My own personal blog. Labour & Co-op Cllr, Statutory Deputy Mayor & Cabinet Lead for Housing, UNISON NEC member for Community, Branch Secretary, London Regional Council Officer & Chair of its Labour Link Committee.
Newham Cllr for West Ham Ward, Vice Chair of Local Authority Pension Fund Forum, Pension trustee, Housing & Safety Practitioner.
Centre left and proud member of the Labour movement family. Strictly no trolls please.
On Tuesday there was the first proper meeting of the newly elected UNISON National Executive Council (NEC). The NEC is the UNISON "Parliament" of elected members, which helps run and lead the union in-between our national conferences.
I was so pleased when I arrived early at the UNISON National headquarters in Euston Road, London to see the new Presidential team in their office on the 8th floor preparing for their first meeting with the NEC.
The meeting itself was pretty lively (and some breath-taking hypocrisy by some sore losers) I will post a report here for Community members soon(ish).
It was confirmed at the meeting that I was on the UNISON national Policy Development and Campaign Committee (PDCC), the Industrial Action Committee and the Staff Pension Committee (after 4 year gap).
In an earlier vote I had also been confirmed as being on the UNISON National Labour Link committee as a NEC nominee.
See picture of myself and my UNISON Committee colleague Denise, the top table and also the 4 Greater London Regional reps Clara, Sonya, Eddie and Abiola (aka S Club 7).
Great picture from tonight's canvass in Beckton for the the Newham Council by-election next Thursday 18 July. Sir Stephen Timms came to support Blossom. Stephen use to be the local MP before recent boundary changes. He remains the MP for East Ham and we all congratulated him on his recent appointment as a Minister of State in the new Labour Government.
What was pretty amazing is the number of residents who came out to thank Stephen personally for his help and support with their personal issues as the local MP. It shows the cynics that elections and personal representation matter. Blossom will be an excellent Councillor and will no doubt carry out the proud tradition of personal representation typified by Stephen and James (Asser the new MP). Not forgetting the other important local by election in Little Ilford next Thursday which I will be supporting and post upon over the weekend.
Ballot papers are being sent out to members homes from today. If you are a UNISON member and work in London Local Government please consider voting for
Tonight there was a briefing for all London Labour Councillors by our Mayor, Sadiq Khan. I sadly missed most of it due to trade union case work.
Sadiq's team have retweeted this great video about his recent message to all Londoners. When we have racist and islamophobic MPs attacking London and spreading lies, it is really good to have our mayor "tell it as it really is".
"A message for all Londoners: Whatever walk of life you come from, if you live in London, you're a Londoner, and this will always be your home. It’s so important that we remind everyone of the value of our shared ties and experiences during these difficult times. Our diversity truly is our greatest strength—because we all make London. Find out more about our #LondonForEveryone campaign: https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-..."
Sonya Howard, Eddie Brand, Abiola
Kusoro and Anu Prashar, for the Greater London Region NEC Seats.
The NEC is the most important
national committee in UNISON, we nominated these candidates as we believe they
are the right people for the job. They are all experienced reps, from
introducing the first menopause policy in London, to fighting for LGBT+ rights,
to getting over the industrial action threshold, to leading the London
Ambulance Service strike and winning for members.
We nominated Sonya, Eddie, Anu and
Abiola because they will:
·Put London UNISON members first, not factional
politics.
·Work with our first woman General Secretary,
Christina McAnea, to make UNISON the strongest union.
·Make sure every member gets high quality legal
advice and representation when you need it most
·Fight discrimination and put equality at the
heart of every decision
·Tackle the Cost of Living Crisis- winning fair
pay for all
Eddie Brand
We’re proud to nominate @EddieBrand for @Unison NEC. Read
why we
nominated him:
✔ Eddie is an
Emergency Medical Technician in @LAS working on the frontline ✔ Eddie leads the
biggest UNISON branch in London, taking them out on strike to win a pay
rise for all members in the NHS ✔ He is
experienced, has been on the NEC previously and will focus on winning for all
members
Sonya Howard
We’re proud to nominate @nec_sonya for @Unison NEC. Read
why we
nominated her � ✔ Sonya has
worked in Local Government and as a Social Worker for thirty years ✔ Sonya has a
strong track record on equalities, negotiating the first menopause policy in
London ✔ She is
experience, has been on the NEC previously and work hard on behalf of all
members
Anu Prashar
We’re proud to nominate @anuox for @Unison NEC. Read why we
nominated her � ✔ Anu is proud
Local Government worker and Trading Standards officer ✔ Anu is an
equality campaigner, Chair of the Regional LGBT+ committee and represents Black
Members on the national committee ✔ She will make
sure sure underrepresented voices are heard at at every level and keep
fighting for equality
Abiola Kusoro
We’re proud to nominate @bkodunlami for @Unison NEC. Read
why we
nominated her � ✔ Abiola works on
the frontline caring for sick children at Great Ormond Street Hospital as
Catering staff ✔ Abiola knows
first hand the impact of the Cost of Living crisis on Women and the Black
community ✔ She has been on
the NEC previously, and will fight for all members to get a pay rise and for
those on the lowest pay to be a priority
Last Saturday, Gill and I broke a journey from North Wales back to London by stopping off for this lovely 4 mile circular walk in the Chilterns. The weather Gods were kind to us and the walk itself was largely quiet and peaceful in beautiful surroundings with a few ups and downs to get the pulse going.
As a UNISON London lay activist I can personally recommend all of these candidates seeking nomination as UNISON NEC reps (and was even out on the picket line with Eddie at the LAS branch secretary yesterday). They are all experienced, competent and tough trade unionists (with heart and passion). What more can you ask for?
Please get your branch to nominate all of them.
Dear Branch
Secretary and Branch Committee,
We are asking
your branch to consider nominating Eddie Brand, Sonya Howard, Anu Prashar and
Abiola Kusoro for the Greater London NEC seats.
We are standing because we believe UNISON needs to better
represent workers like you and your members and if elected, we pledge to:
Put London First - We will represent every one of the 130,000 UNISON
members across London and make sure that those issues that matter most to
our diverse, independent and dedicated London members and branches.
Stand United and Reject Division - We will work with, and support,
Christina McAnea, the elected General Secretary to deliver for all
members. This year’s NDC showed that what matters most to us, our branches
and our members is working for positive, progressive change in our union -
not pettiness and protecting individuals.
Make sure everyone has a voice in UNISON - UNISON Greater London has over
80% Women and over 20% Black members with a diverse workforce across
Health, Local Government, Higher & Further Education, Community and
Energy, Electricity, Water and Transport. UNISON must represent all
members and the NEC should be led by those that do.
Tackle
the Cost of Living Crisis - Through winnable & strategic
pay campaigns in every service group, increasing the pressure on this
disgraceful government through meaningful industrial action, and
increasing resources for local branch campaigns & initiatives, we
promise to lead our members out of this crisis and put money in their
pockets.
I have
attached our more individual information about us all, and ask that you
circulate this to your committee.
If you
require any further information please let me know, and if you could let me
know when your branch is meeting to make the decision.
Picture from an informal social of West Ham CLP members that I happened to have in my phone's contact list. Apologies for those I missed out on the invitation. Let me know for next time.
There was about 25 members who came and went. As you would expect for August, I had a number of apologies from members on their holidays.
It was really nice to meet up again after so long (first Covid and then the suspension of the Newham CLPs for membership irregularities & other matters)
We will meet up next month (and Labour Party conference?) in a restaurant or for a BBQ?
I think that apart from it being so nice to meet socially, everyone is aware that there could be a general election announced in the next couple of weeks (unlikely but probably sooner rather than later).
West Ham CLP use to be able to send scores and scores of experienced teams of canvassers to London and other Labour Party marginals during past General Elections. We have to win the next General Election, whenever it happens and we need to mobilise and organise our activists to get out there and campaign for a Labour victory.
"The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan is inviting all those who wish to show solidarity with Ukraine to join together on Saturday 26 March for a march and vigil. The march and vigil will be an opportunity to send a unified message of support to the Ukrainian people.
‘London stands with Ukraine’ will begin with a solidarity march from Park Lane to Trafalgar Square, starting at 2pm. The vigil will commence from 3pm on Trafalgar Square.
The march from Park Lane will go via Piccadilly Circus, where Yoko Ono’s ‘IMAGINE PEACE’ artwork, commissioned by CIRCA in collaboration with Serpentine, will be displayed on Piccadilly Lights".
(This march and vigil is being supported by UNISON who is working with the international trade union movement to mobilise support for
those affected by the war in Ukraine, details of how branches and members can
help can be found on the UNISON website at https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2022/03/how-to-support-ukraine/)
I am no longer in the Local Government Service Group for London but if I was, I would vote to nominate Sonya and Clara!
"Dear Branches
We are writing to you to request your branch nominations in the upcoming 2022 SGE Elections
Who are we?
Clara Mason -Assistant branch Secretary at Greenwich UNISON also currently female representative for London on the SGE. Standing for the Greater London SGE female seat membership number 107824223
I am a teaching assistant who has a real understanding of schools’ members issues and support many of them during the pandemic with concerns around their safety during pregnancy, supporting them through individual risk assessment, ensuring school risk assessment were updated regularly and fully assessed the many risks faced by our members.
I continued to support many of our reps in other roles like waste services, care workers and cleaners. I have championed mental health support not just for our members but for all reps who faced increased workloads and changes to way of working.
A key success I have had is supporting many of our school support staff winning our term time only case which led to 5000 school support staff in Greenwich reviving back pay not only was this a success for Greenwich, but this has led to many other UNISON branches in London to successful challenge term time only contracts and get back what was rightfully members money.
I want to continue championing for our London branches on the SGE ensuring that issues we all face are raised and that we push our Union to fight issues that effect our members and reps – we are set for some challenging times ahead with many employers and workplace try to recover from the
Sonya Howard 1162788 Standing for Service Group Executive Greater London Local Government General Seat I am the Branch Chair Kensington and Chelsea Local Government branch.
I have various National positions and have a vast amount of experience across UNISON and the Labour movement. Including negotiations across Tri -borough working. Over the years I have both organised successful disputes; lobbies, and campaigns across Labour and Tory led Councils ensuring better pay and condition for our members.
Recently securing through Negotiations and a fairer pay and grading, with increased leave for many members. Continue to ensure that COVID working has seen members protected through risk assessment, including Negotiation new working from home ensuring no losses across the Council including our School members.
A decent pay rise is needed more than ever before if we are to prevent members falling deeper into debt. This corrupt government sees inflation rising beyond 4% with a pitiful offer that will not prevent our members becoming classified as the working poor.
We now need a clear strategy and leadership to build for solid support on future pay campaigns. I believe in strong democratic rights within the union and lay representation. I believe empowering our membership and standing up for fairness and transparency is crucial to take this union forward.
We will bring Fresh approach to the SGE. Listening to our members including I promise that we will ensure the voices of our Black, LGBT+ , Women and Disabled will always matter and be heard. That UNISON Equality agenda will never be ignored.
Today I chaired our virtual Greater London UNISON Labour Link Committee (which represents UNISON members who have chosen to affiliate to the Labour Party in London).
AS well as discussing budgets, work plans and campaigning for next years Council elections (all London seats are up election in May 2022) we had verbal reports from London Assembly Member, Leonie Cooper, a Parliamentary report from Abena Oppong-Asare MP and a report on Labour Party Conference by our senior delegate (and vice chair of this committee) Yvonne Green.
Leonie gave a frank and far ranging presentation on the many issues facing the London Assembly. In particular the funding crisis facing Transport for London (TFL) which can be directly linked not only to Covid but the actions of the previous Mayor, a certain Boris Johnson. Some sort of deal needs to be reached since it would be a disaster if the Government decided to take over TFL. A compromise needs to be hammered out.
There was a wide ranging Q&A. I welcomed Leonie on the move of GLA City Hall from London Bridge into the Peoples Republic of Newham (they are taking over the Crystal building in our Royal Docks.
Abena gave another comprehensive report on her work in Parliament and as a dedicated constituency MP. She is also now the Shadow Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury.
In the Q&A I asked her and her Parliamentary colleagues for support in the forthcoming pay disputes in local government, health and others sectors (including my own). Abena made it clear she is already known as an active campaigner for working people and their issues but obviously would have to understand all the arguments beforehand on all the different issues.
Yvonne gave a detailed and pretty positive report on the September Labour Party Conference in Brighton. It now seems like a million years ago since that conference. I will ask her if I can post her full report later.
When London bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games, we were driven not just by sporting desire, but by a vision for a regenerated east London after decades of deindustrialisation and deprivation. We were promised not just new infrastructure and economic growth, but the opportunity to genuinely improve the lives of local residents, including those who suffered dislocation and disruption to create the new Olympic venues. Most local people passionately supported the bid and the Games on this premise. Yet, while the Games did bring significant investment into Newham, there have been clear failures to benefit local people in the years since the closing ceremonies.
Delivering a lasting, positive legacy for the Olympic site was a job entrusted to the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), established by Boris Johnson, then mayor of London, with the promise that local people really would benefit from the impact of the Games. For the most part,the opportunities created have remained out of reach for most local people. Rents and living costs have risen rapidly in the area but these have not been matched by sufficient wage increases or enough accessible new jobs, let alone enough affordable and social housing.
As the local MP, I have always made the case that new developments must meet local needs. Almost a decade on from 2012, I don’t think the LLDC has lived up to that promise. And, while the corporation has failed to deliver the positive changes that local residents need, I believe it is also removing the ability of local residents and their elected councils to have an effective say about what gets built in their communities.
A case in point is the MSG Sphere in Stratford. The LLDC’s planning committee meets soon to decide the fate of the planning application for this giant orb-shaped music venue from the Madison Square Garden company. The site was originally public land that was sold to developers with the idea of creating new workspaces and homes, a fitting vision for the positive legacy of the Games. Instead, what we now face is a massive live entertainment venue, almost as tall as Big Ben, covered with nearly a million garish LEDs, programmed to display videos and adverts. The company behind the concept owns Madison Square Garden in New York, and clearly has little connection to Newham’s communities.
I have had serious concerns for some time about the value of this proposed development, the degree of community consent it has involved and the harm it may do to people in Stratford and neighbouring areas. Newham doesn’t want this venue, yet it’s the LLDC, not Newham council, that gets to recommend to Sadiq Khan whether it is built. I don’t believe that’s fair or right.
Many local residents have clear and serious objections to the light and noise pollution this development would cause, as well as the potential for increased antisocial behaviour and traffic. The giant venue will beam bright lights into the surrounding area until 11pm on some days; beginning again at 6am or 7am, depending on the time of year. One constituent has predicted that it will be like living next to the surface of the sun. Many residents feel that living next to the site will be a nightmare.
The planning application has proposed that the MSG Sphere would host 300 events a year, a number far higher than the venues that already exist nearby, such as the London Stadium. It will undoubtedly be noisy and disruptive. Yet there is no qualified professional assessment of the effects that noise, light, moving images and distracting advertising will have on the environment and local people, including vulnerable groups and children.
Crowd management issues could be equally serious. The planning application includes a vague operational manual for how the venue might function, rather than a transparent, detailed and binding plan for impacts on the local area and transport system. And there’s currently no commitment to cooperate with other big venues, such as the London Stadium and the O2, to avoid overwhelming the Jubilee tube line and other local transport.
MSG’s planning application was submitted more than two years ago, in March 2019. The public consultation that has taken place since then has certainly been lengthy, but for many people,that doesn’t make it adequate. There has been a drip-feed of extremely complex, technical submissions with more than 2,000 separate documents and representations available online. The enormous scale of the submission has created huge barriers for residents, many of whom have had difficulty accessing the relevant information, properly understanding the implications or making an informed, democratic decision.
Newham’s residents have little power over the final outcome; Newham council only gets two representatives on the LLDC’s planning committee out of a total of 12 members, including sevenunelected committee members. I’m calling on the LLDC to refuse the application and protect Newham’s residents from yet another inappropriate development. I would hope they would listen to and act on what elected representatives say. Securing some of the promised benefits of the Olympic legacy depends upon it.
Lyn Brown is the Labour member of parliament for West Ham (hat tip Guardian & Cllr Terry Paul).
Many thanks to London care worker Kristina for her support for Denise and I in the Community seats election and also voting for Sonya, Clara, Eddie and Eunice for the London Seats.
If individual UNISON members have not received a freepost ballot paper by now to their home addressesthen they should contact the ballot helpline operated by UNISONdirect, on the following telephone number: 0800 0 857 857.
Lines are open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday. Members with hearing difficulties can use textphone 0800 0 967 968.
Members should try to have their membership number to hand when telephoning.
The latest point at which members can request a ballot paper is 12 noon on 20 May 2021.
The ballot closes 5pm on Thursday 27 May 2021 so please dig out your ballot paper from the pile of "will sort out later" mail in kitchen drawer or chair and vote as your NEC members people who will be #avoiceformembers.
I will be voting for Eddie, Sonya, Eunice and Clara - as the voice for London candidates for UNISON’s NEC.
They are all experienced UNISON London activists. Eddie is an ambulance worker, Sonya is a council worker, Eunice is a hospital worker and Clara is a teaching assistant.
Their priorities are members' priorities. Ballot papers will be arriving at your home from 4th May. All UNISON members who work in London will have a vote. #avoiceformembers
