Hat tip to Neil Wilson our Newham secretary, Co-op Party from London Region.
Standing as a Labour & Co-operative candidate We are really keen to ensure we maintain a large number of Labour & Co-operative councillors following the local election…Read more…
Remembrance Sunday at Wickham Market
Off message but this weekend Gill and I were away in Suffolk for a special family wedding. Normally on Remembrance Sunday, we would have attended the service today at All Saints, West Ham, with local Councillors and our MP, Lyn Brown.
This…Read more…
Defend your union from those who want to destroy it.
Defend your union from those who want to destroy it. Please donate what you can and watch this space about what more you can do to save our union.
https://gofund.me/ed31e7ca
“UNISON democracy is under attack. We are raising funds for our campaign to …Read more…
103rd Anniversary of Armistice Day at East Ham Cenotaph
This morning I laid a wreath on behalf of Newham Councillors at the Cenotaph in Central Park, East Ham. My colleague, Cllr Carleene Lee-Phakoe, Cabinet lead for Brighter Futures, had firstly laid a wreath on behalf of the Council.
It was a very well …Read more…
UNISON lay leadership in East Midlands “tell it as it is” on attempt to destroy our unions democracy & sack our General Secretary
Well done the East Midlands Regional Convenor Team for this. A number of other Regional Teams have sent similar advice to branches. The Greater London Regional Convenor Team (which I am one of) sent a request to the new “Presidential team” and the Lond…Read more…
Just booked my Covid booster jab
I have just booked my booster jab on line. It took me about 5 minutes and all your need is to be registered with a GP, your NHS number (but if don’t have it you can still register but takes slightly longer), your date of birth and post code.
The…Read more…
Trotsky, the Bolshevik Revolution & me
Today is the 142nd birthday of Leon Trotsky and the 104th anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution (aka as the October Revolution due to the Russian Gregorian calendar).
A great music video from my misspent youth.
By coincidence it is also my birt…Read more…
HMS Warrior: West Ham Iron Battleship
The first British Royal Navy iron clad ship now in Portsmouth harbour but constructed in Bow Creek, West Ham.
Read more…
ABBA Voyage
Listening to album for first time with glass of red wine. Happy.
Happy Diwali – Festival of Lights
This evening my ward Councillor colleague, John Whitworth and I, continued our street surgeries in West Ham ward while enjoying the the spectacular firework displays.
Some very interesting conversations with residents, such as whether we will ca…Read more…
TUC Diploma in Contemporary Trade Unionism
I am currently near the end of an excellent TUC Diploma course on Employment Law so will need a rest from studying in January but maybe another time…
“We thought you might be interested in the attached course which will run over a year aimed a…Read more…
New Covid home tests – nostrils not throats
I took today a home based lateral flow test using the new kits. In the past you had to swab your throat as well as one nostril. Now you only have to swab both nostrils and not your throat.
It was always pretty unpleasant for me to swab the back …Read more…
Solidarity Telecanvassing Little Ilford & Marked Register Training in St John’s
A busy day on Saturday. I joined a virtual (using Labour Party dialogue software) telecanvassing session in Little Ilford in the morning from home (now up to 1299 calls for this year).
Ironically I had to deal with a problem that my broad band p…Read more…
“On Halloween Remember Nothing s as Scary as NOT BEING IN A UNION!
Hat tip Jonathan Dunning via Adrian Kennett. One of the worse things about being a trade union rep is that non members will contact you about serious issues and ask for representation. In the same way that you cannot get car insurance, after you…Read more…
Newham Voices – November 2021: “Sweep fly-tippers off the streets”
Check out the latest edition of “Newham Voices – an independent news service for people who live and work in one of London’s most vibrant, diverse and exciting areas”.
It is out in print and online and is a truly independent newspaper. I like that it r…Read more…
Street Canvass: West Ham Ward 28.10.21
This collage is from yesterday’s street surgery in West Ham ward. My Councillor colleague, John Whitworth and myself ,was joined by Junaid and Ash (who is a new member of our ward). For the first time ever, in my experience, all 4 of us had access to t…Read more…
West Ham History – “1918 Influenza epidemic – over 1,000 deaths”
This morning there was a post on the (excellent) Facebook site “Newham History” on a pamphlet published in 1986 to mark the 100th anniversary of the old West Ham Borough (now part of Newham).
It mentioned that the 1918 flu epidemic killed “ove…Read more…
Not In Our Name: Emergency motion to UNISON Greater London Regional Council on TRFC faction attempted Coup
On Tuesday 2 November there will be a virtual meeting of the UNISON London Regional Council. All branches can send delegates to this meeting.
At this meeting we will debate the following Emergency Motion 1 Received from the Greenwich Local …Read more…
UNISON Greater London activists met with Christina McAnea ahead of tomorrow’s government spending review.
UNISON Greater London activists met with Christina McAnea ahead of tomorrow’s government spending review.Our message to Rishi Sunak is clear: The government must find the money for the pay rise our members deserve.
Check out Christina’s b…Read more…
Vital services are turning to dust. But you can help stop them being lost…
Find out how at http://unison.org.uk/SOS #PlugTheGap #SaveOurServicesRead more…