All the union news that's fit to blog...
Picture from Tuesday with Newham TELCO Citizens. I first worked with TELCO in the 1990s when my trade union branch, UNISON Tower Hamlets was affiliated and I can remember going on demos and lobbies with them over the London Living wage.
Their twitter …Read more…
Last Thursday evening I came back from holiday and went to the 3rd Newham Council Tenants and Leaseholders forum in East Ham Town Hall for Plaistow and Green Street residents.
There was around 50 residents present. Councillor Shaban Mohammed was the l…Read more…
I was brought up in a council house in inner-city Leeds. I know that council housing is vital to our country’s future, because like millions of people it’s part of my own life story and I know what a…Read more…
Picture college from this morning’s walkabout in Warrior Square, Little Ilford with Councillors and officers from Housing liaison, Caretaking, ASB, Repairs and Technical. Also, a local Police Community Support Officer was in attendance.
I am det…Read more…
“He came right up to me and had his finger within inches of my face – it was awful.”
Alison* is describing an experience she had while working as a frontline housing officer in the North East of England. She was leading a public meeting for her local …Read more…
A new survey of housing association workers has revealed an epidemic of work-related stress among staff who feel burned out, undervalued and poorly paid. The survey commissioned by Unite of…Read more…
This is a great picture from this morning of Newham residents, Officers (and myself) at the end of a “walkabout” in Drakes Walk, East Ham.
I am really pleased that the estate is looking far better than it did in March during a previous “walkabout” and…Read more…
Shocking statistics but no surprise. Hat tip @GVKitchen via @HelloHowsy. We need a change of Government, we need this now. Nearly everyone accepts that there is a “Climate Emergency”. There is also a “Housing Emergency”.Read more…
Picture college from a recent Saturday morning walkabout in the small, low rise Newham Council estate in Manor Park called Saints Drive. I met local residents, ward Councillors(Cllr Daward and Cllr Patel) and the new (and very pro active) LBN Hous…Read more…
National delegate conference backs a range of approaches to tackle the shortage of affordable housing in a passionate debate
The article Housing isn’t a crisis, but an emergency first appeared…Read more…
This is the speech I gave yesterday evening. The debate continues this morning.
“Conference, John Gray, speaking on behalf of the NEC in favour of this composite which quite rightly highlights that the housing crisis is not only the lack of housing – …Read more…
weLast Wednesday I took part in a “Walkabout” in Kent Street, Plaistow South ward, West Ham with local Councillors, residents and our new ward based housing officers. There are a lot of problems with Anti-Social Behaviour, parking, communal disrepair a…Read more…
Councils need support to rebuild their capacity to meet the country’s housing needs
The article Public money for public housing first appeared on the UNISON National site.Read more…
Housing is out of reach for public service workers, declares local government conference
The article Local government workers can’t afford to live in the towns they serve first appeared on the…Read more…
UNISON have produced here an online calculator (called appropriately https://housingripoff.org/) about how long it would take you to save enough money to buy a home up and down the country.
I now own a 1 bed flat bought in 1989 but on my sub…Read more…
This morning I went on my 3rd recent walkabout of the Hamfirth estate area with Newham Council Technical, Caretaking and Repairs officers to produce an action plan to this evenings’ meeting with residents at the Atherton Leisure Centre, E7.
We are goi…Read more…
Picture from birthday drinks last night with my former Tower Hamlets Housing UNISON work colleagues Monty, Dave and Trevor.
There is another “get together” being planned for this month in Stepney Spoons for all former LBTH Housing staff.
It is also t…Read more…
New Tenancy Fees Act (Engalnd) comes into force on 1 June – Scotland and Wales have own legislation
The article UNISON welcomes new law on tenancy fees first appeared on the UNISON National site.Read more…
“Becoming homeless is often the end of a downward spiral that can include health problems, job losses or relationship break-ups. Newham Council is helping residents tackle such issues before they find themselves without a home.
The council’s debt adv…Read more…
A year since I was re-elected by residents of West Ham for a third term as a Newham Councillor and then appointed by directly elected Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz, as Cabinet lead for Housing Services. The most demanding but also the most fulfilling year of my…Read more…