation.

I will copy and paste a previous post I wrote on another thread; `from my experience, the Society does not support the private practitioner. A prime example of this is their perceived lack of objection to my local NHS trust which has displayed posters in all the health centres for a “Fee Paying Podiatry Service” http://www.solent.nhs.uk/ServiceCatInfo.asp?id=209 The bullet point which irks me the most on the poster is “Are you paying expensive fees?” Followed by the unrealistic advertised fees of treatment offered at £10.00. Private practitioners in Hampshire cannot compete with this and are closing shop as a direct result of this advertising campaign run by my NHS colleagues`. Nice.

Also, personal experience of requesting professional advice from them was disturbing, at best. The guidance I received from the Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive was not only unprofessional but also illegal, had I taken their recommended course of action....but that has nothing to do with this thread.

I am sorry that you feel my comments were inflammatory and insensitive, and I`m sure that many public sector workers are justifiably angry at their treatment by this government. However, as has already been pointed out, we are all feeling the effects of this recession, none more so than small businesses that do not have the luxury of paid holidays, sick leave, etc, etc.

 

Which reminds me, hadn't heard this in time.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNj7ZyZy7cw

Patient turned up on Monday saying something along the lines of "I'm really ill"; coughed sputum all over me during the course of her treatment (which was nice). I'm sitting there thinking- why the fook are you here? And behold, I woke up this morning with a complete dose of the alien. Marvellous. And I think you'll find that is a tune. Who the **** were Nirvana anyway?

And Bel, wind your neck in cocker, haven't they got a private practice committee... maybe you should put yourself up for it, then you can really see how it is that "plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49q59A8OhM8 Spose they're OK on their instruments Just noticed this- check out who that video was uploaded by...

On theme and talking of ridiculous drum kits... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ul0qlHHvELU&feature=related

Go on then, you talked me into it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdLUx_F2FUA&feature=related

What next? Red Bachetta from exit stage left? Or by Tor and the snow dog from all the worlds a stage?

 

Well, so what? Frankly- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnSByCb8lqY

And guess what? "Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose". You might want to think on that one.

 

..if the 'tax paying public' want services then they have to pay for them and i'd imagine it would be similar to how 'private' paying patients would to a private podiatry fee rise, no?

 

Your new signature set reminds me of the best joke I heard while visiting Disney World: Mike Wazowski, with one I (eye). Trouble is, the tax paying public don't automatically qualify to access the services they have spent their entire working lives paying for. For example, even being diabetic no longer automatically qualifies you for podiatric care within the NHS here in Plymouth UK, despite the fact that you have worked your whole life and paid into the system. In contrast, being a pregnant asylum seeker who has paid absolutely nothing into the system, will put you near the top of the list for free care within the NHS. Never mind. Call me racist, xenophobic or just another British soft touch, it ain't right on anyones planet. As y'all can see I lean to the right on this one. So, I'm afraid Mark, you can keep your liberalism with a small i, on this subject at least.

 

Rich, coming from someone whose recent posts indicate that he has finally given up the patches. And don`t call me cocker.

You better believe it. Oddly enough, they know all about my personal gripe.

Forgive me for not demonstratively sympathising with my NHS colleagues (who have put private practitioners out of business with their Fee Paying Podiatry Service) in their loss of a `days wage`. I am more concerned with losing 2 weeks wage, at best, due to enforced closure of my clinic. Not nice `especially given the time of year`. Yep, there is unrest in the forest. I want more sunlight. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvQ2JF-glvw

Regards,
Mrs Maple

 

Blinda, thank you for your reply. I appreciate that the current financial climate is hitting small businesses very hard. No more so than in the North East where I work. Government cuts in public spending has, and will, affect the North East more than most. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/richardmoss/2010/12/north_councils_suffer_in_cuts.html I appreciate that paid holidays, sick leave etc are a real incentive to work in the public sector and that is part of the terms and conditions that you sign up to. Private practice clearly doesn’t afford the same ‘safety nets’ but offers plenty of other advantages. I’m also sorry to hear about your experiences with the society, I don’t often hear good things about them.

Simon – I’ll rise to your bait.
Your quote - Well, so what? Frankly- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnSByCb8lqY So, Stephen Fry feels that saying that you are offended is a whine and so f***in what. He sounds a bit like what Mr Blatter doesn’t he??

“Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose” Most of the time I would agree, on NHS pension reform it couldn’t be further from the truth.

Also, not all people who have diabetes require podiatric care or have paid into society for a lifetime. All I can say is I am glad I’m not in the position of needing to seek Asylum. Anyone can abuse the system regardless of class, race, gender, nationality, illness or disability. Anyway, I digress….I’m still striking on the 30th and I’m sure if there is an improved offer on the table for NHS pensions following industrial action (or threat of) you won’t be refusing it.

 

Reading Blinda's succeeding post I must say I'm not aware enough of this case to contribute, should have stayed out. One-eyed?, most of us are on any topic.

The public health sector should be the 'net' for those, most of whom, aren't cluey and/or clever and/or greedy enough to have sufficient funds to pay for needed services.
Where we'd disagree, I think all the money in society is the society's not the individuals, those that work longer/harder do deserve more of the pie to use but not to the extent that exists in our modern western societies. eg. Alan Joyce CEO of the soon to be ex-Australian airline, has just received a $2 million pay-rise! that disgusts me, there's not enough hours in a week to deserve that much.

Another pet peeve of mine. Having diabetes does not much one High Risk. As for the latter, my above comment relates.

If this asylum seeker hasn't the finances to cover them then fair enough, and also especially being pregnant, that child will be 100% British, we are all descendents of immigrants no matter what country we live in or how many generations have interceded(?).
Yep we definitely disagree, only the second time in many years, all the best, mark

 

cocker2
vb
(tr) Rare to pamper or spoil by indulgence
n
Brit informal a mate (esp in the phrase old cocker)
[perhaps from cock1 with the sense: to make a cock (i.e. pet) of]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

Have it your way.

 

You won't mind sharing your hard earned with me then? If you'd be kind enough to make a bac's transfer each month for half of your profits...

No it doesn't, but in my view someone who has paid in money to support a system should be considered more worthy of accessing the services of that system than someone who has not, regardless of their "risk". I'm just trying to think of another area where share-holders would be placed behind non-share holders in terms of reaping the rewards? And why should I suddenly be eligible to a share of the profits from your private practice just because I've moved next door to you?

Life would be boring if we agreed on everything. Have a good weekend.