INTERNATIONAL WORKERS DAY 2025

 

Standing in solidarity with workers and trade unionists around the world today, and every day #IWD2025 #MayDay

May Day - International Worker's Day 2024

 

It's International Workers' Day 2024 #IWD2024 UNISON stands in solidarity with all workers and their trade unions at home and around the world. #MayDay

Happy May Day!

See historic example of what UNISON predecessor UNION & Labour Councils can do for their workforce) Newham Labour Labour Unions @LondonLabour #MayDay Labour History Group

"West Ham's Labour Council which ran West Ham Mental Hospital (Goodmayes) and Whipps Cross Hospital in London. In 1933 it awarded nursing staff (and all hospital and Council staff) leave on May Day (or an extra day)" Hat tip @LondonNurse2016

West Ham Poor Law - May Day 1933

A great bit of local Labour movement history. I believe this is from a NUPE publication (one of the predecessor unions that formed UNISON) archives dated 1933. 

The NUPE branch took up the issue of "wardsmaids" employed at Whipps Cross Hospital with West Ham Council to get them a day off in lieu if they worked on May Day. 

At the time (pre NHS) West Ham Council were responsible for Whipps Cross hospital (despite being out of the borough) under Poor Law provisions. 

I will repost on Newham History Facebook page for any further info.

Hat tip @LondonNurse2015

 

Labour Party Leaders on International Workers Day : May Day 2021

Keir and Angela promise to take on the Tories over Worker's' rights. 

Wearing Red for Key Workers on May Day

This afternoon I took part in a Zoom meeting with the Newham Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz, our TUC regional secretary, Sam Gurney and Newham Council shop stewards from UNISON, Unite and GMB.

We were all wearing red to mark "May Day" and we wanted to show solidarity and support for all our key workers. It was a really positive and constructive meeting.

Check out my personal thanks to all the carers who look after my 79 year old Mum in her social housing sheltered flat in Ruthin, North Wales.

May Day!

Happy May Day to all the Workers in the World!

East End May Day Rally - Yiddish, Cockney & Bengali Culture mix of Labour Movement Politics & History

After we finished campaigning in our ward, my Labour & Co-operative colleague John Whitworth and I went to the "East End May Day Rally" in East Ham Working Mens Club. This was organised by the Bangladeshi Workers' Council and the Morning Star.

We were late but within minutes of walking into the hall we were singing along (badly) to the French Revolution anthem "La Marseillaise" in Yiddish!

Next there was a local (E17) "Steve White and the Protest Band" who also wanted audience participation and sang several great songs including one advising the EDL to stick their racist hatred up their a...

At the end there was also a musical performance of the "Internationale" in Bengali which we were also invited to join in and sign along.

In between there was a number of political speeches, including that of our very own Newham Cllr, Anamul Islam, who gave a nicely presented speech about how the Labour movement should unite and join the Labour Party.

I am not sure that democratic Parliamentary reformism is everyone's cup of tea but if it is, then they are more than welcome in the political branch of our movement. 

May Day Workplace Disclosure Initiative - "Improving the quality of jobs".

I went to fascinating (and packed)"May Day" meeting today as a Pension trustee asset owner on the launch of a new report by the "Workplace Disclosure Initiative" on "Improving the quality of jobs". 

One of its recommendations was that there should be as much reporting by companies on how they treat their workforce (including their supply chain) as on climate change. 

I will blog further once the local elections madness are over but I was impressed with the story told by its Executive Chair, Richard Dickinson in his opening remarks.

“A Ford boss shows a union leader around a new car assembly line made up of robots. 
Boss says he would be interested to know how union will get union dues from robots. 
Union leader relies by saying he would be interested to know how robots will buy cars"

My question to a panel debate was this:-

"As a trade union activist I had the choice today of going to this event or the traditional May Day march & rally in Trafalgar Square. Despite the beautiful weather, I am pleased with what I am hearing here. However, while the UK is clearly not as bad as many developing countries in the way they treat workers, we must get our own house in order as well. I represent workers in the UK who live in poverty, have insecure employment, awful housing and feel hopeless and betrayed. Unless we clean our own house, concern for those overseas may be seen as crocodile tears. 

My question is does the panel agree that in the long term, companies who treat all their workers well will tend to produce superior investment returns?

I was pleased that the panel was broadly supportive. Janet Williamson from the TUC said there is a  high road to profitability and a low road. In the short term you can make profits from treating your workers badly  The "high road" is better. You do need "vision". Sustainable profitability is via the high road. Decent work should be "business as usual". 

Happy May Day!

Hat tip #StrongerUNISON

May Day March & Rally 2014

I 

I'm not sure if I can make the March this year but will try and make some of it.

May Day March & Rally London 2013

This lunchtime I went on the traditional London May Day march from Clerkenwell to Trafalgar Square.

It was a cheerful, noisy and very colourful event. The lovely blue (not Tory of course) skies and sunshine helped. Lots of red flags trade union banners, music and political chanting.

A little strange perhaps to see so many banners with smiling pictures of Marx, Lenin, Stalin and Mao in the West End of London but no one seemed to mind.

You bump into a number of Labour movement people during the march you know but haven't seen for ages.  You meet new people who you happen to be marching alongside and can have some good political conversations but usually it's a discussion about the weather.

I helped carry our UNISON Housing Association branch banner and the UNISON Greater London Regional banner. Normally due to political elections it is difficult to attend the March but this year there are no elections in London tomorrow.

Centre of picture college is UNISON London Regional Convener Gloria Hanson speaking to the rally at Trafalgar Square. Below is the excellent and well received speech she made.

"My name is Gloria Hanson and I’m very proud to be here today sending you solidarity and unity from UNISON Greater London Region.

May day has been celebrated in London since the 1880’s and if the Tories have their way that’s what we’ll be returning to:-

•     before the NHS when healthcare was based on wealth not need,

•     when only the rich received an education & a decent standard of living

•     when there was no minimum wage, no holiday or sick pay, no health & safety and no rights at all for workers

•     when the poor and needy had nothing to look forward to except the workhouse

This Tory led Government came into power determined to pick up where Margaret Thatcher left off but after 3 years in office its clear it is going to be much worse, with an austerity agenda slashing our public services and the welfare state in a way she could only dream off.

Millions of jobs in the public sector lost, unemployment reaching record levels, our NHS and many of our schools and essential public services effectively privatised or sold off to the highest bidder. 

Our pay has been frozen as the cost of living soars, our employment & equality rights under threat and cuts to housing & other benefits will be devastating for all – especially in London. Our most vulnerable citizens are being made to bear the brunt of a financial problem that was not of their making.

Our parents and grandparents fought long and hard to establish our public services and many of the rights we take for granted today.  We cannot allow them to ride roughshod over them, whilst giving tax breaks to their rich friends. We must stand together as workers and trade unionists to defend them.

As we celebrate May Day here today we must remember that unity is strength, and when we stand together with one voice we WILL be heard".

International Workers Day (Happy May Day)

Today is International Workers Day (and Happy May Day)

Snowdon 2011: Ranger Path up and Rhyd Ddu down

On Mayday this year I walked up Snowdon with my sisters, Helen and Lucy, for the pleasure of walking and to pay our respects to our father whose ashes we spread on the summit in 2002.  This year Lucy's husband Rob and their (very) grumpy Border terrier, Chili, joined us.  We hadn't been up the Snowdon Rangers path before.

The weather was absolutely glorious apart from the wind.  The route was very quiet compared to the paths on the other side of the mountain.  As we went up the views were outstanding.  It was probably one of the easiest Snowdon climbs to make as well.  We said hello to our Dad at the summit, then made our way down by the Rhyd Ddu path.   This picture is of a white baby Mountain goat (a kid) and the Ranger path is behind.  (double click photo to bring up detail) It was simply wonderful.

On the way down we cut across country to try and go direct to our starting point car park by the Llyn Cwellyn.  We had to walk thorough the remains of a old Copper mine and a massive slate quarry.  It is strange now to think that Snowdonian use to be a heavy industry economic powerhouse.  We got a bit lost at the end so probably best to keep to clear way mark routes. 

It was a wonderful day.  The views were magnificent and out of the wind, it was lovely and warm but we know we were lucky with the weather and that we will pay for this the next time.

I'll post more pictures of the day on Facebook.  Some previous posts on Snowdon walks: Watkins Path (first mention of Chili), Grib Coch (the horror! the horror!) and something poignant.

Happy May Day!

May Day Procession by Diego Rivera

Celebrate MAY DAY 2010

I suppose that if you are a trade unionist you are entitled to a break of an hour or so from campaigning for the Labour Party to attend this important event in the Labour Movement Calendar.

Me? - Maybe next year.

West Ham May Day Stall

Today we kicked off the strategy agreed at last Thursday Campaign meeting with a Labour Party May Day stall in Stratford High Street just outside the shopping centre. Lots of red Labour Party balloons for the kids and various leaflets for the parents.

While I don’t think that street stalls are any real substitute for structured political canvassing they are important in promoting the Party in “Main Street”. They are also usually fun events and the chance to catch up on important issues with fellow activists such as the latest gossip and rumour mongering.

Actually I have some of my most interesting conversations with local residents at street stalls. Let’s face it - most contact we have with ordinary people is about voter identification. This also often means that we knock on peoples' doors right in the middle of something exciting on “East Enders” or phone them up as they are about to serve dinner. On a stall people can choose to stop and talk to you about things they think are important.

An off duty nurse from a “life long Labour supporting family” gave me a lengthy ear bashing about how angry the splits and disunity in the Government was making her. She was also annoyed that the local Labour Council and government had done lots of good things but they were not getting this message out to people. At the end of it she thanked me politely for listening and letting her get things off her chest. I hardly said a thing (much to the surprise no doubt of those who know me).

Just listening is something that we “politicos” are not very good at and we should do more of it. Very few people actually want to talk about the 'Today Programme' “big issues of the day” which we obsess about. I had one chap last week stop me outside the Party rooms who also told me at length how furious he was with the press and media for calling offenders who commit street robbery as “muggers” which he thought devalued and trivialised the offence. I actually agree with him but was not able to get a word in. Finally, he thanked me and went away apparently relatively happy as well.

Perhaps there is a lesson here – that in conversation the less you say the more happy people are? Or maybe it is just me?

(Picture of Lyn Brown MP and other West Ham activists)

UPDATE: Hazel and the importance of Labour Party stalls - amongst other things

May Day Good News - Co-op applies to takes on Fund Managers

I wasn’t able to go to today’s trade union May Day march in London but instead I will post some good Labour movement news. I heard this week that the Asset management arm of the Co-op has applied to the Financial Services Authority (FSA) to be external fund managers.

At the moment the Co-op has its own in-house team of managers to run its successful range of mostly ethical investment funds. But they only manage in-house Co-op funds. Now the Co-op has decided to apply for permission from the FSA to make tenders as fund managers to all Pensions, insurance and Charity funds. I cannot find any Internet link but I am assured by a reliable source that this is happening and it is public.

This is really good news. While I am sure that the Co-op is not perfect its mutual values in equity investments has proved itself yet again in the current financial crisis.

There are many good banking and private fund managers but also too many rogues who frankly just rip off pension funds in return for rotten performance. Having a major player in the market place that is successful and ethical will drive up standards across the whole industry.

I would also imagine that the prospect of having the Co-op as Fund managers will be very attractive to many fund trustees. I am sure of course that scheme financial advisers will "welcome" the entry of the Co-op and I will be interested to see who (assuming that the FSA gives permission to the Co-op to become external fund managers) shortlists them to a beauty parade for a new investment mandate (or not).

South East Region TUC AGM 2008

Yesterday morning I had to skive off from Labour Party street stalls and canvassing to attend the SERTUC (South East Region Trade Union Congress) AGM at Congress House.

I am a first time UNISON delegate. London UNISON Convenor, Gloria Hanson was there to show me the ropes.

It was well attended with about 100 delegates from 17 affiliated trade unions and a number of TUC trade councils from all over London and South East England.

There were really interesting speakers such as Adrian Weir from Unite, who spoke about a recent trade union visit to Palestine and the pretty disastrous situation for everyone in that deeply unhappy and divided region.

Ivan Beavis, spoke somewhat wittily on the need of the Labour movement to support the Morning Star newspaper. It is not apparently anymore the Party organ of the Communist Party but the only real “Paper of the Left”. You may not agree with all its arguments and editorials but it is the only national newspaper that will bother to report on trade union and Labour movement issues. I know I should read the “Morning Star” but to be frank I find it difficult to find the time to read any printed newspaper nowadays, never mind the mass of specialist trade union, political, safety, Pension and housing magazines that I should be wading through. It’s a poor excuse I know, but there you go. Fair play to Ivan for at least making us smile.

Not a smiling matter in the least was the speech by senior Shelter Unite Shop steward, Elizabeth O’Hara. Shelter (the housing charity) had their 3rd and 4th day of strike action last week and are due to go on strike again next week for 2 days. The strike is over a proposed significant reduction in pay, terms and conditions for many staff. They are meeting management on Monday and I hope something get sorted out. The strike seems to be getting even more bitter than before and must resolved ASAP.

There were also guest speakers from Malawi trade unions who phrased the South African Dockers who refused to unload arms and munitions for the dictator Mugabe in Durban and called for international intervention in Zimbabwe to bring democracy to that country.

There was a lot of support for Ken in the GLA elections and of course defeating the BNP. Steve Hart the London regional secretary of Unite pointed out that some 3,500 of his members who work as cleaners have benefited from the London Living Wage of £7.20 per hour. Ken has announced that as soon as Metronet (one of the underground contractors that have gone bust) is taken over by the GLA, their low paid minimum wage (£5.52) staff will also benefit from the GLA Living wage commitment.

The GLA UNISON shop is apparently nearly 100% density, as you could imagine with the workforce fearing the prospect of Boris as their boss and BNP Assembly members.

No matter what you think about Ken (or the Labour Party for that matter) you must want Boris to lose. It is no use just moaning about Boris or dismissing him as a buffoon, he could well win. If you don’t want him to win you have to actively campaign against him. If you shut your eyes and pretend he doesn’t exist he will not just go away. Personally, I wish SERTUC had postponed the traditional May 1st parade and should have encouraged trade unionists to either be “knocking up” for Labour or handing leaflets out for Searchlight. I’m disappointed to miss this years March (see 2007). But I think it is far more important to stop Boris.

London May Day March & Rally: New Union is born

There was an air of cheerful, colourful, confusion, when I arrived, which pretty much continued for the whole march. Lots of bright red banners, flags, music playing and “interesting” placards and numerous leaflets. I would say that a majority of marchers (I think there was only several hundred) were not British trade unionists, but supporting either home grown Marxist organisations or foreign Marxist groups. Particularly well organised, were the various Turkish and Kurdish groups. It was interesting to see a number of banners with pictures of Stalin and Mao on them ! The anarchists were there with their red and black flags, wearing their scarves around their face. They did however look very, very young (probably a sign of my age) and were very polite and well spoken, if you accidentally bumped into them.

Today was also the birthday of the brand new trade union “Unite” (T&G have merged with Amicus).

The setting off point is at Clarkenwell Green, London EC1 (which of course is nowadays not “green”, it’s completely paved over). Apparently I have got a bit of a tan after today! The sun was certainly shining. But it also could have been wind burn. Our UNISON banner nearly snapped a couple of times during the March.

I could only see Tower Hamlets Local Government (my branch) and Walthamstow Local Government UNISON branches and no Labour Party banners. This is a shame. Next year I will see if we can have a West Ham CLP delegation. However, there where a number of UNISON members milling about.

I couldn’t stay for the rally. So perhaps someone else will report on it. I must admit I enjoyed the experience but was not really surprised at the relative low turnout of British trade unionists and Labour Party branches/organisations. I think this is linked.