Our local Somerfield (in a very handy location just next door to Forest Gate Station) is now giving out leaflets about being part of the “Co-op family”. I also got a marketing email today about this (see picture left).
I have asked staff when the full rebranding will take place but they were not too sure. But good news for us local residents and no doubt the staff.
I am a member of the “Co-op” (and the Labour affiliated Co-op Party) but there had been nowhere locally to buy goods and groceries since the stores in Leytonstone and Stratford closed many moons ago.
Tonight on BBC local News I watched a report on a campaign to have the former East End work house and mental health hospital, St Clements, (where I use to do trade union site safety inspections - a very interesting experience) turned into a Housing Co-op site and Community Land Trust.
The mutually owned Banks and building societies have been attracting fresh interest since it appears that due to their ownership structure they have survived the recent financial turmoil much better that their Joint Stock competitors (not all of course). There is never the less a lesson here for the benefits of active ownership.
The Co-op financial services has also recently taking over the Britannia Building society (a long term partner with UNISON) to produce a new “super mutual”.
So it appears that the Co-op movement in the UK (and especially Newham) seems to be on the march again.
BTW - I must admit that I was disappointed that last week while on a self catering holiday in the Durham Dales I could not use my membership card at local Co-op stores when making purchases. Especially since we were asked every purchase if we had a shareholder account number. I appreciate that local Co-op’s are proud of their independence but I think that it would benefit the movement as a whole if your support by spending at other Co-ops was recognised in some way.
Just a thought- not really a moan.
15 comments:
I do believe there's a co-op in high street south opposite William Hills (near central park)
By the way... is Cruddas right?
Hi Mike
Hopefull all of Newham will once again be covered by the Co-op.
Cruddas? Yes but no but...its not the answer.
Cannot argue with you re co-op.
As for your Cruddas answer... as straightforward as ever!
Did you sign your candidate's contract?
This is what common ownership looks like, comrade...
John
It is good that you are going to benefit from one of the best moves that the co-op has done in the uk in years, as for the comment about the divi card and independent co-op societies, this is claerly an issue that is taken very seriously and one which with mergers should hopefully become less of an issue over the next few years.
Peter
Hi Mike
I thought you meant Cruddas on the Housing Land Trust idea. I will post on this another time. But yes, Labour does need to change certain policies and approaches to get out its core vote. But, the big but is...it still needs to dominate the centre to ensure victory.
I did reply to your questions somewhere or other - but yes of course I signed the contract. It’s a very good idea.
Hi Charlie
"Common ownership"? - Not only to annoy Mike but surely "Yes, but no But..." It is a form of self-selective community ownership?
Hi Peter
I do hope the movement can sort this out. I can see the principle that people naturally worry about but it is really win, win I think.
I am just interested to know that if the Candidates Contract had existed in 2002, would Mike Law have signed it..........?
Having seen it, no I wouldn't have signed it... but then again, I was sufficiently well versed in the rules for selection to know that any one candidate (i.e. the current mayor) should NOT have sway over the candidacy of other members.
Things must have really changed since my time in the Labour Party.
I'm just amazed that London Region have allowed it.
By the way John, I cannot think of anything you post here that actually annoys me; amuse yes, but annoy - no.
Hi Mike
Not sure what you are on about with this? The contract is a Labour Party wide thingy (especially I understand in London region) which is being rolled out elsewhere.
The idea that all candidates agree to pull their weight and do their "bit" for the campaign is I think rather good and unsurprising?
I must have been misinformed... I was told that it's specific to Newham.
However, it's still a bit odd that the Mayoral candidate should have a say on the suitability of other candidates to stand.
Do you know if the performance evaluations of sitting councillors were used in the selection process?
Hi Mike
I think you are "mistaken" about other things as well.
Time to move on now and concentrate on ensuring Labour victory next year - locally and nationally.
On the evidence of this blog, there appears to be very little thinking going on in your head John.
Mike, that last comment seems a little uncomradely.
Charlie,
Maybe that's because I'm not a comrade...
Post a Comment