UNISON win at St George's and Epsom & St Helier Hospital

 

UNISON WIN

Healthcare assistants at St George’s Hospital, Epsom Hospital and St Helier Hospital, have secured a significant pay victory after voting to accept an offer from their employers

For more information about the campaign visit london.unison.org.uk

#healthcareassistants #strike

"On the knocker" next to West Ham Park

 

This canvass took place last Saturday, a week ago, during a street surgery next to West Ham Park. We had plenty of positive conversations with residents and noted some concerns about ASB and complex neighbour disputes. Some beautiful blossom in trees. 

Everyone was very friendly, and residents were glad to see an active Labour action team knocking on doors, asking about local West Ham issues and how best to address them.

Albury & Patmore Heath Walk, Herts

 

Off-topic, but Gill and I enjoyed a lovely circular 5.38-mile walk in Hertfordshire earlier this month (we also did it a couple of years ago).

The route starts and finishes at Patmore Heath, a rare example of acid grass heathland in South East England. We managed to get lost a couple of times, but it was well worth it for the great views, peaceful surroundings, and gently rolling countryside. Along the way there are historic churches, thatched cottages, and even a few Tudor mansions.

It was a little muddy after the recent rain, but honestly, what’s not to like?

The route is available via the OS/Country Walking app. Recommend OS but you may have to pay to subscribe.

More photos coming soon on Facebook 📸

A Full Labour Movement Family Day

 

Today was one of those days that reminds me why I’m proud to be part of our Labour and Co‑operative Movement family.

🏛️ Morning: Community First

I started with my Labour & Co‑op Councillor Surgery at the newly refurbished Vicarage Lane Community Centre. It’s looking fantastic — bright, welcoming, and nearly ready for bookings. I’ll share more on that soon.

From there, I joined Adjoa for a positive canvass in the ward. My very first conversation was with someone previously marked “Against” Labour who now rated herself a 10/10 Labour voter. A reminder that people do change their minds — especially when they feel listened to. There was also some complex casework involving long‑running neighbour disputes, the kind of issues that really test patience and persistence.

🚲 Cycling, Chance Meetings & The Together March

I cycled to Stratford, enjoying the newly resurfaced stretch from Stratford Park to the L&Q HQ — smooth tarmac and clear cycle markings make such a difference.

On the Central line I bumped into Stella Creasy MP, and we had a good chat before the inevitable photo outside with Forhad Hussain, our Newham Mayoral candidate, and Cllr Sabia Kamali.

I joined the UNISON bloc on the Together March and helped carry the Greater London banner. Not heavy — but the wind certainly tried its best.

The march itself was inspiring. I understand the police estimate around 500,000 people came together to say clearly and proudly that whatever our differences, we stand united against racism, bigotry, and far‑right extremism.

One moment that meant a lot to me: I asked for a photo beside a placard reminding us that our grandfathers fought the far right in the Second World War. The woman holding it told me her grandfather landed on D‑Day and helped liberate Bergen‑Belsen.

Both my grandfathers also served in the war and fought against Nazism — something I carry with real pride.

There was a tiny minority who seemed to think “togetherness” only applied on their terms, but thankfully they were ignored by the overwhelming majority who understood the spirit of the day.

🚆 Back to Newham: Canvassing, Conversations & A Big Belly Breakfast

I left the march at Piccadilly Circus to head back for a Little Ilford canvass. On the train I ran into Chris, former secretary of my UNISON branch — another nice moment in a day full of them.

Before canvassing, I stopped at the Plaistow Café for their famous Big Belly Breakfast — my first meal of the day and very much needed.

The 4pm canvass in Little Ilford went well. More positive conversations, and it was great to see candidate Sharon Shawda, full of energy and determination, speaking to every resident she could. (For more on Sharon’s work, see my post: https://www.johnslabourblog.org/2026/02/newham-for-newcomers-by-sharon-chawda.html .)

Newham Rough Sleeper Count 27 March 26

 

Early this morning, I joined a team of homeless outreach workers and fellow councillors for the bi-monthly count of people sleeping on the streets of Newham. 

We met at 11 p.m. (Thursday) at the Newham Council Dockside Building for a briefing on our purpose, how to treat rough sleepers with respect, and personal safety advice. 

We began the count at midnight. While the main aim was to record the number of people sleeping rough to assess the situation and determine which measures are effective, we also handed out leaflets explaining how to access help and support, including medical care. 

I’ve previously been in many other inspections and had covered Manor Park for the count but I requested a change, so it was insightful to visit Stratford, where the scale of the problem is more significant. I worked with a fantastic, friendly, and knowledgeable team of homelessness practitioners and gained a much better understanding of the challenges in supporting vulnerable people. 

We finished the rough sleeper count, including parts of my West Ham ward, and returned to Dockside around 2 a.m. before I headed home. Forgetting to block my work calendar, I’d booked a “difficult” 9 a.m. union meeting, which thankfully went somewhat fine. 

I’ll wait for the official count figures but know we must bring them down—life on the streets shortens lives. We have to do everything possible to prevent this and provide solutions for all those in critical housing need.

Remembering West Ham Station Attack - 50th Anniversary

 

Two separate events were held to commemorate the murder of 34-year-old Underground driver Joseph (Julius) Stephen on 15 March 1976. 

He was shot dead while trying to stop an IRA terrorist after a bomb exploded on his train, injuring nine passengers. Another passenger was shot and seriously wounded before the terrorist was overpowered by an unarmed police officer. 

Mr. Stephen was posthumously awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal but left behind a widow and a four-year-old son. 

The first commemoration was organized by the charity Ancre Somme Association, with speeches from Northern Irish MP Carla Lockhart and local West Ham MP James Asser, and attended by family friends.

The second, marking the 50th anniversary, was organized by TFL and the RMT union, of which Mr. Stephen had been a member. 

Many thanks to the charity and TFL for both well-attended events, which the family seemed very pleased with. It is only right that we remember and honour a brave public servant who sacrificed his life to protect his passengers, as well as all those injured in the attack.

Marching TOGETHER against the FAR RIGHT - LOVE, HOPE, UNITY this Saturday 28 March Central London

I’ve been working with my UNISON trade union branch and Newham Labour activists to help boost attendance at Saturday’s march. 

I’ll be joining the national UNISON bloc, which will be second from the front. It’s so important to make our voices heard and show solidarity with those affected by racist, Islamophobic, and hateful commentary. 

The main march will gather at 12pm on Park Lane, setting off around 1pm towards Piccadilly and ending near Green Park tube station. 

The shorter, accessible march will meet from 1pm at the top of Whitehall by Trafalgar Square (outside Waterstones). 

The day will wrap up on Whitehall with speeches and music from 2 to 6pm. 

While campaigning for Labour in West Ham ward last Saturday, I was glad to see our local Filipino community also spreading the word about the march.

West Ham Ward SNT Panel Meeting

 

The photo collage is from the recent Ward Panel meeting with local Police and residents. West Ham Councillor John Whitworth, candidate Adjoa Kwarteng, and I attended to discuss crime and community safety in the ward. 

These meetings are held every few months, chaired by a local resident, and include reports from Police and Community Support Officers (PCSOs) on crime statistics and police actions. 

Residents can question the Police, share concerns, and help set local priorities to be addressed. 

Councillor Whitworth and I shared what the Council is doing to tackle common issues alongside Police and residents. 

This panel should be more widely known and attended, as any ward resident or local business can take part and contribute. It’s not just talk—over my 16 years as a local Councillor, I’ve seen it make real improvements to residents’ quality of life. 

The Police have also launched “Met Engage,” an online site where residents can sign up for updates, contact the Safer Neighbourhoods Team, and get more involved. 

Check out https://www.metengage.co.uk/Content/LocalArea/79642/West%20Ham and email the panel via WestHam@contact.metengage.co.uk

Labour Plaistow Super Saturday

 

Yesterday, after the West Ham litter pick, I cycled to Upton Station for the 1pm Plaistow Super Saturday campaign session. There were four different events across Plaistow that day, supported by East Ham MP Stephen Timms and West Ham & Beckton MP James Asser. 

I was assigned to a team backing local Plaistow North Councillor Zulfiqar Ali and his candidate team, Joy and Pervez, who were out with other teams. 

Zulfiqar, a well-known and active councillor, personally knew many residents and had a great rapport with them. The canvassing went really well, though there were a few tough conversations with residents who had been let down by both social and private landlords, as well as by fifteen years of Tory governments failing to provide enough social housing to meet demand. 

It’s important to be honest with those in desperate situations that change won’t happen overnight, but Labour is committed to delivering hundreds of thousands of truly affordable homes for those who feel they may never get on the housing ladder. 

One thing I heard for the first time, which made me angry, was from a resident who said corrupt letting agents and private landlords were taking money from vulnerable tenants by falsely claiming that eviction would help them get a council house—completely untrue, and in fact likely to have the opposite effect. If I find any evidence of this, (and I will be looking) I will report it to the police and other enforcement bodies. 

The weather was warm, with blue skies and sunshine, and the beautiful spring blossom made it even more enjoyable. 

Love E15 Community Litter Pick

 

This morning, my West Ham Councillor colleague John Whitworth and local resident (and West Ham candidate) Adjoa Kwarteng joined residents for a ward litter pick, organised by https://www.instagram.com/lovelondone15/. "Love E15 is a grassroots community group of residents who care about E15 and aim to create a happy, thriving neighbourhood".

We met outside the beautiful Parakeets mural on Bull Road, where we were given litter pickers, gloves, and bin bags. There was a great mix of local residents, including plenty of enthusiastic young people. The Council supported the event by providing equipment and arranging to collect the litter bags at the end. Former Newham Councillor Julianne Marriott was also there pitching in.

I spent most of my time clearing an alleyway behind a block of shops with Council flats above, while Adjoa picked litter with the volunteers in the surrounding residential streets. The top two photos in the collage show "before and after". I’ll be raising a member’s enquiry to find out who is responsible for cleaning this area, as there was more bulk rubbish dumped that needs removing.

It was a fantastic example of residents and the Council working together for the common good. Afterwards, I had breakfast with John at the Plaistow Café, then cycled off to join a political campaign in Plaistow which Adjoa also joined.

"We've recently had a jampacked Action Day of canvassing here in West Ham! Vote Labour on May 7th! 🌹🌹"

It was a fantastic Super Saturday with three canvassing sessions and over 35 activists in West Ham ward. Huge thanks to our organisers for their support. Although there was one particularly unpleasant incident involving a non-resident, which I reported to the police, the day overall was very positive, with plenty of casework and many local residents (though not all) happy to chat about real local issues, concerns, and possible solutions.

Eid Mubarak

 

This is the difference a Labour Government Makes - Abolishes 2 Child Benefit Cap

 

UNISON Greater London Housing Associations Branch AGM - Wednesday 18 March 2026 at 6pm

 

💜 UNISON’s Step into Spring Grant

 

UNISON’s Step into Spring grant opens at 12 noon on Thursday 19 March 2026 and is available for 24 hours. Eligible members can get a £30 voucher towards the cost of essentials. Find out how to apply http://unsn.uk/stepintospring

Interfaith Iftar at Minhaj Ul Quran Mosque: A Special Evening in Forest Gate

Last Friday week I had the real pleasure of attending an Interfaith Iftar at the Minhaj Ul Quran Mosque on Romford Road, Forest Gate, kindly invited by my colleague Cllr Alam.

It’s a mosque I’ve visited before — most memorably for the remarkable exhibition Far From the Western Front: South Asian Stories of the First World War. That exhibition explored the experiences of South Asian troops who served with extraordinary courage and sacrifice. It is no exaggeration to say that without their contribution, the outcome of the First World War — and arguably the Second — could have been very different. https://www.johnslabourblog.org/2017/04/far-from-western-front-south-asian.html

Friday’s Iftar carried that same sense of shared history, solidarity, and community into the present moment.

Newham Labour’s Mayoral Candidate, Forhad Hussain, was also invited and spoke at the event, alongside Stephen Timms MP, Cllr Alam, and his Forest Gate South Candidate Robert Carter‑Lennox — who had fasted that day for the very first time. Each offered thoughtful reflections on Ramadan as a time of discipline, compassion, and generosity.

What stayed with me most, though, was the atmosphere in the room. Myself and colleagues — some Muslim, some not — sat among worshippers as they broke their fast. People who had been fasting since dawn shared their food and drinks with us. That simple act of hospitality, offered after a long day of abstention, carried a profound sense of warmth and welcome.

It was, in every sense, a very special occasion — a reminder of the strength of Newham’s interfaith bonds, and of how much we gain when we sit together, learn from one another, and share moments of reflection and celebration.

UNISON wins 3.8% pay rise for Clarion Housing Group members

Hat tip @unisonclarion "Members accepted last week in a ballot supported by 88% a 3.8% pay rise from April negotiated by @unisontheunion @Clarion_Group local reps with help from regional and national officers. 

#Teamunison @UnisonHAB 

#joinunison for better pay, terms & conditions!

West Ham & Stratford Neighbourhood Forum 3 March 2026

 

Last week I attended our local Neighbourhood Forum at Stratford Library with my West Ham Councillor colleague, John Whitworth, and fellow Labour candidate for the May 7 elections, Adjoa Kwarteng. 

The forum gave local Police and Council officers a chance to update residents on what’s happening in our area, followed by round table discussions where residents could ask questions and challenge how issues are being addressed. 

It was a well-attended meeting, and I moved between tables hearing concerns about crime, anti-social behaviour, highways, garden waste, street cleaning, street lighting, vermin infestations, and poor housing management. 

I felt it went really well, and John, Adjoa, and I will do everything we can to ensure the commitments made by Newham officers and the Police are kept. I’ll also look into inviting more local service providers, such as housing associations and the NHS, to future meetings.

UNISON Community (Housing Associations & Charities) Seminar & Conference 2026 - Day two

 

Sorry this is a little late post but been just a little super busy with stuff lately. Day 2 of the event is our motion based annual community conference in Solihull for UNISON members who work for Housing Associations and Charities. 

You can check out more about the conference, motions and agenda here https://www.unison.org.uk/events/2026-community-conference/.

I was pleased that a number of my branch delegates and London colleagues spoke on motions (including my fellow NEC Community member Denise). 

I moved one motion  and also an amendment on behalf of the Service Group Executive. I will post links to these speeches. 

The hotel and conference centre staff looked after us very well during our stay as well as all the UNISON officers. Many thanks

Out and about in East Ham South

Great street surgery last Sunday with Labour colleagues, Mayoral candidate Forhad Hussain and Stephen Timms MP. Spotted a dumped fridge freezer, reported it on Love Clean Streets, and within 10 minutes Newham’s night‑shift team had it cleared. Big thanks to Terry for his cheerful, rapid response — brilliant frontline work.
 https://lovecleanstreets.info/eets 

UNISON Community (Housing Associations & Charities) Seminar & Conference 2026 - Day One

Last weekend I attended our annual seminar and conference as a NEC member of the Community Service Group Executive (SGE). The first day kicked off early with an SGE meeting, followed by the Housing Association Sector meeting with members from across the UK’s devolved regions, sharing experiences with Housing Association employers—some good, some bad, and some downright awful. 

At the same time, there were meetings for CVS and major charity workers. I joined the Pension workshop with UNISON legend Glyn Jenkins, who did his best to keep order in a small but very lively group. During lunch, I hit the hotel gym while caucus meetings took place. 

It was a privilege to welcome the UNISON strikers from the National Coal Mining Museum dispute and hear about the appalling treatment they’re facing from their vindictive management. 

The “Countering the Threat of Reform UK” presentation by Nick Lowes from Hope Not Hate was fascinating, frightening, and informative. We must all turn up on March 28 for the Together March against the far right, but it’s clear that simply marching and shouting isn’t enough—it requires a smarter, evidence-based approach, something Hope Not Hate excels at. 

Next came a thought-provoking talk on “Work-Related Stress and Psychosocial Risks” by our national officer for Health & Safety, Joe Donnelly. After a short break, there were various workshops, then regional delegation meetings, where I chaired the Greater London meeting in our regional officer’s absence. 

The evening wrapped up with a conference social at a nearby bar, before many of us headed to a local pub to keep putting the world to rights—and enjoy a good gossip.

Your TUC guide to new Employment Rights 2026

 

JG A fantastic victory for the Labour Movement. Our Labour Party political and trade union industrial wings working together to benefit all workers. More please more. 

The Employment Rights Act 2025 repeals major parts of the Trade Union Act 2016. These changes take effect from 18 February 2026.

Strong collective bargaining rights and unions are key to tackling problems of insecurity, inequality, discrimination, enforcement and low pay. The Trade Union Act 2016 undermines collective bargaining and it's welcome that large parts of it are being repealed.

Summary of changes

Trade union laws

The Employment Rights Act 2025 repeals major parts of the Trade Union Act 2016. Strong collective bargaining rights and unions are key to tackling problems of insecurity, inequality, discrimination, enforcement and low pay. The changes are as follows:

Simplified rules for taking industrial action

• The 40% support threshold for strikes in important public services (IPS) has been removed.
• Mandates for industrial action are increased to 12 months.
• Unions must give employers 10 days' notice of industrial action (previously 14).
• Unions no longer need to tell employers in advance how many workers in each role may strike.

Simpler ballot rules

• Ballot papers no longer need lengthy explanations of the dispute or action timetable.
• Members simply vote on the action they want to take: strike action or action short of a strike.

Changes affecting public sector unions

• Employers cannot charge unions admin fees for deducting subscriptions from pay.
• Public bodies no longer have to publish facility time data.
• The unused legal power to cap facility time has been removed.

Unfair picketing rules scrapped

• Unions no longer have to appoint a picket supervisor or follow the previous detailed supervisor requirements.

Stronger protection for workers

• Taking part in lawful industrial action is automatically protected from unfair dismissal, with no 12-week time limit.

Further details - before and after the law changes

The table below sets out the changes reps should be aware of - mostly repealing requirements and conditions introduced in the Trade Union Act 2016".

Check out further rights on TUC link below

Your guide to new Employment Rights 2026 | TUC

Hat tip picture Workers' Rights Poster: Impressionist Labor Union Art - Etsy UK

Good riddance to bad rubbish when with Forhad we have real leadership we can reply on

Press release from London Labour 

“If Clive Furness and Robin Wales count as a ‘major London announcement’, Reform really are scraping the barrel.

Neither men have been part of the Labour movement for some time. In Newham, Robin Wales was removed by local members following concerns about his record in office.

Nigel Farage, Laila Cunningham and their allies spend their time talking London down and attacking the success of one of the most proudly multicultural cities in the world. 

Meanwhile Labour is focused on delivering for London – supporting 240,000 children by ending the two-child cap, cutting energy bills for 3.7 million households, expanding free school meals and breakfast clubs, and strengthening protections for 2.7 million renters.”

https://www.gbnews.com/politics/video-reform-uk-major-labour-defector-leaves-gb-news-hosts-baffled

"GB News hosts Andrew and Miriam were left baffled after Reform UK leader unveiled his Labour defector to the party.

As Nigel Farage announced former Labour Mayor of Newham and ex-leader of Newham London Borough Council Sir Robin Wales as Reform UK's London Director of Local Government.

Cutting away from the press conference, Andrew told GB News viewers: "If that is the major Labour defection that's been flagged for some weeks, that doesn't quite cut it... it's not quite up there with a former Tory Home Secretary and a former Chancellor."

Miriam then admitted: "He's not a household name, is he? I had never heard of him, I've just been googling him."

The community backs Forhad

 

Former UNISON caretaking steward and long‑time Newham resident Montrose (Monty) Matty is backing Forhad for Labour Mayor.

Monty is known for being very selective with endorsements — and says his support comes from years of seeing Forhad’s work first‑hand as his local Councillor. If Monty weren’t fully behind him, he’d say so.

Better Woke than Broke "Opinion: Why Reform UK is misguided, mistaken and just plain wrong on the LGPS"

 

JG. Glyn was at our Community National Seminar on Friday and I attended his Pensions training workshop. I will post on the seminar later but his rebuttal of the truly ignorant attacks on the LGPS by very rich people who don't care about older workers makes perfect sense.

"By UNISON head of pensions Glyn Jenkins 

https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2026/03/opinion-why-reform-uk-is-misguided-mistaken-and-just-plain-wrong-on-the-local-government-pension-scheme/

Reform UK’s announcement this week that, if elected, it would end defined benefit pension schemes for new local government staff would be a disaster. For council workers, the local government sector and communities in general.

The party’s leadership doesn’t want any new starters admitted to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). But that ignores the fact the scheme provides decent and not excessive benefits for those working in councils and schools. To do away with it would make recruitment to often low-paid roles much more difficult, and the staffing crisis would worsen. And that’s bad for everyone who relies on the many vital local authority services.

For anyone on low wages, the auto-enrolment system favoured by Reform will only lead to poverty in retirement. Such defined contribution schemes only deliver decent pensions for high earners who can get their employers to pay sizeable contributions too. The millionaires in charge of Reform look after the well-off, not those on low pay. We’ve seen it before and we’re seeing it again.

We also know from experience that stopping new entrants from joining pension schemes leads to their closure even to existing members further down the line.

Reform also want all LGPS assets to be centralised in a UK wealth fund.

UNISON has proposed a single investment vehicle for English LGPS. But local people need to control the investment strategy, so it responds to the needs and wishes of scheme members in each fund. Ministers mustn’t be making these decisions. They need local, democratic control. Precisely the opposite of what Reform is proposing.

Reform talks of more investment in Britain. But the LGPS already does that. Almost a sixth (17%) of LGPS assets are in UK equities, compared to 5% for private sector defined benefit pension schemes.

And so much for claims that LGPS funds perform poorly and are invested in “woke nonsense”.

If Reform looked properly, the party would find LGPS funds returned an average of more than 7% in the past decade, compared to an average 1.3% for private sector defined benefit schemes. LGPS funds are invested broadly to ensure that if one type of asset performs badly, it dampens the effect across the whole fund. Investments are based on professional advice and locally elected councillors set the investment strategy.

Climate-oriented investment funds have, on average, delivered better returns than traditional funds over the past seven years. Better woke than broke.

And if we’re talking about “nonsense”, Reform claims LGPS funds pay high investment-management fees.

The reality is that last year investment costs were about 0.56% of the total asset value. That’s the same as the much-admired Ontario Teachers Fund pension scheme, and on a par with many other UK schemes.

A UK sovereign wealth fund investing more in domestic projects would inevitably have higher investment costs because infrastructure is more expensive and decisions need to scoped out more carefully to avoid bad moves.

In short, as with many other Reform UK announcements, there’s a worrying lack of understanding of the things the party intends to change.

Defined benefit schemes aren’t the ‘gold standard’ Reform has made them out to be. But for low to middle paid staff, they are the chance of an adequate income in retirement. Removing these schemes for future employees will do little for the finances of public services.

What many younger workers really need is an improvement in minimum direct contribution for auto-enrolment schemes. Not to dumb down perfectly adequate direct benefit schemes".

"Labour is delivering for Newham" - Council Budget meeting 26.2.26

 

At Thursday’s annual budget meeting I was pleased to second the motion approving the Housing Revenue Account for the coming year. My three‑minute contribution is at 1 hour 9 minutes in the recording. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY0ulkhVJy8. The motion passed — and then we witnessed something extraordinary for all the wrong reasons.

Not a single opposition group put forward an alternative budget. Not one amendment. Nothing. They criticised the administration’s proposals at length, but when it came to doing the work that scrutiny requires, they simply opted out. That is not opposition. It is political theatre without substance.

The Greens didn’t even bother to explain their silence. The so‑called independents — better known locally as the Bosses Party — claimed they “did not have enough time” to draft amendments. That excuse is laughable. Years ago, I worked with my Labour colleague Cllr John Whitworth to produce a full, lawful alternative budget. It took effort, of course, but it was entirely achievable. It was voted down, but at least residents saw a real debate and real choices.

What happened on Thursday was the opposite: a vacuum where scrutiny should be. Opposition parties are paid to challenge, to test assumptions, and to offer alternatives. If they believe services should be cut or expanded, they should have the courage to say so — and to explain who would pay the price. Instead, they hid behind criticism without responsibility.

At best, this is laziness and incompetence. At worst, it is cowardice. The truth is simple: they avoided amendments because they didn’t want to defend a budget of their own. They preferred to snipe from the sidelines rather than do the hard work of governing. Residents deserve better than that.

(I will publish my acutal speech on a separate blogger page https://www.blogger.com/blog/page/edit/7733583/7174233470400372938)

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus! Happy St David’s Day!

 

...and the first day of Spring.