All the union news that's fit to blog...
Picture collage from yesterday’s campaigning in Boleyn Ward by-election, Newham. There had been 3 teams out in the morning and I joined our truly exceptional candidate, Moniba Khan, for the 3pm session with as it happens, all West Ham CLP comrades.
Tw…Read more…
This is my message to UNISON members of the Social Housing Pension Scheme, who will no doubt be worried about their families pension futures.
Inside Housing magazine has reported on this completely unwarranted attack on the Social Housing Pensio…Read more…
On Monday evening Newham Council Cabinet & Mayoral proceedings was important, historic, a little exciting yet also reassuringly mundane. In the finest tradition of UK Local Government.
There was a mass of important Council business to wade throug…Read more…
The union’s Capital Stewardship Programme is holding our annual seminar for all LGPS Board members, branches and activists on the governance and economics of the LGPS. There are major reforms being implemented England, Wales and Scotland and these will…Read more…
Pictures from Saturdays afternoon canvass in Boleyn ward, East Ham. Meeting point is the 1966 World Cup Champions statute. There were 2 canvass teams, one with the Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz and the other with the candidate, Moniba Khan, which I was sen…Read more…
Ace comments by a British Army veteran, Sgt Major Glenn Haughton, about racists in the British Army.
“Haughton’s service medals include the Gulf Medal, the General Service Medal, the Iraq Medal, and the Operational Servic…Read more…
This afternoon Gill and I went on a walk organised by the local conservation and wildlife group called WREN in the “flats” (ancient heath land, part of Epping Forest, now owned and managed by the City of London) right next door to where we live.
I was little late turning up to the Greater London UNISON Regional Council on Thursday, so missed the guest speakers from Camden UNISON on their dispute with Parking Contractors NSL on poverty pay (see UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, on th…Read more…
Since the introduction of licensing in 2013 an extra £5,002,203 has been collected from rogue landlords renting out houses in multiple occupation.
Newham’s Private Rented Sector (PRS) licensing scheme began five years ago but was forced, by governme…Read more…
Andrew Haldane, Chief Economist at the Bank of England, has pointed to the decline in trade union power as a key factor in the last ten years of real wage stagnation, alongside the rise of insecure work, low productivity and automation.
Speaking to tr…Read more…
“There is a by-election in Boleyn ward on Thursday 01 November. Please join our fantastic Labour candidate, Moniba Khan (seen with Newham elected Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz), out on the doorstep speaking with residents about their priorities for our bor…Read more…
New recruitment leaflet from UNISON. A key message is that more employers sit down with UNISON to negotiate terms and conditions that any other union in the sector and that we represent workers interests around the table.
I was an trade union activist…Read more…
This is one day in my life as a Newham Council Cabinet member, which was particularly busy but pretty much reflects what all Newham Cabinet members experience on a regular basis. Compared to the Mayor’s normal diary, it was probably a walk in the park….Read more…
Councillor Report to Branch4 October 2018 WEST HAM WARD LABOUR PARTY
tel: 0203 373 3456 or email John.Gray@Newham.gov.uk
Surgeries and case work
Please note the new time and place of my Councillor Surgeries
· Stratford Libra…Read more…
Passing on the baton as the new UNISON Convenor of Clarion Housing Group to Joseph Ogundemuren (middle of picture) following a unanimous decision at meeting of activists last month.
Joseph is a proactive and experienced UNISON steward, member of the L…Read more…
As concerned pension funds are flocking to ‘safe’ assets or buying equity protection, John Gray points out there is no such thing as a ‘free lunch’ in lifeThere is an ancient saying attributed to Saint Teresa of Avila that “More tears are shed over ans…Read more…
A campaigning day for equality and dignity but also some good advice from UNISON “you don’t need to suffer in silence”
Read more…
“Dear Members
Firstly, my apologies for not attending the last SGE meeting and for submitting this written report late but you may be aware that in May I was appointed to a new position which has proved to be an exciting opportunity but also challengin…Read more…
Black History Month is being revived in the borough for the first time in more than ten years.
With a new mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz and a new administration, the decision has been made to reinstate the event as part of the council’s wide reaching events p…Read more…
Off message but another great walk from the free Essexwalks.com site. “Bumbles Green” is within spitting distance of London. It is only 30 minutes drive from Newham and like most walks just outside London, incredibly quiet and peaceful.
King Haro…Read more…