The Gas Workers’ and General Labourers’ Union was formed #OTD 1889

For all my Boiler Makers friends and comrades. The predecessor to the GMB Union was formed on this day in Beckton Gas works, what is now in Newham, London by future West Ham Mayor and MP, Will Thorne. 

Hat tip @englishradical 

Understanding Pensions: TUC Union Course

 

I can remember my first ever TUC pensions course held many, many moons ago at Congress House. Jonathan Jefferies has also been my tutor on other TUC courses. 

Next to pay, pensions are probably the most important of your terms and conditions at work. All Union reps need to have some knowledge of pensions. It is actually not that complex or difficult. You just need a bit of training, support from your branch or region and common sense. 

NO PAY OFFER for NHS staff in Northern Ireland! Strike Actionfor 24 hrs on Friday the 31st and Monday the 3rd of April.

 

"NO PAY OFFER for NHS staff in Northern Ireland! NHS staff in Northern Ireland will NOT be getting offered any pay rise . UNISON will be taking all out strike action for 24hrs on Friday the 31st and Monday the 3rd of April".

Let us all support this action on Friday and Monday for UNISON comrades in Northern Ireland

Ruthin 10k circular

Off message. Recently Gill and I took time out from family matters for this recent walk in Wales around the ancient hilltop market town of Ruthin, Vale of Clwyd. 

We found the walk on the Ordnance Survey app. Starting from the town centre going north along the Afon (River) Clwyd, cut across to Rhewl then along the fast flowing valley path by Afon Clywedog. At footbridge (yes, you have a right of way) cross over and continue pretty straight back to Ruthin with some great views. 

It was typical Welsh, early spring sunshine and showers (some heavy), muddy in parts but only wished we were wearing gaiters on one occasion. Fantastic skies. Recommended walk, mostly flat but a bit of up and down and also some styles to climb. 

Will post more pics on my Country walking Facebook page. 

10th anniversary collapse of Rana Plaza garment factory Bangladesh: 1100 dead

Webinar on Global Company–Trade Union Agreements: A proxy for regulatory compliance & due diligence

As someone who has worked on and off in the borough for 30 years (I was there today) and been a trade union representative for most of this time on the Tower Hamlets Council Pension Committee (then its Pension Board), I can remember the shock of hearing about the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory. 1100 workers dead and many more injured in the quest for super cheap clothing for British and other Western retail stores.

Newham also has a significant Bangladesh community but I am sure that everyone was horrified at these needless deaths. The role of local trade unions is key to avoiding future disasters. I am more than happy to be chairing this important meeting.

Register here

"19 April at 3pm UK / 4pm CET

Next month marks the 10th anniversary of the collapse of Rana Plaza garment factory complex in Bangladesh, in which over 1,100 garment workers were killed. In the years since the tragedy, several promising initiatives have taken shape, involving collaboration between global labor unions and multinational brands, binding agreements and remedy mechanisms. These are part of an emerging model of supply chain industrial relations, and they include the International Accord for Health & Safety in the Textile & Garment Industry and ACT on Living Wages.

Learning lessons from the failures of “social auditing” and factory certification schemes, this newer model is centered on workers’ rights and company accountability for violations of these rights. Negotiated, binding agreements can also serve as a reliable proxy for investors for regulatory compliance as mandatory human rights due diligence (mHRDD) laws emerge.

And yet, despite its failures, social auditing persists, and proposed mHRDD laws even risk being weakened if such “private voluntary regulation” is allowed to substitute for true due diligence.

Against this backdrop, IndustriALL has commissioned a technical brief that delves into negotiated, binding agreements between business and trade unions, making the case that, besides reducing human rights risks to workers, they can mitigate business risk for investors in the new regulatory landscape. IndustriALL and LAPFF are pleased to invite you to an investor webinar on 19 April at 3pm (UK), where we will present the brief and hear worker and investor perspectives on this model.

The webinar will be chaired by Cllr John Gray from the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum and will include speakers from Due Diligence Design, Aviva Investors, IndustriALL Global Union and Bangladesh Garment & Industrial Workers Federation (BGIWF)."

"Trouble in Mill" Clarion Housing Group Pay and Pensions Disputes

 

1. Update on Pay dispute and ballot

Following the rejection of the UNISON pay claim for 2023/24 and the imposition of pay cuts by Clarion (resulting in pay being cut in real terms by somewhere between 5 to 8.2% below inflation during the worse cost of living crisis on record). UNISON are balloting members on the offer/imposition.

 
Your Clarion UNISON stewards committee unanimously recommend that members reject this "offer" and also that members consider industrial action including strike action over this issue. We have never done this before.

The ballot will be sent out on Tuesday 28 March and will last 3 weeks (due to easter holidays). There will be meetings for Unison members and all staff every day next week and beyond.

 
UNISON remains absolutely committed to dialogue and negotiation and is willing to meet up with management ASAP to try and resolve this issue and avoid a dispute.

 
2nd update is on the DB pensions debacle.

Members can contact Unison@clarionhg.com for further details. Non members can join unison here https://join.unison.org.uk/...

2. Update on dispute over Defined Benefit Pensions

It is incredible that at this time Clarion have provoked another serious dispute on top of pay by trying to impose quite massive increases in pension contributions with some members facing paying a staggering 30.3% of their pay to stay in the scheme.

UNISON has obviously objected to these demands and put forward constructive counter proposals which have been ignored by Clarion who have even completely breached the written agreement on disputes between UNISON and Clarion.

UNISON will be giving advice to members on next steps tomorrow (Monday 27.3.23)

Members can contact Unison@clarionhg.com for further details. Non members can join unison here https://join.unison.org.uk/...

Check out https://www.facebook.com/clarionunison and @unisonclarion (website is also under construction)

NHS Pay offer - UNISON 2023 ballot : Gordon McKay

An intelligent and convincing guest post by UNISON Health NEC member (and real life NHS nurse) Gordon McKay on the latest NHS pay offer to settle the strikes. I am so proud of my UNISON NHS comrades such as Gordon and LAS Eddie Brand, who have not only delivered a significant victory for NHS workers but also a road map for other public service workers to win similar claims. I declare an interest in this road map in my current UNISON pay dispute with my employer.

"After a sustained campaign of industrial action by a number of our health branches UNISON have forced the UK Tory Government to make a significantly higher pay offer to English NHS workers after saying the previous offer was final and would not be increased.

Last Autumn the Tories gave NHS workers a £1,400 pay increase even although inflation, particularly on food, energy and housing was running significantly higher.

UNISON’s response was to ballot all our NHS members in England but disappointingly even with all of the hard work put in by branches and members, due to the savage balloting restrictions placed on trade unions by this Tory Government only eight UNISON branches got over the 50% turnout threshold to make strike action legal.

The response from supporters of Time for Real Change in our union was to simply ballot everyone again, not withstanding the cost, the limits on branch activists and staff and the previous results. I argued instead we should target re-ballots on several branches to allow us to concentrate our resources in the branches that had gotten nearest to the threshold figure. The Health Group Executive agreed and we re-balloted ten health branches and in a great show of success we got nine of these ten branches to not only vote for industrial action but to do so in large enough numbers to get us over the legal thresholds to allow us to take action.

Six days of strike action by our members took place between December 21 2022 and February 10 2023. That industrial action and hard negotiating have now resulted in the Tories increasing their offer. As well as the original £1,400 an additional lump sum beginning at £1,655 for the lowest paid and rising through the bands has been offered. On top of that a pay rise of 5% for 2023/24 has ben offered even although the Tories had originally told the Pay Review Body only 3.5% would be on the table. Additionally, a pay increase of 10.4% has been won for the lowest paid.

What I wont pretend to people is that we have won everything our members deserve but due to the courage of members who took action and strong negotiating this right wing Tory Government have been forced to make significant concessions they vowed they wouldn’t do.

It is now up to our members to decide as it should be. Members will receive their electronic ballot papers via an email link and voting will run from March 28 to April 14. I will listen to and support our members in whatever decision they take. Our members are there when we need them in their daily jobs. I promise I will be there when they need our union to support them".

Gordon McKay

Margaret Gray, nee Matthews 1941-2023

Helen, Lucy and I lost our Mum on Tuesday evening. She died at her home in Ruthin peacefully in her sleep. She had been in poor health for quite some time but we did not expect to lose her so soon.

The picture of Mum pushing one of us in a pram, shows her looking young and glamorous. She always said that she was at her happiest when looking after us.

We would like to invite family and friends to her funeral service which will take place at 1pm Thursday 6 April at St Mary’s Church, Lenton Pool, Denbigh LL16 3LG.

The burial will be at 2pm at Denbigh Cemetery, Ystrad Rd, Denbigh LL16 4RH.

The Wake will take place after in Guildhall Tavern, Hall Square, Denbigh LL16 3NU. Please confirm if able to attend for catering purposes john.gray2012@icloud.com

Funeral directors RW Roberts & Son, Gorffwysfa, Ystrad Rd, Denbigh, LL16 4RH.

Flowers welcome or donations to Hope House Children’s Hospice

(hopehouse.org.uk)

John, Helen & Lucy Frisby

Grandchildren Matthew, Rachel, Hannah & David. Great Grandchildren Evan & Rohan

125th Anniversary of the 1st Ever "Labour" Council - West Ham 1 November 1898 - 2023

 

I have posted in the past on former Cllr George Coe on my blog, https://www.johnslabourblog.org/2015/05/west-ham-municipal-elections-1893-now.html and https://www.johnslabourblog.org/2020/10/socialist-labour-west-ham-cllr-george.html .

I now have further information from his Grandson and it appears that this year (2023) is the 125^th anniversary of the 1^st “Labour” council in West Ham and I believe the UK.

I think we ought to organise something to mark the occasion. I have contacted Newham Labour Group and local Labour Colleagues about how we can celebrate this important anniversary. Watch this space.

(note pamphlet is from 100th anniversary in 1998)

Why are 45% of leaders white high social class men while only 1% are working class black women?

 A very powerful statistic provided by "Progress Together" which aims to "work to create a financial services sector in the UK in which EVERYONE working in it is both enabled and has the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

The measure of success will be: Greater levels of socio-economic diversity at senior levels, across our membership".

West Ham Park Street Survey

 

In West Ham, the ward I represent as a Newham Councillor (E15 postcode), a consultation and survey is taking place on "seeking local views on issues relating road safety, air quality, walking, cycling, and traffic in the area". This survey (and proposals) appears to have most impact on residents in Forest Gate South ward (I think E7 Postcode) but many of my constituents will also have a view.

The survey was is now live for 3 weeks and will close on Saturday 1st April 2023. I have already taken part online and it was quite straight forward and took about 5 mins. I want as many residents as possible to take part. 

A map of the consultation area (see top) and link to survey is available here: https://newhamco-create.co.uk/en/projects/westhampark

Postcard/paper version of the survey should have been delivered to all addresses in the West Ham Park consultation area over the weekend (see bottom).

Ward Councillors have been invited to a MS teams briefing by Council officers on Wednesday 22nd March 2023. "This will allow us to address any comments you may have received from the public regarding the consultation". My next Council surgery is Saturday 18 March 10-11am at the Vicarage Lane Community centre or email/ring via the Newham Council website (search find your councillor)

 

Dan Tomlinson for Chipping Barnet

 

It was great to attend fundraising dinner last week for the Labour candidate in Chipping Barnet, Dan Tomlinson. I went with my UNISON colleague (and political secretary to London Labour Link) Joel Bodmer. 

Dan was supported by @unisonglr #LabourLink committee during his successful selection process to be the official Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Chipping Barnet. 

Dan gave an inspiring speech on his local background, wider life experience and what he can offer the people of Chipping Barnet if elected as their MP.

Some great speeches also by London Assembly member Unmesh Desai and Rushanara Ali MP. 

My run of luck in Labour Party raffles continued and I for the second time in a row I won first prize in the (enviable) raffle. I choose a bottle of House of Lords whiskey, signed by the very good friend of UNISON, David Lammy MP. 

"Over-55s braced to work into their 70s as cost-of-living bites"

 A dreadful story. While some of us may want to think about working after retirement, nearly all of us would want to have the choice and not be forced to work until we drop. The answer is greater financial support by employers and government for pensions.

Check out this report in HR news https://hrnews.co.uk/over-55s-braced-to-work-into-their-70s-as-cost-of-living-bites/

• "Over a quarter (26%) of over-55s in work think they will still be working in their 70s
• 44% say the cost-of-living crisis has made retirement impossible
• Yet just 37% have a financial plan for retirement; only 43% know how much is in their pension

Over a quarter of over-55s believe they will still be working in their 70s, with the majority lacking a financial plan for retirement, new research by My Pension Expert has revealed.

The UK’s leading at-retirement adviser commissioned an independent survey of 2,000 UK adults. It found that the cost-of-living crisis has significantly impacted retirement plans, with 44% of over-55s in work believing it has made retirement impossible.

Over a third (37%) say the current economic climate has derailed their financial plans. Over a quarter (26%) think they will still be working in their 70s.

My Pension Expert’s research showed that, while Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is urging over-55s to either remain in work or re-enter the workforce, for millions, they do not feel they have a choice either way. Just 35% of over-55s think they will be able to retire when they want to.

The survey also revealed that many over-55s are not sufficiently prepared for stopping work. Less than half (43%) know how much they have saved in their pensions, and even fewer (37%) have a financial plan in place for retirement...".

UNISON Greater London Labour Link Regional Forum 2023

This week we had our UNISON Regional Labour Link Forum meeting for Greater London delegates in our headquarters in Camden.

Labour Link is the UNISON Political fund affiliated to the Labour Party which members decide whether or not they wish to join. 

I am the elected Chair of the Regional Committee so I Chaired this Forum meeting with Vice Chair Yvonne Green. In my opening remarks, I did welcome recent opinion polls which appear to show that Labour will win the next General election but cautioned everyone that the Tories are the most successful election winning machine in Western Europe and we underestimate them at our peril. 

Saying that, we should be now planning what to do in power, since it may happen soon. Almost definitely within 18 months. 

Our guest speaker was the Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Uxbridge & South Ruislip, Danny Beales. He was nominated by our committee and is standing against a certain part time MP, Boris Johnson. Good luck to Danny and his team!

Next we had our work plan, campaigning, financial report, Labour unions report, motions (Great debates and a honest exchange of views) This resulted in 2 great motions being passed and selected to be sent to National Labour Link Forum. 

A series of in person UNISON canvass and virtual "dialogue" sessions are being planned for the May local elections (not in London this  year) so watch this space. We will be supporting our members who are standing for Council seats whenever possible. Full training and support offered to new canvassers. 

International Women’s Day: Protecting Women's Right to Strike

 

"It’s fitting that today, 8th March, is International Women’s Day and it was also going to be one of the most important strikes in UNISON history, if the government hadn’t finally given into pressure thanks to the four days of action taken by our ambulance members and the thousands of members set to join the action. 

UNISON is the women’s union, we have over 1 million women members and women are disproportionately the lowest paid in the public sector as well as carrying out some of the most important roles. We are proud to have our first woman General Secretary, Christina McAnea, leading from the front and standing on picket lines shoulder to shoulder with these workers these past few months. 

The NHS pay dispute is about ensuring that our members, including predominantly women carrying out roles as healthcare assistants, nurses, cleaners, administrators and paramedics, can pay their bills, look after their families and be fairly paid for keeping the public safe. These women are also fighting for the NHS, for safe staffing levels and to hold the government to account. 

Instead of spending the last few months trying to resolve the dispute, the government instead launched heinous anti-strike legislation- which has only this week been condemned for failing to meet the UK’s human rights obligations. 

The legislation, enforcing minimum service levels, will disproportionately impact on Women’s rights- and as the largest women’s union, we know this all too well. Public services with a predominantly female workforce including health and education would have their rights affected by the bill.

The schools workforce is 75% women, with 89% of support staff women. In the NHS, 77% of the workforce are women and 82% are women in social care. This bill is a direct attack on UNISON members and our right to campaign for pay and better terms & conditions. 

UNISON will continue to campaign for every woman that has taken industrial action over the past few months and for their right to strike. This government can’t be allowed to continue to attack workers and the rights of women.

Abiola Kusoro - London NHS Hospital Worker

 

UNISON Community Conference 2023 - Day 2

I posted on Day 1 here on the UNISON annual Seminar/conference for Community (Housing Association & Voluntary sector workers). Which went pretty well. 

Denise and I started the 2nd day leafleting delegates as they arrived for conference and chatting to them about us standing in the forthcoming UNISON NEC elections. 

Supporters of our opponents were there, handing out leaflets, which is fair enough, however they were being supplemented by local non UNISON members, selling ultra left papers and some (not all) were being typically aggressive and intimidating. Water off a duck's back to me. 

I welcomed the opportunity to explain to delegates why I walked out of conference last year due to the NECs imposturer President being there.  https://www.johnslabourblog.org/2022/03/why-we-walked-out-of-unison-community.html

Check out my account of the day based on my twitter feed below:-

Conference opened with a welcome speech by our Chair followed by standing orders report (some very nice words and gift of flowers to long serving @unisontheunion staff who are retiring). Next, our
@UNISONCommVol annual report was accepted.

Then motions & amendments. Powerful arguments & sharing of personal experiences- Young Members, fire & rehire. Sick pay in Social care & levels of sick pay.

My Greater London Vol org branch colleague @jcreed551 moves his branch motion on the outrage that many low paid workers are being charged for their own #DBS checks!

Motion 7: Championing a real #livingwage for Community. This motion had a bumper of great speakers - low paid workers telling it as it is...especially Denise Thomas my NEC running mate.

More imp motions & debates on social care, charity sector pay, women in community, staff crisis, survival of LGBT+ services, regional development and legacy of year #disabled worker.

There was a standing ovation for our long standing, Cymru Wales, NEC member, Sian Stockham, a low paid care worker, on the announcement she had been awarded an OBE. 

Conference is now over. At station with my branch and employer colleague @JoeOgundemuren. It was great to hear so many young members from London and elsewhere speaking & participating in our
@unisontheunion democracy. 

There was some great debates but disappointing that a small number of speakers chose to spend all their time attacking the Labour Party rather than the Tories. Then they all finished their speeches calling for unity? Shows their priorities I suppose. 

A Women's Place is in her Trade Union! - Join Newham Labour Unions celebrating International Women's Day by Recruiting

 

Do join us if you can, for part or all of the time as we celebrate International Women's Day by encouraging women to join a Trade Union!

Outside Stratford Station. All Labour supporting women union members and allies welcome.

All TUC affiliates welcome.

UNISON Community Seminar/Conference 2023 - Day 1

 

UNISON holds an annual Seminar and Conference for members who work in our Community Service Group (Housing Associations and voluntary sector).  This year it was held in Bournemouth. Unexpectedly I stepped in to chair a workshop on pensions due to illness.  Once again I will use my twitter feed to report on the day. 

At @unisontheunion @UNISONCommVol annual conference in sunny Bournemouth. Started 9am with meeting of Service Group Executive. Now #HousingAssociation sector meeting addressed by @CityHallLabour @Semakaleng

Our speaker @Semakaleng is Chair of @LondonAssembly #Housing committee & @CityHallLabour spokesperson. I asked for appropriate support for our campaigns against pay cuts, breaking #pension promises & trade union victimisation. Sem is willing to listen & work with us

After @Semakaleng we had a roundtable feedback from Housing Associations @UNISONCommVol members from all over the UK. Common themes were Cost of Living, pay cuts (below inflation offers), breaking #pension promises, bullying, discrimination, stress, workload but some positives. I made a suggestion about a new campaign to improve Housing Association Governance and accountability.

After lunch the @UNISONCommVol annual seminar kicks off with welcome from our Chair Malcolm Gray (long lost cousin) & speech/Q &A from @unisontheunion regional secretary Clare Williams. The actual #unisoncomm23 conference starts tomorrow

Next Nye Cominetti from @resfoundation on report "who cares" "exp of social care workers & the enforcement of employment rights in sector" clearly care workers are being unlawfully under paid by not properly inc travel time. #ucommunity23 @UNISONCommVol @GavinEdwards77

Final presentation by @organiserjo the @unisonglr regional secretary on "organising & recruitment strategy development project". We need to build on our strengths. While we need to acknowledge our weakness we should not beat ourselves up. Need to learn & evaluate.

After break I will be leading a #ucommunity23 workshop on "Find out what is happening to your pension & how to organise to improve it". @unisontheunion pension guru, Glyn Jenkins is not well. 4.20pm at Meyrick suite. Finish 5.20pm. All welcome but register beforehand at conference desk

Chatting to delegates outside #UCommunity23 with @DeniseT25475880. Both of us are standing for
@UNISONCommVol NEC seats. Many thanks for the support we have received so far from so many branches. Ballot papers drop 17/4/23. Any delegates who want to speak to us are very welcome

After a meeting of all London delegates there was a Conference social. Afterwards we went for a #UCommunity23 @unisonglr delegation meal with great comrades @JoeOgundemuren
@MarcelaBenede10 @CllrLolaOyewusi @rachangeli @TLJM44 @jcreed551

TUC Pensions Conference 2023: "Pensions in a Cost of Living Crisis"

Yesterday I returned to Congress House, the TUC headquarters for its annual pension conference. This event involves union officers, pension trustees and activists with expert presentations/Q&A and workshops. It was great to be back in person at long last. I am a UNISON appointed employee member of a LGPS Pension Board and the Local Government trade union appointee to the London CIV. 

The theme this year had to be "Pensions in a Cost of Living Crisis". Below is based on my tweets during the day. Not a comprehensive report on all the presentations since I was trying to pull together and send to my employer a pay claim while listening. 

I was lucky to be picked by panel chairs to ask a number of questions. I was sitting in the front (as normal) and wearing my lucky blue checked shirt. 

Great to be back at

@The_TUC

for its #pensions conference. Open by new General secretary

@nowak_paul

& 1st keynote speaker David Pitt-Watson (good to see again)

@theRSAorg

 

David speaking persuasively on the case for #CollectiveDefindedContribution #pensions. DB best - since employer guarantees, but DC annuities worse since invest in low return gilts. #CDC 30% better DC. (Or even #CollectiveDefinedContribution #CDC. I will post more on CDC.

Now important panel on improving trustee diversity & inclusion Chair Janice Turner

@bectu

, Westminster LGPS,

@unisontheunion

@unisonglr

Chris Smith & Zoe Burdo from

@LCP

(thanks for the name check Chris)

Keynote speaker Shadow DWP secretary

@JonAshworth

MP speaks about proud record on #pensions by

@UKLabour

& unions but now must undo when in power years of #tory pension failure

Labour’s priorities for pensions: Economic growth underpinning a growing state pension Support for older people who want to stay in work Expanding auto-enrolment

My question to

@JonAshworth

would

@UKLabour

reconsider role of #DB pensions? My #LGPS is now 123% funded. Lots of colleagues here in Private DB have had their funds closed unnecessary. Also, do you share concerns about employers breaking #tupe & #pension promises?

He asked for clarification & yes to concern about employers breaking pension promises

Panel on Extending working lives. #TUCpension23 being addressed by

@unisontheunion

National Officer Teresa Donegan on #unisoncollage & member learning.

Final Panel: Big ideas to fix the pension system Chair by former Labour pension minister

@greggmcclymont

now with trade union owned

@IFM_Investors

Gregg McClymont

@greggmcclymont

·

Mar 1

Replying to

@grayee

and

@IFM_Investors

The ideas - state annuity, state pension as property right, public asset manager - certainly lived up to the ‘think big ideas’ challenge

Since this was the TUC, of course, the event had to finish with some "beer and sandwiches" (well, crisps and nuts). At which I was given a great compliment by the legendly pension figure, Con Keating "I see you are still causing trouble John".