Today I went to Liverpool in advance of our UNISON National Delegate Conference (NDC) for a briefing as a regional delegate. Yvonne Green and I were elected at our AGM to be the Greater London regional delegates at conference, supporting our delegates …Read more…
Meet at West Ham Champions Statute
This morning I joined our Labour candidate, Sofia Patel and her team at the “Champions Statute. This was the starting point of the West Ham FC victory tour on Thursday following their celebration parade upon winning the Eurora Conference League cup.&nb…Read more…
FORCED RETURN TO THE OFFICE POLICIES PUT RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION AT RISK
Check out this report https://www.ioshmagazine.com/2023/06/01/forced-return-office-policies-put-recruitment-and-retention-risk-global-report-suggestsWarning organisations what could happen if they force people to work in offices rather than …Read more…
Re-elected to UNISON National Executive Council (NEC) 2023-25
This morning the biannual UNISON NEC election results were announced and I was pleased that both Denise Thomas and I were elected (after a one term 2 year gap) representing (Community Service Group) all Housing Association and Charity UNISON members.&n…Read more…
A Leader Called Keir
“A brilliant video from our President, Richard Leonard MSP” https://www.keirhardiesociety.org/Read more…
“A Leader Called Keir”
Clarion Housing Group – June Pensions and Pay update – strike ballots over breaking #pension promises and poverty pay
Hat tip https://www.facebook.com/clarionunisonDear Member,On Thursday last week Clarion confirmed that they intend to go ahead and close the Clarion legacy defined benefit pension schemes (not the Standard Life stakeholder fund most staff are mem…Read more…
Newham Voices June 2023: The Black Lion in “Something Brewing”
I enjoyed reading the latest version of the free community newspaper “Newham Voices” https://www.facebook.com/newhamvoices/ over the weekend. The historic Black Lion pub in Plaistow is one of my top 5 favourite pubs in Newham. It definitely …Read more…
Howe Street & Great Waltham, Essex Country walk
Gill and I went for this lovely 6.5 mile circular walk on Monday in Essex about 1 hour drive from East London. A fairly easy walk at this time of the year since it was pretty flat, cool, sunny and lush. Essex looking at its best and comparatively…Read more…
On the knocker for Sofia Patel in Boleyn
This morning after my Councillor surgery in West Ham, I cycled over to the Champions Statute in Boleyn ward. There I joined the canvass team supporting our excellent candidate, Sofia Patel, who was born and brought up in Newham and lives in the w…Read more…
“Labour Pension Plan will bring Relief and Happiness” 1937
Hat tip @LondonNurse2015. I do not know what this Labour Pension Plan was in 1937. I am sure it was good at the time. Anyone know? What posters should there be about Labour Pension Promises for next general election. I have some views. Read more…
Shared ownership can become ‘financially unsustainable’ for buyers over time, report warns
“Shared ownership risks becoming “financially unsustainable” for lower-income buyers over time due to its “upward-only” costs and a system that requires them to buy as much as they can afford at the outset, a new report has warned” (Inside Housin…Read more…
Trustee workshop: How can pension funds advance the ‘S’ in ESG and raise labour standards?
This year is the 10th anniversary of the Rana Plaza factory collapse disaster. Over 1100 workers died and many more injured. Register https://www.tuc.org.uk/events/trustee-workshop-how-can-pension-funds-advance-s-esg-and-raise-labour-st…Read more…
Newham Labour: Boleyn and Wall End by-Election candidates chosen
Hat tip Newham Labour “Local campaigners Sofia Patel and Stephanie Garfield have been selected by Labour to stand as the party’s candidates for the Boleyn and Wall End by-elections.Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz said: “Sofia and Stephanie are grea…Read more…
UNISON School Uniform Grant 2023 – This Thursday 1 June: Get Ready!
On the day only – online applications. Up to a max of £150. Net household income* of no more than £26,000/year (£2,166.67/month) OR: In receipt of means-tested benefits. https://www.unison.org.uk/get-help/services-support/there-for-you/school…Read more…
John Mac retires as Branch Secretary of UNISON Tower Hamlets LG branch
I was sent this link to the latest “Tower Power” newsletter by retired Tower Hamlets Housing UNISON comrade (Montrose Matty). John Mac was the branch chair for most of the time I was a member of the branch and my first job in Tower Hamlets was in 1993 …Read more…
A (short) Homage to the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage
Last week Gill and I went for a holiday to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, northwestern Spain. The old town of Santiago is a beautiful medieval city full of history as well as bars and restaurants. It is also the end point of a famous Catholic…Read more…
Newham Council Annual General Meeting 2023
Yesterday evening was the Formal Annual General Meeting of the London Borough of Newham Council in the Old Town Hall in Stratford. It is the nearest we usually get to “pomp and ceremony” in Newham Council meetings. On the way in we were lobbied ef…Read more…
Greater London UNISON Regional Council & Right to Strike Protest
This Morning I attended the @unisontheunion @unisonglr Regional Council meeting. I was there as the finance convenor. We had talk by the current President, presentations on Year of Black Worker 2023 & our recruitment & organising plan.While thi…Read more…