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“Government to respond to petition challenging LGPS investment reforms”
From Professional Pensions website. (I must send them a new picture to use!)
“More than 10,000 people have signed a parliamentary petition launched by Unison to examine proposed changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) investment regula…Read more…
UNISON Housing Association branch votes in favour of staying in EU and campaigning to do so
The picture is from tonight’s meeting of the new Executive Committee (and our regional officer Colin Inniss) of Greater London UNISON branch meeting in Kings Cross which decided to respond to a consultation by the national union over Europe, by voting …Read more…
“The loans that have left councils impoverished and saddled with debt”
Check out this article on Friday in The Guardian about Housing Associations and Councils which have been ripped off by the Banks over the toxic LOBO loans they were miss-sold. I have an obvious interest and concern in both organisations.
This is a nat…Read more…
Keep Osbourne’s thieving hands off our Pensions!
At the same time as Tory Chancellor George Osbourne, is trying to steal jobs from steel workers, benefits from the disabled, tax credits from the working poor and homes owned by Councils, he is also trying to plunder the local government pension scheme…Read more…
A Muslim Mayor to Fight Extremism and Make London Safe
I have been away last week in Wales and now catching up on posts. Picture is from the campaign launch of Labour Candidate for London Mayor, Sadiq Khan MP, that I attended beforehand in Westminster.
Former Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, spoke first…Read more…
Newham UNISON AGM 2016: Right to Buy and Pay to Stay
Last Friday I was a guest speaker at the UNISON Newham Local Government branch AGM in East Ham Town Hall on the Housing Bill which is currently going through the House of Lords. I was there as a Housing Worker and UNISON Regional Council Officer.
Glor…Read more…
Mayor of Redbridge Quiz Night: Tuesday 5 April 2016
Looks a good night!Read more…
Lender Option, Borrower Option (LOBO) loan lending to UK local authorities and conflicts of interest between brokers and advisors
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TRADE UNIONISTS FOR IN (TU4IN)
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Alan Brown RIP
Sad to hear that long standing UNISON member, Alan Brown, (see picture 2nd from left 2011) has passed away. Alan was a Caretaking Chargehand in Old Ford Housing Association since being TUPE’d transferred in 2007 from Tower Hamlets Housing.
I have know…Read more…
West Hammers out Khanpaigning in Green St, Plaistow & Custom House
It has been a busy weekend for West Ham Labour. Yesterday I was out with a Labour canvass team for Sadiq Khan as mayor in Green Street. See Vice Chair Campaigns, Julianne Marriott, briefing the team beforehand on what to do. Highlight of the morning wa…Read more…
The Big UNISON Prize draw – calling all UNISON members!
I have just (belatedly) taken part. It is really vital that we have up-to-date contact details of members for the forth coming battles ahead. All you need is your UNISON membership number or your national insurance number. It took me 2 minutes.
Enter …Read more…
LOBOs and debt servicing of Council Tax Income
I am astonished at this graph. Why? Will tackle Executive on these figures. Read more…
Unison’s Labour MEPs are in for services, rights and jobs
Some great reasons from UNISON MEPs on staying “IN” the European Union. Check out also the website “Another Europe is Possible”.
“Unison’s Labour MEPs: Theresa Griffin, Jude Kirton-Darling, Richard Howitt, Mary Honeyball, Linda McAvan and Claude Mor…Read more…
Mary Locke for Bournville (and Birmingham City Council)
The picture collage is from Saturday when I went to Bournville in Birmingham to help campaign for UNISON NEC member and NHS worker, Mary Locke, who is standing to be a local Ward councillor in the May 5 elections.
Yes, Bournville is the home of the Ca…Read more…
“What I learned when I visited a refugee camp in Greece”
Last week I went on a (self funded) delegation organised by the Greece Solidarity Campaign to Athens. David Lammy MP was a member of the delegation.
I will post on the visit but yesterday David wrote a powerful (and angry) article in the NewStatesman which I have copied below:-
“Unless Europe’s…Read more…
Why can’t actuaries make their minds up?
This is an article that I wrote recently for Professional Pensions magazine
“John Gray asks why agreement can’t be made on appropriate discount rates for the LGPS. Currently I sit on three different open defined benefit pension bodies in different employer and employee roles. While I think…Read more…
LOBOs are a National Scandal
Last week there was extensive coverage in the Standard and Independent on the UK LOBOs scandal. I have posted before on LOBOs (see labels)
Yesterday the Independent published a new report that John Mann MP and Chair of select committee, Clive Betts MP…Read more…
Private Eye, EU referendums and the Role of Coincidence
Chance and coincidence can be a bit weird and unsettling but you have to accept that it just happens from time to time.
This morning in Newham, by chance I spotted a bundle of papers including musical scores dumped next to a communal recycling b…Read more…