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."