Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Lola 4 Kent PCC

My branch UNISON member, Lola Oyewusi, is standing for election as the Labour & Co-operative candidate to be the next Kent Police Crime Commissioner. Her campaign launch is on Sunday 10 January 2020. 

 

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Cycling to Cutty Sark

 

Off message. I decided to try and ditch my "fair weather only" cycling reputation by biking in the winter gloom and cold to the Cutty Sark in Greenwich. My favourite route to the south of the borough is via West Ham Park and the Greenway. Across the A13 footbridge into Beckton Park, then Royal Albert Quay then past the Tate and Lyle factory. 

I took the Woolwich Ferry from Pier Road in Newham to Woolwich. I like using the ferry whenever I have the time. You get a free boat trip (okay - only 10 minutes or so) and some great views of the Thames. 

Next a 20 minute bike ride to Greenwich. The Cutty Sark is obviously closed due to Covid restrictions but it was good to see her again. I was meeting an old friend who I hadn't seen in months for a takeaway coffee and walk in the fresh air. 

To our surprise the "Trafalgar Pub" was still open and serving drinks. You had to text or email your order and they brought outside the beer in plastic cups (with lids). It would have been rude not too. 

After a short stroll and gossip (aka putting the world to rights) I cycled back via the Greenwich foot tunnel (entrance right next to Cutty Sark). Luckily both lifts, south and north, were working. The tunnel comes out in Island Gardens, Tower Hamlets. 

From there I went through the Isle of Dogs and then along the Thames path and the Grand Union canal towpath until Victoria Park. Then through the park and along towpath towards Hackney wick, through Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and finally back home via side streets. 

My phone battery died on route so I am not sure how how long or how far I cycled but I think over 10 miles. But it is pretty flat and if pushed for time you could do a more direct route by main road cycle lanes. 

Monday, December 28, 2020

So why is there 104,000 vacancies in the Care Sector?

 

On BBC News this evening there was a report on the 104,000 vacancies in the UK care sector.  There are justifiable worries that future Brexit restrictions on low paid migrants will make this problem much worse. A owner of a care home was interviewed and a representative of the UK Care Home Association. But no one representing actual care workers? 

My niece is a support worker for a residential care home & has had her first #COVID19 #vaccine (great news) but no sign of her being given a #livingwage #pension or #sickpay. No wonder the sector has so many vacancies!

While challenging immigration restrictions is really important all social care employers and commissioners of care should sign up to the UNISON Ethical Care Charter if they are really worried about social care vacancies. 

Sunday, December 27, 2020

"A Promised Land" by Barack Obama

 
I listened to the final episode of Barack Obama reading from his first term Presidential memoirs, "A Promised Land" today on my smart phone and headphones while trying to walk off some Christmas cheer. 

There are ten 15 minute abridged extracts on BBC Sounds (free and downloadable for another 5 weeks) here plus an interview with historian and broadcaster David Olusoga which helped to set the scene. I would suggest that you listen to this first. 

The former President eloquently tells his story about the long hard slog he had to become the Democratic candidate then become elected President (with a little help from the Republican choice for vice President, Sarah Palin, who proved to be pretty useless). 

I had forgotten that he was elected in the midst of the 2007 financial crisis and had to cope with the resulting economic downturn and grapple with continuing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

The passing of the so called "Obamacare" health bill was his greatest political victory but the loss of Democratic control over Congress meant that the Republicans could frustrate and block him implementing further significant reforms. 

If being elected was tough then being President was even tougher with long hours, constantly making stressful decisions and much personal abuse. He was an early US champion on climate change, an improbable Nobel Peace Prize winner (bizarrely nominated after only 2 weeks in office despite being the "Commander in Chief" of American forces fighting two wars) but will always be remembered as the First African American President of the United States America.  

A decent, thoughtful and pragmatic man, who I sense wanted to do much more but was constrained by the very deep political polarisation in American society. I look forward to reading his book (check out Newham Bookshop) and the next one on his second term.  

Friday, December 25, 2020

Nadolig Llawen: Happy Christmas!


Hat tip my favourite Welsh artist, Kyffin Williams and his painting "The Gathering" and in a 2021 post Covid world (fingers and toes) I hope to climb to the top of this same mountain Glyder Fach in Snowdonia. 


Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Happy Birthday Trev

 

Yesterday was the birthday of my Tower Hamlets Housing UNISON colleague, Trevor Dean. Normally we would have gone out for drinks and a curry at Aromas to celebrate. Instead we will have a virtual curry next month on Montrose Matty's birthday which takes place on 15 January to celebrate both. 

Dave Boyle and I will send the curry to both of the birthday boys via internet and we will meet up on zoom. 

You cannot stop Eastenders (new and old) celebrating birthdays with a beer and a curry! 

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

London Councils' All Councillor Covid Webinar - 22 December

 

Tonight I joined a webinar organised by London Councils (which represents all 32 boroughs in London and the City) for a briefing on Covid. 

The meeting was chaired by Labour Leader of Camden, Cllr Georgia Gould, however it was very much a cross party meeting with the  leaders from London Councils Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Independents.  I don't know how many of the 1,851 London Councillors joined but from the "Q&A" box there seemed to be many and from a wide range of Councils

There was a number of speakers from Public Health, NHS and local government. The presentation was pretty scary at the start but I think the significant rise in Covid infections recently in nearly all parts of London (and other parts of the country) is now well known and documented. 

I was pleased that the response to this by the experts while sombre was serious but calm and professional. London is ramping up its testing capacity and appropriate enforcement while also protecting the most vulnerable in hospitals and care homes. 

It was stressed that the NHS is still open and people should not be shy of visiting A&E or for planned treatment. The rates of infection inside hospitals are very low. 

Vaccination is happening and there is plenty of vaccines in stock regardless of problems in Dover and also the supermarkets are confident that there is plenty of food over Christmas. 

The approval of the Oxford vaccine would be a game changer. It was also made very clear that the focus for encouraging the take up of the vaccine should be positive. Pointing out how many lives vaccines have saved and not attacking those who have doubts. 

It was agreed that local Councillors have a vital role to play and they need to engage and explain with their communities about social distancing, testing and vaccines. I hope to do my bit. 

Monday, December 21, 2020

Merry Christmas from Greater London UNISON!

 

This is the front of the card sent out on behalf of Greater London UNISON Regional Council Officers and its Senior Management team by Yvonne Green (Regional Convenor) and Maggie Fermcombe (Regional Secretary). 

"It's been an unprecedented and challenging year with public services on the front line, protecting us and keeping London moving, like never before. Despite the pandemic and the impact it has had on you and your families, your activists and branch officers, you have continued to deliver essential public services to London as well as providing unwavering support to our members during these difficult times. 

On behalf of the Regional Council Officers and the Regional Management Team, we thank you for al your have done and continue to do, we are so proud of all we, in UNISON Greater London have achieved in 2020.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Yvonne and Maggie"

Newham Council Budget Consultation for 2021

 

Check out the wider budget consultation here and the Eat For Free here

Share your views on our 2021/22 budget proposals 

We have written up our proposed budget for 2021/22, and we want to hear what you think about our proposals and our budget priorities.

Our budget report includes:

  • The financial background to the budget 
  • How the  budget supports the council’s Towards a Better Newham recovery and reorientation strategy 
  • Our spending commitments 
  • Our savings proposals 
  • The funding we receive from central Government 
  • Emerging pressures and risks that could affect our future spending 
  • Council tax setting 
  • Our balances and reserves

You can view the Budget report, which was approved by Cabinet on December 1, 2020.  

The proposals 

Our budget proposals aim to support the priorities outlined in our Towards a Better Newham recovery and reorientation strategy – helping the borough to recover from the worst impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, and investing in long-term strategies that will enable Newham’s communities to thrive in the future.

The proposals include: 

  • Investing in education – including £36m for school expansions to create additional spaces for pupils 
  • More than 1,000 new council homes, and improvements to existing homes 
  • £1.5m investment in leisure services 
  • A commitment to keeping each of Newham’s 10 libraries open
  • £11.5m for Brighter Futures, including youth empowerment and early help 
  • £11m to Keep Newham Moving through long-term investment in roads, footpaths and street lighting 
  • Protecting the Council Tax Support Scheme, which helps low income households who are unable to pay 
  • Maintaining weekly waste collections, but introducing an annual charge for garden waste collections 
  • Continuing to pay all staff at least the London Living Wage, and maintaining an ongoing commitment to national terms and conditions 
  • Maintaining our enforcement partnership with the Met Police 
  • Considering raising council tax by up to 5% 
  • Making back-office savings to functions such as council IT and admin 
  • Introducing emissions-based parking permits, with an increase in fees for households with the most polluting vehicles, or additional vehicles 
  • Savings to the Eat for Free primary school meals scheme 
  • Removing the £200 per week cap on adult social care fees

Share your views 

We want to know what you think about our priorities and proposals. How might they impact you, and your community? Are there any residents you think might be more affected by the proposals?

You can share your views by email to newham.budget@newham.gov.uk and we will be holding three public engagement sessions in January 2021 – further details including times, dates and how to register to attend will be published here shortly.

If you are a local business or trader, you can join the Newham Chamber of Commerce briefing on December 16. Further details will be available shortly.

Sunday, December 20, 2020

UNISON says goodbye & thank you to Dave Prentis

 

At the recent UNISON NEC meeting many members thanked Dave for his 40 years of service to the union (20 years as our General Secretary), often giving emotional tributes and wished him well on his retirement. He was presented with honorary Life membership, a "man shed" present for his garden and a plaque that will one day be put on the 9th floor NEC meeting chamber at our UNISON centre - renaming the chamber after him. 

There is an excellent page on our website "Dave Prentis: a life in UNISON".   

At the traditional UNISON NEC/Staff Christmas quiz on Wednesday (sadly held virtually of course - but still fun) there was further testimonials including a suggestion that Dave's scoring at this quiz event had improved greatly in recent years due to Google!  

The new General Secretary of UNISON will be announced on the 11 January 2021. 

(hat tip Miriam for photo) 

Saturday, December 19, 2020

Unreported Deaths - Covid_19 cases in UK Food Processing Plants


 A damning report by PIRC here into the failure of many UK food processing plants (the UK's biggest manufacturing sector) to properly report the deaths of their workers from Covid_19 to the Health & Safety Executive and to take effective action to protect them. 

Private sector pension trustees and Local Government Pension committees (and boards) ought to be pressing their fund managers and advisors to be taking this issue seriously. The reputational and legal risk to investors is potentially huge. 

It is about time the "S" in ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) is taken as seriously as "Environment" and "Governance". 

We have the term "#GreenWashing" to describe the prentence by some fund managers and advisors that they take Environmental issues seriously. 

What can we call those who don't take any real notice of #social issues? 

Friday, December 18, 2020

James Keir Hardie - 120 Years since his election as 1st ever Labour MP (booklet from 2012)


 I was really pleased that I was recently able to respond to a request by the Keir Hardie Society (via a former UNISON colleague) for a pdf copy of the booklet issued in 2012 to mark the 120th anniversary of Keir Hardie's election. He was elected in 1892 for West Ham South and was the first Labour MP in the UK. 

The Keir Hardie Society have now put the pdf on their website where it can be downloaded in full (12 pages on his life and times) 

https://www.keirhardiesociety.org/uploads/3/9/5/5/39556225/016603_keir_hardie_booklet_[v4].pdf

Many thanks to officers from Newham Council's Archives and Local Studies Library for sending me the pdf.

We must repeat the Keir Hardie history tour of Stratford Town Hall and High street that we organised to mark the actual anniversary on 4 July 2012 (West Ham Labour Party and Newham Labour Unions) https://www.johnslabourblog.org/2012/07/keir-hardie-first-labour-mp-120th.html

Thursday, December 17, 2020

Newham Covid Dashboard 16.12.20 & Get tested to keep your loved ones safe (even if you don't have symptoms)



This is not good news Newham. Please get tested even if you don't have symptoms. My wife Gill had common cold symptoms on Sunday and wanted to get checked. We booked on line a drive thru appointment for the same day in East Ham. It took around 20 minutes and she got the results 6am Tuesday (negative). 

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Lyn Brown MP report in West Ham CLP Newsletter

 


Lyn Brown Update

I hope you are all keeping safe and well.  We are sadly still living in very dystopian times, with a lockdown still in place, and many struggling in our communities.  I am so very grateful to so many of you who are out and about, working with charities and in our communities and trying to make a real and positive difference.

So many have lost work already, and many more are likely to be at risk before this crisis ends. I am referring more people to food banks for support.  It is a damning indictment of the Tory Government’s handling of this pandemic and is why those of you who follow my Twitter feed have seen me being so persistent in trying to garner support for West Ham Foodbank’s campaign.  Should any of you not have seen this campaign, or wish to donate, it can be found here.

We all know how hard this is on our children.  Many will be going without toys this year, not understanding that it’s not their fault Father Christmas has forgotten them. This year, AAA charity is again organising a Toy Appeal. If you are able to promote the Toy Appeal or Foodbank campaigns on social media, or to donate, I would be very grateful.

I can see the impact of the ongoing crisis from my casework, which is hugely higher than normal, and normal was already very high. The level of new cases coming in a month is roughly double what it was at the start of the year, and my staff are now sending out almost 1,000 emails a month to constituents just on casework alone, and that doesn’t account for the calls or letters my office have to handle on top.

As a result of those extreme levels of correspondence, we have had to deprioritise responses to policy requests a little. The number of policy letters coming in has also been much higher than normal this year, and it is taking us a much longer to respond to many requests. If you are waiting for a reply, please bear with me.

Since my member’s update in November, I have spoken in Parliament twice. On Monday 23rd I spoke about the human rights abuses and terrible violence that protestors against police brutality and corruption in Nigeria have faced, which you can see here.

I also spoke in an Urgent Question on the Government’s plans to make leaseholders responsible in some circumstances for the bills to make their homes safe from fire.   As we know, the terrible tragedy of Grenfell has exposed the fire risks in many homes across the country and hundreds of constituents are writing to me about their plights. They’re trapped in homes that they’ve been told aren’t safe, they can’t sell because their homes are effectively worthless and the Tories expect them to foot the bill to put it right. I’ve managed to secure a meeting with the Minister to argue our case.

You can see everything I do in Parliament by signing up to e-mail alerts at TheyWorkForYou.

I am sorry that this newsletter is not full of festive fun and greetings.  I will try and make up for that with an e-card just before Christmas

Until then, please stay safe and keep well and thank you all for what you do in and for our communities

Lyn

https://www.lynbrown.org.uk/ 


Monday, December 14, 2020

Reinstate Sharon Morgan - Trade Union rep sacked by London Design and Engineering School in Royal Docks

 

What a dreadful story. A teacher trade union rep sacked for undertaking a staff welfare survey. What bullying behaviour. Her union makes an emergency application to an employment tribunal which finds that the school has acted "morally reprehensible" and ordered the school to pay her full wages until a full hearing next year (which take it from me is a rare order by a tribunal. The evidence must be pretty overwhelming).

Check out the Newham Recorder story and sign the petition below:-

"At the start of this term, teacher and NEU rep Sharon Morgan was summarily dismissed from her job by London Design and Engineering UTC.

Sharon was sacked without due process, with no formal investigation or a hearing where she could put her case.

At an employment tribunal the judge described LDE’s behaviour as “morally reprehensible” and LDE subsequently agreed to reinstate Sharon. But the next day LDE changed their mind and refused to reinstate her.

In reality, Sharon was sacked for helping NEU members stand up for better working conditions for staff, in the interests of the whole school community. This is trade union victimisation and it’s unacceptable.

The sacking of Sharon is an attack on all trade unionists at LDE, in Newham, and everywhere".

(Picture Credit: Ed Lewis, Newham Recorder)

Sunday, December 13, 2020

Get Tested To Keep Your Loved Ones Safe

 

This morning my wife Gillian, booked online a "drive thorough" test at Newham Leisure Centre.   She has been feeling poorly for a number of days with classic common cold symptoms (congestion, blocked noise and some coughing fits) but her temperature is fine and she still has her sense of taste and smell. 

However, she decided to have a test and managed to book one on the same day (Sunday). It was very Covid secure but no real fuss and it took about 15 minutes. 

Coincidentally I had my latest ONS national Covid survey swab and blood test today at home. 

So if your local authority recommends you to get tested even if you don't have all the symptoms then do so - why not? 

A run around east London lakes

 

Friday I went for a fairly early morning solo run around Wanstead flats and park (Epping Forest). There was still some mist round and spots of winter sunshine which made it pretty magical. 

Newham - Voting for Change Launch Event

On Tuesday evening there was a well attended virtual launch of the Newham Campaign for a Committee Structure. 

In May 2021 there will be a referendum of all Newham residents on whether they want to keep the Executive Mayor governance model or introduce a Committee model. 

I missed the 1st half due to a trade union clash but below is the "Live Tweet" of the event @ForNewham. 

Our launch meeting is underway…

Cllr Ruth Dombey of Sutton Council, which runs on the committee system, is telling us how it works in practice.

Cllr Dombey says ALL councillors are involved in decision-making through membership of committees. Scrutiny is good, but it’s done best when the decisions are taken.

Democracy is done best when it’s done in the open.

Helal Abbas from Tower Hamlets is next (former Labour Leader). They are having a referendum too, and he will be talking about campaigning to change away from their mayoral model.

Helal Abbas says he has experience under all three governance models, and the directly elected mayor is the worst, “electoral dictatorship.”

Cllr Andrew Ansell from Basildon is speaking now. His council has recently moved to a committee model. It was a way to empower councillors and involve them more in the decision-making process.

Cllr Ansell says there is more accountability and more transparency in the committee system.

One of the best things about the system is member engagement and participation. “Teamwork makes the dream work.”

Our final speaker is Ruth Hubbard from the Sheffield It’s Our City campaign, which collected 26,000 signatures to call a referendum to change from a leader/cabinet model to the committee system.

Governance is not just a technical thing, it’s fundamental to the life and values of a community.

Other ‘strong leader’ models are about executive power, concentrated in the hands of a small group of councillors

People expect that the councillors they elect will have a say in decision-making, but in strong leader models most don’t. The committee system empowers voters.

Inclusive decision making is better than scrutiny after the fact.

Cllr Bob Littlewood from Redbridge wishes our campaign the best of luck. He hopes his borough will follow our example. 

Saturday, December 12, 2020

Count me in! When it's my turn, I'm getting Vaccinated! Goodbye Covid


 

London's oldest football ground needs a new clubhouse roof


"The Old Spotted Dog Ground Trust is launching an appeal for urgent funds - £15,000 is needed to fix the clubhouse roof at Clapton CFC’s new home in Forest Gate.

The Old Spotted Dog is London’s oldest senior football ground and Clapton CFC became the new owners in July 2020. We have since begun the work of reversing two decades of neglect.

A roof leak caused part of the clubhouse ceiling to collapse before we took over. Since then our inventive volunteers have tried multiple methods to stop the leak, including roofing felt, heavy-duty tarpaulin and even an industrial-strength rubber ‘roof condom’.

A permanent roof replacement is a vital step that allows critical repair work, including replacing the condemned electrics, to take place. Without this, there is a real question mark hanging over our ability to bring football back to the Old Spotted Dog Ground next season.

Why does this matter?

Since July we have made huge strides forward on improving the pitch, but we have only begun recently to fully understand the other challenges we face. As things stand with the leak and the wiring situation, we cannot safely have people working in the clubhouse.

A functioning clubhouse is a key component of the FA’s ground grading requirements. To be ready for an FA inspection in early 2021, we must make these repairs on a very tight timetable, Therefore we cannot wait to secure grants or other sources of funding.

In addition to being passed as ready for our matchdays, we aim for the clubhouse to become a warm and welcoming community hub for the people of Newham, with the emphasis on warm!

What will our donations pay for?

We will spend every penny we raise up to £15,000 on replacing the roof, a really ambitious target.

If we are able to exceed the target, or if a more competitive quote for the repair is found, we will spend any extra funds raised on rewiring the clubhouse and completing other works needed to open the clubhouse.

Please share this urgent appeal, tag @OSDGroundE7 on Twitter and @ClaptonCFC everywhere else!

Friday, December 11, 2020

How to Rent (and possibly avoid being evicted)

 



Hat tip blog "Nearly legal" (I had no idea of this requirement nor that a landlord cannot serve a section 21 eviction notice if they do not provide a copy to a tenant.

"MHCLG has published a new ‘How to Rent Guide’ today, 10 December 2020. As a reminder, for any post 1 October 2015 assured shorthold tenancy, or ‘renewal’ tenancy (where the guide as been updated), the tenant must be provider with the How to Rent Guide, and that must be the most recent version at the time of the tenancy start (or if served later, likely a later version would do), or the landlord cannot serve a section 21 notice. It has to be provided to the tenant in hard copy, unless the tenant has expressly agreed to a PDF version by email. Sending the tenant a link will not do.

Intriguingly, as well as including the electrical safety regulations, this version notes the forthcoming ending of section 21 but cautions section 21 is still valid in the meantime…"

Thursday, December 10, 2020

Lola for Labour Kent Police & Crime Commissioner May 2021


I was pleased to see that my UNISON branch comrade Lola Oyewusi has been selected by the Labour Party to be their candidate to be the next Kent Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) in the elections in May 2021. 

Lola understands that she will be the first black female candidate for any PCC election in England. 

Greater London UNISON Labour Link will be supporting Lola (her employer headquarters are in London but she lives and works in Kent) but she will need local help and support. 

Check out https://www.facebook.com/LolaForKentPCC

Picture in bottom right of collage is of Lola being supported by West Ham MP, Lyn Brown (& a couple of her local activists) in the 2019 local elections.  

Wednesday, December 09, 2020

LAPFF webinar highlights video 2020 Dec 2-4

Check out highlights of the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum virtual conference for 2020 (only 1 minute 40 secs). Despite the challenges of online webinars there was a number of excellent speakers and lively panel debates. 

Check out some provocative statements from different speakers on varied subjects such as "the only bank willing to do business with Donald Trump...ending up with heroin in a vending machine...everyone wants to talk about achieving Net Zero but not about the social consequences...Covid is a signal that we are not managing the planet...companies are not publishing the Covid deaths of their workers since it is "not a very nice statistic"...Covid has made us realise how reliant we are on workers who are not well paid"

Lets look forward to the possibility of attending a physical conference next year in lovely Bournemouth. 

I will post a LAPFF report on the conference later including the session I moderated on Workforce engagement with representatives from the TUC, FRC and an actual real life worker director on a company board. . 


Tuesday, December 08, 2020

UNISON Housing Association Branch Manager / Organiser post & Branch Organiser posts


My Greater London UNISON branch are currently advertising for two positions on the TUC/Jobs website

Branch Manager / Organiser
Salary
£41,250 per annum
Closing date
Sun, 03 Jan 2021 - 22:00

Branch Case worker / Organiser
Salary
£37,250
Closing date
Sun, 20 Dec 2020 - 22:00

Job location: London
Hours: Full-Time

About this Role

UNISON Housing Associations Branch has a long history of representing members across the social housing field and is responsible for supporting over 3,000 members in 150 housing associations throughout Greater London and the South East region.

*N.B This post is a branch vacancy – it is not a National UNISON employed post.* Check TUC/Jobs website for further details

Monday, December 07, 2020

"Why my council is refusing to help the Home Office deport rough sleepers" Emine Ibrahim


Hat tip to an excellent article in the Guardian by my UNISON comrade and Housing Lead for Haringey Council, Cllr Emine Ibrahim. I am sure that Newham Council will support this but I was not allowed to bring this issue up at last weeks Cabinet meeting which was a real shame.

"The plan to deport homeless non-UK nationals punishes the most vulnerable in society. It has no place in our borough

I wasn’t surprised to learn of the Home Office’s plan to make rough sleeping grounds for the deportation of some non-UK nationals. We all know about the department’s recent history – the impacts of the Windrush scandal are still raw, and a recent report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission found that the Home Office had broken the law. But that doesn’t mean we are going to accept it in our borough.

Last week, the London borough of Haringey, where I am a councillor, decided to take a stand. We feel the new Home Office rules are discriminatory and so we said that we won’t be collaborating with it on these rule changes.

There may be those who think that this is just the attitude of “hard left” councillors or the “do-gooders” (to quote the prime minister) of “north London” (to quote the home secretary). But look past the caricatures of this part of the capital city and you’ll see something else. The political experiences that brought many of us here are stories of seeking refuge. This might include family stories of fleeing the Holocaust; personal histories of exile from former Yugoslavia; Kurds, Somalis and others leaving perilous situations in the Middle East and Horn of Africa; and those who fled homophobia and domestic violence. Stories like these run through our family, friends and neighbours.

My family arrived in north London in the 1960s and 70s, escaping the descent of their homeland, Cyprus, into conflict in the years following British colonial rule. I left my birthplace in south-east London as a child with my sister and mum in the middle of the night in 1986, when Mum sought refuge with relatives in Haringey after a sudden family breakdown. We faced the homelessness that is now familiar to many families on waiting lists across London. Haringey was there for us. The borough that the late Bernie Grant – then head of the council – led was our haven. I know similar experiences motivate many of my fellow councillors.

This is why we will do all in our power to keep it that way for people at their most vulnerable. When our outreach workers gently wake someone sleeping rough in the middle of the freezing night and ask if they’re OK and if they want somewhere warm to sleep, the badge they show them is there to seek trust, give assurance and change their lives. It isn’t to strike fear into them that they will be deported.


New rules on removing foreign rough sleepers from UK face legal challenge

Read more


Many people sleeping rough have faced exploitation and unbelievably difficult personal challenges. Councils across London work doggedly to help them find safety and stability.

As a result of the pandemic, many more people are having difficulty in paying their rent and bills, and keeping up mortgage payments. The authorities should be relieving, not adding, to their distress. The reality is that many people are just a lost job or family crisis away from housing insecurity or homelessness.

Since March, Haringey has been working with partners to provide support and emergency accommodation to more than 800 people who faced sleeping rough. Overcrowded housing and sofa-surfing meant many came to us for the first time. We saw the reality of the hidden homelessness that we knew existed. We now have the lowest number of people on our streets that we have seen in years, but we still must work tirelessly. Many of those that we are trying to support into more secure accommodation are non-UK nationals who do not have recourse to public funds.

Last week, I joined our outreach team on our annual rough sleeping count, when workers and volunteers walk the borough to locate and offer help to people who are sleeping on the streets. Two wonderfully committed women and I went out with torches on what felt like a foggy, Dickensian night. We found someone rough sleeping on Tottenham Green, gently gained his trust and got him a taxi to accommodation nearby. More than half of the people we met that night had not been born in the UK.

The passion our rough sleeping team have is boundless; they genuinely care and are incredibly skilled. What they are not is an extension of the Home Office. Local government has over decades seen the gradual extension of the hand of immigration enforcement undermine trust in the services we deliver.

The hostile environment – which has since been rebranded as the compliant environment – is a scandal. It treats those who weren’t born here, or look like they might not have been born here, with suspicion, forcing them through bureaucratic punishment. And it’s all for politics. As charities and lawyers have said, in a letter to the home secretary, going after foreign-born rough sleepers will punish victims of modern slavery and may send women back to dangerous situations in countries that they have fled.

We are awaiting details on what the precise duties imposed by the government on local authorities will be regarding rough sleepers. The Home Office says it will be “used sparingly”, but how can we trust the department given its track record? When sharing information with other organisations, our priority will always remain safeguarding and tackling inequality. The Home Office’s policy is not about helping but punishing the most vulnerable in our society. It has no place in Haringey.

• Emine Ibrahim is a Labour councillor for Haringey and cabinet member for housing and estate renewal

Sunday, December 06, 2020

The danger of a single story | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Tomorrow and Tuesday I am taking part in a UNISON ERA (Employment Rights Act) refresher training via zoom. 

As part of the preparation for the courses the Tutor from (conel.ac.ukhas asked us to watch beforehand this marvellous video of the writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Well worth a watch. 

These are the questions we will have to answer tomorrow. 

1.What questions or thoughts did it evoke in you? 

2.What’s our role as trade unionists in the workplace and in society? 

3.How can we ensure that the “whole story” is considered? 



Saturday, December 05, 2020

Post 2nd Lockdown circular walk around Little Baddow, Essex

 

Off message and hat tip to "Walking in Essex" by Peter Aylmer but today Gill and I went for a lovely 5 mile walk around Little Baddow, Essex, which is around 45 minutes drive from Forest Gate. The full walk is 10 miles but we split it in two. 

This is one of the hilliest parts of Essex and there are many stunning landscape views but also everywhere, there was wonderful Essex big skies vista. The mostly blue skies and sunshine helped. 

We saw onroute one muntjac deer, grey squirrels and many pheasants, 

There was a slight problem that the River Chelmer was flooded (ses collage) so we had to make detours but with membership of OS Maps online you can find out where you are via your smartphone and see what alternative routes you can use. 

It was sad to read in our guidebook that Lady Alice Mildmay (of Little Baddow Hall see top left) haunts a bridge we crossed where she killed herself in 1615 "to escape her husbands unkindness". 

Apparently also that Baddow Manor used to belong to Scottish King (or rebel)  "Robert the Bruce"


Friday, December 04, 2020

"Why you should get a seasonal flu vaccine this year" it's even Vegan!

 

Following this advice from Public Access Gill and I went for a free seasonal flu injection at our local Pharmacy. 

"Last month Public Health England warned that people who had been infected with both flu and COVID-19 faced serious consequences.

Their analysis of cases from January to April 2020 found people with both viruses are more than twice as likely to die as someone with coronavirus alone.

But Dr Tomar said more evidence is still needed. "The evidence comes from a study with small numbers, just 58 people, carried out in the UK at the start of the pandemic," he explains.

"Again, more evidence is needed before we really know how things pan out if you contract both viruses at once. But from what we do know, your symptoms will be more severe, and it may take you longer to get better".

It is now free for everyone (in England?) if over 50 but if younger check here. If you are not eligible I understand that Chemists will charge around £15 per jab. 

Gill did not feel the injection at all and I had only very mild discomfort. The team at Shermans in Forest Gate were very professional and Covid Safe. You need to make an appointment beforehand. 

Update: after a friend on Facebook said she could not have the jab since it was not veitarian I found out that this Flu jab called Flucelvax Tetra is actually Vegan!

Newham Council Pension Fund wins LAPF "Good Governance Award"

 

Good Governance Award

Winner: London Borough of Newham

Finalists
Essex Pension Fund
London Borough of Newham
West Midlands Pension Fund

I was really pleased to see that Newham won this award on Tuesday.  Great work by the Pension Committee Chair, Cllr Nareser Osei, other members of the Committee and the Pension Board, Officers and advisors. A team effort. 

However, this shows how effective Councils committees can be and also show how trade union representation on both the Pension Committee and the Board improves good governance.  

Thursday, December 03, 2020

LAUNCH OF THE NEWHAM CAMPAIGN FOR A COMMITTEE STRUCTURE – Tuesday 8th December 7pm

"Join us on Zoom for a public online meeting to launch Newham Voting for Change – the campaign for a committee structure in Newham. 

In May 2021 Newham will hold a referendum on how the local council is run. We are campaigning for the committee system, which is more 

OPEN 
REPRESENTATIVE 
DEMOCRATIC 
ACCOUNTABLE 

We’ll be joined by: 

➢ Ruth Hubbard, Sheffield It’s Our City – Sheffield Council will also be holding a referendum on changing to a committee structure and Ruth will talk about the successes of the Sheffield campaign. 

➢ Cllr Ruth Dombey, Leader of Sutton Council (Lib Dems) – Ruth will talk about how Sutton Council works with the committee structure. 

➢ Cllr Andrew Ansell, Basildon Councillor (Labour) – Andrew will talk about how Basildon Council operates day to day with a committee system in place. 

➢ Speaker from the Tower Hamlets referendum campaign – TBC. 

Chair: Josephine Grahl, Newham Voting for Change All welcome | Tuesday 8th December | 7-8pm register for the meeting on Zoom"

check out  https://twitter.com/ForNewham, Website https://newhamforchange.org/ and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/newhamvotingforchange 

(there is an official flyer with a very nice but rather boring logo. I much prefer mine)

Wednesday, December 02, 2020

West Ham Socialist Bakery & Red Flag Chocolate

 



Hat tip Country Standard. A fantastic historical clipping from "Labour Leader" newspaper Thursday 9 January 1913. The "Socialist and Labour Movement in West Ham" (now Newham) had set up a co-operative bakery not only to provide quality food and raise money for elections and Socialist Sunday Schools but also to provide employment for elected Councillors. Because of their political and trade union activities they were at risk of "victimisation by employers". 



Also this clipping from Thursday 15 April 1915 about a planned visit to the bakery and to "Red Flag Chocolate". 



Tuesday, December 01, 2020

Ffermwr gyda Ffon mewn Storm Eira/Farmer with a Stick in a Snowstorm by Kyffin Williams (& World Aids Day)

 

Another print from a calendar published by National Library of Wales featuring the works of Welsh Artist, Kyffin Williams.

I have been posting the paintings each month.

This is Rhagfyr December 2020 and of course today December 1 is World Aids Day.

#GreatNationWales