One Housing Group Sack Union Steward for leading Strike

Sign the petition here demanding that Unite Steward, Bryan Kennedy, is reinstated after being sacked last week by One Housing Group.

Bryan led a strike at One Housing Group over pay cuts last year.

Anyone, who has had any dealing with  Bryan, would not believe the rubbish that One Housing Group is putting out about him and why they have sacked him. Remember that One Housing Group has "form" for victimising union reps.

Bryan has spent his entire career in social housing and has a young family to support. His sacking is further evidence on how completely out of touch and control the Housing Association sector is becoming.  A future Labour government must end the cronyism and corruption that is epidemic in far too many associations, big and small.

Those Associations who have managed to maintain their principals and remain accountable and true to their social housing traditions must take action to distance themselves from the rogue elements who are in my view going to bring about the downfall of the whole sector.

We cannot trust these people anymore with public money.

One Housing Strike in Support of victimised trade union rep Bryan Kennedy

This lunchtime I went to support the strike picket line outside One Housing Group headquarters in Camden, London.

The local Unite trade union conveyor, Bryan Kennedy, for One Housing Group is suspended and on 20 May he had a Gross Misconduct hearing. He is still waiting for an outcome!

His members believe that these allegations are simply nonsense and One Housing Group is victimising Bryan for his trade union activities because he helped organise strike action last year to try and defend low paid members facing pay cuts.

One Housing has of course got form for sacking trade union reps. See on left of collage a poster organised by UNISON in 2009 for senior steward Debbie Cordrey, who was sacked by One Housing Group for sticking up for her members.

A large number of London trade union activists,  MP's and Councillors think that One Housing is a pariah who is damaging the wider reputation of all Housing Associations. Note pictures in collage of Labour Councillors and London Assembly members, who have attended lobbies in support of Bryan. 

Housing Associations are dependent upon public money and many are very badly run and we cannot tolerate such fundamental governance failures and abuses.

Trade Union victimisation....One Housing Group and Déjà vu?

This Wednesday 23rd April 12.30-1.30pm there will be a protest outside the gross misconduct discipline hearing of suspended Unite convenor, Bryan Kennedy.

This will take place at the One Housing Group Head Office, 100 Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8EH (next to the Camden Roundhouse).

I can't be there on Wednesday since I have to represent a trade union member out of London that day. I hope that Housing Association (and other) trade unionists will attend to support Bryan. 

Bryan is a top trade unionist and also a dedicated housing worker and anyone who has ever met him would be astonished that any employer is thinking of sacking him. To be clear, Bryan is an intelligent, pragmatic, softly spoken, reasonable and consensus seeking trade unionist who wants to protect and defend his members and is willing if necessary to take on his employer to do so. 

He is facing a hearing on Wednesday where he could lose his job which his employer is saying has nothing to do with his trade union activities such as when he led his members on 11 days of strike action last year. 

Hmmm. While I don't know all the details about the allegations against Bryan I think they are rubbish. You see, One Housing Group has form on these issues.

I remember speaking at a protest meeting in 2009 against the sacking by One Housing Group of its UNISON convener Debbie Cordroy. At this meeting we had local residents, Labour Jim Fitzpatrick MP, Tory Councillor Tim Archer, Former Labour Councillor (and Barrister) Martin Young, UNISON NEC member John McDermott and myself all speaking in favour of Debbie. 

I understand that exactly the same discipline panel that dismissed Debbie Cordrey will be hearing the case against Bryan on Wednesday. 

This just stinks. I have come across senior managers who boast that due to lack of regulation and accountability they can do practically anything they like and there is nothing anyone can do about it.

I am in the main a supporter of Housing Associations but genuinely think that due to the lack of probity and democratic governance in many parts of the sector, it is setting the seeds of its destruction. I am constantly surprised how vehemently disliked and mistrusted the sector is amongst a very wide spectrum of our society. 

It is seen by many as an undemocratic and unaccountable oligarchy enriching its senior management team and Board at the expense of residents and workers, feeding off decades of huge public capital grants and benefit subsidy by taxpayers. 

Politicians are also acutely aware of its massive assets base which they think could be better managed. 

We use to talk about the press in this country "drinking in the last chance saloon". I think the same applies to the housing association sector and unless it significantly changes it ways then I honestly don't think it has a long term future as independent self run organisations.

One Housing Group could signal that there could be a change by not acting in a nasty, vindictive, and corporatist manner on Wednesday.  This would be a start.

The Labour Minister, the Tory Cllr, the Barrister, the MBE, the NEC & the RCO v. One Housing Group

This is a report from last night’s public meeting in the Isle of Dogs, E14 which was in support of Debbie Cordrey, the local housing officer who was recently sacked by One Housing Group.

I should also add that around 100 local residents and UNISON members also turned up to support Debbie at the Barkantine Hall meeting.

It was definitely the most diverse panel of speakers I have ever spoke from - Local Labour MP and Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick, spoke first (see picture of Jim and Debbie sharing a joke just before start of meeting - behind bloke in purple). He offered solidarity with Debbie and recalled how stressful it had been for him when he was a fire brigade union steward and had been issued formal warnings over his trade union activities. It was worse for Debbie since she had lost her job. Jim attacked One Housing Group for failing to honour their promise of a local resident led housing association. Also that they were still failing to provide a decent housing service to residents. Jim questioned why elsewhere in Tower Hamlets, Housing associations could be resident led yet still offer an excellent service? What is going on with One Housing Group?

Tower Hamlets Conservative Councillor Tim Archer (and prospective Tory parliamentary candidate against Jim at next election) spoke next in support of Debbie and attacked One Housing Group for failing to deliver for residents and failing to honour their promises over governance.

Martin Young, who is a Barrister and former local Labour Councillor (and Chair of East End Homes Housing Association – but tonight he was appearing in only in his personal capacity) reminded the audience how important is was for ordinary working people to join a good trade union like UNISON.

I spoke next (UNISON RCO and on behalf of the Housing Association Branch) and pointed out that I had worked with Debbie for years and that I did not believe the allegations against her nor did anyone who knows her. I also reminded everyone that while individual local housing officers and residents don’t always see “eye to eye” on all things all the time. If Housing associations treat their staff unfairly then you can bet your bottom dollar they will treat their residents unfairly as well! We have a common interest.

Local resident and former Barkantine chair, Sarah Castro MBE, spoke how she had been forced out of chairing the local resident’s board and how important it was that resident representatives are democratically elected. I will declare an interest that I use to work with Sarah and I think she is an absolute star (Unison member of course – and our favourite Spanish translator for Cuban trade union visitors). What on earth is One Housing Group problem?

The final panel speaker was UNISON NEC member John McDermott who came down from Leeds to speak in support of Debbie. John is a housing worker in a Leeds ALMO and is having his own problems with his management. He was facing a gross misconduct hearing today (I don’t know what happened – I will update when I hear). I don’t agree politically with John at all, but he gave a very good speech in support of his trade union “sister” Debbie. While he was attacking One Housing group I was pleased to see Tory Cllr Tim Archer nodding his head in agreement to much of what he said.

Debbie herself was the last speaker. She gave a very simple and moving speech thanking everyone for attending and for their support.

There were then a number of positive contributions from the floor. Local resident after local resident pledged support for Debbie. UNISON members from Newham and Havering were present to offer solidarity as was the Tower Hamlets NUT and the local GP’s representatives.

I met a lot of people at the meeting that I hadn’t seen in years. Including Debbie’s daughter who I had last seen with her Mum on the picket lines as a 10 year old in the month long Tower Hamlets Housing strike of 1999.

Debbie’s appeal against dismissal is on March 19th and the Chair of tonights meeting, John McLoughlin, announced that they may be organising transport and refreshments to hold at the same time a traditionally East End Beano outside the One Housing head office in Chalk Farm in support of Debbie.

Now, with my captain sensible regional head on I’m not exactly sure that this will be in reality all that good an idea but it seemed to go down very well on the night.

Support for Debbie Cordrey

This is from another leaflet about Debbie Cordrey. What is good to see is the message of support from the CEO of Tower Hamlets Community Housing.

“This news was deeply shocking. I have known Debbie for quite some time now and she is not only a good officer but also someone who gives a lot back to the community, through various Community Groups
in Poplar that she is involved in; and by serving as a Resident Board Member at Poplar HARCA.

As a local resident, Debbie understands that we are here to serve residents, and she has a deserving high
reputation amongst those locals who have benefited greatly from her work in housing over the years.”

MIKE TYRRELL THCH Chief Executive, former Tower Hamlets Council Housing Manager”.

(Double click on picture to read if properly)

Reinstate Debbie Cordrey

Next Thursday I will be speaking at this public meeting in favour of housing worker Debbie Cordrey being reinstated into her job after being sacked by Island Homes (One Housing Group).

I have known Debbie personally for at least 14 years in my trade union capacity and as a work colleague. I simply do not accept the allegations made against her and I am convinced she is being treated unfairly.

It is probably the most diverse panel of speakers that I have ever spoken at. Which I think indicators the breath of support for Debbie. No-one else believes it either.

Even Chief Executives of other RSL’s are lining up to support Debbie.

There have been huge housing management and governance problems in “Island Homes” in the recent past. Sacking a junior supervisor (and a senior trade union rep as well as a respected community activist) seems completely unfair and disproportionate. This is the sort of thing that brings the wider sector into disrepute and explains why many have such poor opinions of the way certain RSLs are run.

RSL’s with good governance and a good housing management culture respect Residents and staff. They treat them fairly. They are the only ones that will survive and flourish in the long term.

My message to Island Homes is quite simply – please remember rule number one – if you are in a hole – Stop digging! Reinstate Debbie.

(Update - I've posted the reverse of the flyer as well)