Celebrating the Live of Osmond "Peter" Daley

 

Today was the funeral of long standing London UNISON activist Peter (as I knew him) Daley. Peter was also a member of the UNISON Housing Associations Branch committee for many years and a firm supporter of the forces of light and reason in the Region. 

When he was younger, Peter had also served his county as a infantry soldier in the British Army in a dangerous conflict zone.  In more recent times he had worked as a residents liaison officer in a housing estate I know well, which was going through a "very  difficult" emergency block decant. He was very much a supportive but no nonsense, housing professional.  

He will be sadly missed. I had hoped to go to his funeral but was not able to due to a clash. Yvonne Green, the London UNISON convenor and other union activists were there in Birmingham today and I was able to watch the Committal on line. 

His family have requested donations to Cancer Research and London UNISON have agreed to donate £150 in his memory. 

Rest in Peace Peter

UNISON Housing Associations branch officers Xmas meal 2023

 

A great meal out in Hoxton "Tay Do Cafe" (Vietnamese). Quite a few were unable to make it due to other seasonal commitments, but great opportunity for Branch officers to meet up with our Regional officer (Ezequiel) and case officer (Karl). The world (and UNISON) was put to rights.

Afterwards some of us went to a pub for a drink and I bumped into a former Newham Council political assistant and had a catch up. 

UNISON Housing Associations branch proudly nominates....

 

Greater London UNISON Housing Associations Branch AGM 2022

This evening was our branch AGM held in central London. It was a hybrid, in person and zoom quorate meeting.  I was pleased to have been re-elected (unopposed) as the branch Labour Link officer. 

Our excellent guest speaker was David Lammy MP,  Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (who has been a consistent supporter of UNISON). As you would expect David slammed the Russians over their invasion in Ukraine. 

We passed motions calling for a review of pension provision in our sector (proposed by me)  and "No to Sexist Bulling" which recent events shows it is a real problem in our union. 

Afterwards, a few of us who attended the in person meeting when for a celebration beer (or three) and in centre picture is our new branch Chair, Joseph (centre photo on left) who is also standing in May as a Labour Councillor candidate in Hackney. 

Love UNISON: Housing Associations branch nominate Lola Oyewusi & John Gray for London Community SGE seats

 

I was really pleased this evening to be nominated unanimously by our branch committee to stand in the UNISON Community Service Group Executive 2022 elections for London alongside my fellow activist Lola Oyewusi. 

"Community" is the part of UNISON  that represents members who work in Housing Associations and the Voluntary Sector. The Service Group Executive is essentially the elected national "committee" for Community with reps from all regions and nations in the UK (and what we call sector reps). We are the faster growing part of UNISON. 

Many thanks to my UNISON Branch for re-nominating me for our NEC

This evening my UNISON Greater London Housing Associations branch executive agreed unanimously to re-nominate me for the Community General NEC Seat and Denise Thomas for the Community NEC Female seat. The branch represents over 3000 members in Greater London and nearby. 

This year there are the biennial elections for all positions on UNISON National Executive Council (NEC). The ballot opens on 4 May 2021 and runs until 27 May 2021. The results will be announced on 11 June 2021.

Many thanks for this support and vote of confidence from my branch. 

The Executive also supported a number of other candidates, who want to unite our union in order to take on the government and not make public service workers pay the price of Covid. 

(Picture from our last "physical" branch AGM in 2019 at the Houses of Parliament with our keynote speaker, Sarah Jones MP. At the time she was Shadow Minister for Housing).