A West Ham Labour doorstep

 

Picture collage of today's doorstep with my West Ham ward Councillor colleague John Whitworth and our super local activist, Varghese. It did not start well since the Labour Party canvass software (contact creator) was not working and we could not download information on who to call at. 

So we did an old fashioned doorstep and knocked on every door in the area. After a rather large number of elections this year it was pleasant, not to be just identifying supporters and asking for votes, but speaking to residents about any problems or issues they may have with the Council, life or the new Labour Government  (as it turned out). 

At one home I picked up a housing repair chase by a Council tenant, who was also trying to console her 2 young, very upset, grandchildren, whose goldfish had just died.  The children asked me if I was able to help their goldfish but I had so say to them that I could not but I was sure they had given the fish a wonderful life.

I later had a lovely time with a very friendly English short hair house cat (see collage). 

I had complaints about the Newham Council telephone contact centre, not answering up calls in a timely manner and I will be raising this issue with management. Other complaints about fly tipping, weeds in communal areas and unkept gardens.  

I did also get some ear bashing about the ending of winter fuel grants for all pensioners, including two residents who were about to lose the benefit. But they were not hostile and understood what a dreadful financial hole the new government was in. One of them was a UNISON member in schools and we had a chat about the forthcoming strike ballot on pay (if your union says vote to reject the pay offer - so vote to reject and in favour of action)

At the end of the canvass, I called on another pensioner, who described himself as "a retired trade union Labour man", who was a very strong supporter of the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, and gave a very detailed account of why the Tory mismanagement of our economy in the past had made very difficult decisions inevitable. 

It was good to see the Newham council new build project opposite the estate. 

I will be contacting Dominos Pizza about their canvassers just throwing leaflets on the floor of blocks. We saw this in 3 different housing blocks and I will be asking Council officers if we can prosecute this shameful litter bug. 

Labour Party Conference 2024: Monday

 

Monday was pretty wet, windy and rainy but being from North Wales originally - I was used to it. I had some UNISON stuff to sort out in the morning and my first fringe was "Why we need to track social economic diversity to break the class ceiling" (The Purpose Coalition and The Wise Group)".  

As one of the panellists quoted (who bravely admitted he used to be a management consultant) "if you can't measure it you can't manage it". 

In my question to the panel I said that I had taken part in engagements with major corporations on diversity in the boardroom and while some companies were very positive, when I asked about social economic diversity, some seemed very bothered that they will be expected to monitor class as well as everything else! I was sceptical that you will get meaningful data without regulation, such as the requirement to report on gender pay. 

My favourite memory of this fringe is the Chair trying to also encourage his toddler son, sitting to the side, to be good and eat his chips (due to a breakdown in creche arrangements). 

Next was "Building Worker Power: The New Deal for Working People" run by Labour Unions and IPPR. 

This took place in a large hall which was packed to overflowing with standing room only.  All the food had run out except for bread, cooked carrots and red cabbage. Which was still surprisingly tasty. UNISON & TUC EC officer, Gloria Mills, gave a passionate speech about rolling back decades of unfair, anti worker and anti-union laws and legal judgements. 

Then "Saving for the Future: How can Labour's Pensions Review Help to Deliver Sustainable Retirement" (New Statesman & People's Partnership". 

It was good to see Emma Reynolds MP in her new position as Minister of Pensions (and treasury role?). I can remember her speaking very well at a CLP meeting and at our UNISON Housing Association Branch AGM when she was the shadow Housing Minister. I think however, that we have to be careful in the pension world over the assumption that bigger is always better. I look forward to engaging with Emma another time about the role of pension consolidation, productive finance and retirement. 

Final fringe of the day for me was "Funding Homes for Social Rent: A Role for Institutional Capital: Drinks Reception.(Prowgress, Home Builders Federation & Left Foot Forward). 

While I would take issue with any wording that suggests you can provide social rented homes without government subsidy, there is definitely a role that Institutional Capital can play.  Leaseback schemes for example, are incredibly complex and therefore risky but may provide at least a partial solution to the real risk to Council finances from the rising cost of Temporary accommodation and provide decent homes. 

It was good to talk as well to a representative of a charity that I had "crossed swords" (big, big row) with in the past over their refusal to recognise trade unions for collective bargaining. This representative assured me that they were now very keen to consider trade union recognition and I will be sending their details to our UNISON Regional officer. 

Afterwards I went to a private dinner and had a fascinating conversation on the role of Local Government and Growth. By coincidence many of us on my table had a connection with Stafford. 

On the way home I stopped off for a drink at the first of the two "Newham Nights" with local Party members and Councillors. 

Labour Party Conference 2024: Sunday

 

Labour Party conference formally started at 11am on the Sunday but since I was not a delegate, I was able to go for a run in the morning around Sefton Park (which is near my hotel room). I once again left it too late to book accommodation nearer but it was only a 20 minute bus journey away. I find the buses in Liverpool to be as good or better than London. Sefton Park is a huge City "lung" with a marvellous lake in the middle. 

I went straight to the fringe panel that I was on representing the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF)  with Liam Byrne MP and TUC Economics head, Nicola Smith. The topic was "Labour New Deal for Working Peoples: How will investors react".  I will post separately on this event which I really enjoyed. 

My next fringe was also on Pensions but I missed the beginning. "The Pensions Review: What is the right role for Pensions in Supporting UK Growth". I did try and ask a question about possible risks of consolidation and being directed" by the Government into so called "productive finance" but was not picked (it happens). 

I visited the Fabians/UNISON Health & Social Care fringe in the Maritime Museum with Wes Streeting MP. Having a National care service and sectoral pay bargaining for all care workers will be transformational.

At 5.30pm I went to the Annual Trade Union Rally and Reception: For a New Deal for Working People (Labour Unions). Which went well and I was able to meet up with trade union friends and colleagues including someone I did a health and safety course in 2003 (remembered due to incident that year at an infamous  Trade Union BBQ).

I left early for The Housing Fringe "More than a Landlord: How can Housing Associations help tackle the Housing Crisis". Where I made the point that Housing Associations can certainly do many good things and help to tackle the housing crisis, we need public subsidy in order to meet the scale of the problem. For example, Newham has 6500 families in temporary accommodation, 30,000 on its waiting list and 50% of our children live in poverty after housing costs are taken into account. 

I went back into the Labour Unions rally then went to the Association of Labour Councillors Annual Reception. More speeches and gossip.  Final visit was to the Labour Friends of Bangladesh Annual Conference Dinner. I missed the speeches and the main meal but enjoyed the company.

Labour Party Conference 2024: Saturday

Back home after 5 days away at Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. This year I went as a Labour Councillor (self funded apart from the conference fee which is paid out of our ALC subs). Which meant that unlike delegates I could go and see the debates, speeches and fringes that interested me. Mostly about pensions and housing. I did not miss the early morning pre conference delegation meetings either. 

I travelled down with my UNISON and work colleague, Joseph Ogundemuren who is also a Labour Councillor in Hackney but he was part of the UNISON delegation. We travelled by train to Liverpool on the Saturday, to go to the London Labour reception that evening. At the station I passed the statue, once again, of "Battling Bessie Braddock". 

The London Reception was in a huge room in the ACC centre, Albert Docks. The PA was pretty awful but it was well chaired by Dawn Butler MP and I enjoyed the speeches by Prime Minister Keir Starmer (I am still in some way shocked that Labour is in power), London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Foreign Secretary David Lammy and others (many others!).  Keir (A London MP of course) seemed in a particularly good mood and was clearly excited and pleased to be there. 

It was good to meet and chat (aka gossip) with various London Labour Party members, some of which I have known for many years but usually only meet at Conference. 

Saturday had also been Labour Women's Conference which apparently went well. The official Labour conference opened 11am Sunday. I will try and post on my personal Conference experience during the next few days. 

Red Flag on East Ham Town Hall!

 

I guess local Council staff were involved. We should have repeated this on East Ham & Stratford Town Hall on July 5th! 

Hat tip @CountryStandard May 1938

Labour Party Conference Fringe 2024 ‘A new deal for working people – how will investors react?’

 Labour Party Conference Fringe 2024

‘A new deal for working people – how will investors react?’

Sunday 22 September, 12.30 – 13.30, Room 6, Liverpool Arena

SPEAKERS

· Liam Byrne MP, Chair, Business and Trade Select Committee and Chair, Global Parliamentary Network on the World Bank and IMF

· Janet Williamson, Senior Policy Officer Corporate Governance Policy and Collective Bargaining, TUC

· Cllr John Gray, Vice Chair, Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF)

· Chair: Clive Betts MP, Chair Local Authority Pension Funds Westminster Forum

I am looking forward to the Labour Party conference and intend to visit as many Social housing and pension fringes as possible. On Sunday I am taking part in a panel debate on behalf of the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum.

Trade Union Congress 2024: Wednesday

Last day of TUC 2024 in Brighton. For once it was bright and sunny! Good to hear my UNISON branch colleague (the shy and retiring) Lola Oyewusi, give a confident and clever speech, were she used her mobile phone torch light to make her point. The TUC President, Matt Wrack, afterwards remarked on the "unusual" nature of her speech! 

It was also brilliant, that the Labour Government published that day plans on finally getting rid of "no fault" evictions and "better bus services". 

I signed the petition at the PCS stall on the campaign to reinstate 3 union reps sacked by the Civil Service for their trade union activities. 

At the close of Congress, Matt was given the TUC Gold Badge and a well deserved vote of thanks. I rushed off to the station to try and get back to London in time for a series of online meetings and calls with HR and members. I had to stop off briefly at Gatwick airport to make one online meeting. Never a dull moment. 

Trade Union Congress 2024: Tuesday

(better late than...) Day 3 for me started with a windy run along Brighton prom and back. Apologies but due to a number of reasons (including a furry of urgent calls and messages from my UNISON members regarding a pending deadline about proposed changes to terms and conditions) I did not make notes about Congress for the last 2 days. 

Highlights was the well received speeches by our Labour Prime Minister, Keir Starmer and our General Secretary, Christina McAnea, as well as a number of other UNISON and other speakers. 

I went to a lunch time fringe on "The digital trade union" organised by @digitcentre . I was late due to on online @unisonclarion meet on T&Cs. In that meeting with members we discussed setting up a WhatsApp group. When I arrived at fringe they were discussing merits of TU WhatsApp!

After close of Congress I went to a fringe on the new Governments proposed changes to employment rights run by ACAS. Fascinating discussions. I made a point that there is such a power imbalance at this moment between workers and employers (in favour of employers) and that we need the proposed changes to take place before we can really discuss improving the relationship and possible partnership between trade unions and employers. 

Trade Union Congress 2024: Monday

(better late than never) Day 2 of TUC started for me with a session in the hotel's gym followed by a jog along a damp and windy Brighton prom. Congress started at 9.30am. First item again was a short general video celebrating "Union wins"  including UNISON pay and conditions victories for workers.

Motions to be debated this morning where themed around "Winning a better future for working people" with debates on wider schools, education, health & safety, prisons, teachers pensions, transport, merchant navy & "The future of football and the need for player engagement" (moved by the PFA - the most highly paid trade unionists in the UK). 

Next the TUC General Secretary address by Paul Nowak. He spoke passionately about his joy at the end of 14 years of Tory rule. He welcomed the increase in trade union membership by 90,000 in the last year and the repeal of anti-strike legislation by the new Labour government. He said it shows the difference, unity and solidarity makes. "Keir Starmer and this government has the interests of workers at heart in a way that the Tories never had". 

He spoke about a recent visit to Ukraine. He visited destroyed factories, blocks of flats and children hospitals. He attacked the far right such as the Putin apologist, Farage, as as not being patriots, they are frauds. He reminded Congress of his speech last year that his grandfather Joe, was a migrant who served in the Polish Air Force in the second world war. 

He welcomed that that there was positive relationships with good employers and we will use new rights to hold bad bosses to account. To put Amazon and every other anti union, anti worker employer on notice, "our movement is coming for you". 

Next debates themed "Protecting the right to strike and winning the New Deal". A number of interesting points about the need to control those employers who may pay lip service but do not believe in social dialogue and must be brought to heal. End the current "Wild West" in UK employment law.  

Congress finished slightly late for lunch to finish business. I went to the "COVID19 Enquiry - the story so far" fringe and listened to speakers from Thompsons solicitors, UNISON (Gloria Mills), TUC, NASUWT and bereaved families. 

Congress reopened at 2.15pm. Theme was "Building a Fairer Economy". More motions on the economy, fair tax, pay, North sea, Industrial strategy, union recognition, climate, Europe, UK steel, Royal mail  and public interest.  Some of  them motions have been composited (merged to save time). 

UNISON spoke against Composite 5 moved by Unite regarding the use of fossil fuels since it was felt that it went against our conference policies over climate change. Other Public sector unions also spoke against. The Unite right to reply stated that we had to retain a variable fossil fuel industry until transition takes place or we will simply run out of fuel to cook our food and heat our homes. It went to a card vote. UNISON had 1,187,000 votes (the biggest affiliate). In Favour 2,712,000 v 2 457,000 for Against. Composite was  carried. 

Motion 20 "Relations with Europe" moved by Prospect was another controversial one. The TUC General Council read out a statement on the motion (written in classical TUC speak). The RMT opposed on grounds that if we were in EU (or had "dynamic alignment" to their social legislation) the anti-privatisation laws currently being passed by the UK would be illegal. Motion was carried overwhelmingly. 

At end of conference I went to the Labour Unions fringe which was packed. Unfortunately the main speaker, Angela Rayner MP could not attend but we had a number of excellent speakers at the fringe. 

TUC Congress 2024: Sunday

This afternoon at 4pm it was the start of Trade Union Congress 2024 in Brighton Conference centre. Congress will last until Wednesday. I am here as a UNISON delegate and was really pleased that the first motion was "Standing up for care workers" moved by a UNISON care worker, Sian Stockholm. This was passed unanimously. 

The President this year is Fire Brigade Union (FBU) General Secretary, Matt Wrack,who started his career as a firefighter in Silvertown, Newham. He spoke passionately about Grenfell in his address and was also in tears after the speeches about him in the "vote of thanks" for his past year as President. 

The address by sororal delegate from the Labour Party, was by former trade union lawyer, Ellie Reeves MP (sister of the Chancellor) .  She made it clear that while there will be differences between the unions and a Labour Government, Labour under Keir Starmer will remain the party for workers. Afterwards Matt presented Ellie with a TUC Gold Badge. 

While Akhator Joel Odigie, the general secretary of ITUC Africa also addressed Congress. He reminded us that Africa supplies Europe not only with NHS workers but precious metals for mobile phones and car batteries. He wished that Labour UK plans on rolling back zero hour contracts, fire and rehire etc were not also happening in Africa.   

Final item today was remembering union activists who had passed away in the last year.

I will try and post on Congress, speakers, speeches and fringes when I can. It is exciting that this is the first TUC in 14 years to take place at the same time as a Labour Government.

Shoreham & Lullingstone Park Walk (& the 110th anniversary of the "shot at dawn" youngster)

 

Today Gill and I drove down to Shoreham in Kent for a 7 mile Ordinance Survey Pathfinder circular walk starting in Shoreham. This was a lovely walk (there is also a railway station in Shoreham), with plenty of up and down rolling countryside but nothing too strenuous.  There is some road noise but nothing that excessive but lots of excellent views and lush countryside. 

I will post and link further photos and comments on Facebook

We had a excellent early lunch/breakfast in the village and I had a pint of IPA at end. 

We have been coming to Shoreham for many years and I am disappointed that it appears that the long and complicated issue regarding, whether or not to record the name of teenager and local resident, Private Thomas Highgate, on the local War memorial, has not been resolved. 

Thomas was "shot at dawn" by a British Army execution squad for desertion on 8 September 1914 (the 110th anniversary tomorrow). He (and others) were given a pardon by the UK Government in 2006.

I have posted in 2014 John's Labour blog: Private Thomas Highgate - the First to be Shot at Dawn (johnslabourblog.org)

and 2020 John's Labour blog: Private Thomas Highgate - the First to be Shot at Dawn (2020 update) (johnslabourblog.org)

about the controversy in the village about whether or not he should be named in the local war memorial. It would appear today that he is still not mentioned. 

Picket Line for Fair Pay: Queen Elizabeth Hospital Strike 4/5 Sept 2024

Yesterday I went to the London CIV (Collective pension investment vehicle for London Council Pension funds) Annual Conference in Woolwich Works, Greenwich. During lunch time I made my way to near by Queen Elizabeth Hospital to join low paid health assistants on their second day of strike action for Fair Pay. 

There was a very lively and noisy rally by the picket line, at the main entrance of the hospital. I spoke to the strikers and offered support and solidarity on behalf of my branch, London region and also in my role as a Member of the UNISON NEC. 

It was great to talk to activists and strikers about the dispute and also to Regional Staff supporting the strikers. Including my former lay union colleague, Joy Pearce. 

As the Chair of UNISON London Labour Link committee and a Labour Councillor, I will be also contacting various people to push for an urgent settlement of this dispute. 

I will post further on the London CIV conference. 

UNISON General Secretary on Greenwich & Lewisham Hospital picket line for fair pay

 

Brilliant picket line this morning at Greenwich and Lewisham hospitals. Applauding the courage and commitment of these workers. Time for ⁦@LG_NHS ⁩ to do the right thing and pay them fairly ⁦

@unisontheunion

Christina McAnea

Hundreds of healthcare support workers stage historic 48-hour strike, says UNISON | News | News | UNISON Greater London

Newham Voices: Sept 24 - Blitz memory

 

This evening I finally got to read my monthly e-newsletter from "Newham Voices". Which is our free community led news, information and entertainment resource for Newham residents. While free, it costs money to run so please consider subscribing - Newham Voices.

I was reminded that this weekend is the anniversary of the start of the Blitz in London and the plaque shown in the caption remembers, the 13 Air Raid wardens killed by a German bomb. This was on what is now the site of the Newham Council repair depot in West Ham ward, where I am a Councillor. 

By the end of the Blitz the following May, Hitler's Nazi bombers had killed 146 West Ham and East Ham residents. Many more civilians were die in the following years. 

Never forget. 

UNISON Collage: Upcoming events in September 24

 

UNISON College

@unisonlearning

·

2h

Here’s a taste of some the upcoming courses and events in September :) For more information and to register, please visit: https://learning.unison.org.uk/events/

Just voted for Anu Prashar in Labour NEC elections. Please share.

 

Just back from holidays and catching up on many things. Anu is a top candidate for this position on our Labour NEC and I have no hesitation in voting for and endorsing her.