About Us

UNISON Pennine Acute Health Branch represents about 5000 members employed mainly within acute healthcare in the NHS. We also represent people working in the Primary Care Trusts and in local residential and private nursing homes. By far the largest proportion of our members work for Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. This was formed from the merger of four former health trusts based in Bury, Oldham, Rochdale and North Manchester.

We represent all grades of staff and are by far the largest trade union within Pennine Acute and have over double the membership of all the other trade unions and staff side organisations put together. We aim to be a real 'friend in the workplace' to all our members.

Like millions of workers throughout the UK we welcomed the return to power of Labour under Tony Blair but we are disappointed that he has failed to keep faith with the people who put him into power. He has not ended the misery of the two-tier workforce. His plans for the massive expansion of the foundation hospital programme will mean that inequality will come as standard in today's NHS. Throughout the dark days of Tory misrule, NHS workers kept faith with Labour. We knew that Labour had to change but it has moved so far away from what once were its core beliefs that it is all but discredited as the party of the working person.

We believe that all trade unions who have strong, financial links with Labour need to listen look what they are getting for their money which in most cases seems to be precious little. Labour must listen to the voice of working people if it is to retain any credibility amongst healthcare workers.