Happy 65th Birthday NHS! We will defend you!

On Wednesday evening during the West Ham CLP fund raising event local Newham MPs Lyn Brown, Stephen Timms and Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls helped us celebrate the 65th anniversary of the birth of the National Health Service (today 5 July).

Sitting are former UNISON presidents Dave Anderson (now MP) and Norma Stephenson (Labour Cllr and member of Labour Party NEC). While UNISON candidate for London MEP Sanchia Alaisa is 2nd from left.           

#lab11 : Ed Miliband at UNISON Labour Link reception

On Wednesday evening last week at the Labour Party Conference there was the UNISON Labour Link reception.  This was held at the Merseyside Maritime Museum in the historic Albert Dock.

Steve Warwick, Chair of Labour Link, use to be the Council "rat catcher" for the Dock, when it was a working tobacco warehouse (a.k.a Environmental Health Officer). He firstly introduced guest speaker Ed Balls MP. Who said that while he was disappointed that we had not chosen him as leader - we did make the best choice of the two Ed's. Ed B also said that while we will not always going to agree, the unions will be at the heart of the Labour Party. Since we fundamentally want the same things. 

Labour Party leader Ed Miliband won great applause with his commitment to "fight with every fibre of his being" the Tory Government plan to make a 3% tax increase on public service employees. This increase is not needed for the pension schemes but is a unfair tax increase that all other groups of workers would be outraged if they had been also singled out.

In the picture Ed M is seen praising long time UNISON activist, new Labour Councillor and retiring Chair of the Labour Party, Norma Stephenson. Who was the Chair of the Labour Party NEC and this year's Conference. Whose strict, no nonsense, good humoured and on occasions, emotional Chairing manner had been described by journalist Simon Hoggart, as reminding him of "a spunky old duck of the kind I recognise from my northern childhood".  (double click picture to bring up detail)

Labour Conference 2010: Harriet Harman, the Red Flag and the New Jerusalem

Labour Party deputy leader, Harriet Harman, gave a witty and unifying closing speech to this year’s conference. 

I liked the self deprecating joke that she was only elected the "most fanciable MP" in a Sky News poll because her husband, Jack Dromey - had used "the Unite block vote". We then all sang the “Red Flag” followed by “Jerusalem”.  Then after several minutes of clapping and cheering Ed, there was the traditional mad rush to pick up luggage and get to the train station. 

Beforehand John Denham MP had given a cracking speech warning the 4,500 Labour Councillors that they will have the fight of their lives to make sure they protect essential public services.  He also exposed the crucial flaw in Cameron’s “Big Society” that volunteers want to supplement public services not replace them. He gave the example of people who volunteer to “befriend” pensioners but they would not want to replace the services of the district nurse. 

Harriet was then introduced by UNISON activist, Norma Stephenson, who had been elected the Chair of the Labour Party NEC last night. 

Building a New Jerusalem is now on hold until 2015 at the latest.  The opportunity may come sooner but it is best to plan for a long and at times very painful slog back to power.

I'll be trying to catch up on my posts about conference over the next few days.

Their dreams turn to ashes..... London UNISON sees off United Left

This is a quick post on the main Election results of the (Ash Wednesday) London UNISON AGM that took place today.

I was very pleased that I was re-elected as Regional Finance convenor. However, we won all the Regional Council posts with Gloria Hanson being elected Regional Convenor, Conroy Lawrence: Deputy Convenor, Lynn Bentley: Publicity Officer and Gill Brown as Equalities Convenor. Sarah Lewis was re-elected unopposed as Young Person convenor.

Commiserations to all those who lost (sincere this time since I have lost elections in the past and will no doubt lose others in the future). But many, many thanks for all those who voted for us.

We’re find out the result of the other committee elections tomorrow. I’ll post a full report on the AGM as soon as I can (just back from a Labour Party “fish and chips supper” fundraiser for Ken and the GLA elections – so it has been a long day)

Picture of our Guest speaker, UNISON President Norma Stephenson, speaking to AGM, with Sarah and Gloria on the top table.

BTW – yesterday was the first anniversary of my very first posts.

London UNISON Regional Council Elections

On Wednesday 6 February 2008 it is the AGM for the Regional Council. UNISON is the biggest union in London with more than 130,000 members. There are 152 branches that are entitled to send delegates to the AGM and vote in a secret ballot for lay regional council officers, regional sub-committees, conference delegates, motions and proposed rule changes. The AGM also approves (or not) various reports.

The president of UNISON, Norma Stephenson, is our guest speaker. There are also speakers from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, on public sector pay and a Parliamentary report from Jeremy Corbyn MP.

I am standing to be re-elected as Regional Finance Convenor. This is one of the 5 Regional Council Officers posts. I am also supporting Gloria Hanson for Regional Convenor; Conroy Lawrence for Deputy Regional Convenor; Lynn Bentley for Regional Publicity Officer; Gill Brown for Regional Equalities Convenor.

Check out “UNISON members win at Regional AGM” (5 February 2007 – one of my first ever posts)

Below is my election statement. I'm sure Andrew will post my opponents statement in "comments".

REGIONAL FINANCE CONVENOR ELECTION STATEMENT

ORGANISE TO WIN

I am currently the Regional Finance Convenor and strongly believe that
strong management of our member’s money is I believe the key foundation to organising campaigns that deliver for our members.

If re-elected as the Regional Finance Convenor I would ensure that the member’s money is used to support branches with key issues such as:

Recruitment

Defending Pensions

Campaigning to defend our public services

Campaigning for equalities

OPEN AND TRANSPARENT

Financial decisions need to be open and transparent and be easily understood by activists.

I want to make sure that activists better understand the financial support that is available to branches and ensure that the money gets to them to support recruitment and organising campaigns.

The Region has the money to back a growing union – the bigger we are, the stronger we are – let make sure it happens.

I am an experienced branch officer and regional activist for many years (including holding the position of branch treasurer, assistant branch secretary, branch health and safety officer and member nominated representative on Pension panel).

If anyone wishes to discuss my statement with me they could ring **** or email johndotgrayatunisonplusdotnet