Oh well, never mind... let’s have a nice cup of tea

Coming home from work last night I found out by letter from the ERS that I had lost the election to be the London rep to the new UNISON "Community" Service Group.

Congratulations to my former branch secretary (Housing Association) Mary Powell, who was clearly elected for the General seat with 327 votes, also to Charlie Hore (Voluntary Organisations branch) who got 285 while I came third (aka last!) with 265.

Which, while recognising a defeat is a defeat, it is not that bad and something to learn and build upon in the future.

Turnout was as usual pretty poor at 9.1% (9,704 eligible voters) but considering this is the first such "Community" election and most regions either had no nominations for seats or only one candidate at least we had a contest.

I have had a good run of success in elections recently so I will take the rough with the smooth and as usual in these circumstances it is best to just have a nice cup of tea made strictly in accordance to the instructions of Mr Blair.

PS Just think – John McDonnell and I will from now on think of June 9 and actually have something in common.

See: it is true that every cloud has a silver lining :)

UNISON LONDON LOCAL GOV SGE ELECTIONS

Please pass on to any UNISON members who work in local government in London.

Remember Mike Davey and Monica Hirst who are also standing in London Region for the forces of light and reason in Health

Greater London UNISON “Community” Service Group Elections 2010

This is my ballot paper which was delivered to my home address yesterday. Guess who I voted for!

Pity about the “Female Seat” ...but it is after all the “General Seat”.

Just place one cross against “John GRAY” put it in the pre-paid envelope and post!

Don’t forget about Peter Daley and Margaret Back for London Local Government SGE elections: Mike Davy and Monica Hirst for London Health SGE.

Ballot finished 5pm Friday 14 May but if you don’t vote within a few days of receiving it you will lose it in the kitchen drawer with all the rest of non-urgent mail.

Let people know in your workplace you voted for sensible and moderate left of centre candidates! aka the forces of "light and reason":)

Vote John Gray for London rep on UNISON “Community” Executive (please)

I’m standing in the UNISON Service Group Executive (SGE) elections for the London general seat on the brand new national committee for the “Community and Voluntary” sector. Attached is a flyer that I have been sending out with the following message (double click to bring up detail)

“Dear UNISON Community Member - I am standing for election to be your London rep on the new national group for UNISON members who work in the Community & Voluntary sector. You should be getting ballot papers sent to your home address in the next few days.

Firstly a little bit about me: I am a lifelong trade unionist and member of the UNISON Housing Associations Branch where I am the Assistant Branch Secretary, Health & Safety and Labour Link Officer. I am also the UNISON Regional Finance convenor.

My first paid job was as a Welfare Rights Advisor for a voluntary organisation. I am now employed as an Estate Officer by Circle Anglia Housing Association after being TUPE’d from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets 3 years ago. A third of the people I represent work in social care schemes and projects.

What I want to do: Members working in housing associations and the voluntary sector know all too well about job insecurity and instability. Most members have had to deal with numerous reorganisations or being TUPE’d due to cuts in funding or mergers. We need to build stewards’ networks so that they can support each other and share knowledge, ideas and experiences. I would like to see specialist training introduced for stewards in our sector dealing with Community specific issues such as transfers and threats to our basic terms and conditions.

Stewards and members can feel isolated at work and we need to ensure that they know that UNISON can support them and how they can access this support. I would like to see more email networks and electronic forums set up as a way of linking our members and stewards together.

We must raise the profile of health & safety at work. Not only to protect us from the risk of violence but also occupational stress due to bullying or unmanageable workloads.

I am committed to listening to your views, making your voice heard and ensuring you and the branches with community and voluntary sector members get the support and the resources we deserve.

If you want to contact me you can ring 07977 285 297 or johndotmdotgrayatntlworlddotcom or via Facebook or even John’s Labour blog at http://grayee.blogspot.com/.

Many thanks - John Gray”

This election hasn’t come at an entirely opportune moment for me since I am a little bit busy doing other things however such is life. If you know anyone eligible to vote then could you download the pdf and send it to them.

Also standing on behalf of the forces of light and reason in UNISON Health SGE seats in London are Mike Davey and Monica Hirst while in Local Government SGE its Margaret Back and Peter Daley.

UNISON Service Group elections 2010

In the real democratic Labour Movement family (not you-know-who's) it seems sometimes that at this time of year we have to spend all our time organising to fight elections and there is not enough time to do practically anything else!

The Union and Labour Party AGM season may be finally finishing but in UNISON we still have the General Secretary election and the Service Group Elections coming up.

Never mind the local Council elections and the all important national election campaigns.

Anyway, I am also standing in to be the London member for the new “Community and Voluntary” UNISON Service Group Executive (SGE).

Ballot papers due out on 12 April.

Details of all the other SGE UNISON candidates who (IMO) are supporters of "light and reason" to follow.