Today is the AGM of my branch (12-2pm and 6-8pm at the UNISON Centre, London) and this is my contribution to our annual report. Picture of 2016 Branch Executive.
“2016 was a traumatic year for politics generally and for social housing and trade u…Read more…
Canning Town South Labour doorstep 11 March 2017
This college is from Saturday 11 March when West Ham Labour Party activists came to support the local Party in Canning Town South ward. Our MP Lyn Brown was there and we all knocked on doors in the ward asking if they had any issues that they wanted to…Read more…
“Union reps are good for workers and employers and we can prove it”
Check out TUC risks and link to Stronger Unions response to the latest nonsense from the Tax evaders alliance.
“The TUC has ripped apart the latest attempt by a right-wing lobby group to claim paid release for union reps comes at a cost. TUC national …Read more…
One Housing Group raises rents for Newham key workers by 40%
Tomorrow I will be attending this public meeting in the evening to discuss One Housing Group plan to impose new tenancy agreements and massive rent rises on a number of “key worker” tenants in Manor Road, E15.
These “key workers” are employed by local…Read more…
Greater London UNISON Labour link Regional Forum 2017 (and Eastern Region)
Pictures from recent Regional Labour Link forum in central London. I chaired the meeting and after opening remarks, introductions, workplan, financial report (don’t ask) we moved on to motions.
My branch had submitted a motion on building a new nation…Read more…
West Ham Labour Campaigning tomorrow – Keir Hardie Methodist Church
Dear John
Sorry for short notice but below are our canvassing sessions for this weekend. All members very welcome to come along and help us talk to residents – don’t worry if you’ve not come before – someone will h…Read more…
STRONGERUNISON – NEC elections 11 April – 28 April 2017
Reminder that UNISON National Executive Council (NEC) Elections are due to start soon. Ballot papers should be sent out on 11 April.
I am going to vote for UNISON members who support the combined left & centre left STRONGERUNISON slate of candidat…Read more…
Newham mayor ‘trigger ballot’: GMB union says it followed the rules as it affiliates more branches locally
Check out former Guardian journalist, Dave Hill’s website “OnLondon” about the latest twist in the Newham Mayoral Trigger saga. Leaving aside this important issue for the moment, what is happening with excessive trade union affiliation to local Labour …Read more…
“Newham Co-op continued”
An excellent account of the meeting last week by James Beckles. There is another more pointed post here by another Newham Co-op member. You can click to a link to my post on the rerun AGM 2016.
“On Wednesday 8th March Newham Cooperative Party we…Read more…
UNISON Community Conference 2017: Day 2 (& many thanks to Kevin)
Collage from last week’s day 2 National UNISON Community Conference in Bournemouth. Check out first 24 hours here.
Steve Reed MP gave the keynote speech for the seminar and took no prisoners from those who said in the Q&A that it was possible for …Read more…
International Workers Memorial Day 28 April 2017
Need to sort out and organise our Branch event for this year. Read more…
Newham Radical SwimBikeRun Triathlon Club – a start
Off message but back from gentle jog around Wanstead Flats & Park, Epping Forest. I restarted cycling into work last week. A group of West Ham Councillors and Party members have been “volunteered” into a FaceBook “Radical SwimBikeRun Triathlon club…Read more…
Brexit Fundraising Dinner – Keir Starmer MP 30 March 2017
Canvassing this Saturday 11 March:
1) Join Lyn Brown 11am Stubbs Point, New Barn Rd, E13 8JL (contact Rohit)
2) 11.30am, Custom House Library, Prince Regents Ln, E16 3JJ (contact Rokhsana)
Our Brexit Fundraising Dinner ~ Thursday 30th March (early bird price £20 till Sunday midnight)
Join Lyn…Read more…
UNISON Housing Association Branch AGM – 21 March 2017 UNISON Centre. Keynote speaker Tom Copley AM
Looking forward to my Branch AGM on the 21st March. Our keynote speaker will be Tom Copley AM. We are holding the AGM at the UNISON Centre (our national headquarters) in Euston Road during lunchtime and also the evening to maximise attendance. Read more…
West Ham Women’s Forum Councillor Training and AGM
Hat tip West Ham Labour blog on Women’s International Day.
“On Monday, West Ham women gathered to boost the sisterhood for the 2018 local government elections.
It was so wonderful to see a group of women from all walks of life dedicated to makin…Read more…
OPINION: Community Links life-president Kevin Jenkins wonders how Newham can maintain services on a council tax freeze
This article was in last weeks local Newspaper, the “Newham Recorder”. I have had no contact with Kevin about this but it would appear that this highly respected former senior Councillor shares some of my my concerns about the recent budget.
“On…Read more…
STRONGERUNISON – NEC Election 2017 – Regional Seats
Recommendations for Regional UNISON NEC seats. Mitsy and I were handing out leaflets on Saturday to UNISON Community Conference delegates. I think this is a fantastic slate and hope that UNISON members in England and Wales support these candidates.
Ch…Read more…
Newham ditches LOBOs pledging £94m in savings
This has been one of the most popular stories on the Local Government finance website Room 151 recently. By Colin Marrs. LOBOS is the Spanish name for wolf. “Newham Council has agreed a deal with Barclays to switch almost half of its Lender Option…Read more…
“New Tory White Paper – Putting Jobs & Residents at Risk”. Emergency motion to UNISON Community Conference 2017
On 7 February 2017 the Government issued a white paper on the future of housing in England. The paper had been trailed beforehand as being the blueprint to fix the housing crisis and “as having affordability at its heart”.
The actual white paper has been dismissed by many commentators as being a…Read more…
STRONGERUNISON – NEC Election 2017 – National Seats
It will soon be UNISON National Executive Committee elections. This morning I was outside Bournemouth Conference Centre with Greater London NEC Candidate, Mitsy Harmon-Russell, handing out these leaflets to delegates arriving for the UNISON Community S…Read more…