For various reasons I haven’t posted any walks lately. I know some say they enjoy my posts on walking more than the ones on politics or trade unions! To me, my walking or running (very slowly) in the countryside is my “hinterland”. This walk last …Read more…
Clarion doing its best to -increase- number of pensioners in poverty by its “unlawful & immoral decisions”
Our #Clarion indicative strike ballot is still open & a email reminder was sent out yesterday to fill out the ballot form #Clarion is obviously still keen by their unlawful and immoral decisions to increase the number of pensioners living in …Read more…
2023: Year of Black Workers – Passing the torch to the next Generation
Please check out this flyer for the Greater London UNISON Black History Month Event at the UNISON centre on 12 October. All members welcome. Read more…
UNISON Greater London Housing Association Branch Executive Social (& putting our world to rights)
Great photo from last night’s meal in London Bridge for branch elected executive members to meet our new organiser, Karl and discuss disputes and issues across our sector. We had representatives from most of the G15 Housing Associations and had a…Read more…
St Andrews Golf Course must withdraw ‘fire and rehire’ pensions threat to workers, says UNISON
Clarion UNISON have sent solidarity messages to these members and will be in touch regarding our own pension “Fire & Rehire” vile threats. Hat tip CLarion UNISON Facebook page.”Scotland’s largest union is demanding that St Andrews Links…Read more…
UNISON Survey on the charging of DBS checks to workers closes next Friday 4 August 2023
This is incredible to many people (myself included) that some employers charge their workers the cost of having a DBS check? These are mostly low paid care workers doing difficult jobs and some of them work for different employers, all of whom wa…Read more…
Is it about time we broke up these “mega monopolies” housing associations?
L&Q is headquartered in Newham and is also one of the largest UNISON “shops” in my branch. So I have had a fair amount of contact (and sometimes conflict) with L&Q over the years. Check out this “Inside Housing” Report on Friday. I w…Read more…
“Out-of-date mileage rates are driving workers into poverty”
See this report below by workers being completely ripped off by being expected to use their cars to go to work but not being compensated for the cost for “work related” mileage https://magazine.unison.org.uk/2023/07/18/out-of-date-mileage-rates-a…Read more…
Lies, threats and actual ACAS advice on “fire and rehire”
Clarion UNISON Facebook linkSo called “Social Mission landlord” Clarion Housing Association has bullied and threatened hundreds of its workers to accept losing their defined benefit pension schemes by telling them they will be sacked without compensat…Read more…
Forever Leeds: The Leeds Uni Reunion 1981-2023
This week I met up with Leeds University friends for a reunion, after in some cases, some 39 years apart. 5 of us shared a house in Headingley, Leeds (very close to the cricket ground). All of us (except Mike) had met each other as members of the local…Read more…
Elected to UNISON Labour Link National Committee (& Vote for Anu in regional elections)
On Monday I was really pleased to find out that I had been re-elected (after 2 year gap of course) to the UNISON National Labour Link Committee by NEC (National Executive Council) colleagues to the 12 seats that the NEC hold on that committee (th…Read more…
Martin Lewis: Aged 45-72? Can you boost the State Pension (or not – but worth looking at asap)
Hat tip to Martin Lewis, who is a little “cheesy” (as he admits) but seemingly “bang on the money” on this important issue. At the risk of seeming like being a pension obsessive, I have spent most of today trying to working out whether Gill and I have …Read more…
Labour’s Pension Plan will bring Relief & Happiness (1937 – and no fire and rehire or breaking of promises)
Hat tip @londonnurse2016 – UNISON will be contacting key stakeholders about Clarion Housing Group attempt to break its promises to them and their staff over pensions. If Clarion breaks promises made in the past then how can you work with them and trust…Read more…
Thank you for the music Tony (& Amy)
Clarion Housing Group must raise pay and stop pension cuts to avoid strike action, says UNISON
“Clarion is threatening to sack staff and re-employ them on new contracts and an inferior pension scheme. Caretakers, sheltered housing wardens and other staff at Clarion Housing Group – …Read more…
Last chance to nominate for National Labour Link committee
Dear Branch Secretary/Labour Link Officer, There are just 5 working days left for your branch to nominate a candidate to the National Labour Link committee. Don’t miss your chance to influence our work with the Labour Party! Use that influen…Read more…
“Housing officers under pressure”
Check out this thoughtful article by Inside Housing but I am afraid it pulls its punches. The simple truth is that many of our mega merger housing organisations ( not all) have forgotten they are landlords in the quest to generate funds to …Read more…
“Who is Mehmood Mirza?”
Check this very good blog by Josephine on Newham 65 blog (which I certainly do not always agree with) and also make it clear that our Labour candidate, Sofia, at the by election was one of the hardest working, capable and all round nice person candidat…Read more…
Clarion UNISON Members to vote on action to save their Pensions & stop being fired.
On Friday this indicative strike ballot was sent to Clarion Housing Group UNISON Members being threatened illegally with either giving up their pensions or being fired (possibly even without being rehired). A full postal official ballot of all UN…Read more…
The reunion & my first dreadful NEC meeting
Yesterday evening I met up with my Unison comrades from my 14 years in Tower Hamlets Council housing department for a birthday celebration. It was great to meet up with Monty, Trev (and even) Dave. We had some beers then went to the family run Nep…Read more…