Worker's Memorial Day 2024: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends".

 

Today we remembered workers who died in the course of their duties and also those who died trying valiantly to save them. Workers Memorial Day is on Sunday (28 April) this year but we decided to hold our annual event today. 

The venue was beside the "Clasping Hands" statue in Three Mills Park in Stratford, East London. Over a 100 years ago, 4 workers died at this site in a notorious health and safety incident. 3 of them died trying to pull out of danger, a worker who had collapsed due to poisonous fumes at a bottom of a ventilation shaft next to a local Gin factory. 

Even by the standards of the time, basic health and safety rules had been ignored, which resulted in these deaths. 

We had speeches and wreaths laid by representatives of UNISON, Clarion Housing Group and L&Q Group. Many thanks to the professional safety advisors from Clarion and L&Q for attending. 

As well as trade union and Labour movement activists from UNISON and GMB, there was also local Labour Councillors, including Cllr James Beckles, who is standing in the Greater London Assembly Elections and  Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, the Deputy Mayor of Hackney Council (both UNISON members). 

UNISON SGE elections 2024: Community Recommendations

 

Denise and I, as elected UNISON Community NEC members, have no hesitation recommending Clare, Malcolm and Joy as Service Group Executive members.  

Reminder: Workers Memorial Day event - 1pm Friday 26 April 24 at Three Mills Green, Stratford, E3 3DU - Theme is Climate Change impact on safety

This year since Workers Memorial Day is on a Sunday, my branch will be organising our annual wreath laying event on the Friday before (Friday 26 April at 1pm) outside the "Clasping Hands" Statue in Three Mills Green, Stratford, E3 3DU.

This is the site of a historic "accident" where a number of workers sacrificed their lives while attempting to rescue their colleagues.

Members and Staff Safety officers from local Housing Associations are expected but all welcome to pay their respects. Guest speakers invited.

(In local park next to historic mills and canel. Near Bromley by Bow tube, buses, can park for free near by at Tesco for limited time if you buy something)

"With last year the hottest year on record, the theme for 2024's Workers' Memorial Day is the impacts of climate change on occupational health and safety. Death at work and employment disruption as a result of global warming, not to mention occupational illnesses caused by polluting fossil fuels, are rising everywhere, and are only expected to increase.

Stand with us this year to remember the early victims of climate change-caused heat stress, UV radiation, air pollution, industrial accidents, extreme weather events, vector-borne diseases, and chemical exposure. And commit to fight for a world that's more, not less, safe to live and work in.
Check out TUC site for further details" (TUC)

https://www.megaphone.org.uk/events/stratford-international-workers-memorial-day

St Georges Day 2024 - Message from Keir Starmer

"On behalf of the Labour Party, I wish everyone a happy St George’s Day.

Let us be proud of our national identity, confident on the world stage, and sure of our country’s future".

Keir Starmer

UNISON SGE Elections 24 - London HE

 

Ballot papers are being sent out to members homes from today. If you are a UNISON member and work in London HE please consider voting for

• Josie Mangan-Murphy

• Sue Parkin

UNISON SGE Elections 24 - London Local Government

 

Ballot papers are being sent out to members homes from today. If you are a UNISON member and work in London Local Government please consider voting for

• Sean Fox - general seat

• Sonya Howard - female seat

• Clara Mason - reserved seat

UNISON SGE Elections 24 - London Health

 

Ballot papers are being sent out to members homes from today. If you are a UNISON member and work in London in Health please consider voting for

• Chris Akaluka - general seat

• Julie Cunnane - female seat

• Paula Ward - reserved seat

West Ham ward canvass with Janet & John's

 

Yesterday, I had my Councillor surgery (ASB/\neighbour dispute/Overcrowding) and today I joined my Cllr colleague John Whitworth and new party member, Janet, for a street surgery/canvass in our ward. 

Janet has been a Labour supporter for many years but she recently joined the Party, because she wants to to do something to get rid of this appalling Conservative Government. Janet had never been canvassing before and she didn't feel confident knocking on doors, so she was here today to see what it was like and she would deliver leaflets. 

The canvass went really well with 68 contacts, the majority of which were solid Labour. There was one or two grumpy & negative respondents but Janet was surprised how little confrontation there was on the doorstep and that there was so many very positive responses. 

The only worrying thing was that some residents said they were Labour supporters but thought we were going to win, so nothing to worry about! I had to explain about the requirement for photo ID and the Tory scrapping of proportional voting in Mayoral elections could mean trouble and every single vote will count. 

Rachel Reeves Explains Labour's New Deal For Working People

Hat tip TUC. Good stuff!

Who wins, You Decide - UNISON SGE elections start Monday 22/4/24

Next week most UNISON members will be sent ballot papers for our Service Group Executive (SGE) elections.  Not all, since some seats were uncontested. 

Now, UNISON is the largest union in the UK, with around 1.3 million members in thousands of different public service employers, so our democratic processes are going to be just a little complex. 

But at the risk of oversimplifying things, I will describe the Service Group Elections (SGE) starting next week, as all about UNISON members being given the opportunity to decide, who do they want running their part of UNISON? 

Who do they want negotiating over pay, pensions, health and safety, equalities and other vital terms and conditions? Who do they want to lead their bit of UNISON? 

Grass roots activists who are fighters but also experienced, principled and pragmatic. Who are not dependent on the support of far left extremists. Who will put the interests of ordinary UNISON members, first and foremost.

I will be supporting candidates who are not members of the far left "tfrc" faction, who are supported by the extremist Socialist Workers Party and the like, who will be no doubt interfering yet again in our elections, while hiding their affiliations. 

But regardless about who you support, please take part in these important elections and encourage your work mates and family to do so as well. I will be posting more on this. 

In meanwhile congratulations to my branch comrades Lola Oyewusi and Joseph Ogundemuren for being elected unopposed as the London reps for the Community SGE.