On Saturday morning I had what I hoped to be my last Councillor surgery in the Newham Council Archives and Local Studies in Stratford Library. The staff at the library have been lovely but we (including my fellow ward Councillors John Whitwor…Read more…
Nearly one million UK workers suffering from Work Related stress, depression or anxiety – 11% rise
Check out this article in the IOSH website about the 11% rise in work related stress reported by the Health & Safety Executive in their annual report. Very worrying for employers and unions. The HSE believe that nearly half of these workers b…Read more…
Clarion UNISON AGM 2022 – Re-elected as National Convenor
I was really pleased to be re-elected (unopposed) this evening as the UNISON National Convenor at our AGM held in person in London Bridge HQ and virtually on msn teams. Our most active steward, Joseph Ogundemuren, was also elected to the new position o…Read more…
11th Anniversary of UNISON National Pension Strike 2011
Facebook reminded me this morning that it is the 11th anniversary of the 2011 successful strike action to protect public sector pensions (Facebook immediately lost any thanks for this memory for refusing to allow me to share, since they thought my post…Read more…
Last weeks Keto (low carb diet) highlights
I have been on a Keto (low carb) diet since June and so far it has worked (I have lost 23 pounds with 6 more to go). I have been exercising as well and cheating massively from time to time. I know it is not great to exclude a major food group fro…Read more…
West Ham Labour canvass & remembering V2 Nazi Rocket attack (Solidarity with Ukraine)
Yesterday I helped organise a Labour campaign session in the ward that I represent as a Councillor in Newham, West Ham with my colleague Cllr John Whitworth. It was great that we had a number of Party members joining us including Plastow Co…Read more…
Sign up for TUC Pensions Conference 2023
I have just booked a place. Usually an excellent pension conference for trade unionists. Not sure why on St David’s Day? Hope they have Cawl for lunch!”Sign up for TUC Pensions Conference 2023 Congress Centre, London | 09:30 to 16:30 |1 March…Read more…
A Stratford & West Ham Champion for women and children – Newham Voices Dec 22
Another great local newspaper edition from Newham Voices. This article celebrates amazing two women (one very local) who made a difference in local politics and in art. Read more…
Canning Town South Canvass with Lyn Brown MP
On Saturday I went canvassing in Canning Town South ward with our local MP, Lyn Brown and Unmesh our local Assembly member and Councillors Das Gupta and Griffiths. The ward has been transformed in recent times by the building of so man…Read more…
Newham Street Count: 17.11.22
Picture is of local volunteers, Council officers and Councillors about to go out at midnight on Thursday to take our part in the UK annual nationwide street count of people sleeping rough. We also had observers to verify our results from the civi…Read more…
“An Avoidable Death”
The death of this tiny toddler is shocking but this account by housing lawyer, Giles Peaker, should make very uncomfortable reading for all housing staff and Councillors. “Every death was avoidable” said Richard Millett KC at the closi…Read more…
Mining and Human Rights: LAPFF Chair Returns from Brazil Tailings Dam Trip
Check out this press release by the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (I am Joint Vice Chair) on the recent visit by our Chair to Brazil. Many thanks to Doug and our engagement partners, PIRC, for all their work during this important visit. Some …Read more…
West Ham Remembrance Sunday & When the Guns Fell Silent
This morning I attended the Remembrance Day service at All Saints Church in West Ham, the ward I have represented as a Councillor since 2010. It was a marvellous and moving service, attended by our local MP, Lyn Brown, our local British Army TA unit, G…Read more…
White Notley and Cressing Walk
It has been a while since I have been for (or posted) a country walk for various reasons. Today Gill and I took advantage of a dry and warmish weather forecast to go for this 7.5 mile circular walk in Essex. A map and description is in this Essex…Read more…
Armistice Day – Newham Central Park Cenotaph 2022 (and searching for Alf Wells, Clarion Cycles, KIA 1914)
This morning I attended yet another very moving Armistice Day memorial at the Cenotaph in Central Park. As well as the usual suspects (myself included) there was I think around 200 children from local schools gathered around Cenotaph, many of who…Read more…
UNISON Labour Link Parliamentary Reception for London Councillors hosted by David Lammy MP
Picture collage from last weeks reception in the Jubilee Room in Westminster Hall. Many, many thanks to Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy MP and his staff for hosting this event and for David giving a passionate speech and Parliamentary report…Read more…
John at 60
I am amazed at being 60. I still don’t feel at all “old” (whatever that means nowadays) but how on earth did this happen – 60??? I have my London + 60 free travel card and I am also now due to receive a small pension from a past employment, so I w…Read more…
Newham Voices – November 2022 & Congratulations to our Young Cllr of the Year!
Congratulations to my Newham Councillor colleague, Mariam Dawood, who has been given this national award. Subscribe and check out latest editions of “Newham Voices” here https://newhamvoices.co.uk/Read more…
Why join UNISON
(hat tip our number one recruiter Joseph and his standard email to potential members)”Hi Fellow WorkerFurther to our discussion, you can join UNISON online via the link below:https://join.unison.org.uk/Signing up is very straight forward. On…Read more…
“Do you know about work-related stress? Take the test”
Hat tip to the Health & Safety Executive & IOSH. If you care about stress at work and what to do about it then give this short quiz a go.”A report from Deloitte puts the total annual cost of poor mental health to UK employers at £56 billion – t…Read more…