I am no longer in the Local Government Service Group for London but if I was, I would vote to nominate Sonya and Clara!
“Dear Branches
We are writing to you to request your branch nominations in the upcoming 2022 SGE Elections
Who are…Read more…
Essendon & Little Berkhamsted Walk – Zeppelins, Albino Wallaby, Goats, Llamas, Donkeys & Commando’s
Gill and I went for a favourite walk in Essendon and Little Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. Only 4.5 miles but lots of ups and downs with varied views. 45 Minutes by car (public transport access not great) from East London.
The walk is detaile…Read more…
West Ham Ward doorstep 15.1.22 (Yes, they all hate Boris)
This afternoon we were out “on the knocker” with our local MP Lyn Brown (and Cara – the Labour attack dog).
We had 98 contacts, who were not only overwhelmingly Labour but I can honestly report that I have never heard so much anti-tory comments …Read more…
Your future pension plan? “Keep calm and work till you drop”
This is a motion submitted by my trade union branch to Greater London Regional Council. Unless we get decent pension provision for all workers, you will indeed have to “work till you drop”. UNISON must review and investigate what do do to tackl…Read more…
inUNISON – launch of brand new blogspace created by UNISON Activists for UNISON activists
“inUNISON is a brand new blogspace created by UNISON Activists for UNISON activists. We aim to be a one-stop site, providing news and view’s on all things UNISON, but we also hope to do more than that. Over the last couple of years, due to the p…Read more…
Nominate John Gray to UNISON Community SGE elections for Greater London General Seat
Dear London Branch Secretary and Chair Your branch is entitled to nominate candidates to the London SGE Community General seat for this years’ Service Group Executive elections. If you are not a Community specific branch please put this request to your…Read more…
“UK workers’ pension funds now own just 6% of UK listed shares” (and the rest by tax avoiders/evaders?)
Check out this TUC report on the 90% decline of UK shareholding by UK Pension funds. Our UK companies are now largely owned by tax avoiders (or worse)
“UK workers’ pension funds get little from FTSE100 share dividends and buy-backsNew report recommends…Read more…
Lyn Brown MP – ” those who groom, use and abuse our children….(should receive) appropriately harsh prison sentences”
I have been meaning to post this powerful call for harsh prison sentences for the groomers and abusers of our young people.
Lyn Brown MP, House of Commons debate 15/12/21 “Spoke yesterday to introduce a Bill which, if enacted into law would, I …Read more…
Audley Park and Wendens Ambo 7.5 mile circular Walk
Finally, post Christmas and New Year Covid, Gill and I were able to go for a decent walk today. The weather recently has been wet and miserable so it was a treat that it was cold but very sunny today.
We used this out of date Ordnance Survey&nb…Read more…
TUC Education courses from January 2022
I have just finished a year long TUC (virtual) employment law diploma taught by The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (hopefully I have passed) which I thoroughly enjoyed and learnt such a lot. If you are interested in union learn…Read more…
Census 1921 – Woodford Road, West Ham, London
Today I downloaded who lived in my current address in Woodford Road, West Ham, London in 1921. L
Read more…
“Security, prosperity, respect”: Starmer sets out ‘contract with British people’
Keir wants to unite working people to support Labour and defeat the Tories. Bringing together the economic left and the social conservatives. A powerful coalition that wins elections.
Check out Labourlist report and full text of…Read more…
Wanstead Flats Sunset
This evening I went out for a run (aka slow jog) around Wanstead Flats (aka wrongly by local estate agents as “Wanstead Heath” – sounds posher and more expensive).
It was a beautiful sunset over Alexander Lake. Tomorrow is due to be sunny …Read more…
“Royal Mail CDC pensions ‘could outperform DB as well as DC”
Recently I completed a research project into Pension Provision for Housing Association staff. In the project I mentioned the pros and cons on the new CDC (Collective Defined Contribution) schemes that have very recently been allowed to operate i…Read more…
Dame Vanessa Redgrave standing as Workers Revolutionary Candidate in Newham October 1974
Hat tip https://twitter.com/Doranish
“Worth watching Vanessa Redgrave’s dramatic speech at the result of the count for the Newham North East constituency in the October 1974 general election.
Labour’s candidate Reg Prentice, was re-elected as MP…Read more…
New Year’s day morning 1890 – Remembering the 26 Children
This morning a small group of Councillors and local historians met in West Ham Cemetery at the memorial to the 26 young boys (see below) who suffocated to death following a fire at the nearby children’s Workhouse.
Author John Walker,…Read more…
Blwyddyn Newydd Dda 2022 Happy New Year
“Blwyddyn Newydd Dda” and “Happy New Year 2022”. Boris “promised” a better Christmas than last year. Not for Gill and I since we were both stuck indoors with Covid.
Hopefully 2022 will be better.
Picture from my favourite walk of 2021,when I…Read more…
Newham Property Licensing Consultation – ends 26 January 2022
(Housing matters in Newham. Especially the Private Rental Sector. Take part in this really important consultation and let us try and keep and even extend the existing safeguards in Newham). Renewal of private rented property licensing scheme…Read more…
My home town #Buckley finally makes the “News” due to apparent “bloodthirsty rampage”
“Rogue squirrel bites 18 residents of Welsh town in bloodthirsty rampage – locals hide away”Hat tip ExpressRead more…
Got over Covid (“Unvaccinated people are up to 60 times more likely to be admitted to intensive care”)
My self-isolation according to the NHS Covid app finished 23.59 yesterday. I double checked with this Lateral Flow Test (LFT) this morning which was negative. Previous tests had been positive. It was all a little confusing since NHS Track & Trace t…Read more…