Thursday, January 31, 2019

UNISON NEC Elections 2019: Nominate Denise and John for Community Seats


"Dear Branch Secretary

We did send a request on 7 January 2019 and we apologise for sending another request if your branch has already decided nominations but we believe that some branches did not receive our previous request. We understand from UNISON that your branch is entitled to nominate for Community NEC seats. Please see attached our joint nomination request (see also below). We hope your branch will consider nominating us. If you have any questions or queries please do not hesitate to contact us.

NEC Elections 2019: Community General Seat & Female Seat Nomination Request
John Gray Denise Thomas

RMS 3083288 RMS 8688788

31 January 2019

Your branch is entitled to nominate candidates to the two Community seats for this year’s National Executive Council elections. We request that your branch considers nominating John Gray for the General Seat and Denise Thomas for the Female seat.

Denise is currently the Major Charities representative on the Community Service Group Executive (SGE). She is also a grassroots UNISON activist holding positions as Branch Black Members Officer and Welfare officer for Ymlaen/Forward Cymru Wales. Ymlaen/Forward Branch has over 4500 Community members in over 400 organisations. Denise is the secretary of the UNISON Black Workers Self Organised Group and sits on her regional committee and women’s committee.

John is currently the Community NEC General seat representative and has been an activist in UNISON for many years and held a number of branch and regional positions including Treasurer, Health & Safety, Welfare, Labour Link, International officer and Assistant Secretary. He is employed by a large Housing Association and is the Branch Secretary of the Greater London Housing Associations Branch which has over 3000 Community members. Recently he led a successful campaign that resulted in UNISON winning a ballot by a massive majority in favour of trade union recognition.

Denise has a background working in the Voluntary and Community sector for the past 26yrs supporting Adults with learning disabilities. As a branch activist Denise has focused on organising, recruitment and representing members to get a fair pay deal within her organisation. As a regional activist and SGE member she has fought to promote equality and inclusive work places.

John has served the union as a NEC member on the Policy and Development Committee, Trustee on the UNISON staff pension fund, National Labour link and is a trustee of UNISON “there for you” (Welfare) fund Committee & Vice-Chair Industrial action committee.

We deserve a Pay Rise!

Care and support staff wages in particular are under threat as unscrupulous employers deliberately underbid to win contracts then try and do their upmost to destroy TUPE protections.

Many Housing management organisations are cash rich after years of rent rises yet still refuse to give their staff decent pay rises. In the voluntary sector employers are funding the National Living wage by attacking terms and conditions and increasing workloads. 2

Both of us as NEC and SGE members have been working and campaigning with branches and regions to oppose these measures. We believe that Community members must play our part in opposing Austerity and arguing for an alternative economic policy. We need to pull together and get rid of the current UK government

We also support the Community specific campaigns below such as:-

· Better funding & resources for branches that support Community members. Community workers often work for small employers and in isolated workplaces.

· Campaign for Inclusive Workplace policies by employers

· No public money for “union busters”. Any employer that does not have a trade union recognition agreement should be barred from grants or contracts from local or national governments.

· Sector Wage Councils. Set up to decide the pay and conditions of all staff by collective bargaining including a living wage minimum for all Community workers and agency/sub-contractors.

· UNISON Ethical Care Charter. All employers must be called upon to support and sign up.

· Better governance and democracy. Increasingly many of our employer management boards are run by highly paid unelected and unrepresentative “elites”. There should be union employee representation on all Community Trust or management boards, especially remuneration committees (if applicable)

· Defend Pensions. Protect the Social Housing Pension fund and the Pension Trust from further cuts. Access to a decent defined benefit pension scheme for all.

· Better health & safety at work in particular protecting members by supporting the “End Violence at Work” charter.

· Recruit & train more activists to support members

We believe that we would both work together well as your Community NEC team. While Denise’s employer is a charity, John’s is a housing association, so we represent and complement both of the major sectors in the Community Service Group.

If you would like either of us to come and attend a branch meeting or hustings (under UNISON election rules) then please let us know and if we can, we will be delighted to come and speak.

Denise Thomas & John Gray

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

"East End promise: an interview with Newham mayor Rokhsana Fiaz"

(hat tip "Inside Housing") Newham’s new mayor has a tough job on her hands to tackle some of the country’s worst housing deprivation. Peter Apps finds out how she plans to do it. Photography by Peter Searle

"Newham’s new mayor has a tough job on her hands to tackle some of the country’s worst housing deprivation. By several measures, the east London borough of Newham has the worst housing crisis in the UK. It has the largest gap in the country between the social housing that becomes available each year (588 homes) and the number of families waiting for it (25,729).

One in 25 people in the borough are homeless, the highest proportion in the country. Since last May, for the first time in 23 years, someone different has had the responsibility for turning the borough’s housing situation around. Newham’s new mayor is Rokhsana Fiaz, a first-generation daughter of Pakistani parents and a lifelong East Ender. Ms Fiaz is far from the archetype of an aloof, out-of-touch political leader. Her answer? To build thousands of council-owned homes for social rent.

This is something for which campaigners and commentators have been calling for years – but others have warned that it is impossible to do so in the current funding climate. Ms Fiaz is undeterred. “This administration is about pursuing what was thought of as impossible and making it possible,” she declares. While recent history is against her (in 2017/18, just 16 homes for social rent were built in Newham and just 157 have been added to the borough’s stock in the past three years), Ms Fiaz believes the policy climate is turning. “We are beginning to tear up the orthodoxy book that has very much framed the approach to housebuilding and housing delivery for the past couple of decades because it is just simply not sustainable. If you don’t want to be part of this new story about housebuilding in this country where councils are in the driving seat, that’s fine – you can go elsewhere because I’m only interested in working with developers and partners who want to be on the right side of history.”

Ms Fiaz is trying to make history in Newham. And if she succeeds in getting a generation of its children out of temporary accommodation and into their own homes, then history is exactly what she will make.

See full story here (paywall) https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/insight/east-end-promise-an-interview-with-newham-mayor-rokhsana-fiaz-59919

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Planning issues usually make my head hurt.....

Planning issues usually make my head hurt but thanks to @NewhamLondon officers for today helping Cllrs and local residents understand better the #LocalPlan #localcentre #towncentre #contiguous #ribboneffect

The idea of calling the left hand local centre the "#FatChaps centre" was all mine. 

I had local knowledge #bestkebabs

Monday, January 28, 2019

Ightham Mote & One Tree Hill walk

Off message but great walk two Sundays ago in Kent even though we got hopelessly lost. We drove to and parked at the National trust owned moated Manor House at Ightham Mote. Which dates from the 13th century and is justifiably described  as "the most perfect medieval house in England".

We were suppose to do a 6 mile Jarrold Pathfinder circular walk via Oldbury Hill but ended up to our surprise, at One Tree Hill instead. Obviously, Gill and I blamed each other for the map reading error but since we ended up with a lovely 5 mile ridge walk, it didn't really matter.

A fantastic walking and history area only a short drive from London.


Sunday, January 27, 2019

Newham Holocaust Memorial Day : Torn from Home


A really moving ceremony. Well done to all involved. I was so proud of all the confident and articulate young people who came up to speak and the great music that they played. Hat tip pictures and copy below to Newham Council Website/Facebook page

 "The candle-lighting ceremony, led by Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz and including Holocaust survivor Harry Olmer BEM, was part of Newham Council’s annual event to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. The theme this year was Torn From Home.

Around 400 people, mainly schoolchildren, gathered to reflect on how the loss of a safe place to call home is part of the trauma faced by anyone experiencing persecution and genocide. This included remembering those who suffered and died in the Holocaust and subsequent genocides and refugee crises such as Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Darfur, Myanmar, Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan.

Harry Olmer, 91, was born in Poland. He was 12 when World War II started. During the Nazi persecution of the Jews, he survived the horrors of five labour and concentration camps. He last saw his mother and sisters after he, his brother and father were separated from them in 1942.

Harry said: “It is vital that children and young people have an understanding of what can happen if we do not stand up to racism, prejudice or hate against those that are different by race or religion.”

Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz spoke about how people must never forget the horrors of the Holocaust. She said: “The Holocaust was an unparalleled human tragedy and act of evil. Six million Jewish people were murdered, simply for who they were. At least another five million people – Roma, people with disabilities or held certain political beliefs – were also killed, alongside many others. Millions of people were sent to their deaths because of the perverted, racist ideology of the Nazi era.

“As we remember those who suffered and died in the horrors of the Holocaust, we must unite against all forms of hatred and persecution wherever it exists to ensure that an atrocity like the Holocaust never happens again. We all have a responsibility to remember the horrors of the Holocaust – and to pass down that memory to future generations.

“The theme of this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day is Torn from Home. Home is a place of safety, comfort and security. But for many people who are forced to flee persecution, it is a place they cannot return to. Newham has a proud history of tolerance and diversity, of being a genuine home to people from different countries, and a safe haven for those who have fled persecution. As a community, we strongly oppose all forms of racism and prejudice that drive these crimes and suffering. And we must continue to be a safe haven to all those persecuted throughout the world.”

Newham’s commemoration began with the Quwwat-ul-Islam Girls School Choir performing a song called One Day. The Klezmer Bridging Sounds Orchestra performed Gelem Gelem, an anthem of the Roma people murdered in the Holocaust. The 282 Squadron RAF Cadets Band from East Ham performed Abide With Me. Readings were given by pupils from St Luke’s Primary School, New City Primary School, Essex Primary School, Lathom Junior School, St Stephen’s Primary School, Kingsford Community School and Sir John Heron Primary School.

Other speakers included Lady Hannah Lowy Mitchell, a documentary maker and emeritus trustee for Women for Women International and chair of the Lowy Mitchell Foundation, and Lord Parry Mitchell, who chaired the Coexistence Trust, which encouraged dialogue between Jewish and Muslim students on UK university campuses.

Six candles were lit in memory of the six million who lost their lives during the Holocaust and other genocides. They were lit by Harry Olmer; Deputy Lieutenant John Barber, the Queen’s Representative in Newham; Adnan Khan, 17, a survivor of persecution in Afghanistan; Leah Lovett, a member of Newham’s Jewish community; Lord Mitchell and Lady Lowy Mitchell.

The Mayor concluded: “The racism, anti-Semitism, and hatred that drove the Holocaust is something we must continue to fight. We must honour those who suffered and died by remembering their stories. And we must honour them by learning from the past: by speaking up against all forms of hatred and making our neighbourhoods places where people of all backgrounds can call home.”

Saturday, January 26, 2019

Dinner with John McDonnell - Thursday 7th March 2019

An evening with John McDonnell MP

West Ham CLP fundraiser/social - Thursday 7th March

Dear Member

We'd like to invite you to a really special CLP event - a fundraising dinner with John McDonnell MP, at the invitation of our MP Lyn Brown. John has served on Labour's front bench as the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer since 2015 and will speak about Labour's vision for transforming the economy.

This is a ticketed event and you must buy a ticket in advance to attend. Tickets costs £25 each or £200 for a table of ten (early bird price until 17th February) and include a three course curry dinner. Soft drinks will be provided and a pay bar will be available.

The meal will take place at Impressions, Milner Rd, London E15 3AD, from 7-10pm on Thursday 7th March 2019. The venue is close to West Ham Station and fully accessible.

All Labour party members and supporters are welcome - please think about asking your trade union or local branch to book a table.

You can reserve tickets by emailing westhamlabour@gmail.com and making a payment by cash, cheque or bank transfer to the CLP.

All funds raised will go towards West Ham Labour Party's campaign funds.

We look forward to seeing you there!

In solidarity,
West Ham CLP


(picture of John McDonnell MP speaking in West Ham in 2016 at the launch of "Newham United Against Austerity" with Lyn Brown MP & (now) Newham Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz, NUT Kevin Courtney, Peter Smith & UNISON Yvonne Green). 

Friday, January 25, 2019

My Love Is Like a Red Red Rose (Robert Burns)



It's Burns night. Beautiful lyrics, Beautiful singing by Karen Matheson. Enjoy!

O my Luve's like a red, red rose,
That's newly sprung in June:
O my Luve's like the melodie,
That's sweetly play'd in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a' the seas gang dry.

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi' the sun;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o' life shall run.

And fare-thee-weel, my only Luve!
And fare-thee-weel, a while!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho' 'twere ten thousand mile!

Thursday, January 24, 2019

Newham Council Extraordinary Meeting on Repairs & Maintenance Service (RMS)


This is my speech to the crowded meeting on Tuesday where I moved a report with recommendations on why we had a £9 million overspend on RMS, what we did about it and what we are doing to make sure this never happens again.

"Thank you all for attending this extraordinary meeting.

The Chair has kindly agreed to hold this meeting in the spirit of openness and transparency to give councillors the opportunity to discuss the Council’s investigation into the allegations about the Council’s Repairs and Maintenance Service and also the completely unacceptable financial losses we have suffered.

There have been a number of inaccurate reports into this issue and the Internal Control Commission that the Mayor has announced will be investigating how this happened.

BUT even more importantly it will be looking at whole Council systems so that we can ensure this never, ever happens again. This is not isolated incident. We have suffered similar losses in the East Ham campus overspend (& being ultra vires), London Pleasure Gardens losses,  the Children services overspend and of course, the Olympic stadium debacle.

We want to create an effective system of internal controls, establish clear checks and balances and make Newham Council a beacon of best practice.

I will give a short outline of what has occurred. Then my cabinet Colleague, Cllr Ali, who is currently the lead member for Highways will give a more detailed information about what happened,

The RMS service was established in 2011. It is wholly owned by the Council and subject to Council financial procedures.

It has 4 key functions:

1. Repairs & Maintenance (R&M) for our Newham Housing stock

2. R&M Highways (minor)

3. Gas safety servicing

4. New build housing (minor)

In 2016, the Cabinet approved the "Keep Newham Moving Programme", a £100M investment over 10 years in highways. It agreed that RMS would undertake this work.

RMS had been identified as being subject to the Newham Council Small Business Programme which meant it was due to be externalised and therefore was told that they had to stop being Council bureaucrats, take risks, be entrepreneur and win new business.

At the time it was recognised that giving them these contracts was potentially risky since RMS had not undertaken such major highway works beforehand and certain measures were supposed to be put in place to control this risk.

By golly did they take risks, the senior management at RMS put a bid to the Council to carry out these works at a price far below what was actually needed to deliver it.

After this blunder RMS had to sub-contract these works to private contractors at a price far above the money they should have received from the Council. This resulted in a loss of £8.78M.

A number of serious allegations were made about financial mismanagement, including a whistleblower in June 2017.

This resulted in an investigation not only by qualified investigators, our internal audit but also two external auditing companies.

Specific advice was sought from these external advisers and also from a criminal barrister about whether there was sufficient evidence of criminality.

The advice was that there was insufficient evidence.

Despite the lack of evidence to support a criminal prosecution, there was evidence to progress disciplinary proceedings against staff and this resulted in a number of staff being dismissed or given final written warnings. A number of other staff have also since left RMS.

Even now if anyone has any actual evidence of criminality please let us know.

Finally, for now Chair, I would like to reassure Council  – as someone who has spent most of his professional career in enforcement and is used to attending court, working with police, instructing solicitors and helping put criminals into prison – that if there is any substantive evidence of criminality - we will prosecute.

(I will post my "right to reply" on the debate later)

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Be Really Shocked about Homelessness in Newham

"A fairly shocking housing stat I've come across as background to a feature: There are 7,515 children in temporary accommodation within the 36km² which makes up Newham, east London. 

This compares to 4,920 across the 40,000km² which makes up the entire north of England.

The three northern England regions - the North West, North East and Yorkshire and the Humber. The population of these regions is c.15m compared to 330,000 in Newham"

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Severe Weather Emergency Provision or Protocol: What is SWEP?



"Homelessness is an emergency whatever the weather but in winter and freezing weather, people are in even greater danger. Hannah Faulkner, Head of Pan-London Rough Sleeper Services at St Mungo's explains how we help bring people in from the cold during SWEP (Severe Weather Emergency Provision or Protocol).

If you see someone sleeping rough, and the situation is an emergency, please don’t hesitate – call 999 for an ambulance or the police. Otherwise please use StreetLink to tell services where you’ve seen someone sleeping rough. StreetLink is the national homelessness referral line, which we manage in partnership with Homeless Link.. If you see someone sleeping rough, please @Tell_StreetLink through their website or app. Not sure what SWEP stands for? Watch our video:"

Monday, January 21, 2019

Newham Peoples Budget Forum - East Ham

Picture collage from this evenings consultation forum at Newham Town Hall. Which I thought went very well. I chaired the meeting due to last minute illness. The Mayor, Cabinet lead for Finance and officers did excellent presentations. Residents gave lots of feedback (and push back) but  there was broad support for keeping "eat for free" for primary school kids, increasing youth services, paying London Living wage for all carers, increasing Council tax while at the same time reducing it by nearly 50% for our poorest residents.

All in all a good day. Many thanks to all the borough staff involved in these forums (and for the photos).  A really professional event.

The last forum will be:-
Stratford & West Ham​Thursday 24 January​10.30am- 1pm​Old Town Hall, Stratford, 29 The Broadway, Stratford, E15 4BQ

Sunday, January 20, 2019

Right to Buy: Wrong for London



"Dear John

Tomorrow I’m publishing a new report which reveals the extent to which former council homes sold through the Right to Buy are now being rented out by private landlords. In advance of its publication I wanted to share some of the individual borough findings with Labour councillors in London today.

Across London, 42% of homes sold off through the Right to Buy are now being rented out by private landlords at market rates – up from 36% when I last investigated this issue in 2014.

That’s at least 11,000 more council homes in the hands of private landlords than there were five years ago, a shocking transfer of wealth from the many to the few.

In Newham, 44.6% of former council homes sold through the Right to Buy are now being rented out by private landlords. There are at least 5 individuals in Newham who own five or more former council homes.

My report also reveals that councils in London are spending a total of at least £22 million a year renting back 2,333 of their former council homes to house homeless families. These were homes they were forced to sell at a discount that they now have to pay market rates to rent back.

Newham has to rent back 808 homes at an annual cost of £12,858,869.

This is ludicrous, and the blame lies squarely with Tory government policies.

It would be galling if the crucial work Labour councils across London are doing building new council homes for the first time in a generation was undermined by the continuation of the Right to Buy.

That’s why I’m asking people to take action by signing this petition calling on Theresa May to end Right to Buy in England. The Scottish and Welsh governments have already done so.

I would be extremely grateful if you could promote this petition on social media so that it can attract as much support as possible.

The full report will be published on my website tomorrow along with the data tables. If you have any questions about the research, or would like to discuss it, please let me know".

Best wishes,

Tom Copley AM
London Assembly Member | City Hall Labour housing spokesperson

(this is a great evidence backed campaign led by Tom which should be supported by all of us concerned with the housing crisis in London and elsewhere. I have signed the petition)

Saturday, January 19, 2019

UNISON NEC elections 2019: Black Member's Conference

Great picture from a chilly Llandudno, North Wales this morning. UNISON black members conference is taking place here. Members were out leafleting delegates as they arrived for conference.

NEC branch nominations last until 15 February. 

Thursday, January 17, 2019

Malvern Hills New Year Walks 2019. Joy & Sadness

Mostly off message but Gill and spent new year in Great Malvern, Worcestershire. We had never been here before but I had seen the historical railway poster (see bottom right) and thought it might be a good place to go walking.

It turned out to be a fabulous place to visit and go walking. We stayed in a lovely rented cottage in Great Malvern (much better value than anything on Airbnb).

Walk across the road and you start climbing up the hills which are "an area of outstanding natural beauty".  Our best walk was from Great Malvern along the ridge to the ancient celtic fort now called the "British camp". Then walk down across countryside to Colwall railway station and take train back home. About 8 miles walking and under 5 hours. Stunning views from beginning to end.

There are a number of good restaurants, cafes and pubs as well as an impressive church with beautiful medieval stained glass windows (and outside were Annie, the 10 year old daughter of Charles Darwin is buried. We actually stayed near where she actually died. I remember the moving film about her death and the impact on her father and science "Creation").

Another nearby sad sight but one bang up to date, was the flowers and messages in the Great Malvern department store doorway, (see top left) where in this prosperous, very middle England town, a young homeless man was found dead on Christmas day. 

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Nominate John & Denise for UNISON NEC Community seats 2019

The UNISON National Executive Council (NEC) is our union's parliament which oversees the running of the union in between our annual National Conference, which is held each year in in June. UNISON members vote every 2 years by postal ballot to their home addresses for NEC representatives.

Denise and I are asking UNISON branches that have "Community" members (those who work for Voluntary sector and Housing Associations) to nominate us for the forthcoming election. There are over 500 such branches and we have emailed all of them.

You can download nomination forms and election guidance here. You have until 15 Feb to hold a qualifying branch or committee meeting.

Denise is employed in the voluntary sector and I am employed by a large national housing association.

Check out our Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/JohnandDenise4CommunityNEC/?modal=admin_todo_tour

Ballot papers are sent out from 15 April.

Many thanks for consideration

John & Denise

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Campaigning for a Fairer private rented sector

This is a model housing motion from London Labour Housing Group. It makes perfect sense to me. I have submitted to West Ham GC as a UNISON delegate.  

"This conference notes:

1.That the number of households in London who rent from private landlords is up from 15% in 2000 to 27% in 2017 and that Shelter forecast that nationally this growth will continue.

2. The lack of security for private tenants causes unnecessary homelessness and makes it very difficult for private tenants to lead settled lives.

3. High rents in this sector cause hardship for tenants and leads to the taxpayer subsidizing private landlords via housing benefit.

4. Shelter believe that the reasons behind Labour winning in Canterbury and Kensington is due to the number of private tenants voting Labour ( the rentquake).

Conferences therefore calls upon the London Labour Party:

1. To hold a London wide campaign day in 2019 for Labour’s proposal to improve the private rented sector.

2. To produce campaign materials for constituency labour parties on the private rented sector.

3. To set up an on -line petition to call for an end to no fault evictions and rent controls for the private rented sector.

4. To produce guidance for all Labour Council Groups and constituency labour parties on how the Letting Fees bill currently in Parliament should be enforced by local councils.

5. To ask the London Mayor to produce a vision for the private rented sector in the capital and to make the reform of the private rented sector a key political issue in the manifesto for the 2020 London elections.

Monday, January 14, 2019

Newham RMS report to Extraordinary Council meeting 22 January 2019

"*Stop Press* Papers for next week's Extraordinary Full Council at 7.30pm Stratford Town Hall - open to all Newham London residents and public. All welcome. You'll find out what really happened in the council's Highways Repairs & Maintenance which led to a £8.6 million overspend before May 2018. Plus what we plan to do next. #transparency Hat tip Mayor Fiaz. 

Sunday, January 13, 2019

NEC Elections 2019: Community General Seat & Female Seat Nomination Request (2)

John Gray & Denise Thomas
RMS 3083288 RMS 8688788



If you are a Community UNISON member please ask your branch to nominate us. They have all been sent our nomination requests. 

We deserve a Pay Rise!

Care and support staff wages in particular are under threat as unscrupulous employers deliberately underbid to win contracts then try and do their upmost to destroy TUPE protections.

Many Housing management organisations are cash rich after years of rent rises yet still refuse to give their staff decent pay rises. In the voluntary sector employers are funding the National Living wage by attacking terms and conditions and increasing workloads.

Both of us as NEC and SGE members have been working and campaigning with branches and regions to oppose these measures. We believe that Community members must play our part in opposing Austerity and arguing for an alternative economic policy. We need to pull together and get rid of the current UK government

We also support the Community specific campaigns below such as:-

Better funding & resources for branches that support Community members. Community workers often work for small employers and in isolated workplaces.

Campaign for Inclusive Workplace policies by employers

No public money for “union busters”. Any employer that does not have a trade union recognition agreement should be barred from grants or contracts from local or national governments.

Sector Wage Councils. Set up to decide the pay and conditions of all staff by collective bargaining including a living wage minimum for all Community workers and agency/sub-contractors.

UNISON Ethical Care Charter. All employers must be called upon to support and sign up.

Better governance and democracy. Increasingly many of our employer management boards are run by highly paid unelected and unrepresentative “elites”. There should be union employee representation on all Community Trust or management boards, especially remuneration committees (if applicable)

Defend Pensions. Protect the Social Housing Pension fund and the Pension Trust from further cuts. Access to a decent defined benefit pension scheme for all.

Better health & safety at work in particular protecting members by supporting the “End Violence at Work” charter.

Recruit & train more activists to support members

We believe that we would both work together well as your Community NEC team. While Denise’s employer is a charity, John’s is a housing association, so we represent and complement both of the major sectors in the Community Service Group.

If you would like either of us to come and attend a branch meeting or hustings (under UNISON election rules) then please let us know and if we can, we will be delighted to come and speak.

You can contact Denise by denise_thomas2@msn.com or John on john.gray2012@icloud.com

Part 1 was https://www.johnslabourblog.org/2019/01/nec-elections-2019-community-general.html

Saturday, January 12, 2019

UNISON Membership Services - latest deals and offers

These are the info and links to the newest deals from UNISON Membership Service Providers. I always check these links before I buy any service. Sometimes they not the most competitive but usually they are and you can be reassured that they have been vetted

I like the slogan "We’re always looking out for you when you’re at work, but there’s much more to life".

There is of course also the lovely UNISON owned beach holiday resort in Croyde Bay!

UNISON Health & Dental Plans

'Win a £2,000 Holiday' with UNISON Health & Dental Plans Enter the Free Prize Draw exclusively for UNISON members below.

Get your NHS dental bills repaid in full up to £500 per year.

Join today to get your money back each time you visit your NHS dentist.

To find out more about the UNISON NHS Dental Plan and to enter the Free Prize Draw Click Here <http://comms.unionbenefits.co.uk/unison-dental-plan-prize-draw-apply-now>

Prefer to get your money back on everyday health expenses like trips to the opticians as well as the dentists?

You can with the UNISON Health Plan. To find out more and to enter the Free Prize Draw Click Here<http://comms.unionbenefits.co.uk/unison-health-plan-prize-draw-apply-now>

Welfare/There for You

Get help with winter fuel bills

UNISON members living on a low income constantly struggle to make ends meet - and this can be particularly acute in the winter when the cost of heating homes rises as the outside temperature falls.

UNISON's welfare charity There for You has a limited fund to help members on low incomes towards the cost of their winter fuel bill through a one-off payment of £60.

Contact UNISON Direct on 0800 0857 857 for a form to be sent to you - or download:

Winter Fuel Grant application form<https://www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2018/12/Final-Winter-Fuel-Grant-Application-Form-2018-19.pdf>,

Winter Fuel Grant Q&A<https://www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2018/12/Final-Winter-Fuel-Grant-Q-and-A-2018-19.pdf>,

Winter Fuel Grant poster<https://www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2018/12/Final-Winter-Fuel-Grant-Poster-2018-19.pdf>

Completed applications need to be sent to There for You, (WFG) UNISON Centre, 130 Euston Road, London, NW1 2AY by Friday 15 February 2019 at the latest https://www.unison.org.uk/get-help/services-support/there-for-you/

LV

LV= is UNISONs approved Car insurance provider and UNISON members have been enjoying exclusive discounts on LV= Car and Breakdown insurance for many years.

We're excited to now offer UNISON members our new Multi Car policy that gives UNISON members discounts on every car.

With this new multi car policy UNISON members can:

· Add up to 6 cars and 12 drivers on one policy

· Add all cars at the same time, schedule some for later or add them in afterwards

· Choose the cover level and specific optional extras you'd like for each car

· All cars will share the same renewal date

For more information on multi car, breakdown cover, motorbike, classic car and caravan insurance head to https://www.lv.com/UNISON 21820-2018

Vision Express

For January only, exclusive for Unison Members:

- FREE eye test, no minimum spend. Offer valid from 01.01.19 - 31.01.19.

- Current national offer or save £30 on complete glasses

- 3-months supply of soft disposable contact lenses when joining our contact lens direct debit scheme (Complete Contact Care) - terms and conditions apply

- 10% off non prescription sunglasses

- Additional vouchers for a family member or friend HOW TO CLAIM

1. Click http://www.visionexpress.com/unison

2. You will be redirect to a new page

3. Fill out the form to register

4. Your vouchers will be emailed to you

5. Show your vouchers in store

Union Energy

If you're paying more than £1,137 a year for gas and electricity then go to our website to see if you could switch and save at www.unionenergy.co.uk<http://www.unionenergy.co.uk> or telephone 0800 094 9039 quoting Unison.

UNISON Credit Union - Christmas Club Savings Accounts

Membership of London Capital Credit Union is open to any union member in Greater London. Now is the time to start thinking about a Christmas Club for 2019.

If you are about to get a big post-Xmas credit card bill, why not consider a low cost credit union loan to clear your credit card?

Find out more by visiting> https://www.credit-union.coop/index.asp

UNISONProtect, UNISON Prepaid and UNISON Rewards
A summary of some of our products:

* Straightforward insurance for when life gets unexpectedly complicated, including life cover, accident covers and female cancer cover - www.UNISONProtect.com<http://www.UNISONProtect.com>

* Free £5,000 Accidental Death Cover - 12 months of cover for UNISON members aged 18-69. Annually Renewable & Always Free - www.UNISONProtect.com/rs<http://www.UNISONProtect.com/rs>

* UNISON Prepaid Card - Did you know as a UNISON member you can earn unlimited cash back on your everyday shopping at a wide range of major retailers, including Sainsbury's, Argos ASDA and Boots?

For more details and to apply for your card visit www.unisonprepaid.com/winning<http://www.unisonprepaid.com/winning>.

The UNISON Prepaid Plus Cash back Card is arranged by Union Income Ltd.

* UNISON Rewards - Shop online and earn cash back savings from hundreds of retailers, like B&Q, Argos and Tesco.

It's free to join, plus you'll get a FREE £10 Welcome Bonus in your online account! (Terms and conditions apply) Sign up today at www.UNISONrewards.com/bonus<http://www.UNISONrewards.com/bonus>

UNISON an introducer appointed representative of UNISONProtect who arrange all cover and are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The free accidental death cover is underwritten by Advent Insurance PCC Ltd - UIB Cell.

UNISON Croyde Bay Resort
DOUBLE UNISON DISCOUNT - NOW 30% OFF

Includes all dates March 1st - December 1st 2019 Book by March 2nd - full details https://www.croydeunison.co.uk/unison-double-discount/

"Delivering Municipal Socialism" Cllr Clare Coghill - Newham Fabians

"Dear all please note the postponed Newham Fabians talk by Cllr Clare Coghill, Leader of Waltham Forest Council has been rescheduled for 05th March 2019 now. We hope to see many of you there" 
Secretary Cllr Rohit Dasgupta. 

Friday, January 11, 2019

People’s Budget Forums video



"Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz and her Cabinet members have listened to the views of residents and put forward proposals for how Newham Council intends to spend money on what people say is important.
Join us at our next People’s Budget Forums to find out more and have your say. For dates, times and registration, visit www.newham.gov.uk/NewhamPeoplesBudget"


Hat tip #NewhamLondon

Thursday, January 10, 2019

Exiting the EU – Defending our rights and securing our public services

Hat tip http://classonline.org.uk/blog/item/exiting-the-eu-defending-our-rights-and-securing-our-public-services. "For workers in public services, Brexit is a hot topic. Colleagues in the hospital where I work often ask me, ‘what on earth is going on?’ with conversations rarely going beyond what a shambles it all is. In a country that is hugely divided over Europe, there is one issue that appears to unify many remain and leave supporters. That Brexit is a complete and utter mess.

And there’s little wonder public service workers are feeling like this. Nearly two and a half years after the referendum, and only a matter of months before the UK is set to leave the EU, the government is in crisis. It’s unlikely to muster the majority needed to pass its draft Withdrawal Agreement, and May has allowed the meaningful vote in parliament to be delayed until January.

As the largest trade union in the country with 1.3 million members, UNISON cannot accept May’s deal nor a no deal, as both pose a great threat to the workers we represent and the public services they provide.

Although critical of the EU’s agenda, UNISON backed staying in the EU and most trade union members supported us in that call, according to TUC research. We have accepted the result even though we don’t accept some of the claims made by the Leave campaign.

What we cannot accept though is the direction outlined in the political declaration. The Conservative vision is of a free trade deal that would promote a new race to the bottom for workers’ rights, consumer standards and environmental regulation, and open up public services to global liberalisation.

Our members campaigned vigorously against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and other global free trade agreements for the very same reasons. That they would undermine rights and protections along with our key public services, and enable multinationals to challenge those rights and services in opaque courts of arbitration. We cannot allow exiting the EU to take us further down that path.

Protecting workers rights
Many of the rights workers enjoy today resulted from the EU. The transition period in the withdrawal agreement would see current rights safeguarded. However, UK workers would start to fall behind the protections offered to other workers in the EU because only rights implemented before the end of the transition period would apply.

Peace and prosperity in Northern IrelandWith UNISON members crossing our only land border on a daily basis, Northern Ireland and preventing a hard border is key for UNISON. An advocate for peace we are proud of our role in the Good Friday Agreement, and the one we continue to play in promoting peace.

The reckless way that some discounted the impact of peace in Northern Ireland is a disgrace. A hard border would be a disaster and appear to be an unwelcome return to the times of army and police checkpoints.

The backstop position has become the focus of much attention because, as weak as it is, it does make provision for rights not to fall below common EU-UK standards. This border agreement also includes some limited protection for human rights and equality, issues so important to both sides of the community who are dealing with the legacy of conflict.

We fully support the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), representing workers on both sides of the border, whose position is that a no deal scenario is unacceptable.

The future relationship UNISON wants to see
UNISON has created six tests that a future EU-UK deal would have to pass. Based on our annual conference decision, these are aimed at protecting our members’ rights, and public services:
Protect existing health and safety and workers rights through a level playing field of regulations, with a non-regression clause, an enforcement mechanism and accessible dispute mechanism that enforces the adherence and future upgrade on these rights.
Protect public services from a bad economic deal that will prevent growth of the UK economy, continue public service austerity instead of increased funding, lower living standards and offer less training and skills opportunities for workers. 
Keep UK public services out of global trade deals, maintain only the existing beneficial social provisions in public procurement regulations, expand the right to public ownership and the positive use of State Aid. 
Safeguard rights, standards and regulations (e.g. employment, health and safety, consumer and environment) and any new EU measures in the future so that they cannot be weakened in the UK through any future trade deals with non-EU countries like the USA. 
Maintain existing equality and human rights, EU citizen rights, EU freedom of movement.
Prevent a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, uphold the Good Friday Agreement and respect the devolution legislation of the Governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

UNISON does not believe that these tests are met by the proposed deal outlined by the Prime Minister. Labour’s plans though for a comprehensive EU-UK customs arrangement and access to a new single market deal have the best chance of meeting them.

We are therefore calling for a general election and for the election of a Labour government.

But, as the withdrawal date draws nearer, we’re clear that no deal is no option, that an election will take time to hold, and a new deal time to negotiate.

The message from all this is that Parliament needs to take control, seek to extend or withdraw article 50, and work together. This is the only way to prevent the UK crashing out without a deal.

And it’s the only way to resolve the turmoil that currently is Brexit".

James Anthony is a member of UNISON's National Executive Council

Wednesday, January 09, 2019

Newham People’s Budget Forums

Hat tip Newham Council - Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz and her Cabinet members have listened to the views of residents and put forward proposals for how Newham Council intends to spend money on what people say is important.​​​​


join us at one of our Newham People’s Budget Forums to find out how the council is funded, the 2019/20 budget proposals, and​ how you would like to be involved in future budget decisions.
​Community Neighbourhood​Date​Time​Venue
Beckton & Royal Docks​​Wednesday 16 January​6.30-9pmBeckton Community Centre​, 14 East Ham Manor Way, Beckton, E6 5NG
​East Ham​​Monday 21 January​6.30-9pm​Newham Town Hall, Barking Road, East Ham, E6 2RP
​Stratford & West Ham​Thursday 24 January​10.30am- 1pm​Old Town Hall, Stratford, 29 The Broadway, Stratford, E15 4BQ
To register for your place, visit www.newham.gov.uk/PeoplesBudgetForum or email any comments to Peoples.Budget@newham.gov.uk​ 

People's budget proposals 

The Mayor presented her initial 2019/20 people’s budget proposals to Cabinet which include:
  • ​Investing £3m to pay our care staff the London Living Wage 
  • Investing £1.4m into youth services to keep our young people safe
  • ​Investing £6.3m so that primary school children continue to eat for free
  • Investing £10.6m into Children’s Services
  • Investing £1.3m to support children with Special Educational Needs
  • £1.4m to support 19,000 lowest income households by cutting the cost of their Council Tax
  • Investing £390,000 for free bulky waste collections
  • Accelerating social housing delivery with an additional £500,000
  • Investing £250,000 to ensure residents are at the heart of our decision making process.
The proposed investment is influenced by what residents have said, during Citizens’ Assemblies, is important; what councillors say residents have told them are the things they value; and from discussions with partner organisations. The final proposals will be considered by Full Council in February.

Mayor Fiaz said: “Over the past six years, the Government has drastically reduced the funding that we use to deliver services for our residents by almost £91m. In 2019/20 we will need to save at least another £8m lost from Government funding, and we can expect to have to save more in the years after that.

“What we decide now will provide us with a new and different type of budget. It is set to be truly transformative and would allow us to make some of the most radical changes this council has seen in years to the benefit of Newham residents. As well as delivering on manifesto promises, what is being proposed is what residents are saying are priorities; it is a people’s budget.

“And we cannot just think about next year; this has to part of a people’s budget process across the whole four years of this administration. The 2019/20 budget is a transitional one and, if approved, will be a balanced budget.”

To support the 2019/20 proposals, the council needs to make some tough decisions, including a proposed increase in Council Tax of 2.9 per cent alongside a two per cent rise in the precept towards the costs of providing adult social care, while at the same time reducing the burden on those least able to pay.

Councillor Terry Paul, Cabinet member for finance, said: “In terms of cold hard cash, this would mean asking residents for just 89p extra per week at Band D properties to cover the proposed increase in the Newham element of Council Tax. Alongside a planned programme of savings, this will give residents access to a whole raft of additional benefits in services as well as not having to reduce what we spend on libraries, parks, street lighting and cleaning, road repairs and leisure services for example.”

“Newham Council hasn’t asked for any extra Council Tax from residents for the past ten years. This has meant £82m has been unavailable to us that we could have spent on vital services. Whatever we decide, we will make sure the right support is available for the families who are the least able to pay. We will also continue to save as much money as we can by being more efficient in everything we do.”

To protect vulnerable residents against the proposed increase, the Mayor is looking to increase the support available to 19,000 lowest income families with a variety of measures including extending support to tenants dealing with bad landlords and making care leavers exempt from paying Council Tax until the age of 25. There are also proposed changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, which could reduce the amount eligible residents have to pay in Council Tax to just 10 per cent of the bill, potentially saving them almost £120 per year.

Listening to residents is part of the council’s commitment to openness and culture change within the authority. Mayor Fiaz added: “Our successful Citizens’ Assemblies have told us what our residents value. We have listened and this budget will enable us to build on what we offer.”

There will be Citizens’ Assemblies in January for residents to have conversations about the budget proposals. Details will be published on this page www.newham.gov.uk/newhampeoplesbudget​ 

Residents can offer their views on the proposed change to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme through an online survey until 16 January. Currently, households eligible for the scheme pay a minimum of 20 per cent of their Council Tax bill. The consultation will ask whether this should be reduced to 10 per cent, 15 per cent or stay the same.

To take part in the consultation, visit www.newham.gov.uk/CTRconsultation or if you have any questions or would like to request a paper copy of the questionnaire please email CTRconsultation@newham.gov.uk​

(who can say politics doesn't matter)