UNISON Community Seminar 2025

Yesterday, the UNISON Community (Housing Associations and Voluntary Sector) annual seminar took place in Bristol. The day started at a 9am pre Conference meeting for myself and the Community Service Group Executive. 

10am the seminar started with Sector meetings. I attended the Housing Associations one and we had a speaker from LIVV Housing Association UNISON who are taking extensive strike action against their employer to reverse real term cuts in pay. LIVV have behaved appallingly and not only are they refusing to meet and try to conciliate but are actively attacking strikers and the union. 

While no-one expects an employer to simply agree to all union demands, what LIVV senior management and board are doing is deliberate union busting, by offering a pay rise ONLY to people who don't join or leave the union. Not being discriminated for joining a union is a fundamental human right (United Nations ILO declarations). If you don't respect the human rights of your workers then you are not fit to run in any way any organisation in my view, never mind one supposedly with a social purpose. 

No wonder "Housing Associations" (when there are actually many very good ones who would never act it this way) are hated by so many, across the entire political spectrum. Who on earth is advising them to do this?  How can human rights abusers be allowed to run services for vulnerable residents? 

There were "new delegate" and then equalities caucus meetings over lunch then the Seminar itself started afterwards. Our General Secretary, Christina MacAnea, gave a simply brilliant and inspiring speech followed by a wide ranging Q&A. The way she has been treated following her personal bereavement by some extremists has been truly shameful but I am so glad she is back and standing up for the union and our real members.  

Joseph Evans from the IPPR spoke about sectorial bargaining in other parts of the economy. This issue is so important to our sector and I spoke on this debate the next day at the actual conference. 

After the seminar there was a regional meeting of Greater London Community delegates then a social in a nearby pub. 

What does "Just Transition" mean in practice? We cannot deliver on climate change unless we have justice and fairness...?

 

Last Wednesday I attended the launch and first evidence session of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Local Government Pension Funds and its inquiry into ‘Responsible Investment for a Just Transition’. The meeting was chaired by Clive Betts MP. 

From the invite:-

"As you know, climate change is a threat to lives and livelihoods, and presents systemic risks to the economy and financial markets and to our future prosperity. Shifting to a net zero economy has the potential to create new jobs and drive economic growth. However, the benefits may not be felt evenly with some employees and communities bearing the brunt of industrial change. This not only risks creating economic hardship for some but also undermining support for the shift to net zero (my empathises).

Ahead of the UN climate change conference in Glasgow in 2021, the APPG inquiry will take evidence - and then compile a final report - setting out recommendations to UN agencies, national, devolved and local government, policymakers, business and investors, about how the risks that climate change poses can be avoided in a just way. Over the first half of 2021 the APPG will hear a wide range of perspectives on the issue and, in particular, answers to the following questions:

· What is a just transition is and why does it matter?

· What initiatives would help ensure a just transition

· What action you would like to see investors and government take on this agenda?

The APPG for LAPF believes that it has the opportunity to shape the national agenda on the just transition to a net zero future, and wishes to hear from as many voices as possible".

In response to a question what Local Government Pension funds can practically do to support "Just Transition" I suggested that they should support actively engage with companies they own to ensure that they follow the International Labour Organisation (UN) principles on Trade Union recognition and collective bargaining. No justice No Transition.  

Safety inspections are not optional – Governments should respect international law and protect workers (so should employers)

Hat tip TUC Risks. We need to stop our Government (and employers) ignoring international law and make them take responsibility for the safety of their workers.  UK Employees who work for anti-trade union employers such as Ealing based Catalyst Housing Association are in an even worse place, since if you work for an employer who refuses to recognise a trade union you don't have State or Safety rep workplace protection either.

"The UK government is breaking international rules requiring safety inspections of all workplaces, an International Labour Organisation (ILO) ruling indicates. In November, ILO issued is findings on a complaint by Dutch unions about their government’s failure to comply with a number of ILO conventions.

The unions believed cutbacks and reorganisation meant an effective inspectorate and related medical service no longer existed. Like the Netherlands, the UK has ratified and is required to abide by the ILO’s Labour Inspections convention. This states: “Workplaces shall be inspected as often and as thoroughly as is necessary to ensure the effective application of the relevant legal provisions”.

Other parts of the convention lay down requirements for inspectors’ independence, training, access to advice, and provision of local offices. The ILO ruled the Dutch government was breaching the convention’s requirements because of its failings on the number and frequency of inspections, the support provided for inspectors and the system for notification of occupational diseases. The ILO also stressed the importance of unannounced inspections, noting the provisions applied to “all workplaces, particularly in enterprises that are not considered to be in high-risk sectors and in small enterprises.”

According to TUC head of safety Hugh Robertson, the majority of UK workplaces are exempt from unannounced inspections and the Health and Safety Executive’s medical service has been decimated. He concluded “many of the arguments used by the Dutch trade unionists apply equally or even more so in the UK, where the Coalition government has slashed inspections, while at the same time reducing the number of HSE offices and level of support available. The Dutch government has been told to put their house in order. We will be asking the UK government to do the same.”

TUC Stronger Unions blog.

ILO Governing Body report, 6 November 2014.

ILO Labour Inspections Convention, No.81.

Union Busting at Catalyst Housing Association

UNISON Press Release: UNION BUSTING AT CATALYST HOUSING ASSOCIATION

"In a move reminiscent of American style union busting, Catalyst Housing Association has responded to a request by UNISON to meet the Chief Executive and discuss bullying of stewards, and their very poor industrial relations record, by issuing a letter confirming that they intend to derecognise the union.

This is despite Chief Executive, Rod Cahill, only a few weeks ago at a housing fringe meeting at the Labour Party conference telling the fringe that Catalyst does recognise trade unions. This fringe included leading Labour Party figures.

However, Mr Cahill also stated at this meeting that Housing Associations are private bodies and not accountable to anyone but themselves.

It is a fundamental human right enshrined in international law for all workers to have freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining. Any employer, especially a registered charity such as Catalyst that refuses to recognise a trade union does not respect human rights; any employer that does not respect human rights should not be given access to public funds or contracts.

UNISON Regional full time officer Colin Inniss said "I have been trying for several weeks to meet up with Mr Cahill to discuss complaints about bullying in Catalyst. A day after I chase a response we get this letter announcing that they are terminating the recognition agreement, without even the courtesy of a meeting to explain why they are thinking of doing this!

 Housing Association Branch Secretary John Gray said "To be clear, Unison is the biggest union by far in the social housing sector. Unison is a moderate and sensible union but we will not tolerate union busting in this country. We always want to talk with employers if there is a problem and resolve things whenever possible. This is an attack on human rights. It will also be seen as an attack on the whole trade union movement in this country. This has the potential to be an extremely prolonged and damaging dispute the likes of which has not been seen before in our sector.

I call the Board of Catalyst to step in and withdraw this union termination letter and facilitate urgent talks with unison and management before this gets totally and utterly out of hand.

 For Further information or comment please contact: UNISON Regional Organiser, Colin Inniss or UNISON Housing Associations Branch Secretary , John Gray

Notes for Editors
1. UNISON’s represents over 60,000 members in the Community and Voluntary sector.
2. UNISON has recognition agreements with most of the G15 Housing Associations – London’s 15 largest housing associations.
3. Catalyst Housing Association own and manage over 21,000 properties in London and the South East
4. In 2013/14 Catalyst Chief Executive, Rod Cahill, received a pay increase of 9.7%; frontline staff received a 2% increase.

Carlsberg Beer Strike banned: Production "essential service"... (Probably)

I've just sent a protest email to the President of the Republic of Lithuania, their Prime Minister and

the CEO of the Carlsberg brewery in Lithuania.

The Lithuanian Courts have apparently "banned" a strike by Carlsberg brewery workers on the
grounds that beer production is an "essential public service". The strike was against the 3rd year of a pay freeze.   

This is not only plain silly but a clear infringement of International Labour Law. The Union has made a complaint to the ILO. Carlsberg, the 4th biggest brewery in the world,  is in danger of becoming a laughing stock and destroying their international brand name.  Click here for further details and to send your own email protest.

The New Internationalist Capitalists

Back this morning from annual meeting of the “Committee on Workers Capital” (CWC) held in the International Labour Organisation’s headquarters (ILO) in Geneva. A superb one

day conference for international labour movement activists, who are involved on workers capital issues.

The chair of CWC is Ken Georgetti, who is President of the Canadian Labour Congress. Canada seems to be taking the lead on worker’s capital. John Maitland, from the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) chaired the actual meeting.

There were nearly 40 participants from all round the world. Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Iceland (who was also an MP), UK and USA. I went to the meeting in London in 2005 and there was probably nearly twice as many people present this year as then. From UNISON there was also national officer for Capital Stewardship, Colin Meech, and from the TUC senior Policy Officer, Janet Williamson. Janet gave two presentations on the TUC response to Private Equity in the UK. Also present was David Russell from the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) and Donald McDonald who is a BT pension scheme trustee (and Chair of PRI).

Some of the pension schemes represented even dwarfed the £125 billion invested (collectively) in the British local government pension scheme (LGPS).

Check out the CWC link for the full picture on the Labour movement and investments (I’ll do a further post on this issue later). The themes for this year meeting were a “Trustees approach to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment “ (PRI - we must get all British schemes to sign up to this campaign). There was than a lot of good stuff on trade union approaches and initiatives on Private Equity (PE); assessing its risk and market distortions, making PE work for us, and PE “due diligence”. There was a very wide ranging discussion. Finishing off with debate on common problems and issues.

Potentially one of the most significant things that the CWC does is to operate a “clearing house” for international trade unions to post requests for assistance or information about international companies who are operating in their country. Recently we had a fairly successful campaign in the UK by the T&G and the Teamsters to try and persuade First Group not to practice anti-trade union activities in the US.

It was good to meet Mike Musuraca from the New York City Employees Retirement System (NYCERS). He is also an official with the American Public sector union (AFSCME). They appear to be far more proactive with their pension fund than we are in London with the LGPS. It would be good to keep in contact so we can get share some ideas.