I was really pleased to have been nominated as the new joint trade union rep to the London CIV. This collective pool of London Council pension funds has so far £44 billion of assets under its management. Many thanks to Christopher Cooper f…Read more…
Labour Parliamentary Candidate & Local Elections Webinars
Check out these Labour Party webinars below on being a Labour Party Parliamentary candidate and support for the local elections in May.
Picture above is from the 2013 TULO (now called Labour Unions) Parliamentary training school. UNISON was well repre…Read more…
In-UNISON: On International Women’s Day – a former UNISON President gives her view on the current “President”
Hat tip in-UNISON blog yesterday by former President and current minority group NEC member, Maureen Le Marinel.
“On such a special day, it is always great to hear news that will make a difference to women in our union both members and staff. Many of y…Read more…
Forces of light & reason win elections for London UNISON Labour Link Committee, its National Forum (& I am going to Labour Conference as a London delegate)
Fantastic news today that the Greater London Labour Link elections resulted in a clean sweep for those committed to win a future general election. We won all the elected positions of our regional committee, national forum and Labour Party Conference de…Read more…
InUNISON International Women’s Day 2022
Hat tip https://www.in-unison.org/post/international-women-s-day-2022
Read more…
My UNISON Branch officer Labour Link report – 2022 AGM
Last week was my branch AGM (UNISON Greater London Housing Associations) where I was re-elected unopposed as an executive committee member and Labour Link Officer. Below is my written report to the AGM (obviously pre the fascist Putin invasion of Ukrai…Read more…
Aldbury, Ivinghoe Beacon & Ashridge Walk
Off message but Gill and I went today on one of our “favourite” walks in the Chilterns. Starting in the “Chocolate box” village of Aldbury. It is an hour away from East London by car (nearest train station is Tring) a 7 mile circular walk along the Rid…Read more…
“How to get around the BBC block in Russia” (By fascistic war monger Putin)
BBC link “As we’ve been reporting, the Russian authorities have restricted access to BBC websites in Russian and English, as well as other international and independent media, accusing them of circulating “false information” about what…Read more…
Council surgery then double bubble Labour canvass (amidst the horror felt about Putin’s War)
This morning I had my first “physical” Councillor surgery in two years at Stratford Library archivist room (a fantastic local history resource) then I joined a Labour canvass in West Ham Ward. While talking to residents about local issues they w…Read more…
“Ukraine sanctions: UK dockers refuse tanker of Russian gas”
Fantastic solidarity with the people of Ukraine against Putin the murderer by UNISON members. Check out this BBC report:-
“Dockers in Kent have refused to unload two tankers of Russian gas, forcing them to go elsewhere, a union has said.The Boris Vilki…Read more…
West Ham Poor Law – May Day 1933
A great bit of local Labour movement history. I believe this is from a NUPE publication (one of the predator unions that formed UNISON) archives dated 1933.
The NUPE branch took up the issue of “wardsmaids” employed at Whipps Cross Hospital with…Read more…
Greater London UNISON Housing Associations Branch AGM 2022
This evening was our branch AGM held in central London. It was a hybrid, in person and zoom quorate meeting. I was pleased to have been re-elected (unopposed) as the branch Labour Link officer.
Our excellent guest speaker was David Lammy M…Read more…
Solidarity with Ukraine, opposing Russian aggression and supporting public service workers
We’ve all watched the news with horror over the last few days, as Russian tanks, soldiers and airforce surged over the Ukrainian border. Many of us had hoped and expected that the horrors of war that plagued Europe for centuries were in thing o…Read more…
Newham Voices: Local Politics 2022
The article above is from our local community newspaper “Newham Voices”. I was interviewed as the elected Chair of Newham Councillors Labour Group, regarding local politics and the May 2022 council elections. However, my views on “first past the …Read more…
Thaxted Circular Walk (and return to the Church of the “Red Vicar”)
Gill and I returned today to Thaxted in Essex to follow this 6.5 mile circular walk from our old version of the local Pathfinder Guide. We did this walk previously in 2014.
Today was a lovely tramp through largely quiet countryside b…Read more…
Street Surgery in West Ham followed by coffee & Ukrainian cinnamon bun
This morning we went on a Street surgery in my ward with fellow councillors and local members. It was a lovely day, although a little cold but blue skies and sunshine. It really felt like spring is just around the corner.
The surgery itsel…Read more…
UNISON “We stand in solidarity with our sister trade unions and all workers across Ukraine”
“As we witness shocking reports today of more suffering in Ukraine, we think of the public service workers – the first responders to devastating scenes, doing all they can to save lives.
We stand in solidarity with our sister trade unions and all…Read more…
Solidarity to the People of Ukraine by Labour Leader, Keir Starmer, against Putin’s gross lies and murderous aggression
Putin is killing innocent Ukraine civilians and soldiers from both sides to satisfy his ego and protect his fascistic regime. He has shamed the reputation of Russia.
“Keir Starmer MP, Leader of the Labour Party, today gave a televised addres…Read more…
UNISON Greater London Region Labour Link Elections recommendations 2022
It is election time for London Regional Labour Link. Please consider voting for this slate. Obviously a lot of compromises and horse bargaining has gone on and there are good candidates missing from some or all positions in my strictly personal …Read more…
in-UNISON – A wake up call on our SGE elections: Gordon McKay
(This is a really important post by a current UNISON NEC member, our former President and front line NHS hospital worker. Please share).
“The way in which UNISON moves forward as the largest trade union in the UK will take a significant, but not …Read more…