💜 UNISON’s Step into Spring Grant
UNISON’s Step into Spring grant opens at 12 noon on Thursday 19 March 2026 and is available for 24 hours.
Eligible members can get a £30 voucher towards the cost of essentials.
Find out how to apply
http://unsn.uk/stepintospringRead more…
Interfaith Iftar at Minhaj Ul Quran Mosque: A Special Evening in Forest Gate
Last Friday week I had the real pleasure of attending an Interfaith Iftar at the Minhaj Ul Quran Mosque on Romford Road, Forest Gate, kindly invited by my colleague Cllr Alam.It’s a mosque I’ve visited before — most memorably for the remarkable exhibit…Read more…
UNISON wins 3.8% pay rise for Clarion Housing Group members
Hat tip @unisonclarion “Members accepted last week in a ballot supported by 88% a 3.8% pay rise from April negotiated by @unisontheunion @Clarion_Group local reps with help from regional and national officers. #Teamunison @UnisonHAB …Read more…
West Ham & Stratford Neighbourhood Forum 3 March 2026
Last week I attended our local Neighbourhood Forum at Stratford Library with my West Ham Councillor colleague, John Whitworth, and fellow Labour candidate for the May 7 elections, Adjoa Kwarteng. The forum gave local Police and Council offic…Read more…
UNISON Community (Housing Associations & Charities) Seminar & Conference 2026 – Day two
Sorry this is a little late post but been just a little super busy with stuff lately. Day 2 of the event is our motion based annual community conference in Solihull for UNISON members who work for Housing Associations and Charities. You can …Read more…
Out and about in East Ham South
Last Sunday I joined Labour colleagues and East Ham MP Stephen Timms in this ward for a street surgery. It went well and during the canvass I reported via the Love Clean Streets app https://lovecleanstreets.info/eets an abandoned fridge freez…Read more…
UNISON Community (Housing Associations & Charities) Seminar & Conference 2026 – Day One
Last weekend I attended our annual seminar and conference as a NEC member of the Community Service Group Executive (SGE). The first day kicked off early with an SGE meeting, followed by the Housing Association Sector meeting with members from across th…Read more…
Your TUC guide to new Employment Rights 2026
JG A fantastic victory for the Labour Movement. Our Labour Party political and trade union industrial wings working together to benefit all workers. More please more. The Employment Rights Act 2025 repeals major parts of the Trade Union Act …Read more…
Good riddance to bad rubbish when with Forhad we have real leadership we can reply on
Press release from London Labour “If Clive Furness and Robin Wales count as a ‘major London announcement’, Reform really are scraping the barrel.Neither men have been part of the Labour movement for some time. In Newham, Robin Wales was removed by…Read more…
The community backs Forhad
Former senior UNISON caretaking steward and long-time Newham resident, Montrose (Monty) Matty, is backing Forhad as the next Labour Mayor. Monty is known for being selective with his political endorsements, and if he weren’t fully supportive…Read more…
Better Woke than Broke “Opinion: Why Reform UK is misguided, mistaken and just plain wrong on the LGPS”
JG. Glyn was at our Community National Seminar on Friday and I attended his Pensions training workshop. I will post on the seminar later but his rebuttal of the truly ignorant attacks on the LGPS by very rich people who don’t care about older wor…Read more…
“Labour is delivering for Newham” – Council Budget meeting 26.2.26
At Thursday’s annual budget meeting I was pleased to second the motion approving the Housing Revenue Account for the coming year. My three‑minute contribution is at 1 hour 9 minutes in the recording. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY0ulkhVJy8. T…Read more…
Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus! Happy St David’s Day!
…and the first day of Spring.Read more…
Custom House Canvass Sunday 22.2.26
A very positive canvass last Sunday with Heather and a great team of activists. Simon was out with another group, joined by our Mayoral candidate, Forhad. Thelma was at the other two sessions. As always, it’s luck of the draw who opens the door, …Read more…
BREAKING: Reform’s “shadow shadow” cabinet REVEALED
“The Tories are the Shadow Cabinet but Reform plc (the Tory Defects) have also launched their Shadowy Cabinet with a few surprises…”Hat tip Neil Coyle MP!Read more…
Have your say on pay at Clarion Housing
Hello Clarion UNISON member,Final Clarion Pay offer to all staff negotiated by UNISON Following meetings with local reps and UNISON national officers (including information from the bargaining support unit), UNISON put in a claim for £2500 f…Read more…
“Newham for newcomers” by Sharon Chawda
I sadly missed the book launch because I was away at the LGA Labour conference. Guest speakers included Newham MPs Stephen Timms, Diane Abbott and James Asser. While researching the book Sharon interviewed me and very kindly gave me a copy w…Read more…
UNISON NEC members meet up before meeting Wednesday 11.2.26
A few of us from the UNISON NEC managed to meet up on Tuesday evening at our national headquarters on Euston Road. It was a relaxed chance to catch up before the formal business began.Our elected lay President, Catherine, is right at the centre o…Read more…
Rainy Sunday West Ham Street Surgery – Labour delivers on funding for Newham
Last Sunday, despite the wet weather, we conducted our street surgery in the Abbey Road tower blocks. The views from the top were quite impressive. Although many residents were not home, those I did speak with were pretty positive. Concerns w…Read more…