30th anniversary as a Housing Officer and Trade Union Activist

 

On 6 September 1993 I started work as a housing officer in Bow for Tower Hamlets Council. I had worked as an agency temp in Columbia Road, Bethnal Green beforehand and also as a Housing Rights advisor in Edinburgh. I joined UNISON as a temp but had been a member/rep in the T&G previously. 

I cannot believe how fast the years have flown by nor that I still work normally one day a week in Bow for my same TUPE successor employer.

This picture is from the month long - all out 1999 UNISON Housing Strike, when I was the Chair of the Strike Committee. When we stopped the closure of local housing officers and the making of many staff redundant. It was a very tough dispute and while I hope to avoid future strikes with my present employer, it seems at the moment, very likely we will. 

Watch this space!

UPDATE: It was pointed out that yesterday 6/9/23 was also the day that my employer issued me with a fire and rehire dismissal letter! The irony!