Happy New Year 2026 from the Gray Family Past and Present

 

Boxing Day walk 2025: Duton Hill, Essex circular 6.5 miles

Went for the traditional Boxing Day walk with Gill, starting at Duton Hill, Essex (near Dunmow), about 40 minutes from East London. Only when we arrived did we realise we’d already done this route earlier in the year (April 6), but it’s a lovely walk, soon passing the ruined remains of a 12th-century medieval abbey overlooked by its former gatehouse, now a church. 

The route offers plenty of other and more modern history too, with three historic and attractive churches along the way. In Little Easton, displays and stained glass windows commemorate the many American Air Force personnel stationed nearby during World War II who lost their lives on bombing raids against Nazi Germany. 

We also passed pillboxes and mortar positions, reminders that this area was once part of a defensive line in case of a Nazi invasion threatening London. 

The terrain was gently undulating, the weather was kind, though there was some noise from planes taking off from Stansted Airport. 

I finally figured out how to use the Ramblers.org site to download a GPS map and upload it to the OS site. I tracked steps and mileage using the Zepp app, which tends to overestimate distance—this walk is closer to 6.5 miles than the 7.81 recorded. For once, we didn’t get lost. 

Apart from the planes, it was peaceful, with only a few dog walkers, beautiful winter sunshine, and the vast East England skies. We spotted muntjac deer, a large herd of fallow deer, and red kites. Finished with a drink at the Three Horseshoes, where a roaring fire warmed the bar, though we sat outside enjoying the rear garden.

https://www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/routes/eastons-and-tilty-essex (may need subscription to view?)

Thank you to everyone working over Christmas and New Year

 Hat tip @unisontheunion

Public service workers across the UK are working 365 days a year, seven days a week and 24 hours a day to keep us safe, healthy and warm.  

We just want to say a special 'thank you' to everyone working over Christmas and New Year  

Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda 2026!

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2026. Picture taken on Conwy's medieval town walls Easter 2025 while doing a self guided tour of Castle and town.  Well worth a visit. Click on picture to enjoy the views!

Register TUC Pension Conference 2026

(Graphic above is estimate of retirement living standards/pension income required for workers 2025. 

How many workers will struggle to get even a minimum to retire on? https://www.retirementlivingstandards.org.uk/)

"Why attend? TUC Pensions Conference 2026

As the government's Pension Commission draws up proposals to reform the pension system, trade unions have a chance to shape policy for the benefit of workers.

This conference will explore the changes needed to ensure that our state and workplace pensions give everyone a decent standard of living in retirement.

This event is intended for trade union members and officials, pension fund trustees, and anyone with an interest in pensions policy.

Venue TUC Congress House

Register

https://tuc.zohobackstage.com/TUCPensionsConference2026#/?lang=en

UNISON Christmas Rewards! 🎄🛍️

 As a UNISON member you can save £££’s on discounted gift vouchers and shopping cards and get cashback from top retailers such as Argos, Currys, M&S, IKEA, Boots, and more.

http://unsn.uk/4f9DKgL

Blackheath & Greenwich Park Walk 2025

 

Off message but this photo college is from an amended 5 mile walk, Gill and I did on Sunday 30 November 25. 

It was a walk we have sort of done before but we started in the Isle of Dogs, then took the free foot tunnel to Greenwich (always an interesting experience) then walked up past the Cutty Sark and the old Royal Observatory, through the park and out of Blackheath Gate (see plaque to Cornish rebels defeated by Henry VII forces in 1497) and came back to do circuit of the park. 

Past the deer park (see plaque to former slave and the first black man known to vote in a British election, Ignatius Sancho) and returned to Greenwich by the Royal Naval College buildings for lunch. Afterward back to Island Gardens via the tunnel.

The weather was glorious. Cold but blue skies and plenty of sunshine. When the weather is so good, I don't believe you can have a better walk inside London. 

"On the Knocker" Newham Labour Xmas Street Surgeries

 

Today I joined Newham Labour Mayoral Candidate 2026, Forhad Hussain, local Councillors, activists and 2026 candidates, to carry out a series of street surgeries across Newham - Green Street (which I missed), West Ham, Canning Town and Little Ilford. 

There were also a number of other street surgeries elsewhere in Newham and tomorrow another full programme. 

In some of the surgeries, I led teams on the Labour Party doorstep app, while on others I knocked on doors and asked residents if they had any issues or problems with the Council that they wished to discuss with Forhad or our Labour teams. 

I only came across entirely local issues regarding parking, street cleaning and rubbish/waste collection and disposal. Resident were generally very pleased that we were there knocking on doors and asking for their views but many were also out Christmas shopping or away on holidays. 

There was blue skies and sunshine, a little cold but dry, you could not get better weather at this time of the year to go "On the Knocker". 

‘There can be no decent homes without tenant empowerment’ - Labour Housing Group

 "Join us in conversation with Stuart Hodkinson on Tuesday 6 January (7pm) for our first event of 2026!

Dr Stuart Hodkinson (University of Leeds) is an academic who has been working with tenants struggling for better housing conditions for nearly 20 years. He is the author of 'Safe as Houses: Private Greed, Political Negligence and Housing Safety After Grenfell' (Manchester University Press, 2019). He has recently been involved in the Manchester Social Housing Commission, which has put forward proposals for increasing the delivery of sustainable homes for social rent".

https://labourhousing.org/upcoming-events/next-event-there-can-be-no-decent-without-tenant-empowerment/

A thank you from Christina

 

Dear friends,

By now you’ll have heard the result. I didn’t win, and of course I’m disappointed, it’s not the outcome we hoped for.

But I want to say thank you. Thank you to everyone who believed in me, who gave their time, energy and support during this campaign. And more than that, thank you for everything we have achieved together over many years.

UNISON has been my home for decades. Serving as your general secretary has been one of the greatest honours of my life, and I’m immensely proud of what we’ve delivered together, through difficult times, big challenges and real moments of change.

Everything we’ve achieved has come from our members. UNISON is built by the people who show up, organise, support each other and believe in the power of collective action. When we work together, we make a real difference for each other and for the public services we defend.

I want to wish the new general secretary every success. The challenges facing our members and our public services are real, and the union’s strength and unity matter more than ever. I hope UNISON goes from strength to strength in the years ahead.

I remain deeply committed to the values of this union, to solidarity, fairness and justice at work and to our members. Thank you again, for everything.

Merry Christmas and my very best wishes to you and your loved ones.

In solidarity,

Christina

(and thank you Christina for all your hard work and service to the Union. I will post more on this. Safe to say don't believe what you may have read or heard about this result)

BREAKING: Labour's landmark Employment Rights Bill has PASSED both Houses of Parliament.

 

Fantastic News! Well done Labour Unions and the Labour Government!

"We did it: Labour’s landmark Employment Rights Bill has finally passed BOTH Houses of Parliament – meaning it is just inches away from becoming law.

The Bill is the first step in delivering the New Deal for Working People, the greatest uplift to workers’ rights in a generation. And it all starts with this Bill, which includes:

Guaranteed hours contracts – the right for everyone to have a contract that reflects the hours they actually work, cracking down on exploitative zero-hours contracts.

Repealing anti-union laws like the Tories’ draconian 2016 Trade Union Act.

Protections against fire and rehire - new protections making it harder for bad employers to fire you if you don’t accept cuts in pay or conditions.

Tougher enforcement of rights - a new watchdog to crack down on bad bosses and ensure all employers respect rights at work.

More say at work – stronger rights for unions to campaign and negotiate to win better pay and conditions for workers.

Share on Facebook, X/Twitter and Bluesky

But this wouldn’t have happened without people like you. At every step of the way, the Tories teamed up with bad bosses and Reform to try and stop the Bill. And when it got to the House of Lords, the Liberal Democrats sided with them until the last moment.

But thanks to everyone working to put working people first, inside and outside of Parliament, we kept the pressure on - and we won.

But the fight is not over yet. There are still so many details to be decided about how these new rights are going to work in practice. And we need to make sure the rest of what was promised in the New Deal is delivered, including equal pay, health and safety and more.

Millions of working people across the country deserve job security, fair pay, and dignity at work. The Employment Rights Bill is historic, and a step toward to delivering the New Deal for Working People – but our job is not done yet.

Add your name and celebrate the Employment Rights Bill passing Parliament. www.labourunions.org.uk/backthebill

Today is a historic day. The New Deal is the greatest increase in employment rights in a generation. This Bill was passed by the Labour Government, but it was written and delivered with the labour movement – and it's working people who will soon feel the benefit of these crucial new rights.

Today’s a day to celebrate – before the work continues!

In solidarity,

Helen Pearce,

Director, Labour Unions

Visit our Campaign Shop and follow us on Social Media:

Reproduced from an electronic communication sent by Helen Pearce on behalf of National TULO, 20 Rushworth Street, London SE1 0SS".

UNISONdirect opening hours during the Christmas period

 UNISON member and need help? Call UNISONDirect on 0800 0 857 857 Christmas hours

Newham Labour raise over £11,000 for Medical Aid for Palestinians

 

Picture from last weeks Newham Labour fund raising event (11 December) for Medical Aid Palestinians. In a packed restaurant in Stratford, all our MPs and Labour Candidate for Mayor, Forhad Hussain, came and spoke in support. 

Our guest speaker was the Political Advisor to the Palestine Ambassador, Marwan Yaghi. His family is still in Gaza.

Many thanks to all the organisers.

How on earth can anyone say public finances are in a mess?

 

UNISON Winter essentials Grant: Applications open for 24 hours from 12 Noon on Wed 10 December

  Winter is tough enough. UNISON's Winter Essentials Grant is here to help members with £200 food shopping vouchers. 

Open 24 hours on 10 Dec!  Check eligibility here https://unsn.uk/40CMVT7

Applicants must:  

• Be a UNISON member and have paid at least four weeks’ subscriptions as of 10 December 2025. Subscriptions must be up to date.
• Not have received a grant from UNISON Welfare since 10 June
  2025, excluding the School Uniform Grant and Seasonal Food Fund.
• Must be responsible (or their partner, if applicable) for household fuel bills. Only one application per household will be considered.

And EITHER:

Be on a low income, meaning a net household income* of no more than £28,205/year (£2,350.42/month)**

OR:

Be in receipt of means-tested benefits. This includes:

• Universal Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Child and/or Working Tax Credits
• Pension Credit
• Means-tested Jobseekers Allowance
• Means-tested Employment Support Allowance
• Income Support

** Where members either have no recourse to public funds and their household income is above £28,205/year an assessment will be undertaken to see whether they would be eligible for benefits if they did have recourse to public funds so that they are not disadvantaged.   

How do I apply?

All applications should be made online. Applications will open on this page for 24 hours from 12 noon on Wednesday 10 December. Eligible members will be chosen at random from the applicant pool and contacted to submit supporting documents.

Due to limited funds and in anticipation of high demand, we regret that we will not be able to help all members who apply.

If you are unable to complete the application due to a disability access need, please email: weg@unison.co.uk or call UNISONdirect on 0800 0 857 857.