Hazel Blears was the guest speaker at the Forum. Which is the annual meeting of London UNISON "Labour Link" branch delegates. It took place at the media room of the Labour Party headquarters in Victoria Street, SW1. Very "New Labour".
I thought her speech and the way she handled questions from the floor was very impressive. She came over as a "real" person, committed to her role and her politics. She was speaking to us as Party Chair, not as a leadership candidate. The question I wanted to ask (but at the last minute I "bottled it" for a technical one on TUPE) was her opinion over whether or not there should be gender balance in the forthcoming leadership elections!
Recently, I saw Peter Hain speak to the UNISON National health and safety committee and Hilary Benn at the London Labour Party conference. I thought they both performed well. I wondered though what sort of cosy chats Hilary and his Dad have over Iraq and Trident?
The meeting was jointly Chaired by Louise Couling (Local Government, also an UNISON NEC member) and Bill Beeko (Health). Jeremy Corbyn MP (former NUPE FTO) gave a Parliamentary report on behalf of London UNISON MP's (members). Keith Birch, the Head of Labour Link gave a competent report on National Labour Link priorities and unlike other reports of the forum I cannot recall him predicting that John McDonnell getting 80% of the UNISON Labour Link vote!!! (dream on)
There were 3 motions. I spoke against a motion about the Labour Leadership elections even though I agreed with much of its analysis. However, this motion suggested that MP's should nominate a "Left" Candidate even if they did not support him (or her). To be frank there is more than 45 "Left" MP's and if due to ego's and personality clashes they can't even agree amongst themselves on a candidate, then why should they expect support from opponents? It is clear that John McDonnell is disliked by many members of the campaign group and the abuse that his supporters have been piling on Meacher makes some sort of an "deal" unlikely. They should both step down in favour of some other more credible candidate (who will still lose). The motion was passed. Such is life.
Rachel Voller (also Health SGE) moved a sensible rule change request for biannual elections to London Labour Link committee which was agreed and the Tower Hamlets motion on the Living Wage Campaign was accepted unanimously (see below)
Motion on Living Wage Campaign
This Forum notes that Labour’s National Minimum Wage remains one of the most popular and highly-regarded achievements of our Government. Forum is proud that UNISON’s predecessor unions were at the forefront of the campaign to establish a national minimum wage at a time when it was not widely supported, even within the trade union movement.
Forum further notes that despite the National Minimum Wage and the success of many of Labour’s economic policies, too many people in Britain and particularly in London remain poor. With costs of living particularly high in the capital, it is estimated that some 400,000 people, despite being employed, live in poverty.
Research by the Family Budget Unit calculates that a two-parent household with two children, in which both parents work – one part-time – needs a disposable income of £7.74 an hour nationally to achieve a 'living wage' without recourse to benefits. The Greater London Authority's living wage unit says that a worker in London, taking full advantage of tax credits and benefits, would need to earn £7.05 an hour to avoid poverty.
Labour’s aspiration to eliminate poverty in our country will only be fulfilled by ending low pay. Forum therefore supports the campaign for a living wage in London and urges Labour to consider extending the remit of the Low Pay Commission to establish a genuine living wage.
This Forum notes that Labour’s National Minimum Wage remains one of the most popular and highly-regarded achievements of our Government. Forum is proud that UNISON’s predecessor unions were at the forefront of the campaign to establish a national minimum wage at a time when it was not widely supported, even within the trade union movement.
Forum further notes that despite the National Minimum Wage and the success of many of Labour’s economic policies, too many people in Britain and particularly in London remain poor. With costs of living particularly high in the capital, it is estimated that some 400,000 people, despite being employed, live in poverty.
Research by the Family Budget Unit calculates that a two-parent household with two children, in which both parents work – one part-time – needs a disposable income of £7.74 an hour nationally to achieve a 'living wage' without recourse to benefits. The Greater London Authority's living wage unit says that a worker in London, taking full advantage of tax credits and benefits, would need to earn £7.05 an hour to avoid poverty.
Labour’s aspiration to eliminate poverty in our country will only be fulfilled by ending low pay. Forum therefore supports the campaign for a living wage in London and urges Labour to consider extending the remit of the Low Pay Commission to establish a genuine living wage.
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