Newham Labour Unions - the Right to Strike

 

Picture collage from meeting on Thursday evening at St Lukes, Canning Town. This is the second meeting in Newham of Labour Party supporters who are trade union activists. Our launch was here https://www.johnslabourblog.org/2022/10/labour-national-day-of-action-canvass.html. Unmesh Desai and myself both chaired. Some key supporters were unable to attend due to clashes. 

The focus of the meeting was opposing the Tory attempts to get rid of the basic human right to take strike action. 

Our main speaker was Michael Gavan, from the NEU union, who explained the threat but was also able to give an update on the previous day's strike action in Schools across Newham. The bill (which should be called the "sacking of nurses and teachers" Act) has passed the House of Commons but has yet to go to the House of Lords. Since it is not a Government manifesto commitment, the Lords can cause problems. But we cannot rely on the Lords or even legal challenges, we must campaign as a movement to defeat it. 

Rohit Das Gupta also gave an update on UCU industrial action and I gave one on the UNISON London Ambulance. strikes (next strike is 10 Feb).

There was also a thoughtful and constructive discussion about next steps and agreed to consider a number of proposals such as a Labour union stall outside Stratford station on the "Right to Strike", possibly combined to celebrate "Love Unions" week 13-19 Feb;WhatsApp Broadcast Group on dates and times of Newham pickets lines and protests; Supporting local strike action by CWU; writing articles for Labour movement media on what we are trying to achieve in Newham and supporting the Workers Memorial Day Event in Stratford on 28 April. 

We are hoping to arrange monthly meetings from now on rotating from West Ham to East Ham. All Newham Labour Party supporters and trade union activists welcome. 

Hat tip photos Shantu

Labour National Day of Action Canvass and Newham Labour Unions feedback on Lab22 Conference

 

Yesterday was a bit busy. In morning I helped out my UNISON branch to empty its office in Holloway Road then in the afternoon, I was a panel speaker at an informal feedback session in Newham to talk to Labour Union members on the recent Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. 

Well done to Panel Chair (and organiser) Liz Booker and my fellow panelists Unmesh Desai (our local London Assembly member and GMB activist) and Rita Chadha (Community) for their excellent presentations. There was a wide range of people in the audience who challenged us with really good questions and comments. Local East Ham MP, Stephen Timms, spoke at the end with his thoughts on Conference and "recent" political events.

In my introductory remarks I described what I believe the unions want from the Labour Party (win power at Westminster to protect us from hostile judges  and employers!) and also how I became a UNISON Labour Link delegate at the recent conference and what we did as delegates. 

I told my very favourite quote from former TGWU  union leader, Jack Jones, who when he was asked if could ever imagine the unions becoming divorced from the Labour Party, he replied "Divorce? Never. Murder, often"

After the feedback, we were split into 2 canvass teams and I went out in East Ham to speak to residents with Stephen and all the 3 local ward Councillor members. On the whole it was a very positive canvass and residents seemed pleased to see us coming to them, knocking on doors and speaking to them. 

Newham Affiliated Trade Union Focused Feedback on #LABCON22

I am looking forward to this trade union Labour Party focused debate on 29 October (in personal capacity only). It was an amazing conference and while we should not be at all complacent, the Tories were (and still are) seemingly trying to do everything possible (despite the maths) to bring about a future Labour Government.