A Labour Movement Day

 

This Labour Movement Day started at 9.30am with a virtual UNISON pre delegation meeting to the TUC London, East & South East TUC  (LESE) Regional Council. I had to leave it early to cycle to my Labour Councillor surgery in Stratford Library. After which I came back home to join the actual LESE meeting and listened to a very good panel debate on the rise of the far right. 

At 2pm I met local Labour Party activists and the Newham Labour Mayoral Candidate for May 2026, Forhad Hussain, to carry out a "street surgery" in my ward, West Ham. This involved knocking on resident doors, introducing ourselves and asking if they had any issues with the Council that they wanted to discuss with us. Forhad went down very well with residents. We made around 36 contacts and left cards for those who were out. 

The overall response was very good. People were generally pleased to see us and while some gave us the benefit of their very firm views about local problems with parking, street cleansing and also national policies, they were also willing to engage and listen to possible solutions and ways forward. 

Afterwards, we had coffee (and gossip) at a local cafe. 

A good day.

"𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀"

 

"Everything I’ve achieved as general secretary has been alongside dedicated UNISON members. We’ve delivered real change and together, we can keep our union strong".

Ballots arrive from 28 Oct. All UNISON members can vote include Retired.

LHG Policy Day 2025: Building 1.5m homes - who should they be for?

 

I cannot make this policy day due to a clash, which is a shame, since it is such an important and topical subject. Hopefully there will some form of report back to members.

Labour Housing Group Policy Day 2025 Saturday November 15th 1.30 – 5pm (1pm Registration) Venue: Friends’ Meeting House, 6 Mount St, Manchester M2 5NS (an in-person event) LHG is pleased to invite you to join us at our annual Policy Day, which will this year be hosted in Manchester on the theme:“Building 1.5m homes: who should they be for?” Topics  Devolution and building homes: developing strategic spatial plans and good collaboration    Breakout groups 1: Strategies for different areas A - Building social housing: progress and challenges in the North West B - Building homes to free up family homes / meet older people’s needs Breakout groups 2: Strategies for different groups   C - Building homes to meet needs of younger people & families D - A key issue for the NW: homebuilding in small towns?   Building New Towns and extensions              Delivery of social housing at pace Invited speakers:  Andrew Western MP (chair)  Mayor Steve Rotherham, Liverpool CR plus NW group Paul Dennett, Deputy Mayor, GMCA  Matt Turmaine MP  Issy Waite, Labour Students and LHG EC  Josh Dean MP Maya Ellis MP Cllr Scott Brereton, Hyndburn Markus Campbell-Savours MP  Lucy Powell MP Mayor Tracy Brabin Manchester Social Housing Commission   Deadline for registering:  Monday 10th November

Click here to register

Useful Resources and Links Read all of the latest housing commentary and analysis on our Red Brick blog Catch up with our recent podcast on tackling the crisis in temporary accommodation Read our report: ‘Housing is a Human Right’, a joint publication with the Labour Campaign for Human Rights

Time running out for UNISON Labour Link National Elections: Vote by Monday 27 October

"Dear Branch Labour Link Member

You should should have received a ballot paper to your home address (with SAE) inviting you to vote in the UNISON London Labour Link elections. You can vote either online or by post (obviously only once).

Voting closes on the 27th of October at 5pm.

If members have not received their ballot by the 30th of September, they can contact the ballot helpline on 08000857857.

UNISON Housing Association branch Labour Link has nominated our Committee member and active Shop Steward, Lady Lola Oyewusi to represent the Greater London region on the National Labour Link committee.

Lady Lola is a strong advocate for the Greater London region and has a proven track record.

Lady Lola will work tirelessly for our members, holding the government to account on vital issues such as the Employment Rights Bill, ensuring it’s implemented in full, on welfare rights, Palestine and in responding to the threat from Reform UK and the far right.

Lady Lola will work for fairer workplaces and communities where our members thrive and our rights are protected, no matter who’s in power.

If you wish to contact Lola with any questions please email her omololly2002@yahoo.co.uk

Yours faithfully
John Gray
Branch Chair and Labour Link Officer"

Outside London please consider voting for Tracey (Northwest region), Wendy (Yorkshire and Humberside region) and Fatima (South East Region)

How to write a motion webinar

 

Well done to our UNISON Community National officers (Community members work in Housing Associations or Charities) for organising a webinar on how to write a motion at our annual conference. 

Despite my many years of experience in the Labour movement I still get motions that I have written, ruled out of order, often due to basic mistakes. Motions that I have been involved in have been accepted by standing orders committees but not been prioritised and debated.  Which with hindsight I now realise were because they were unconvincing or even a bit boring. 

So I will be attending this training next week, every day is a school day and hope that my comrades in UNISON Community will also attend, so we can have some great and meaningful debates at our conference next year.  

(picture of my Community NEC colleague, Denise Thomas moving a motion at this year's Community conference)

UNISON Community Conference: How to write a motion webinar

Dear John, On Friday 27 February 2026, UNISON National Community Conference and Seminar will begin in Solihull.     Democracy is at the heart of our conferences, and they are an opportunity for you and your branch to set the direction of the union. To facilitate this democracy, every UNISON branch with community members has the opportunity to submit a motion to community conference by 12 noon on 6 November.     On Monday 20 October, we will be running two webinars on how to write a motion for conference. We’ll go through:  what a motion is what it is used for good practice for writing a motion and how to draft your own motion. To register for the webinars, please use one of the links below:      Monday 20 October, 12:30 – 13:15     Monday 20 October, 18:00 – 18:45   UNISON Community Conference and Seminar is for the 85,000 UNISON members who work for voluntary, charitable, and not-for-profit organisations, including housing associations, major charities, and those providing social care from the third sector.     Further information on UNISON community can be found using this link.    To find out more about this conference, you can follow this link.    We hope to see as many of you as possible on Monday.    Best wishes,    Michael Doolan  Assistant national officer – community     James Randall  National officer - community

Join an online campaign rally with Christina: UNISON General Secretary elections

 

I have just signed up for the Greater London Rally on Thursday at 6pm and submitted a question.

"Have you signed up to one the campaign rallies yet? Come along to hear how UNISON is safe in my hands and how we'll keep winning for members. Submit your questions and sign up at: http://votechristina.org.uk/rallies"

Surgery, Canvass then Forest Walk

Busy day. Cycled down to my Newham Council advice surgery in Stratford Library then joined Forest Gate North ward colleagues for a local door knock. Which went well, I experienced a mostly very positive approach to Labour, which I think is down to the excellent local Councillors, Rachel and Liz. It was nice to get back campaigning after a couple of weeks off due to Conference and annual leave. The cleaning and communal repair standards of the housing blocks we visited was mostly good. 

Afterwards, since it was such a pleasant, warm and sunny day, Gill and I walked from home to Chingford through Epping Forest. We took the train back home and then had delicious pub grub at the nearby Holly Tree, where we came across other Labour folk including the very quiet and retiring, Cllr Alan Griffiths. 

A good day. 

Welfare at Work Week is back! 29 Sept to 3 Oct

 

Welfare at Work Week is back! 29 Sept to 3 Oct UNISON branches are highlighting the support available from UNISON's charity - There for You - including grants, debt advice, and budgeting tools. Contact your branch or organise your own event https://unsn.uk/4lUBWeR

Labour Conference 2025: Sunday

Conference started at 11am. I was at a UNISON delegation pre meeting at 9am were we confirmed who would speak on debates and which motions to support or oppose. First item was Conference Arrangements Committee Report, where delegates whose motions had not been accepted for debate were given the opportunity to ask for this to be reconsidered. Conference voted to accept the report.

There was also a minutes silence to remember Party members who have died during the past year. A list of names was shown on the main screens to music, which included the name of Newham Councillor, Neil Wilson. 

There was also number of good speakers including a passionate speech on the new Hillsborough Law followed by a choir singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone”.

There was also international speaker, Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, who gave a very thoughtful speech on how the Labour movement’s in both our countries had chosen Parliamentary democracy rather than protest to benefit working people. 

After Conference I went to be part of a panel for a fringe with Michael Shanks MP (Minister for Energy, Security & Net Zero), Bill Esterson MP (Chair of Energy, Security & Net Zero) and Tessa Khan (Uplift).  The panel was chaired by Sue Ferns (Prospect). I was there in my role as Vice Chair of Local Authority Pension Fund Forum. I will post later on this event. For some reason the photographs were all red!

Afterwards I joined friends and colleagues at the best social of conference, the Labour Friends of Bangladesh event and had a fantastic meal with one or two speeches.

 

Labour Party Conference 2025 - Saturday

I travelled up to Liverpool on Saturday to be a UNISON Labour Link delegate to Conference. I had been elected to the delegation by my NEC colleagues. 

Conference starts officially at 11am on the Sunday. We had a delegation pre meeting at 9am, so a fairly sensible night, but I did go the the London Labour Party reception, were there was a number of excellent speakers and took this picture of my Newham and CWU colleague Bashar, with the very pleasant spouse of a certain well known Labour politician!

UNISON Seasonal Food Fund 2025 opens soon!

 

There for You – UNISON’s charity – is here to help Seasonal Food Fund 2025 opens soon! Keep the date https://unsn.uk/4noavvh Opens 12 noon, Tue 30 Sept – 24hrs only £30 voucher per eligible household member For those on low income/in financial difficulty

Please pass this on...

Peter Apps: “Homesick” Book Launch

Last Thursday I went to the launch of a new book by award winning housing journalist Pete Apps (and someone born and brought up in Newham). 

The launch was in the Wanstead Tap and had been organised via Newham Bookshop (were you can order the book https://www.newhambooks.co.uk/). I have come across Pete professionally, a number of tomes over the years.

Below is a quote from Pete about his book

“I was born into a city where housing was affordable. But I've grown up into one where it was not. What has gone wrong in London over the last 35 years? And where is it going in the future?   

My new book, Homesick, tells that story. Out Sept 25  amazon.co.uk/Homesick-How-H…”

Pete read extracts from his book then answered questions from the audience. My question was whether to solve the housing affordability crisis there needs once again to be sufficient public subsidy of social rents and mortgages? Pete thought that the public would not accept the increases of taxation necessary to pay for this. He instead thought housing taxation could help solve the crisis.

I brought the book and got Pete to sign it and he also offered some written supportive advice about my employer :-)

By coincidence, later that night I joined colleagues to take part in the bimonthly Newham Rough Sleeping count.
 

Newham Street Count - September 25

 

Picture from last Thursday’s Rough Sleeper count. We were a mix of Newham and voluntary sector officers and Councillors. We met at the Newham Dockside building at 11pm. We had a briefing then we’re split up into teams of 2 or 3 and sent out to different parts of Newham from midnight. The aim was to count the number of homeless people sleeping out doors. My team visited several locations known to be used in the past but found no one on this occasion. 

However, 20 people were found sleeping on the streets elsewhere in Newham. Which was 8 less than the last count in July but still too high.

The annual nationwide count will take place next month.

UNISON Labour Link National Committee Elections 2025: Vote Tracey, Wendy & Fatima

 

If you are a UNISON member in Greater London also check out Lola!

The Blood Donor

Yesterday lunchtime I gave blood at my local centre. It took only a few minutes to book online the day before. No waiting. Not painful. Staff very friendly. Finished in under 30 minutes and then enjoyed free popcorn and blackcurrant squash. 

Check out https://www.blood.co.uk/ and a long time comedy favourite (nothing like my experience giving blood) Hancock's Half Hour in HD Colour - The Blood Donor  

UNISON Labour Link National Committee Elections 2025: Vote Lola for London seat

 

Ballot Papers will be dropping through those UNISON members letter boxes and email inboxes, who choose to be part of our "Labour Link", which is the union political fund affiliated to the Labour Party. 

In Greater London region, I will be supporting Lola Oyewusi. Everyone should get a physical ballot paper and SAE to their home address as well as an email virtual ballot paper (If UNISON has a current email address for you). Obviously you will only be able to vote once. 

There is not contested elections in all UNISON regions. I will be sharing recommendations from colleagues from those regions were there are contested elections. 

Community SGE nominates Christina McAnea for UNISON General Secretary

I was really pleased to be a member of the Community SGE (representing 60,000 housing associations and charity workers) that voted overwhelmingly to nominate Christina as our General Secretary. 
 

Forest Gate Dog Jammers

Yesterday evening Gill and I went for a pub meal at the Golden Fleece in Manor Park. We were unexpectedly entertained by the the FGDJ. Who are a "Loose collective of Community Musicians based in Forest Gate, London E7" https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561546780033

Excellent improvised music and singing. 

Plaistow South By Election Day: Knocking up

Back at home after a long day campaigning. The result should be declared soon. A superb effort by our candidate Ash, our organiser Sarah and Agent Morris. Also a tribute to our local party activists, Council members, our MPs Uma, James and Stephen and help from other London boroughs. 

This is probably the most closely fought by election in recent years. Many residents are disillusioned with national politics, some local issues and the ongoing cost of living crisis. The turnout also appears to be low. It was interesting that the Tories and Reform were out campaigning and appeared to be more concerned with each other rather than competing with Labour. 

It was also great to go campaigning with our Newham Labour Mayoral Candidate for 2026, Forhad Hussain. 

UPDATE: Sadly Ash did not win on this occasion. He is probably the hardest working candidate I have ever worked with. Politics can be cruel at times. The national and local issues mentioned above overwhelmed us yesterday. He and Labour will be back. 

Christina McAnea: Nominated by UNISON Greater London as General Secretary by 24 votes to 4

 

This lunchtime the Greater London Regional Committee voted to nominate Christina McAnea, as the next General Secretary of  UNISON by 24 votes to 4.

Brilliant result! 

Last Saturday and Monday: Plaistow South By election

 Busy, occasional damp then sunny, full on campaigning days. By election is this Thursday 18 September 2025.

Funeral Mass of Councillor Neil Wilson, RIP

 

On Thursday lunch time I attended the funeral Mass of Newham Councillor, Neil Wilson, at St. Alban the Martyr Church in Holborn. 

Neil had been a Labour Party and Councillor colleague of mine for many years. He was also at the time of his death the Cabinet Lead for Health & Adult Social Care. 

The service was very well attended and many thanks to his family and the Church for a lovely service and the refreshments afterwards.

The Church itself was magnificent with a wonderful Choir. Neil had been an active member of the Church for many years and used to assist with the services, which I knew, he was very proud of this. 

Rest in Peace Neil. 

TUC Congress 2025: Day 4

 

Last day of Congress. I was up early to go for final jog along the prom but it was raining, so being very much a fair weather runner, I went to the hotel gym instead. 

Congress started as usual at 9.30am beginning with the the latest "Union wins video", then a powerful debate on Composite motion "The Crisis in Palestine", which was followed by an address from the International Speaker – Shaher Saed from the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions. 

Then controversial motions on Climate change and a "Just Transition" requirement amendment (carried) followed by "Reform of the TUC". 

As with the "Wages not Weapons" motion previously, there was a clash between predominantly public sector unions and private sector unions on the Just Transition amendment. 

While in the debate on the "Future of the TUC" seemed me more about the role of the TUC - should it act as the national UK trade union or its traditional role to facility a UK federation of independent unions? Again some great speeches, some not that comradely, on both sides of the argument. The motion was clearly lost.   

There was also a number of important motions on disability issues followed by 6 Emergency motions. 

Check out the programme for Congress business here https://www.tuc.org.uk/Congress2025/programme-business-congress-2025 and results here https://congress.tuc.org.uk/motion_type/all_motions/#sthash.RRkjFVlf.bgWohJM8.dpbs

Final business of Congress was the traditional vote of thanks and award of a Gold Badge (and Congress bell!) to the outgoing President, Mark Dickinson, who had been a marvellous Chair of Congress. Efficient, fair and supportive of first time speakers. By coincidence he reminded me of my former Branch Chair, Tony Power, in looks and temperament.  

Next years President is the General Secretary of the Prison Officers union, Steve Gillan. Who Mick Lynch, from the RMT cheekily suggested would deal with any dissent in the TUC General Council by locking the door until they agreed a line. 

After close of Congress there was a rush to the hotel to pick up luggage, then I walked to the station (no rain) and was able to get into the rear first class coach of the Thameslink train (no need for upgrade on this carriage only) with 2 other UNISON delegates from London for further debate (and gossip)

TUC Congress 2025: Day 3

 

Congress started with “Union wins - video” then carried on debating motions on organising and recruitment, in particular young members, employment rights, Fair funding for local authorities and social care. UNISON member Sonia Pickford received the TUC Women’s Gold Badge.

Motion 37 “Wages not weapons” was controversial and resulted in quite a bitter debate (very rare at Congress) but with some good speeches on both sides. The motion went to a card vote and was narrowly passed. UNISON voted in favour.

During the lunch break I attended a workshop on “How to harness digital to boost campaigns”. Run by the TUC social media team. It was really interesting and genuinely interactive with the audience. Will I be brave enough to do what they suggested with my social media?

There was further motions debated on backing Britain’s potteries, steel industry, shipping and the future of work.

Interestingly Government Minister, Bridget Phillipson gave an address and answered questions from delegates. Bridget has announced that she is standing in the Deputy Leadership of the Labour Party contest. It was reassuring to hear her say that the Government will ensure that the Tory-reform attempts to water down the Employment Rights Bills will be defeated “No ifs or buts”.

Congress watched a very powerful video on tackling sexual harassment in the workplace but also in the Union.

Motion 7 on “Supreme Court ruling - active support for trans and non-binary workers” was passed unanimously.

TUC Congress 2025: Day 2

The first full day of Congress (Monday) started for me with an early morning jog along Brighton beach. At 9.30am I took my seat with the UNISON delegation. 

There was a number of important debates on Fire service, Zane’s Law, Prison safety, wealth tax, tackling the far right, tackling sexism and the probation service.  There was a number of UNISON speakers.

The TUC General Secretary, Paul Nowak, gave a hard hitting address, attacking Reform MPs for voting against the Employment rights Bill and also for supporting US-style private health care. 

During lunch I attended a fringe on “How should trade unions respond to the rise of Reform UK” with Hope Not Hate and addressed by UNISON assistant General Secretary Liz Snape. The lesson for me from this fringe is that we have to listen, understand and win over members who support Reform and not just condemn them.

Ellie Reeves MP, a former trade union lawyer now Solicitor General, gave a well received address to Congress as the Labour Party Sororal delegate.

In the evening I went to my second fringe of the day. “Worker-Centric Housing - how do we build 1.5 million homes for where workers want to live? By YIMBY Alliance with panel speaker Maggi Ferncombe from UNISON. I expressed my usual concern on this topic that we will not be able to build all these homes without more public subsidy.