Electronic ballot papers arrived to me via email on Monday and paper ballot papers today. Please support these candidates in your regions if you are a member of UNISON and its Labour Link (use to be called APF) Political fund. Obviously you can only vo…Read more…
Country Walking: Kelvedon Hatch, Essex
On Saturday, Gill and I went for a 7.64 mile circular walk starting at Kelvedon Hatch outside the Eagle Pub. Only 40 minutes drive from East London. Courtesy of subscription to OS Maps on line which has selected recommended walks for free provided…Read more…
Vote for Anu Prashar UNISON Labour Link London
I have voted online for Anu Prashar (via email invite) that arrived 11.50 today from Civica. If you are a #Unison Labour Link member in London please vote for @anu @UnisonHABRead more…
“Emergency motion passed unanimously at branch executive over Clarion Housing Group “fire and rehire” dismissals and breaking pension promises”
Check out “On 5 September 2023 Clarion sent dismissal notices to 54 of its most long serving staff in order to close down its defined benefit pension provision. Clarion has made it clear that that it staff do not “consent” then they will be …Read more…
TUC General Secretary, Paul Nowak speech to Congress 2023
Fantastic speech by Trade Union Congress, General Secretary Paul Nowak last week. Telling it as it is. Read more…
TUC Congress Day Four
TUC Congress finished on Wednesday. I had to leave early to deal with some urgent work and union case work. Also, on the way home, I stopped off to visit a new “build to rent” housing project in Manchester, part funded by Newham staff pension fund. I w…Read more…
TUC Congress 2023: Day Three
Tuesday was a busy day for me. In the morning we had a great speech by guest speaker, the shadow Deputy Prime Minister (I love repeating this), Angela Rayner on Labour’s “New Deal for Working People”. During lunch I took part in a fringe pan…Read more…
TUC Congress 2023: Day Two
Congress started again on Monday at 9.30. The ACC Liverpool conference centre is in the Kings docks area and it was a pleasant 10 minute walk from the hotel. Outside the conference centre there was a few people canvassing delegates, selling news …Read more…
TUC Congress 2023: Day One
This year I am in Liverpool for the 155th annual TUC Congress as a UNISON NEC delegate. I travelled down from London by with Regional delegate (and Convenor) Yvonne Green. When we arrived in Liverpool we went into a meeting of all UNISON delegates…Read more…
“didn’t we have a lovely day the day we went to Walton” (-on the -Naze)”
Off message but the hot weather today reminded me of a glorious sunday last month when Gill and I took the train from Forest Gate to the Essex seaside resort of Walton-on-the-Naze. We met up with Gill’s sister Carol, her husband, her son an…Read more…
Clarion sends “fire & rehire” dismissal letters to long serving staff breaking their pension promises and futures.
Check Clarion UNISON Facebook page “The dismissal letters sent out by Social Mission Clarion also contain inaccurate and even untruthful information. If we do not consent to the loss of our pension we will be sacked without compensation. The…Read more…
Newham Voices Sept 23: “Newham in 50 Buildings”
Check out the latest news and views from our free local community newspaper, Newham Voices. I particularly enjoyed the review by Jean Gray ( no known relative!) on the Book “Newham in 50 Buildings” by Malcolm Batten. Which I must get and go on it…Read more…
30th anniversary as a Housing Officer and Trade Union Activist
On 6 September 1993 I started work as a housing officer in Bow for Tower Hamlets Council. I had worked as an agency temp in Columbia Road, Bethnal Green beforehand and also as a Housing Rights advisor in Edinburgh. I joined UNISON as a temp but h…Read more…
COLLECTIVE PENSIONS: IMPROVING INCOME AFTER WORK – TUC Fringe 23
Next tuesday 12 September 2023 at 12.45 – 2pm I will be a panel speaker at a TUC fringe at Congress in Liverpool sponsored by First Actuarial LLP. I am at TUC as a UNISON NEC delegate but will be speaking at this fringe as a trade union pens…Read more…
Are owners of shared ownership properties being forgotten?
This post is from my Newham Councillor colleague’s blog, James Beckles. While I am broadly in favour of shared ownership, it is simply disgraceful how badly many are treated with high service charges and fees, poor management and I think less than 3% “…Read more…
Billy Bragg Responds To Viral Country Singer
“If you don’t like the rich men having totally control…Join a union..” Well said Billy. Read more…
UNISON Regional Black Members Committee: Passing The Torch Event
Date: 13 September 2023* *Time: 2:30pm-6pm* *Address: City Hall (Newham) Kamal Chunchie Way, London E16 1ZE* The Greater London Regional Black Members Committee is hosting an event at City Hall (Newham). This inter-generational event is an o…Read more…
Danbury, Essex Walk (OS via Country Walking magazine)
Off message but earlier this month Gill and I went for this nice little 7 mile walk in Danbury, Essex. Recommended. Need monthly subscription to OS but the number of free walks you can access means it is well worth it. Ringed by woods and com…Read more…
Is Clarion the P&O of the Housing Association Sector?
Check out Clarion UNISON Facebook page”Clarion is currently threatening to sack long serving and loyal staff to get rid of their pension promises. Unlike P&O’s pathetic excuses there is no known financial reasons for these sackings.UNISON believe t…Read more…
When your toxic boss hears you’re forming a union.
Hat tip TUC Read more…