UNISON #UNEC19 Elections - Community & Greater London Region Seats

I have just voted for the following candidates and will post the ballot paper to the independent electoral reform services later today. It took me 5 minutes.

UNISON is the largest trade union in the UK with 1.3 million members covering a wide range of traditional public services such as Local Government and the NHS as well as out sourced private companies and the voluntary sector. So our elections are a "little" complex.

I am standing for one of the two Community (for members who work for Housing Associations and the voluntary sector) national seats and Denise Thomas, for the other seat.

Denise has worked for the Community sector for 26 years, supporting adults with learning difficulties. She is a valued colleague on our Service Group Executive in battling for our sector.

Also I voted for the following 3 candidates standing for Greater London Regional seats.

Sonya Howard is a respected London activist. She is the secretary of the Kensington & Chelsea branch and she has been outstanding in supporting members and campaigning for safety and tenants rights post Grenfell fire.

Cynthia Adjei works for the GLA and is our London UNISON Regional Convenor for Equalities. She is a committed campaigner for greater funding for all public services to tackle homelessness, child poverty, in work poverty and gun/knife crime.

Eddie Brand has been a London Ambulance worker for 32 years and says things as it is. As long as I have known him he puts UNISON members first and foremost while proud to be a NHS paramedic.

Congratulations to Jo (daughter of our dear departed comrade, Irene Stacey) for being elected unopposed.

I will post my ballot paper for Black and Disabled Members seats next. If you don't work in the Community sector or in London, you can see my other recommendations here  

"Remembering Irene Stacey – a stalwart of our union, and a friend"

A fitting tribute from our General Secretary, Dave Prentis to Irene.

Throughout her time in UNISON – and through her illness – Irene’s bravery was clear to everyone who knew her, and an inspiration to all of us who worked and campaigned alongside her. She will be a huge loss to our NEC, her branch and our union.

Irene Stacey, a long-standing member of our NEC representing low-paid members in London, died earlier today after a long illness.

Irene was a stalwart of our union. Someone universally admired and respected by members, activists and staff alike. Formerly the branch secretary of UNISON’s local government branch in Newham, Irene served with the dedication and passion for which she was famous.

Her enthusiasm for our union was infectious. A passionate recruiter of new members, Irene was rewarded by the TUC for her efforts, and never stopped encouraging people to join UNISON – even when she was being treated in hospital. Yet if she was passionate about getting new members into the union, she was equally as strident when it came to standing up for them. To Irene, our members were amazing people who needed all the support they could get, and who deserved the best – and she saw it as her role to ensure that was the case.

The Labour Party was another organisation through which Irene fought diligently for better public services, better rights at work and better pay for all those who work for our communities. Irene sat on our Labour Link committee, always keeping conversations grounded in the realities of our members experiences, and represented UNISON at many Labour conferences, including in 2017. Irene was undergoing treatment at that time, but she would not let that stop her from playing a full role in the delegation.

Yet her dedication to the Labour Party never stopped her from holding the party to account. I will never forget Irene, about to be awarded a gold badge by the TUC for her recruitment work by Gordon Brown, taking the opportunity to upbraid the then Prime Minister over widow’s pensions.

That was typical of Irene. Throughout her time in UNISON – and through her illness – Irene’s bravery was clear to everyone who knew her, and an inspiration to all of us who worked and campaigned alongside her. She will be a huge loss to our NEC, her branch and our union.

Our thoughts today are with her beloved daughters Jo and Mandy, and her wider family.

RIP Irene – our friend.

Irene Stacey UNISON NEC Candidate Greater London Reserved Seat

"I will work to unite our union and reject the politics of division - I will work with anyone in UNISON  to deliver the Stronger UNISON we need at these difficult times, and I will reject divisive tactics designed to divide us.

Irene Stacey Greater London Reserved Seat. 

My UNISON NEC 2013 Ballot Paper for Greater London & Community

Vote for the forces of light and reason!

UNISON NEC London & Health Candidates: Use your vote and have your say!

More candidates in UNISON NEC elections 2013 who support the interests of ordinary union members.

London Paralympics 2012

I watched the opening ceremony on TV last night and like pretty much everyone else who saw it I thought it was brilliant.

I admit once again that I am not a "sports" fan so I will not be watching that much outside BBC news highlights.

However, I will be rooting for the swimmer, Amy Marren, 14 year old grand-daughter of UNISON NEC member Irene Stacey (and former Branch secretary of Newham UNISON Local Government branch).  She is one of the youngest athletes at the "Games" and already holds British records in the 200m backstroke and 800m freestyle

Amy is taking part in the heats of the 100m backstroke tomorrow (Friday 31st) and also the 50m and 400m freestyle next week. Good luck to all the athletes!

UNISON: Voting for Ken and Labour

Picture of London UNISON Convener Gloria Hanson and NEC member Irene Stacey (left) with Labour Mayor Candidate Ken Livingstone. In my (totally unbiased view) it is absolutely vital that everyone who cares about public services in London goes out next Thursday and votes for Ken and all Labour candidates.

London UNISON SGE Elections: Forces of light and reason

This is of course strictly in my personal capacity only. But while I don't know all the candidates standing in this year's London UNISON Service Group Election elections. The following are not loony left "lets all go on strike to bring about the revolution".

So if I had the choice I would support:-

Local Government
Doris Sutton - Female Seat   
Laurie Pocock – General Seat
Irene Stacey - Reserved Low Paid Seat                   

Health
Eddyna Danso - Female Seat 
Mike Davey - General Seat
Lynn Burbidge – Reserved Low Paid Seat           

Higher Education
Elizabeth Baptiste - Female Seat     
Gwyn Jones - General Seat   

Community
Joel Bodmer - General Seat           

I'll try and find out who are the similar forces of light and reason candidates standing elsewhere outside London.

Lobby of Parliament over Pay

Yesterday after work I went to the House of Commons to take part in the “Speak up for Public Services” lobby of MPs organised by the TUC.

I was due to meet up with London UNISON Regional Convener, Gloria Hanson, and UNISON NEC member, Irene Stacey, to lobby Labour MP for West Ham Lyn Brown on “fair pay” for all public sector workers.

All of us work or live in Newham and are Labour Party activists. There had been a packed TUC rally at lunchtime which I had missed and the main lobby was 2-4pm. On route in the Great Hall I met up with John Whitworth, who was also on his way to lobby Lyn. John is a member of the University and College union UCU and had actually been on strike that day at his college over pay! While waiting in the central lobby for Lyn I saw the trade union web and Internet adviser (also an editor of Labourstart and blogger) Eric Lee. Eric spoke to John and took details of the UCU dispute which he would try to get covered in Labourstart. Eric and John also had an interesting and constructive chat about other wider issues regarding UCU.

Gloria and Irene came in with Labour Minister Jim Fitzpatrick MP who they had met beforehand to lobby (Jim represents Canning Town in Newham and Poplar in Tower Hamlets). Years ago I can remember lobbying Jim over social housing issues with a unison convener who was also an active member of the SWP. Jim invited us to Strangers Bar and offered to buy us both a beer (no sandwiches). To my surprise my companion gratefully accepted the offer and seemed to enjoy his pint!

Lyn took the 4 of us to the Palace of Westminster terrace bar. There were a number of UNISON and other trade union members sitting with their MP’s. Including Mike Hayes, from the NEC who gave us a briefing on Equal Pay the other week. The serious business of the day was “lobbying” our MP over what we believe to be the decision to save the government money by paying public sector staff increases below the rate of inflation. The majority of our members are relatively low paid and have been hit hardest by the large increases in many food, fuel and energy prices. The fact that we believe this will also be (is) politically damaging to the Labour Party and the Government was not lost either.

We also discussed the rise of the BNP in East London and potential redundancies in Newham council resulting from a proposed centralisation of services. I had a discussion about cuts in Housing “Supporting People” services and Lyn gave me some helpful advice about how to progress this.

I don’t expect the world to change overnight and as the result of this TUC parliamentary lobby, Gordon Brown is not going to wake up tomorrow and realise that he has made a terrible mistake and will come up with a big wedge of money for us. Nor will such indirect pressures replace the need, when necessary, to confront and stand up to government and employers. We could I suppose just join the protesters outside in Parliament Square and shout at the MPs through megaphones all day. I don’t think that this actually achieves much. While it is not always sweetness and light in the relationship of the trade unions and the Labour Party such as this difference over public services pay. Nor should it. But, just compare this difference with the abyss between the trade unions and the Conservative Party.

The public pay issue is also not just “producer interests” moaning about our share of the cake, it is also pointing out what should be the bleeding obvious to the government that this will not help you win the next election. Never mind the 10p tax fiasco. Reducing in real terms the amount of money that 5 million predominantly low paid voters will receive in their pay packets over the next few years is not only plain wrong for a Labour government to do but barking mad, bad politics as well.

Picture (by ace Parliamentary aide David H) is of Lyn, John W, Me, Gloria and Irene (congratulations on her being re-elected as a London UNISON SGE member). Lyn is looking away from the camera since she is the only one to see that while we were all posing, the House of Commons pigeons were feasting on our crisps and peanuts.

Oh Well, Win Some Lose Some

I have just got the results about the UNISON London Local Government Service Group Executive Election. I was well beaten by incumbent David Eggmore who got 2,882 votes. Second was Glenn Kelly who got a surprising (to me anyway) 2,528. I came third with 1,430 and Oreleo DuCran came 4th with 677. See previous post.

Congratulations to David!

The good news is that Irene Stacey (see next post) won the London female seat 3586 to 3532. Narrowing defeating Sonya Howard. Interesting to speculate about what this actually means?

Bad news I fear also about Rachel Voller and Bill Beekoo in the London Health SGE elections. I am sure that this is just a blip!

Nationally the centre left seemed to have done better.

I enjoyed the campaign and have a number of ideas on how to possibly get a better result in any future elections.

Turnout was as always very poor. 79,507 members balloted, total number of valid votes counted only 7,517. There was an incredible 677 invalid votes cast in my election and 1076 for the female seat? Scotland who balloted 102,282 members only had 61 invalid votes? (Only one seat up for election in that region).

The low turnout meant that in London you only needed just fewer than 3% of the membership vote to win.

Would better publicity, raising the profile of the SGE, internet voting, voting via mobile phones make any difference?

Anyway, such is life, I am now settling down to a nice cup of tea. (still using skimmed milk)

UNISON Local Government Service Group Executive Elections (London region)

Following my last post on the UNISON London Health SGE elections (in support of Layla, Bill and Rachel). Here is a copy of a flyer that Irene and I are sending out for the London Local Government SGE elections.

In the picture left Irene is seen receiving a prize for being the top trade union recruiter for 2007 with Gordon. You all know by now what I look like.

If you are a member of UNISON Local Government in London, please copy this flyer and email to any other members you know. UNISON branch funds and distribution lists should not be used. Ballot papers are due to be sent out tomorrow to members home addresses.

Irene is a traditional Labour Party supporter and is a care assistant in Newham. She is standing against a SP candidate. While I am standing against the incumbent United left candidate (David Eggmore) as well as a high profile Socialist Party candidate (Glenn Kelly) and Oreleo Melvin Du Cann. My candidacy has in the recent past caused discord amongst the comrades. Shame.

UNISON: URGENT INFORMATION PLEASE READ: UNISON

Vote Irene Stacey and John Gray for the UNISON London Elections April 2008

Dear UNISON Member

You will shortly get ballot papers from UNISON for important London wide union elections. These ballot papers will be sent to you at home.

The elections are important since the people who you elect will directly represent you and all other London UNISON members nationally.

Irene Stacey has worked in schools and home care for over 20 years and is Newham Branch Secretary. She has represented London in UNISON for many years. John Gray is a housing estate officer in Tower Hamlets, branch health & safety officer and the elected London UNISON Finance Convenor.

Irene and John are standing as UNISON London representatives because they believe it is time for change. They want London to send representatives to National UNISON who put ordinary members interests at heart and put members concerns first.

They also want the union to listen to London and help us fight low pay, privatisation, poor health & safety, and inequality.

Irene and John are also UNISON Labour Link members. They want to use our influence in the Labour Party to work for and promote UNISON aims and values. Protest or gesture politics are a luxury we cannot afford.

VOTE FOR IRENE AND JOHN!

X IRENE STACEY (FEMALE SEAT)

X JOHN GRAY (GENERAL SEAT)

“Will no one rid me of this turbulent...Shop Steward!”

Last night I spoke at a Newham UNISON rally in support of their suspended Branch Chair, Michael Gavan (2nd from left). Unusually, the rally was in the Stratford Picture House (cinema - right photo) and had the film director Ken Loach (middle) as the guest speaker. Ken had allowed his latest film “It’s a Free World” to be shown and have its British premier that night to help Newham branch.

Now, I have already made it clear that I do not support Michael’s political beliefs (he is the Chair of Newham Respect), however, he is the senior democratically elected UNISON branch officer in Newham (local government) with an excellent reputation for defending members in discipline or sickness hearings.

I think that everyone accepts that trade union reps are accountable for their actions; but, Michael has been accused by management in Newham Council of two counts of “gross misconduct”. These should be very serious and substantiated allegations. But it is clear to me that the actual charges made against Michael are just simply nonsensical and in no way justify suspension or charges of gross misconduct. I first heard in detail about the allegations from non UNISON sources.

This is now an "official" dispute and a strike ballot has been authorised and I have no doubt that there is the potential for prolonged and damaging strike action to take place.

In his speech Ken, was as usual, rather uncomplimentary about the Labour Party. I think he is just plain wrong about these particular views. For example I don’t actually think that Gordon Brown (for all his mistakes) is engaged in a conspiracy to stop migrant workers being paid the minimum wage in order to keep inflation down. In fact I am absolute confident that the opposite is true. Despite this we could all agree that Michael is being treated very unfairly.

Also present was UNISON NEC member Irene Stacey (far left - speaker and secretary of Newham branch), UNISON NEC member Kim Silver (Newham) and Councillor (Tower Hamlets) Bill Turner (member Newham UNISON) amongst others. It was nice to speak from the same platform as my good comrade, Jon Rogers (UNISON NEC).

During his speech Ken turned round and looked at me and said that he hoped the unions would not “cut and run” in their support for Michael. Something he thought that British trade unions were prone to do. He had a big beaming smile while he said this, I didn’t take offence. Mind you afterwards I had to apologise to him for not staying and seeing the film since I had to go to another meeting. He laughed, I laughed…. I did mention on the way out that it was a Newham Labour Party selection meeting. Nobody seemed to mind.

By coincidence while I was finishing off this report I have just watched the BBC2 “Newsnight” feature on the current problems in “Respect”.

Off tomorrow to Labour Party conference.

Labour Party conference 2007

Every evening this week I have come home there is at least 2 or 3 letters or large documents in the post from the Party or UNISON Labour Link about the conference next week. This is my first Labour Party conference. Things are also a bit hectic at work, so I have a massive pile of reading to work my way thorough somehow before Saturday evening. Not very green but I suppose it is necessary.

I am one of the two (elected) UNISON Labour Link (APF) delegates from Greater London region. The other delegate from London is UNISON NEC member, Louise Couling, who is an old hand at these things. London NEC member Irene Stacey will also be there.

The accommodation is booked (and confirmed thankfully), but there is a mass of invites, passes, security warnings and tickets to all sort of different meetings and fringes.

I will try and blog on the conference every day.

Should be interesting.

Gordon thanks Irene for recruiting 257 UNISON members!

Newham local government branch officer (and UNISON NEC Labour Link member) Irene Stacey was yesterday awarded the TUC lay officers "Organising Award" by the Prime Minister. Hat tip to UNISON

TUC President Alison Shepherd noted, “40 of those new recruits - many of them minority ethnic women and many working part-time - have gone on to become union reps or contacts themselves.And Ms Stacey's secret? "I always carry recruitment forms with me," she says, "whether it's one or 10. Because if you sign up just one member, that's one member who's got UNISON protection."

I am sure that any trade union rep will be impressed by Irene recruiting so many members in one year, especially since I believe that Newham’s membership density was pretty high beforehand. Well done Irene!

Knowing Irene, I have no doubt that she would have also had a quick word with Gordon about some local trade union issues!

UNISON NEC Election Results: London Victory for Centre Left, National Union Safe.

Congratulations to London lollypop lady, Louise Couling, who was re-elected, new blood Kim Silver, elected for the first time and elected unopposed, Irene Stacey. Well done all of them.

Louise and Kim beat both female candidates from the SWP controlled “United Left” faction. A resounding victory!!

Sadly, top health rep Conroy Lawrence was defeated by the narrowest of margins in the male seat (less than 650 votes) but this is a great result for a first time candidate!! Formal and very sincere congratulations to United Left Jon Rogers.

Overall, despite a few casualties and losing some good people, nationally we had victory across the board. Most importantly, the union is safe; the NEC is still in the hands of ordinary members who want the best for UNISON and who will pursue real trade union policies rather than calling for permanent revolution and other such nonsense.

London4Change: Unison National Executive Council elections 2007

Stand Up and Vote for Democracy
Conroy, Irene, Louise & Kim are standing in the forthcoming UNISON NEC elections.

A vote for them is a vote to put the interests and participation of our members first. It is a vote to celebrate diversity and independent thought and to build the respect of the membership through progressive policies.

With the election of a new regional convenor 12 months ago things have begun to change in the London region. We have a more representative and democratic structure with the disproportionate influence of a vociferous minority reduced. We have also witnessed record membership recruitment across all service groups.

Now we must build on our success by ensuring London’s elected representatives on UNISON’s NEC, the ruling body of the Union, genuinely reflect our members views. The London region must not be held to ransom by the politics of extremists, with their narrow opinion on what the union should do for its members.

We believe all members should have equal access to our union. Those with the loudest voices should not be allowed to dictate the agenda. We believe in dialogue and negotiation, not confrontation.

Our members’ needs must be paramount and our priorities are:

• campaigning for improved wages for London’s public sector workers
• defending the NHS in London against cuts and marketisation
• opposing the privatisation of London’s education, social services and utilities and not abandoning our members who have been transferred to private companies
• defeating the far right particularly the BNP, because there is no place in our community for views that turn brother against brother, sister against sister
• building union organisation and membership
• promoting equality for all across the union as more than two thirds of our members are women, a third of members in London are black or from an ethnic minority.

“Support your union. Support collective responsibility.”

You will receive a ballot paper at your home address shortly. Please take the time to complete and return. Have pride in being a member of a strong union that defends public services and provides quality support for its members. Vote for Conroy, Kim,Louise and Irene.

“We believe in openness, democracy and participation not self -interest.”

Stand up and vote for Democracy

Conroy, Kim, Louise and Irene are standing in the forthcoming UNISON NEC elections. A vote for them is a vote to put the interests and participation of our members first. It is a vote to celebrate diversity and independent thought and to build the respect of the membership through progressive policies.

Unison National Executive Council elections 2007
VOTE FOR:
Conroy Lawrence - London Male seat
Kim Silver - London Female seat
Louise Couling - London Female seat
Irene Stacey - London Low Pay seat