Just back from a smashing long weekend in North Wales to see family and do a bit of walking. Not seen my Mum or elder sister, due to Covid since August 2020. Zoom and Facetime are really good at keeping in touch but it was great to meet up in person ag…Read more…
Newham Labour Group Organiser Advert
Reference: 78820
Date Added: 10 June 2021
Closing Date: 21 June 2021Job Title: Newham Labour Group Campaign OrganiserWorking For: Newham Labour GroupLocation: LondonSalary: £36,108.99 (gross and inclusive of London Weighting) per annum (full-tim…Read more…
UNISON Special Delegate Conference 2021: Day 2
Day 2 NEC pre meeting started at 8.30 but it was not as jolly as yesterday, in fact a little fractious and there were some frank exchange of views (me included).
Christina gave her first conference speech as General Secretary. She was conf…Read more…
UNISON Special Delegate Conference 2021: Day 1
Today was the first day of the virtual (for obvious reasons) UNISON delegate conference. It will finish on Thursday. Last year there was no conference due to Covid, so it seems a long, long time since we had our last conference.
The “confe…Read more…
Newham For Change Social
Picture from Saturday. We didn’t win the referendum on ending the Mayoral model in Newham but we came close
for the directly elected mayor: 45,960 (56%) for the committee system: 36,424 (44%)
However, this was the first proper summer social I ha…Read more…
Using the Labour Party doorstep app to stay safe & speak to voters (about squirrels in attics?)
On Saturday morning we had a training event for Newham Labour Councillors on campaigning in general and also on the Party doorstep app. Instead of printing out sheets of names and addresses of residents for canvassing teams to knock on doors and…Read more…
Taskforce to boost socio-economic diversity at senior levels in UK Financial and Professional services
HM Treasury and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy(external link) have commissioned the City of London Corporation to lead an independent taskforce to boost socio-economic diversity in UK financial and professional services.
…Read more…
Oh well… let’s have a nice cup of tea (UNISON NEC results 2021)
This morning I found out that I had not been re-elected as a UNISON NEC member for Community.
Which was a blow but I offer sincere congratulations to my opponent Kevin Jackson on his election.
Kevin is a former long serving Chair of our Communi…Read more…
The Future of People Services – What’s Next? The death of the office & Wellbeing and burnout
Check out this multimedia posting –
“Welcome to this collaborative piece of research between the Disruptive Innovators Network and Campbell Tickell to explore how leaders in people and HR services have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and what…Read more…
Elton, Caster Highlands & Oundle walks
During the last Bank holiday weekend, Gill and I went on some superb walks in the Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire border. Beautiful countryside and historic stone villages. It reminds me of the Cotswolds without all the tourists.
All t…Read more…
West Ham and Becton Borough Consituency?
Check out the proposals from the boundary commission for Newham (and London). My Councillor ward will still be in West Ham (and Becton) but I will live in Stratford &…Read more…
The new normal? Tower Hamlets “blended” Pension Board meeting 7/6/21
This morning I cycled to Tower Hamlets Council’s Town Hall to take part in a “blended” physical and virtual meeting of its Pension Board.
I am a trade union appointed member of the board which “assists” the Council in the running of its billion …Read more…
British Normandy Memorial unveiled in France to honour veterans: BBC News
Check out this powerful BBC news video on the opening of the new memorial in Normandy to remember the 22,000 who were killed (under British command) on D-Day and during the Battle for Normandy. I went to Normandy a few years ago to visit the D-Day site…Read more…
UNISON Free Immigration advice for members; Non UK EU citizens have to apply by end of June 2021 for settled status
Immigration advice for UNISON membersIf you’re a migrant worker from a country outside the UK and need advice on immigration issues related to your work situation and right to work in the UK then get in touch.UNISON provides free immigrati…Read more…
Rereading Patrick O’Brian “Master and Commander” (and the rest)
Off message but recently I have started re-reading the Patrick O’Brian, historical novels about fictional 19th century Royal Navy sailors Aubrey & Maturin. I have finished the first novel (out of 20 and there is a unfinished 21st) and are now enjoy…Read more…
Out for social with UNISON branch comrades
It has been a while but this evening some of us met up for the first time post #Covid19 for a bite to eat and to put the world to rights.
Read more…
“Retired voters gave the Conservative their Majority in 2019”
This is a fascinating analysis in NewStatesman. Of course, why so many retired voters tend to support the Tories is a key Labour issue. We cannot just “blame” pensioners for voting the wrong way. There is still massive pensioner poverty (2 millio…Read more…
Committee on Workers’ Capital – Mid Year Virtual Roundtable
CWC Mid-Year Virtual RoundtableBetween June 8-10th, 2021 the CWC will host two 90 minute virtual brainstorming events to engage with its global network.
We will review how leading asset owners are integrating labour rights at a tim…Read more…
Motion 72: Supporting Our Branches – the Branch Support and Organising Fund
UNISON special delegate conference 2021 is now only a few weeks away. If you are a delegate check out this short video on motion 72. It is about time that we modernised and changed the way we fund and support members and branches. Support motion 72!
Walk Wild Essex – South Woodham Ferrers
Photo collage from a fantastic walk last Sunday in South Woodham Ferrers near Cheltenham. A 6 mile circular walk. Only 51 minutes by car from Newham but also the walk starts at the town railway station.
The walk is listed in guide book “Walk Wild Ess…Read more…