w4mp | representation | unite: t&g section

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Parts of the new website are still under construction so the material held below on this page,
and on those linked from it, will remain for the time being.

Winners of the Unite Parliamentary Staff Branch
Caseworker of the Year Awards 2009
and Employing MP of the Year

On Thursday 18 June 2009 the results of the Caseworker of the Year 2009 Awards were announced as follows:

Overall Winner: Barbara Charlesworth - Caseworker to James Purnell MP.
Over 5 years she has dealt with many thousands of enquiries, secured hundreds of thousands of pounds in added benefits grants and allowances. I understand her colleagues have put in an order for a thermometer to show the added value she has brought to for the people of Stalybridge and Hyde.

Runner Up: Adrian Garre - Caseworker to Tim Farron MP

Has prevented deportations, secured payments for hard-pressed hill farms through the Rural Payments Agency and has made himself available for constituents in crisis at all times of the week.

Commended:

Roberta Crawley Caseworker to Martin Horwood MP
Who cares about every constituent and is outraged by the injustice she comes across in her work on immigration, tax credits and the CSA.

Gloria Nicholl Caseworker to Nick Herbert MP
For her work in housing and autism and education.

Susan Raybould - Lynda Waltho MP
Who brings a personal touch to the most difficult cases.

Lorraine Hefferin - Mark Todd MP
Who, due to her hard work, managed to get a personal visit from the CSA.

David Orr-Ewing - Norman Baker MP
Who is thoroughly reliable and the only caseworker to manage to meet Norman’s high standards.

Anna Coffey – Andrew Dismore MP
For her late nights and dedication to immigration casework.

Gwyneth Everett – Jamie Reed MP
Who treats each and every case with integrity no matter what it may be.

Pat Brooks – Jim Cunningham MP
As the office simply could not function without the work she does which mostly unseen.

Nora Mulready – David Lammy MP
For giving realistic advice no matter what the problem is.

Sue Heald – Stephen Hesford MP
Who managed to get 12000 constituent contacts in a campaign against the closure of a local library.

At the same time the results of the Employing MP of the Year 2009 Award were announced as follows:

Winner: Neil Gerrard MP for Walthamstow
This year’s winner had an overwhelming number of nominations from staff members past and present. His staff have praised him for providing a safe and secure constituency working environment. He has always given annual pay rises and bonuses with no need for prompting. He gives his staff his full support and has remonstrated constituents for rudeness in the past which gave staff confidence and a feeling of worth. He has always been understanding regarding time off for family matters. He is standing down at the next election and has gone to great lengths to ensure his staff get a fair deal when he goes. He cares about the professional and personal objectives belonging to each member of his staff who all praise him as the best employer they have ever worked for.

Runner Up: Mike Foster MP for Hastings and Rye
He has supported and encouraged more than one staff member in studying for their Masters and was always willing to be flexible with working hours to meet the needs of staff. He is always willing to listen to staff, consider their opinions and act on their concerns. He always thanks his staff for a job well done and after a hard day in the office. And we are told his Christmas parties, funded from his own pocket, are second to none.

Commended:

Sharon Hodgson MP – who encourages her staff in both their personal development and professional training.

Andrew Rosindell MP – values the input of his staff which makes the job worthwhile.

James Plaskitt MP – generous and loyal.

Don Foster MP – dedication to unlocking the potential of his staff.

2 April 2009

The 2009 Caseworker of the Year Awards are now open.

Nomination forms should be returned by the end of April 2009:

Nomination form for Caseworker of the Year.
Click here for a Word document version, or
Click here for a PDF version.
Nomination form for Employing MP of the Year.
Click here for a Word document version, or
Click here for a PDF version.

As last year, these awards, decided by a panel of judges from across the political spectrum, will reward some of the Caseworkers who have worked hard for constituents often in difficult circumstances.

The judges are:

Pat Fea, Vice-chair of the Secretaries and Assistants Council
Sam Coates, The Times Chief Political Correspondent
David Davies MP
Martin O’Donovan, Secretary of the Parliamentary Labour Party
Others TBC

This year for the first time MPs’ staff will be able to nominate their employing MP for an award. The Employing MP of the Year Award will encourage best practice in management.

The awards will be presented at the 25^th Anniversary Reception of the T&G (Unite) Staff Branch, on Thursday 18^th June 6-10pm in the Attlee Suite. To attend please email: mytong@parliament.uk

Winners of the Unite Parliamentary Staff Branch
Caseworker of the Year Awards 2008

On Thursday 3 July 2008, just a few yards from where MPs debated and voted their pay and allowances this month, on the same day the staff of MPs were holding a grass roots awards event to reward the hard work of caseworkers.

The Unite Parliamentary Staff Branch has over 400 members, but so far no recognition agreement from the House of Commons, and pay and conditions that many would find unacceptable.

Kevin Flack, branch secretary started the event by saying caseworkers, with pay scales starting below £14,000 per year are the unsung heroes of the Parliamentary estate and the event as organised by the branch to sing their praises. Kevin said “A caseworker has to be ready to deal with anything at the drop of a hat”.

The branch is cross party and 44 Caseworkers from all three main political parties were nominated in the awards. Judges said they found it fantastically difficult to choose between them. 14 Caseworkers were commended, 4 shortlisted and there was one overall winner.

Lib Dem MP Bob Russell first toasted all caseworkers, and then just hours after MPs had voted on their new pay package, Jack Dromey made a plea for better pay for MPs staff.

Jack Dromey, Unite Deputy General Secretary, speaking about the valuable work staff of MPs do said, “You cannot have democracy on the cheap, and because we have democracy on the cheap good people who do outstanding work don’t get the pay, terms and conditions of employment they deserve”.

Mr. Dromey then went on to announce the winner Andrea Samuelson, who works for Hastings Labour MP Michael Foster, he said: “She is a remarkable person who is typical of a remarkable breed.”

Talking about her work Andrea said: “Generally the phone rings and someone says I’m being evicted today or I’m being deported today. Generally someone turns up at the door with a similar story, or they haven’t got their benefits or anything to live on. Meanwhile you have a pile that’s getting bigger and bigger of the cases you are dealing with. You just have to get on with it, and react - make the calls to sort people’s issues out.”

Andrea’s boss, MP Michael Foster, said that she’s indispensable. He said: “When you have a caseworker like Andrea she sorts out all these personal issues. In fact every MP needs a caseworker that can really understand and be empathetic, and solve the issues that come in day by day. I want everyone that comes to our office to feel better than when they left, whether we can help them or whether we can’t, and the great thing about Andrea is that they do.”

“We had MPs voting on a report that said their staff are underpaid compared to the market rate and do long hours – but doing an amazing public service, it was fantastic to work on an event that highlighted this. I feel that because of the awards MPs and the public will be even more on our side when it comes to our campaigns for better pay and conditions and for recognition.”