Congratulations to Joel for winning the UNISON Labour Link nomination. In our roles as elected Chair and Vice Chair of Greater London Regional Labour Link committee, myself and Yvonne Green (who happens to be a Croydon East Labour activist) interviewed…Read more…
Joel Bodmer for Croydon East
Today Joel launched his campaign to become the Labour Party Candidate for Croydon East. He is secretary to the Greater London UNISON Labour Link committee, which I chair but I have known him since he joined my UNISON branch as a Mental Health Support w…Read more…
“Despised…Why the Modern Left Loathes the Working Class”
I met up last week with a UNISON member and former work colleague. We meet 3-4 times a year for a meal and chat about politics and trade unions. He sent me this book by Paul Embery and we are planning to discuss it next time we meet. I will post …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…
Denise Thomas & John Gray Community NEC Report Oct 2023
NEC Meeting 14 July 2023This was the first National Executive Council to be held after National Conference. We had met briefly there to elect the Presidential Team. President is Libby Nolan and Vice Presidents Steve North & Julia Maluke were narro…Read more…
Affordable Homes for Key Workers: TUC Congress 2023 Composite 07
This is the speech I made as a UNISON delegate at last months TUC Congress about “Affordable Homes for Key Workers”. President, Congress, John Gray, from UNISON speaking in support of Composite 7. This motion highlights the profound imp…Read more…
The EastEnders Effect. Episode 28: Representation in the East End
It is a bit long but a fascinating interview by my Councillor constituent Ade Adeyemi of my UNISON comrade, Joseph Ogundemuren. He speaks from the heart of growing up, born and bred, as a working class black male in East London from immigrant parents. …Read more…
Urgent: UNISON Energy support fund for low paid members start tomorrow Wednesday 27 Sept 08.30am & 5pm – up to £200 (used to be called winter fuel grants)
Important informationThe Energy Support Fund will open on 27 September, with grants of £200 available to support low income members with their energy costs.Due to finite funds, we can only accept 2,000 applications. 1,000 will be released at 8.30…Read more…
Elect Anu Prashar – the members choice for UNISON Labour Link London election
Great endorsement by Eddie of Anu. Electronic ballot papers arrived by email last week and so did hard copies by Royal Mail to your home address. Please vote by either method (not of course in both) for Anu and the candidates below outside London …Read more…
“On the knocker” in West Ham (with a little bit of help from UNISON/Hackney)
This morning I had my councillor surgery in Vicarage Lane Community centre in West Ham ward, Newham. One constituent who came, lived close to the centre, with a list of repair issues. I was able to go with her, back to her home in order to identify rep…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…
For a Strong & Effective UNISON Labour Link please support…
Electronic ballot papers arrived to me via email on Monday and paper ballot papers today. Please support these candidates in your regions if you are a member of UNISON and its Labour Link (use to be called APF) Political fund. Obviously you can only vo…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…
TUC Congress Day Four
TUC Congress finished on Wednesday. I had to leave early to deal with some urgent work and union case work. Also, on the way home, I stopped off to visit a new “build to rent” housing project in Manchester, part funded by Newham staff pension fund. I w…Read more…
TUC Congress 2023: Day Two
Congress started again on Monday at 9.30. The ACC Liverpool conference centre is in the Kings docks area and it was a pleasant 10 minute walk from the hotel. Outside the conference centre there was a few people canvassing delegates, selling news …Read more…
TUC Congress 2023: Day One
This year I am in Liverpool for the 155th annual TUC Congress as a UNISON NEC delegate. I travelled down from London by with Regional delegate (and Convenor) Yvonne Green. When we arrived in Liverpool we went into a meeting of all UNISON delegates…Read more…
Clarion sends “fire & rehire” dismissal letters to long serving staff breaking their pension promises and futures.
Check Clarion UNISON Facebook page “The dismissal letters sent out by Social Mission Clarion also contain inaccurate and even untruthful information. If we do not consent to the loss of our pension we will be sacked without compensation. The…Read more…
30th anniversary as a Housing Officer and Trade Union Activist
On 6 September 1993 I started work as a housing officer in Bow for Tower Hamlets Council. I had worked as an agency temp in Columbia Road, Bethnal Green beforehand and also as a Housing Rights advisor in Edinburgh. I joined UNISON as a temp but h…Read more…
UNISON Regional Black Members Committee: Passing The Torch Event
Date: 13 September 2023* *Time: 2:30pm-6pm* *Address: City Hall (Newham) Kamal Chunchie Way, London E16 1ZE* The Greater London Regional Black Members Committee is hosting an event at City Hall (Newham). This inter-generational event is an o…Read more…
Is Clarion the P&O of the Housing Association Sector?
Check out Clarion UNISON Facebook page”Clarion is currently threatening to sack long serving and loyal staff to get rid of their pension promises. Unlike P&O’s pathetic excuses there is no known financial reasons for these sackings.UNISON believe t…Read more…