On Friday our annual Community Seminar/Conference started in Chester. I was brought up only 8 miles away from Chester (Welsh side of the border) and have many fond memories of this lovely and historic city. Walking from the railway station to the…Read more…
“Income needed to retire jumps…”
Check out https://bbc.co.uk/news/business-68222807So you need now a #pension income of £31k if single & £43k per year if couple, for a “moderate” retirement (e.g go out for a family meal once a month?). How many will get this this much?Remembe…Read more…
TUC Understanding Pensions Course – (London Classroom)
My first ever pension course was provided by the TUC (a long time, long ago) But I can still remember it. I would recommend all union reps should attend such a pension course. Over the years Jonathan has been my TUC tutor on a number of occasions. …Read more…
UNISON Pension Seminar 2024
14 March 202411:00am–3:00pmUNISON Centre, 130 Euston Road, London, NW1 2AYThe seminar will bring delegates up to date on key pension issues. These will include the pension gender gap, investing pension money in ways that have positive impacts, and how …Read more…
TUC Pensions Conference 2024: pensions under the next government
I have just registered. https://www.tuc.org.uk/events/tuc-pensions-conference-2024-pensions-under-next-governmentOverviewRegistrations are now open for the TUC Pensions Conference 2024 on Wednesday 13 March at Congress House, London. With a g…Read more…
Launch of Labour Rights Investor Network
Launch
of Labour Rights Investor Network coincides with event at US Department of LaborThe Labour
Rights Investor Network (LRIN) is a global initiative
that brings together asset managers, asset owners and investment service
providers c…Read more…
TUC 23 Collective Defined Contributions (CDC) Pensions fringe – What are CDC pensions and how will they improve people’s lives?
Better late than never. This is my contribution to the panel fringe on Collective Defined Contribution (CDC) pensions. Many thanks to Hilary from First Actuarial for organising and chairing. Also to Andy and Derek for their excellent contributions. It …Read more…
LGPS Forum: Opportunity to participate in transnational Labour Rights Investor Network
(UNISON are supporting their members who are pension trustees/activists to join)The Global Union’s Committee on Workers’
Capital (CWC) is a network of pension trustees and staff dedicated to ensuring
that employee retirement assets are invested r…Read more…
TUC Regional Council & then “on the knocker” in Plaistow North
Today was a Labour Movement day. In the morning I went as a UNISON delegate to the TUC London, East and South East Regional Council meeting at Congress House. It was good to be back in person at these meetings. There was an important panel d…Read more…
‘How can we put an end to greenwashing? LAPFF & Smith Institute Fringe at Labour Conference 2023
This is my presentation to this fringe. Hat tip Paul Hunter from PRIC for excellent speech notes. “Thank you Clive. I am delighted to be here in Liverpool and looking forward to today’s discussion. I am John Gray, I’m councillor in Newham, I’m ch…Read more…
Labour Party Conference 2023 – Monday
Day 3 of conference for me started with another morning run along the Mersey and back (3.4 miles different direction from yesterday).I met on route an influential Council leader who berated me for running so late in the day. He had gone for his run tha…Read more…
Labour Party Conference 2023 – Saturday
Today, after my Newham Councillor surgery, I travelled to Liverpool for the 2023 Labour Party conference. I had to go into the conference office (yet again) to pick up my credentials since they had not arrived by post. Since this is my 3rd L…Read more…
Lobby of Tower Hamlets Pension Committee over Clarion & Riverside breaking promises
This evening I went to make a submission to Tower Hamlets Council Pension Committee with a UNISON colleague, Julie. Both of us use to work for Tower Hamlets Council as housing officers. Julie worked in the Isle of Dogs and worked in Bow. In 2005 …Read more…
“UK’s largest landlord to dismiss & rehire staff who do not accept new pension terms”.
Hat tip Clarion UNISON Facebook page. NEWS21.09.2311.00 AMBY STEPHEN DELAHUNTYStaff transferred into Clarion from local authorities who have not accepted a new pension deal have been told they will be dismissed and rehired under new ter…Read more…
“Emergency motion passed unanimously at branch executive over Clarion Housing Group “fire and rehire” dismissals and breaking pension promises”
Check out “On 5 September 2023 Clarion sent dismissal notices to 54 of its most long serving staff in order to close down its defined benefit pension provision. Clarion has made it clear that that it staff do not “consent” then they will be …Read more…
COLLECTIVE PENSIONS: IMPROVING INCOME AFTER WORK – TUC Fringe 23
Next tuesday 12 September 2023 at 12.45 – 2pm I will be a panel speaker at a TUC fringe at Congress in Liverpool sponsored by First Actuarial LLP. I am at TUC as a UNISON NEC delegate but will be speaking at this fringe as a trade union pens…Read more…
Fire and rehire: How to fight it in Clarion
Check out UNISON Clarion Facebook site https://t.co/fXIj77E3D4Can all Clarion unison members currently facing “fire and rehire” over their pensions please check their emails for an important message sent on Friday asking them to carry out certain…Read more…
Pension fund investment
This blog post is a rare departure for me. I am going to support, in principle at least, a UK Government initiative! Even if it was overhyped and delivered somewhat less than promised. Yes, of course, there is a but.In his Mansion House speech la…Read more…
Clarion doing its best to -increase- number of pensioners in poverty by its “unlawful & immoral decisions”
Our #Clarion indicative strike ballot is still open & a email reminder was sent out yesterday to fill out the ballot form #Clarion is obviously still keen by their unlawful and immoral decisions to increase the number of pensioners living in …Read more…
UNISON Greater London Housing Association Branch Executive Social (& putting our world to rights)
Great photo from last night’s meal in London Bridge for branch elected executive members to meet our new organiser, Karl and discuss disputes and issues across our sector. We had representatives from most of the G15 Housing Associations and had a…Read more…