Workers Memorial Day Monday 28 April - 1pm Clasping Hands Statute,Three Mills Green E15

 

This year's event will take place at 1pm next Monday 28 April 2025. All welcome. Remember the dead and fight for the living. 

UNISON NEC Elections: Start today 21 April 2025. Let's build a better union with Members Together.

 

From tomorrow onwards, 1.3 million UNISON members will receive ballot papers sent to their home addresses for the election of their NEC (National Executive Council) representatives for the next 2 years. 

This is a really important election for all UNISON members. The NEC is your "Parliament" and it decides upon really important bread and butter issues for the union and its members. 

Such as how the union plans to win better pay, pensions and terms and conditions for you. How it will protect your jobs and your health & safety. Ensure meaningful equality and effective representation when you have a  issue at work. Make sure you get value for money from your subs and that the Government listens and reacts to your concerns. 

I will post further on the problems we face in our union and how we need to change the current leadership, who hold on to power by tiny minority. Above is a photo of some of the Members Together campaign who are restanding with others for the NEC (your truly included). 

Below is a list of NEC candidates who support https://www.memberstogether.org.uk/. 

While there are other very good independent candidates also standing please consider voting for the list below. 

All members will have a vote for their region, service group, black and disabled candidates. Young members will also have a vote for their forum candidates. 

UNISON NEC ELECTIONS 2025
MEMBERS TOGETHER CANDIDATES

REGIONAL SEATS

Eastern General, Female, Low Pay Reserved

Glenn Carrington, Debbie Rowden, Sam Hemraj

East Midlands General, Female, Low Pay Reserved

James Minto, Debby Taylor, Leanne Weatherley

Greater London General, Female, Female Low Pay Reserved

Eddie Brand, Sonya Howard, Clara Mason, Ablola Kusoro

Northern General, Female, Low Pay Reserved

Linda Hobson, Janet Green, Helen Firman

Northern Ireland General, Female, Low Pay Reserved

Alastair-Long Margaret McKee Catherine McKenna 

Scotland General            

Willie Docherty 

SERVICE GROUP SEATS

South East General, Female, Female, Low Pay Reserved

Theo Michael, Kerry Stothart, Fatima Kamara, Sarah Barwick

South West General, Female, Low Pay Reserved

Nell Guild, Alison Evans, Wendy Walker

Cymru/Wales General, Female, Low Paid Reserved

Glerin Pappas, Tess Morris, Michelle Edwards

West Midlands General, Female, Female, Low Pay Reserved

Rob Birch, Julie Lawton, Nicola Moran, Deanne Wheeler

Yorkshire & Humberside General, female, Female, Low Pay Reserved

Rhlan Hawthorn, Kerri Tierney, Julie Marsland, Emma-Lee Baylls

Community General, Female

John Gray, Denise Thomas

Energy General              

Tracey Wainwright

Health General, General, Female, Female

James Anthony, Bryn Webster, Michelle England, Hetty Okonjl,

Higher Education General, Female

Dan Beard Amelia Rout

Local Government General, General, Female, Female

Justin Ashton, Andrew Coughlin, Maxine Young, Jenny Whittaker

Police, Probation and Cafcass General, Female

Phil Williams Karen Poole

Water, Environment & Transport General

Natalie Mladenovlc-Halgh

BLACK MEMBERS SEATS

Black Members Female, Female, Male, Low Pay Reserved 

Manjula Kumari, Tansalm Hussain Gill, Ash Silverstone, Marla Alberts

DISABLED MEMBERS SEATS

Disabled Members Female

Lady Lola Oyewusi

UNISON Members together - NEC Elections Start 21.4.25

Members Together - Putting You First

Members Together is a group of like-minded UNISON members who put members first. This has not happened over recent years because of political infighting. We believe in our union and know the power it has to improve our lives at work. We are determined to address the challenges faced by members.

We will place your job security and pay at the heart of everything the union does.

We will put members first.

About 1 — Members Together

West Ham Sunshine Street Surgery

This morning we took part in a Street Surgery knocking on doors of residents around Old Barrowfield and asking them if they had any problems or issues with the Council that they wished to discuss with their local Councillors. 

My colleague, John Whitworth and I picked up a case work on estate management, disrepair and housing waiting lists. On the whole, we were well received and although most residents did not have any complaints, they appreciated being asked and given information on our surgeries and how to contact us if they had. We had in total 37 contacts of which 2/3rd also said they supported Labour. 

Many thanks to our local Labour volunteer activists Varghese, Mushtaq and Janet for their support. We finished off with Coffee and gossip at a local café. 

CWC engage with fund manager Blackrock on Labour Rights

 

A little late in the evening UK time but pleased to attend and ask a question. 

🌎 Last week, over 20 global asset owner representatives – with a combined AUM of nearly USD 1.8 trillion – engaged collectively with BlackRock to articulate their expectations around the managers’ approach to labour rights stewardship. This was the 5th annual CWC-convened meeting with asset owner clients of BlackRock from North America, Europe, South Africa, and Australia – including representatives from CalPERS, London CIV, Cbus, and CCOO F.P. – whose actions seek to protect and enhance value for their beneficiaries.

📢 The asset owners acknowledged that despite the geopolitical environment and changes to its stewardship team, “company impacts on people” remains an engagement priority for BlackRock. However, the group voiced concerns around a narrow view of labour-related shareholder engagements as simply an exchange of information. If company engagements are not tied to specific objectives and outcomes, they risk becoming indefinite and inconsequential conversations, instead of critically assessing the success of programs that have been implemented by companies.

🎯 The group called on the world’s largest asset manager to explain how its company engagements evolve over time to deliver on its stewardship objectives and drive meaningful outcomes, particularly in relation to fundamental labour rights and the just transition.

The CWC’s Asset Manager Accountability Initiative aims to use the collective influence of asset owners to drive stewardship practices that protect workers and enhance long-term investor value.

hashtag#BlackRock hashtag#ResponsibleInvesting hashtag#WorkersRights 

Hat tip (1) Post | LinkedIn

TUC LESE Regional Council AGM 2025

 

Due to a clash I arrived a little late to our Regional TUC AGM as a UNISON delegate. This is possibly the last such AGM to take place at Congress House which is being reluctantly sold to be replaced with a more modern and practical building. A real shame but was inevitable I think. 

The AGM went well on the whole but some odd surprises. A deeply moving speech and presentation by the National Centre for Domestic Violence, following which our new (covering Jo Galloway while she is on maternity leave) UNISON Regional Secretary, Sara Gorton, thanked the speakers and all workers who support Domestic Abuse survivors. 

I spoke in support of a great motion by RMT and Unite on investing in public transport and made some gentle suggestions to improve it. 

Hat tip pictures to our UNISON London Regional Convenor, Yvonne Green and Eastern Region delegate, Debbie Sahadeo Rowden, who has published a lovely reel about her day on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/r/12JEzjJUB1S/. Who says TUC conferences cannot be fun and cheerful!

Greater London Authority UNISON AGM with Sadiq Khan Mayor of London

 

On Wednesday lunchtime I was invited to attend the UNISON GLA hybrid branch AGM in City Hall as a guest speaker. Before me the Mayor Sadiq Khan spoke to members about the importance of partnership working between employers and unions. He kindly name checked me for my support with some of his early housing policies. UNISON Director of Political Strategy, Maggi Ferncombe, spoke about the impact of the Employment Rights Bill while new GLA member James Small-Edwards gave a very personal speech about how important the Labour movement family is to his politics. 

I spoke to the meeting about the importance of voting in the forthcoming UNISON NEC elections which starts later this month on April 21st. I made it clear that while I am re-standing as a candidate for the NEC, it is as the representative of Housing Association and Charities UNISON members and no-one in the GLA can vote for me in this election. Instead I am just making a plea for members to vote, regardless of who they vote for, in these really important elections. 

The UNISON NEC is made up of  67 elected lay representatives and is our "Parliament" which runs the union in-between our annual conference.  It is hugely important and for many years the turnout in elections has been really poor (8% or so of our 1.3 million members). Everyone should agree that we need to improve these participation rates. 

I had to leave straight afterwards in order to go back to the TUC Conference on Pensions (which I will post about another time) but I was very impressed with the the GLA branch for the efficient and effective running of their AGM. 

"Shorten the hours and prolong your lives." Happy Birthday GMB

 

English Radical History

@EnglishRadical

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13h

"Shorten the hours and prolong your lives." The Gas Workers’ and General Labourers’ Union was formed #OTD 1889 after workers at Beckton Gas Works were laid off. Led by Will Thorne, the union grew quickly and successfully campaigned for an 8-hour working day in the industry.

My Municipal Week- Full Council, Rough Sleeping Count & Spring Litter pick

 

A fairly busy week. On Monday I attended the Full Council meeting at Stratford Town Hall. I asked a question on the role of social economic class in reducing inequality in Newham and also moved an amendment on an opposition motion regarding Private Rental Sector licensing. 

The amendment was to make it clear that Newham was one of the very first Councils to introduce such licensing, in face of huge opposition from some Landlords and the Tory led coalition Government of the time. While we are in favour of all landlords in Newham being subject to licensing, we have to fully comply with the law. The amendment was accepted in full by the movers of the original motion and then Council. 

On Thursday I took part with Councillor colleagues, officers and volunteers in the bi-monthly Rough Sleeper Count. We left Newham Dockside before midnight in teams of 2-3 and were given patches to cover and count the number of people found sleeping rough on the streets. In my team we found one person sleeping on the streets. I do not yet know how many were found overall and what the trend is compared to previous counts. 

This was the first Count that had taken place since the former "Street Population Manager" Ajitha Sajeev retired. On Friday evening I attended her leaving "do" at Stratford Town Hall (See picture bottom left).

Finally, today I joined the West Ham community Group "LoveE15" with my Councillor colleagues to carry out the Spring letter pick in our ward. It is amazing how much litter there is even in streets which at first glance look clean. I got into conversation with a resident and admired his front garden and he offered by a Yucca plant cutting which he was planning to throw away. Which I gladly accepted and have now put in water as he recommended. I must ask whether I have to declare this as a gift? 

Hat tip pics James Beckles and John Morris. 

Elected Chair of Greater London UNISON Housing Associations Branch

 

I was really pleased to be elected Chair of my branch on Thursday evening at our AGM (As well as Labour Link officer). I have held nearly all the different executive positions in my branch but not Chair. 

I also successfully moved a branch rule change to create the position of assistant branch chair. It is really important that we encourage and train up the next generation of union activists to take over from us. 

What was very nice was that the branch had emailed all members to do a survey on their experience of trade union representation by local stewards and officers. A member from my employer made a lovely comment about my support for them and their colleagues in a recent restructure at work.  

The branch is growing and has over 3000 members who work in around 150 different Housing Associations in Greater London (and beyond).

There are also many new opportunities to growing the union due to the Employment rights bill, and also in the future, from the potential for sectorial bargaining (new version of wage councils). Housing Associations would make a natural fit to follow the Social care pilot. 

I will be continuing to press for all housing association workers in London to be part of our branch and not a local government or health branch (and all charity/3rd sector workers to be in the Voluntary Organisations branch). While many of these branches do an excellent job representing members some do not and it is always much better to organise around common or similar employment conditions. 

Lots of other problems to overcome but exciting times. 

Where are we with a national care service?

A quick update on the latest from UNISON’s national care campaign from our expert in social care

Where are we with a national care service 

Labour Housing Group AGM 2025

 This morning after my Council Advice surgery in my West Ham ward. I went to the Labour Housing Group AGM in central London (a Socialist Society affiliated to the Labour Party).  

There was a well received speech & Q&A by housing minister, Matthew Pennycook MP. Then various pitches for what motions the LHG should submit this year to the Labour Party conference. Mine was on the absolute need for more subsidy to deliver the 1.5 million homes we promised to deliver. This is the #elephantintheroom. 

While we can do a lot of good things by other changes in policy such as changes in planning etc. but without a massive increase in subsidy we cannot deliver anywhere near enough social or truly affordable homes. 

If you are a Labour Party supporter join the LHG here Membership – Labour Housing Group

On Monday 17 March there is a LHG Online conversation here on:-

The Grenfell Atrocity – Warnings ignored and vital lessons to learn: 17 March, 6.30pm – Labour Housing Group

"We are doing it - the Employment Rights Bill Clears the Commons!"

 

Dear John,   This is a huge moment. Tonight, the Employment Rights Bill passed the Commons - a major step toward stronger rights for working people. This is the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation, and it’s happening because of trade unionists and activists like you. From day one, our movement has led the charge, putting working people at the heart of Labour’s plan to raise wages, strengthen rights, and make work pay. In opposition, we worked in partnership with Labour to develop the New Deal for Working People. In Government, unions are pushing hard to ensure that the legislation delivers on that shared agenda. Trade unions, representing millions of working people, helped secure key new protections: Stopping union-busting – blocking bad bosses from undermining worker organising and winning recognition. Closing loopholes – so agency workers will benefit from the new provisions on zero and guaranteed hours contracts. Introducing new rules so social care workers in Scotland and Wales they can also benefit from Fair Pay Agreements, bringing unions and employers together to agree pay and conditions. Strengthening the new union access rights, to make it easier for unions to recruit, organise and win a better deal. Removing laws designed to tie unions in knots – so they can concentrate on doing their job and winning better pay and conditions. These build on bold changes already in the Bill – stronger unfair dismissal protections, action plans to close the gender pay gap, a Fair Work Agency to enforce rights, repealing anti-union laws, and tackling workplace harassment. This isn’t just an upgrade in rights – it’s a shift in power back to where it belongs: with working people.

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But let’s be clear - the Tories and Reform Party tried to derail the Bill at every turn. Tonight, Tory and Reform MPs voted to stop the Bill in its tracks. The Tories even tabled what they admitted was a “wrecking amendment”, taking a sledgehammer to new protections from harassment, the day 1 right to not be unfairly dismissed, provisions on zero hours and guaranteed hours contracts and so much more. When it mattered most, they didn’t just oppose the Bill – they fought to block it every step of the way. They voted to keep wages low and let bad bosses off the hook. But the fight isn’t over. The naysayers and doom-mongers haven’t gone away. They’re the same tired voices who fought against the minimum wage, claiming it would crash the economy. They were wrong then, and they are wrong now. Stronger rights at work don’t threaten growth – they drive it, and they make sure it delivers money in workers’ pockets. This Bill still needs to get through the House of Lords. After it’s been written into law, there’s work to do to get every detail right to make sure it works in practice and delivers the change working people have been promised. And let’s not forget, the Employment Rights Bill is only the start of delivering the New Deal for Working People. We’ve come this far by standing together. We won’t let them hold us back. Add your name. Show your support for delivering the New Deal in full: https://labourunions.org.uk/winnewdeal/

In solidarity,  Helen Pearce, Director Labour Unions

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