LAPFF Chair Cllr Ian Greenwood RIP

I was at a Newham Pension training last night and was shocked to hear of the death of Cllr Ian Greenwood.
I have known Ian for many years and he was a superb chair and Pension activist. A true friend as well of the trade union movement both here and abroad.

He will be an impossible act to follow.

I can't believe that less than 12 months we also lost Kieran as Chair.

Hat tip Professional Pensions

"The Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF) has announced the sudden death of its chairman, Ian Greenwood, on Monday (12 November) night at age 68.

Greenwood was also chairman of the £46bn Northern Pool of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), having taken on that role in April, after being chairman and then deputy chairman of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund.

Awarded an OBE for services to local government in 2013, he was also a councillor at Bradford Metropolitan District Council, twice acting as its leader, and for West Yorkshire County Council.

Greenwood was also twice the LAPFF's chairman, first holding the role between 2008 and 2013, and then taking on the position again in July of this year following a period of interim service since January.

He had taken over both the Northern Pool and LAPFF roles from Kieran Quinn, who died in post on Christmas Day last year and was also chairman of the Greater Manchester Pension Fund.

In a short statement, the LAPFF expressed its "extreme shock and sadness".

Northern Pool vice-chairs Paul Doughty and Brenda Warrington also expressed their condolences, adding he "would be greatly missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him".

They added: "Ian was an inspirational and visionary leader whose knowledge and experience of local government pension schemes was invaluable.

"He truly believed and demonstrated by his leadership that ensuring ordinary people working in public sector jobs serving their communities get to live out their retirement years with security and dignity is a noble cause, and he brought great energy and significant personal commitment to that purpose.

"As Northern Pool chairman at a time of significant change, Ian was instrumental in putting in place simple but effective democratic structures that ensured we continue to deliver low costs and good investment returns for the funds' members and taxpayers alike."

Bradford Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe mourned the "enormous loss" of one of the "most recognisable" and "most influential figures in Bradford politics".

"He was immensely proud to be able to service the people of his home city, which he loved dearly, and he wore his passion for the place and its people like a badge of honour," she said.

"Ian was a pragmatic, big tent politician, motivated by an overwhelming desire to bring people together to do the right thing for Bradford. His leadership transcended cultural, community and political party boundaries and his legacy and impact will be long-lasting."

"...thieves and con merchants to steal and feast upon our members pensions..."

This was my speech to the UNISON Community Conference yesterday on Pensions. The Composite motion had been moved by Community member June Poole from Rochdale Local Government Branch on behalf of National Women's Committee.

It was very positive to see the motion being seconded by a delegate from Ymlaen/Forward – Unison Cymru, who reminded us to make sure we get representation for our sector on the new Local Government Pension Boards.

"Conference, John Gray, NEC member for Community, speaking on behalf of the Service Group Executive, in favour of Composite A.

Conference, let us never forget that Pensions are a fundamental trade union issue. In fact one of the founder unions that went to form UNISON was set up specifically to argue for pensions for its members.

As a housing officer in the east end of London, I see first hand the miserable and degrading poverty that so many of our elders live in. Too frightened to put the heating on in winter, surviving on cheap out of date foodstuffs, too poor to buy their grandchildren treats.

In many ways, the current situation facing workers is now even worse. Millions of workers in our sector have no access to any employer pension, since they work part time or are paid too little. Millions more are being cheated by their employer with tiny and inadequate contributions.

While complete untruths are said about the sustainability of defined benefit schemes such as the Social Housing Pension Scheme (SHPS).

To top it all Conference, this Tory led government, will from April 6, allow thieves and con merchants to steal and feast upon our members pensions, in what I have no doubt will be the greatest ever miss-selling scandal.

Conference, Pensions are expensive.

There is no getting away from this. The employer has to pay enough money into a pension scheme to allow its workers to retire in dignity.

The State must also play its part by providing funding for our services which will ensure there is enough money to pay for pensions. But don't forget that the top 15 housing association made over £1 billion surplus last year, yet many pay rubbish pension contributions to their workers.

Equally employers who have left or are threatening to leave our existing defined benefit schemes, know it is a simple lie, that you will get rid of any so called "deficit" if they leave. In fact it can make it worse.

While those of us still in the Local Government Pension Scheme, see the financial service industry continue to rip us off on charges and an often rotten and undemocratic governance structure.

Conference. We can make a change. In Australia where many pension funds are run by trade unions, they have used their organising and political power to make it the law that all employers have to contribute 12% of pay into a workers pension.

We have to organise and campaign for decent pensions with our own employers and we have to ensure that we use our political influence and clout, not only to get more money to fund decent pensions in our sector, but to win the wider political argument.

That we want to live in a more equal and just society, that simply will not tolerate poverty for the old or any body else for that matter and will do whatever is necessary to bring about change.

Conference, Go back to your branches and organise, campaign and fight for your pension futures, Conference, Please support this motion. Thank you.

(the motion was passed unanimously and hat tip picture to branch delegate Ionela Flood) 

UNISON Community Conference 2015

On the train back to London with UNISON delegates after our annual National Seminar and
Conference in Bradford.  See previous posts on the Seminar which took place immediately before here and here.

The Conference was chaired by UNISON Vice President Wendy Nichols. Community is the Service Group for UNISON members who work for Housing Associations and Voluntary organisations. We are the third biggest Service Group in the union and have over 60,000 members and I was there as one of the two National Executive Committee members for Community.

After the usual introductions, standing orders report and appointment of tellers the Annual Report was accepted and the debates on motions began.  There were 10 different motions which were debated. All were supported by the Service Group Executive (SGE) and all motions were agreed by Conference and are now our policy.  Including my branch motion on Union busting.  I spoke on the Pensions Composite (which was an agreed merger of two motions) on behalf of the Service Group Executive.

There was some incredibly powerful speeches made with delegates explaining their struggle to provide quality services while on the minimum wage or zero hour contracts. One speaker explained how she had to depend on food banks to survive. It was also pointed out that there was only 3 young members present (including Rachel from our branch) which is not good and needs to be addressed.

There was quite a controversial point put forward by one delegate during the debate on welfare reform that anyone who does not think that there is any difference between Labour and the Tories are "fools and liars".

This is now I believe our 5th Community Conference and I think we are far more confident and certain of our identity as a separate, independent and growing Service Group within UNISON.  We were pretty united as a Conference and aware of what we are up against and what we have to do to defend and represent our members. Key to this is trade union recognition, organising, recruiting more members and activists while ensuring that we have effective structures and local support.

(picture of London delegates speaking on motions and centre of June Poole moving Pensions compositive A)

UNISON National Community Seminar 2015

This afternoon was the start of the Unison National Seminar for Community (Housing Associations & Voluntary Sector) in Bradford.

Beforehand there was a meeting of delegates who work in community sectors. I went to the Housing Associations meeting. It was really useful to discuss common issues and experience with fellow workers from up and down the country.

Mathew Danaher from Unison organising unit talked to us about a exciting new union social media initiative.

The Seminar started off at 2.30pm and the first speaker was Shadow Labour Minister, Dan Jarvis MP.  See Dan in picture sharing a joke with members of my Branch.

Next was workshops on Sleep-ins & holiday pay; encourage & develop new women activists; mentoring & public speaking and TUPE developments.

Final session at 5pm was a speech followed by Q&A from our General Secretary, Dave Prentis. Dave made it clear that the union has to do everything it can to get rid of this Tory Government, which if it gets in again will finally destroy public services in this country and will do everything it can as well to destroy the union.

It the Q&A I made a comment that the choice in May 7 was between a Tory government and a Labour Government. That was the only choice. People may wish that this was different but this is the reality. It's Labour or it's Tories. It is a free country but people on May 7 could either vote for a Labour Government or let the Tories in. It is a simple as that.

Afterwards we all went to regional meetings and next is a trip to one of the famous Bradford Curry houses for a delegation meal.

The seminar starts again in the morning and the Community National Conference starts at 2pm.

Galloway & Respect being taken for chumps by Community politics

"Respect councillors in Bradford resign en masse George Galloway's party in disarray as its five city councillors resign amid growing internal dissent". Headline in yesterday's Guardian about the latest split in the latest version of the ill named political party "Respect". The Councillors accuse Galloway of trying to "marginalise and excommunicate party members who raise legitimate concerns".  While the Gorgeous one himself says of them "If they had a shred of principle they would now resign their council seats and stand again in their new colours."

I don't know the exact ins and outs of Bradford politics but while I know that Galloway's egotism, megalomania and laziness as a MP would have contributed to the split, it seems once again, local communities are taking him and his ultra left cronies for a ride.

I have come across respect activists who openly admit that they will use Galloway and his allies to finance and organise elections but they have no interest or sympathy in their domestic politics and as soon as possible will dump them.

How on earth a motley crew of mostly middle class, Trotskyite, militant atheists feel they have anything in common with conservative minded Muslim businessmen has always been beyond me.

(picture of Newham Respect former headquarters)