Finally, after two years of legal argument my estate office was transferred today over to a housing association. There was a ballot of tenants in 2005 where there was a 7 vote majority in favour of the estate transferring from Tower Hamlets Council to a local Housing Association. On Friday tenants opposed to the transfer lost an appeal against a high court decision not to grant a judicial review about alleged irregularities in the original 2005 ballot. Today the paperwork was signed and despite a last minute application to the House of Lords, they refused to stop the transfer. TUPE will apply to all staff
All the local government trade unions are opposed to stock transfer when there is no meaningful choice offered to tenants to remain with the Council. The so-called “4th option”. Ironically, it seems that Councils may now be able to retain their housing stock and even start building again.
All our staff have worked for the council for many years (some their entire working lives) and many are obviously apprehensive about changing employers. Also, there is a lot of good people who are not transferring who we have worked with for a number of years who we will miss. Change, especially when it is forced is always difficult. However, there is obviously “life after transfer” and a number of ex-council (and trade union activists) former colleagues now work apparently very happily for housing associations. Tomorrow we start our induction training.
On Friday I went for a drink and curry with some stewards from work and ran into a group from my “new” employer, also going out for a drink and meal. Good to see they socialise after work – also in recent months I have had a number of "chats" with staff who have heard that I was a trade union activist and were interested in trade unions.
Have to start planning the leaving /joining do! Watch this space!
(above pictures early Labour movement Feminist activists Susan Lawrence, Beatrice Webb and Margaret Bondfield - who each have a block named after them on the estate)
