Physio picket lines and interview opportunities
Please find below a list of some of the pickets and rallies NHS physiotherapy staff will be joining as part of tomorrow’s strike.
Stewards and senior officers will be available for interview so if you are planning to go to any of these areas please give the CSP press office a call and we’ll line someone up for you.
Before then, also below are some quotes and key points for use in any coverage leading into the strike.
Quotes:
Alex MacKenzie, chair of the CSP’s Industrial Relations Committee, said:
“Physiotherapy staff are committed healthcare professionals who would rather be caring for patients than worrying about their pensions.
“These proposals, however, are simply unfair and our members feel they need to take a stand.
“They will be asked to pay more and work longer to receive a pension that in many cases could be reduced by up to 40 per cent.
“Tomorrow the Government will see how serious physiotherapy staff are about defending their pensions and we hope that this show of strength can finally bring about some serious negotiations.”
Key points:
The action will be just the second in the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy’s 117-history and the first since 1980, after 86 per cent of members working in the NHS voted in favour of striking, on a turnout of 66 per cent.
Many members will be physically unable to keep working in such a physically demanding job until they are 68, as the Government has proposed.
They will also be forced to make higher contributions, which for most physiotherapists will run to more than £800 extra a year.
The Government’s decision to switch the uprating measure for public sector pensions from RPI to CPI is expected to reduce the value of retirement funds by 10-15 per cent.
Replacing the existing final salary scheme with a career average one could also cut some NHS workers’ pensions by up to 25 per cent.
CSP members will be working to ensure that emergency cover and patient safety is maintained.
Picket line and rally activity
LONDON
Phil Gray, Chief Executive of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) will be visiting the following picket lines
8.00 am St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington – picket line.
9.30 am St Pancras Hospital, Camden Way – picket line.
10.30 am Whittington Hospital, Archway
12.00 pm St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington – to speak at rally.
1.30 pm Central London Rally, Victoria Embankment
Lesley Mercer, Director of Employment Relations and Union Services at the CSP will be visiting picket lines at:
8.30 am King George Hospital, Romford – picket line
10.30 am Lincoln’s Inn field
11.30 - 12.00 pm UCLH – picket line and to speak at rally
1.30pm – 2.30 pm Chelsea & Westminster – speak at rally
2.30pm Central London rally at Victoria Embankment
In addition, CSP members will be at picket lines at the following hospitals:
8.30am to 12.30pm St Thomas's Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road
6.30am to 3pm Whittington Hospital, Archway
8.30am to 2pm St Ann's Hospital, Haringey
9am to 12pm Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel
12pm to 3pm Central London march and rally. Members will assemble
at Lincoln’s Inn Fields from 12-1, march from 12-1, rally at
Victoria Embankment from 2-3 where CSP steward Vickie Yeardley will be speaking (2.15 to 2.30pm).
MANCHESTER
11.00 am Members will assemble at Liverpool Road, Deansgate
11.30 am March begins
12.30 pm Rally at Whitworth Park
BRISTOL
8.30 am Frenchay Hospital – picket line.
9.15 am Southmead – picket line.
10.30 am Bristol Royal Infirmary
11.00 am Rally College Green
BIRMINGHAM
7am to 10.30 am Picket line at Dudley Hospital
11.30 March from Lionel Street, Birmingham going to National
Indoor Arena
1.30 to 3pm Rally at NIA
NEWCASTLE
7am to 10pm Picket line at Newcastle Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
DERBY
8am to 10am Picket at Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Royal Derby Hospital, Uttoxeter Road, Derby
DE22 3NE
11.00am Meeting Silk Mill for march
11.30 am Rally at Derby Market Place
NOTTINGHAM
9.30 am Meeting at Forest Recreational Ground
10.30 am to 11.30 March to Albert Hall, Nottingham
IPSWICH
7.30am Picket at Ipswich Hospital
11.30am Gather at Russell Road to begin march through Ipswich
12.45pm March finishes at Corn Hill, where a rally will be held.
SCOTLAND
11am Chair of CSP’s Industrial Relations Committee will be
attending Aberdeen march and rally. Leaves from Union
Street and goes to Castlegate
WALES
8am Pete Finch, Assistant Director Chartered Society
of Physiotherapy at University Hospital Wales, Heath
Park, Cardiff
8.30 am to 10 am Picket lines at the following hospitals
Morriston Hospital, Swansea
Singleton Hospital, Swansea
Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend
Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Llantrisant
Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil
Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest
West Wales General, Carmarthen
Aneurin Bevan hospital, Ebbw Vale
Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport
Neville Hall hospital Abergavenny
Bronglais Hospital, Aberywstwyth
Ysbyty Maelor, Wrexham
11.30 am WTUC march from City Hall to Swalec stadium for a rally.
CSP Industrial Relations Committee member Louise Wright speaking.
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy is the UK’s professional, educational and trade union body. We have more than 50,000 members, including chartered physiotherapists, physiotherapy students and assistants.
For further media information please call the CSP press office on 020 7306 1111, email pressoffice@csp.org.uk. Out of hours please call Becca Bryant, head of media and PR on 079172 40819, Jon Ryan, media and PR officer on 07917 091200 or Paul Marston, media and PR officer, on 07966 994141.
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