On the knocker for Alam in Plaistow North & supporting Joel in Croydon East

 

This morning I joined Newham comrades in the rain (it was rather light and sporadic)  for a canvass in Plaistow North for the forthcoming Council by election this Thursday 23 November. The canvass was mostly very positive but I did have a two difficult conversations with residents out of 35 Labour doorstep  contacts. 

While I suspect there wider concerns, the only opposition that I saw today out campaigning was the Tories, who appear to be targeting the ward and throwing more resources at it I have seen since the Royal Docks by election in 2009. Today I accused their organiser Tim of stalking us!

Afterwards I went to help out with the campaign for UNISON Labour Link nominee Joel Bodmer, to become the Labour candidate to represent Croydon East. 

Plaistow North by election & supporting Joel Bodmer for Croydon East

Saturday afternoon I went to support our Labour Candidate, Akthural Alam. I ended up leading a small team using the "Labour Doorstep" smartphone app which is great (but sometimes erratic) for individual canvassing but not that good for a group. However, all the data is saved automatically and if it rains the paper canvass sheets tends to disintegrate. 

I had a few decent political conversations and it was mostly very positive. I bumped into the Tories again (led by my old sparring partner Tim Roll-Pickering for third Saturday in a row) but no sign again of any other parties.  

Afterwards I went to Croydon East with UNISON colleagues, to support Joel Bodmer, who was shortlisted in the nomination race to be the Labour Parliamentary candidate for this new seat.

Check out 

@JoelBodmer 

https://www.joelbodmer.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/JoelBodmer1

Longlisted:Joel Bodmer for Croydon East

 

Fantastic news. Joel has been longlisted to be the Labour Party candidate for Croydon East at the next General Election. Well done to Joel and his team. Check out his website here 

Proud to be backed by UNISON - Joel Bodmer for Croydon East

Congratulations to Joel for winning the UNISON Labour Link nomination. In our roles as elected Chair and Vice Chair of Greater London Regional Labour Link committee, myself and Yvonne Green (who happens to be a Croydon East Labour activist) interviewed a wide range of excellent candidates, supported by a UNISON regional manager as procedural secretary. 

On this occasion, Joel was the clear winner and has been given the sole nomination. We need more genuine grass roots, capable, trade union activists as MPs in the next Parliament to deliver for all working people. 

Joel Bodmer for Croydon East

Today Joel launched his campaign to become the Labour Party Candidate for Croydon East. He is secretary to the Greater London UNISON Labour Link committee, which I chair but I have known him since he joined my UNISON branch as a Mental Health Support worker and became our young members officer. He eventually became our branch Chair before leaving to become a full time union officer organising NHS hospital and other public service workers for the last 15 years.  

The members of Croydon East will decide who will be their candidate and there are many good ones but I do endorse Joel, who I believe will make an excellent MP and UNISON Labour Link has nominated him. 

Good luck Joel! 

Check out and share 

https://twitter.com/JoelBodmer/status/1716395295964377199

https://www.facebook.com/100083036688611/videos/305656165555633/

https://joelbodmer.com/ 

Congratulations to UNISON Paramedic - Councillor Pete Hannell

London Paramedic and UNISON activist Pete Hannell was elected yesterday as a Labour Councillor for Dacorum Borough Council in Hertfordshire. Pete topped the poll for his ward in Bennetts End. Labour now has 3 Councillors when beforehand there was none. He is a member of the London UNISON Labour Link committee and we did have a telecanvass session for him on Tuesday but is clear that he and his local party members delivered for Labour and residents and we look forward to further gains in the future.

Condolences to Lola Oyewusi, another UNISON activist and London Labour Link committee members who was returned as a Parish Councillor but came second in a single member ward in Tunbridge, Kent.

I had on Monday and yesterday been supporting Labour in Southend-on-sea, Essex with other UNISON Activists, where they won back 2 seats but because the Tories defeated 2 independents, we might have lost overall control in this minority Labour administration.

 Nationally (England only), Labour did really well, gaining control of 22 new councils and electing 527 new Councillors. Labour is now the largest Party in Local Government, surpassing the Tories for the first time since 2002!

Roll on the next General Election.

UPDATE: at Pete Hannell's count an opposition supporter fainted and of course Pete sprung into action. 

Labour Doorstep in Sunny Southend (followed by fish n chips on seafront)

 A really good #Labourdoorstep on Saturday for Labour candidates in Southend-on-sea, Essex. I went with fellow UNISON member & Newham, Cllr Lewis Godfrey. We went on the doorstep in St Luke's Ward for existing Labour Councillor, Martin Berry. There was a really positive response for Martin and Labour. There was a few residents who declared they were "non voters" and  I think some of them were traditional tory voters who are so fed up with the present tory government that they will just not vote. 

Afterwards, some of us went off for fish n chips (and mushy peas for me) on waterfront. 
 

Dan Tomlinson for Chipping Barnet

 

It was great to attend fundraising dinner last week for the Labour candidate in Chipping Barnet, Dan Tomlinson. I went with my UNISON colleague (and political secretary to London Labour Link) Joel Bodmer. 

Dan was supported by @unisonglr #LabourLink committee during his successful selection process to be the official Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Chipping Barnet. 

Dan gave an inspiring speech on his local background, wider life experience and what he can offer the people of Chipping Barnet if elected as their MP.

Some great speeches also by London Assembly member Unmesh Desai and Rushanara Ali MP. 

My run of luck in Labour Party raffles continued and I for the second time in a row I won first prize in the (enviable) raffle. I choose a bottle of House of Lords whiskey, signed by the very good friend of UNISON, David Lammy MP. 

Prospective Parliamentary Candidates: Greater London Labour Link

 

This evening I interviewed prospective candidates wishing to be nominated by UNISON Labour Link to a Greater London Parliamentary seat. Labour Link (used to be called the APF) is the Political Fund which is affiliated to the Labour Party, which UNISON members can choose to join. 

This was in my role as the elected lay Chair of the Greater London UNISON Labour Link Committee and I was assisted by the elected lay Vice Chair, Yvonne Green.  We were supported by the Greater London Political Secretary, UNISON full time official, Joel Bodmer, acting as Procedure Secretary.

We have had a pretty good "success" rate so far in London, of nominating our members who have since become Parliamentary candidates. 

There was a number of excellent candidates interviewed tonight via MS teams and there was one who was successful. 

All UNISON Labour Link members (normally with at least 6 months membership) are eligible to make an expression of interest to the Political Secretary about which seat the are considering, then when the Labour Party decide to start the nomination process in that Parliamentary seat, Joel will email out application forms to those who expressed an interest. 

However, we do welcome applications from new UNISON and non members, who are strong Labour movement candidates. Please note that other UNISON Labour Link regions will have different processes. 

These forms will all be considered and after a long listing process by Yvonne and myself, we will interview candidates via teams who wish a nomination.  All candidates interviewed will be asked the same questions and responses will be marked by an agreed matrix. The candidate who has the highest score will be nominated. If the scoring is very close we may reconsider application forms. 

We are accountable for the process and our decisions to our Regional Labour Link committee. We want to make sure that all candidates, including those not successful on this occasion, get positive, but honest and constructive feedback.

While apologies that this post is more than a little formal, I think it is important that we are transparent and everyone understands the process. We have had a lot of positive feedback from candidates who regardless of results think we have a fair and understandable system.

London Labour Party Conference 2023 - Day 1

 

From my twitter feed as a UNISON Labour Link Delegate.

At @LondonLabour annual conference. Chair of Regional board #MaggiFerncombe opens conference

Next our @labour leader @Keir_Starmer MP gives key note speech on why we will only get a #labour government by winning the trust of the #British people.

Next a panel on #CostOfLivingCrises with our own @unisontheunion @unisonglr @labourunionsuk
secretary @JoelBodmer (former chair @UnisonHAB) @kimleadbeater @RNBlake #petermandelson. Peter advises us to treat recent polls like smoking cannabis "smoke but do not inhale"

After break we now have panel on "winning the General Election - getting into power" with
@LondonLabour Pearleen Sangha @elliereeves

During lunch I attended part of fringe by @RMTunion speaker Mick Lynch, @DawnButlerBrent
#ellybaker. Good to hear of their support for @labour "New Deal for working people"

Standing ovation for barn storming speech by @lisanandy on fixing the broken housing market by building #council homes (& many other things)

After Lisa panel on "House & home - solving Britain's housing crisis" @ShamaTatler Osama Bhutta
@Shelter Anya Marton @PricedOutUK chaired by @DannyBeales @Semakaleng makes point that in #london we need at least 30k social homes pa

Motions debate: @unisonglr convenor & @LondonLabour #labourlink delegate @Yvonneg57841905 seconds #Abuse is not part of the job" @CroydonUNISON

Proposing motion on "Post-Brexit - Working in Partnership" moved by @GMB_union @newham_labour @NewhamBooker @LondonLabour

Seconding the Post-Brexit motion is @CvobUnison Branch Chair & @unisonglr #LabourLink delegate @MarcelaBenede10

"It's now cheaper to save the planet than to destroy it" @Ed_Miliband speaks on "The green sprint" debate with @Miatsf @HughGoulbourne @hennassh

Final panel "Lessons from local government" @LGA_Labour Peter Robbins @timroca85 @CllrAsma_Islam @KamRai7 @GracieMaeW Regional @LondonLabour director Pearleen Sangha making her report to Conference

And final speaker @LondonLabour London Mayor @SadiqKhan . "More council homes being built in London since 1970s" "Nothing quite like handing a key to anew home to a family" "next election is a choice between a Labour Mayor on side of Londoners & a Tory on side of this rotten Government"

UNISON Labour Link Parliamentary Reception for London Councillors hosted by David Lammy MP

 

Picture collage from last weeks reception in the Jubilee Room in Westminster Hall. Many, many thanks to Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy MP and his staff for hosting this event and for David giving a passionate speech and Parliamentary report to UNISON members present, who are elected Councillors from all over London.

As Chair of Greater UNISON Labour Link Committee (and on behalf of our wonderful Vice Chair, Yvonne Green) , I welcomed and introduced speakers. After David gave his keynote speech, our new(ish) UNISON Regional Secretary, Jo Galloway, gave a cracking overview of politics and the union in London. Especially all the campaigns that should unite us, about tackling low pay, health and safety and training. 

Next was our also new(ish),  Political Secretary and UNISON Regional officer, Joel Bodmer. He laid out specific asks of Councillors regarding adopting our UNISON Ethical Care charter and Residential Care charter. 

UNISON National officer, Gavin Edwards, also spoke about our Social Care campaigns and what Councillors can do to support some of the most vulnerable workers in Local Government. 

Afterwards  there was a chance to take some photos and have a chat and gossip in the finest traditions of UNISON and Local Government. 

Due to Data Protection issues we cannot match UNISON members against Labour Party membership lists, so apologies that the invite to this event was a bit hit and miss. This will be the first of many events and all invitees will also be contacted with dates of campaign sessions to support UNISON nominated Prospective Parliamentary Candidates. 

Watch this space. 

Moment PM Rishi Sunak gets stern telling off to 'try harder' over nurses...

"The arrogance of @RishiSunak, thinking he can pose for a nice video clip at Croydon Hospital, whilst simultaneously cutting NHS workers pay in real terms!! Well done to this patient for calling him out!" #NHSPay #CROYDON (hat tip Joel Bodmer UNISON Greater London Regional Officer supporting 3 front line Health branches)

Lab12: North & WSPA Fringes

Still catching up from Labour Party Conference. The North Fringe on Monday evening reminded me of a proper traditional Labour Party event. Before Ed came to speak there was an auction and raffle. I didn't win anything, not even the GMB branded Whiskey!

It was also the only event I went to during conference that served bottles of Brown Ale. 

Harriet Harman firstly thanked the region for its massive support for the Labour Party. When Ed came he told us that this was his 10th fringe of the night.
He also said how much he enjoyed the Durham Miners Gala and would return next year. 21 years was too long (since last Labour leader attended). He pledged to build new houses and get young people into work when the next Labour Government is elected.

Next was the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) Fringe. They had the World's only Parliamentary band MP4 playing. I must admit that I thought they were very good and didn't realise that they were amaters. Hope they are members of the MU!  There was a number of MP's boogying on down including John Healey, Mike Gapes and Caroline Flint. There were others who declined the spotlight.

Top picture is of my fellow Gog (north walian) John Prescott with UNISON Local organiser Joel Bodmer and UNISON SGE member Mike Davy. Afterwards we went to the Midland Hotel bar to yet again put the world to rights.

UNISON NDC 12: Elder Abuse motion

Conference, President, Joel Bodmer housing association branch Supporting motion 83 Elder Abuse.

It has often been said that you can judge a civilisation not by its wealth, standing or privilege but on how it treats it’s most vulnerable.

The later years in one’s life should be a time for reflection and enjoyment, an opportunity to spend time doing those things people never had change to do in chance to do in younger life. After years of hard work , contribution and service to our society. The very least people should expect is that their basic human rights are protected.

That they are afforded the existence so many of us take for granted, a life free from physical or sexual assault, a life free from psychological abuse, or financial exploitation.  But for thousands and thousands of older people this is not the case, trapped in an existence of fear, shame and misery.

Conference, the commendable Elder abuse campaign run by our retired members, comes at a time when services for older people are under assault.Day centre closure after closure, cuts to community’s services relied upon by older people, cuts to care services, and cuts to terms and conditions of care workers. Whilst the population continues to age and need for services increases. 

It is now more pressing than ever that this issue needs to be highlighted, a concerted fight to eradicate the abuse of older people, and restore dignity to the lives some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

This motion commits us to take a firm policy viewpoint on changing the law to ensure there is specific legislation to protect older people from abuse. As well as more broadly campaigning and highlighting the issues.

Conference, please support this motion.

(sign the UNISON e-government petition on Elder abuse here)

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.

Vote Joel Bodmer for UNISON London Community Service Group Executive

Guest post by Joel. "I am standing for the Greater London region general seat on the Community Service Group Executive.

I have worked within the community sector for several years, and am currently employed as a mental health support worker for metropolitan support trust.

Within UNISON I am chair of the national young member’s forum, and sit on the national labour link committee, I am also active within the London region and chair of my branch.

Why I’m standing

The Community sector is one of the fastest growing sectors within UNISON and I believe passionately in the need for a strong community voice within the union.

The sector has grown in recent years as greater numbers of roles traditionally carried out by staff directly employed by the NHS and Local authorities have been outsourced to the community sector. This has often resulted in attempts to push down terms and conditions. Likewise, as a result of the coalition government’s programme of cuts, many community organisations are losing funding and are increasingly slashing wages to win contracts.

At this time UNISON as the biggest union representing workers in our sector, needs to be at the forefront of campaigning for decently funded and sustainable services provided by the community sector, and wages and terms and conditions which are decent and fair. We need to show that an alternative to the race to the bottom, so often seen in our sector- is possible and viable.

We need to build our density and organise in the sector, and put pressure on our employers to accept recognition agreements where these are not in place, and allow the same levels of facility time/ release as seen in other sectors providing public services.

Too many organisations within our sector attempt to “mimic” the private sector in terms of labour relations and this is a situation that only looks to get worse. I believe UNISON has a real role to play in campaigning to ensure that the community sector is part and parcel of a quality public sector, rather than a cheap alternative.

If elected I will play an active role within the service group executive, acting as a prominent voice for the London region. I will work closely with community branches within the region as well as those branches that have members in our sector, listening to views and opinions and advocating these at the SGE. I will regularly report back to the regional community service group, and keep members updated of the picture of the service group nationally.

Please vote for

Joel Bodmer (general seat)

Ballot papers will be delivered to your home address on 10 April. Look out for the envelope & please use your vote to elect your SGE Reps for the next 2 years.

A VOICE FOR COMMUNITY IN LONDON

UNISON London Mayor and Assembly telecanvass bank

This is a great photo I think of some of the UNISON Labour Party activists at the telecanvass bank in our headquarters in Euston this evening. I helped out tonight for the first time and was very impressed with the modern technology that UNISON has and the ease of contacting members.

We rang UNISON members for voter identification purposes in the London Mayoral and Assembly elections. By coincidence this evening we called up UNISON members in my own Borough, Newham.

There was a software training session beforehand but once we were up and running we contacted 200 members in just over an hour. Which is pretty good going.  Double click picture to bring up detail.

UNISON Housing Association branch Chair (and Chair of National Young Members) Joel Bodmer was one of the team (see picture on right). After all that talking some of us had to retire to a local hostelry to refresh ourselves (and once again put the world to rights)

The Homeless Charity and the "Race to the Gutter"

Below is the UNISON press release on the attack on terms and conditions of staff employed by London Homeless Charity Broadway. Our members (seen lobbying their Board meeting on Tuesday evening in Commercial Street, Tower Hamlets) carry out a very difficult and demanding job supporting vulnerable single homeless people across London. both "on the street" and in hostels and projects.  Of course the original "villain" in all this is the Tory Government for cutting "Supporting People" funding. 

However, a small number of rogue Housing Associations and "Charities" are under cutting decent employers in a bidding war to win "new business". This is truly a "race to the gutter". You simply cannot provide a quality service to clients by decimating your staff's pay and conditions. No responsible employer should take part in such bids. Our branch is launching a campaign against "Rachman employers". Believe it or not there are employers who are treating staff even worse. 

NEWS FROM UNISON

UNISON MEMBERS PROTEST AGAINST ATTACKS ON TERMS & CONDITIONS

On the 13th March angry UNISON members employed by Broadway Housing Association lobbied Board members, following their decision to slash wages and dramatically cut terms and conditions.

The proposed changes - which have reached the end of a consultation with UNISON despite objections from the union and staff - would;

·         Reduce the pay of new front line staff by at least £4,500 per annum – in effect a 20% reduction in salary (with salaries which currently stand at between £23,000-25,000 being pushed down to between £18,500 – 20,000).

·         Reduce the pay of 14 existing staff which Broadway believes are paid above the medium wage for their roles.

Terms and conditions for new staff will be dramatically cut and will include:

·         No pension provision (current staff receive 5% employer contributions matched by 3% employee contribution).

·         Reducing Annual leave entitlement to statutory requirements (a loss of 6 days per year).

·         Abolishing dependency leave and halving compassionate leave to 5 days

·         Reducing sick leave entitlement (to statutory during probationary period and a 4 weeks full pay and four weeks half pay per annum in the first three years of employment).

·         Reducing maternity pay to statutory.

In addition to these cuts Broadway intend not to pay a cost of living increase for 2012/2013.  

Joel Bodmer Chair of the UNISON Housing Association branch, which represents members employed at Broadway as well as many other housing associations said

“ It is absolutely shameful that Broadway have apparently made a strategic decision to position themselves away from a focus on quality; which the organisation have in past been associated with, and move themselves towards the “no frills airline” model of care and support.

The organisation are clearly re-jigging themselves to be at the forefront of the race to the bottom which we are witnessing in the sector. It is really sad that very skilled people who work in some incredibly challenging environments are being so un-fairly rewarded for the jobs they do.

People choose to work in the sector because they believe in helping the most vulnerable members of society; this good will is clearly being abused by organisations who believe they can squeeze terms and conditions as much as possible, and still receive high quality work from dedicated staff. We will continue to fight the short-sightedness off all attempts attack the terms and conditions of people who perform such crucial roles in our society.”

Broadway claim the cuts are necessary for the organisation to remain viable and continue to be in a position to win new services claiming it could not allow its reserves to fall below £850,000.

For more information please contact:  

Colin Inniss, UNISON Regional Organiser 07703 194 127 / c.inniss@unison.co.uk

John Gray, Branch Secretary, UNISON Housing Associations Branch - 07432 150 530 / J.Gray2@unison.co.uk

Ken Livingstone meets London Labour Link

Last night following the London UNISON Labour Link Forum there was there was a "Ken for London"

meeting at the UNISON HQ in Euston.

Ken gave a 10 minute speech (see phone camera video here on YouTube - hat tip Phil Lewis from
Camden).

Picture is of Ken with the Chair of the UNISON London retired members Rob Beeston and Joel Bodmer who is chair of UNISON London Young members (and national) network.

We gave Ken a tour of the building and the campaigning phone bank.

UNISON has put out this press release 

Livingstone meets London Labour Link

UNISON activists raised their concerns about the future of public services in London at a meeting with Labour mayoral candidate Ken Livingstone last night.

The event, which also included Greater London Assembly candidates Andrew Dismore, Murad Qureshi - who are both UNISON members - and John Biggs, also gave union activists a chance to discuss the campaign with the candidates.

"Ken spoke about how he will put the needs of UNISON members and ordinary Londoners first by cutting fares, increasing the number of police on the streets, campaigning for a living rent, building homes for Londoners, restoring the campaign for the London Living Wage and standing up against attacks on public services," said John Gray of the Greater London UNISON Labour Link committee.

"We need to support Ken and the Labour candidates and return a Labour mayor and a Labour majority on the GLA on 3 May."

Housing Association Branch at Community Conference 2012

This picture collage is largely of my branch members speaking at yesterday's UNISON Community Conference in Brighton.

In total we had 8 members of our branch speaking (in various capacities). 4 of whom were first time speakers at a UNISON conference. We moved 5 successful motions. Including organising and recruiting young members by Branch Chair (and Young member) Joel Bodmer (MHT); the Big Society attack on terms and conditions by Ionela Flood (Notting Hill); Why Income equality at work is better for everyone by Ebrahim Piperdy (Circle) and Condem threats to high quality and sustainable social housing by Tony Power (East Thames).

This is only the second ever Community and Voluntary Conference. Our service group is the 3rd largest in the union. We also have in my view amongst the toughest organising challenges going. We have all gone a long way in a short period of time but there is still much to do. I think that last weekends successful seminar and conference will help us on that way.