Impact of Covid-19 on homeless

Lola works in housing and is a member of my UNISON branch. I have a clash tomorrow but I have sent Lola a 3 minute video with our experience in Newham London and some ideas about the future. I will be watching later to find out what is happening in Birmingham and Medway.

Paying homage to Keir Hardie at West Ham

Yesterday I took my fellow UNISON NEC member (and NHS hospital worker) Mary Locke on a whistle stop tour of the Old Town Hall in Stratford. 

Mary was re-elected in May as a Labour Councillor in Birmingham. 

Mary is a huge fan of Keir Hardie who was the first ever Labour Member of Parliament. He was elected as MP for West Ham South on 4 July 1892. 

In this town hall during the 1892 the election count took place in the main hall and Keir made his acceptance speech from its outside balcony to people gathered below in the Broadway. He was then taken on a victory procession to Canning town. 

The old West Ham Council debating chamber is now called the "Will Thorne" chamber (see photo bottom right) in honour of another local MP (and Mayor) who was also a founder of the GMB union. Ironically, one of the founders of UNISON's predecessor union, NALGO, Herbert Blaine, was also a West Ham Council officer but he was also a Conservative Party National Agent! 

Councillor Mary Locke

This morning I woke to and checked the web to find out that top UNISON NEC member and NHS worker, Mary Locke, had been elected as a Labour Councillor for Bournville ward on Birmingham Council.

It was a tough fight since 2 out of the existing 3 ward Councillors are Tory. She beat the Tories by over 300 votes. I went a couple of times to help Mary out with other UNISON activists.

Congratulations to the Bournville Labour team as well, who were organised, friendly and supportive of volunteers who came to help.

This is from her website

"Thank you for electing me as your local councillor

"After a long night at the beautiful Stirchley Baths for the election count, I’m feeling tired but very happy this morning. I’m proud to say my fellow residents of Bournville, Cotteridge and Stirchley have elected me to be their new local councillor!
Thank you for placing your faith in me. As your local councillor I promise to be a strong, local and honest voice for people in all parts of our ward, whether you live in Bournville, Cotteridge or my home neighbourhood of Stirchley.
You can see the full results over on the  Birmingham Newsroom website.

Delivering my priorities

I like to keep in touch with people. Over the course of my campaign I have spoken with thousands of people in all parts of the ward. It is by listening to local people and understanding their concerns that I identified my priorities:

• Well paid jobs and training
• Improved rubbish and recycling collections; tackling litter
• Action on road safety and congestion
• Regeneration of Cotteridge and Stirchley
• More homes to rent and buy

Standing up for local people and our city

Being your councillor is a tough job at the best of times and I do not take my new responsibilities  lightly.

With a Tory government in Westminster, our city has already been harder hit than better off parts of the country. Now, our emergency services and city are on the brink as Birmingham is being forced to make another £98 million in cuts over the next two years.

As your local councillor, I will support Labour’s No More #BrumCuts campaign to secure a fair deal for Birmingham. This will allow us to protect more of the public services we rely on everyday from central government cuts.

Thank you again for voting for me to be your councillor. I look forward to serving you".

Mary Locke for Bournville Ward, Super Saturday 23 April

Picture is from last month when UNISON members went out to support Mary Locke, who is standing to be a Labour Councillor in Bournville, Birmingham.

Mary is a UNISON NEC member and NHS worker. She faces a tough fight on May 5. At the moment there are 2 Tories and one Labour Councillor representing the ward. The current Labour Councillor is stepping down due to ill health and she is standing to replace him. Only one seat is up for re-election this year.

The next Super Saturday is on 23 April 2016 meeting outside Bournville Railway Station at 2pm ( this is about 10 minutes train journey from Birmingham New Street.

Check out this post on the last Super Saturday and Mary's blog

All supporters are very welcome.

Mary Locke for Bournville, Birmingham Council Elections 2016 #NoMoreBrumCuts

This Saturday I will be in Birmingham to support top UNISON NEC member, Mary Locke, who is standing this May to be a Labour Councillor for Bournville Ward.  

Yes, this is where the chocolate is made and the picturesque village of Bournville was created by one George Cadbury

Hospital worker, Mary is one of those people who makes you proud to be part of the Labour movement family and would make an excellent Councillor. 

At the moment the ward has 1 Labour councillor (who is now stepping down due to ill health) and 2 Conservatives. There is only one seat up for election in May.

The main canvass session starts at 2pm, Saturday 12 March 2016  at Bournville Station, Bournville Lane, Birmingham. The station is only 12 minutes from Birmingham New Street.

Buses 45 or 47 from Birmingham or No 11 Outer circle

By car from city (Pershore Road to Bournville Lane)

All welcome to come out on #Labourdoorstep from 2-6pm. If you cannot

The more the merrier.  

 #NoMoreBrumCuts

AMNT stall at Workplace Pensions Live 2015

On Thursday I went for a flying visit to Edgbaston, Birmingham to take part in a panel on the second day of Workplace Pensions conference.

The theme of the panel was "View from the coalfield - This session will explore the role of unions on trustee boards, and the conflicts union members may face in their interactions with employers and members".

I was speaking with Bill Trythall (see on right of picture), a trade union appointed director, of the massive university pension fund USS.

The session went okay I think and afterwards Bill and I joined our colleagues at the Association of Member Nominated Trustees (AMNT) stall.

I had to rush back to London for the Newham Council AGM. 

What's Going Wrong in the UUL?

On the way out of the really good UNISON National Housing seminar last week, a London comrade was handing out this leaflet (or something similar) to delegates outside the Hotel. He told Alan and I that he didn't think we would be interested in attending this event. We asked for a copy. He gave us each the colour leaflet rather reluctantly. I don't know why?

Of course, the vast overwhelming majority of trade union members and activists would not , dream of attending such a thing. However, if they are not breaking union rules (a big if for some), and if UNISON United Left (UUL) want to organise these sort of things then "Bring on the Clowns" I say!

This Circus is not an "official" UNISON event and no branch resources should be spent on it. Click on flyer to view properly.

Hat tip - comrade Mercader