My year according to Google+

This is what Google+ thinks of my 2014. Sad that Gerry and Stuart as well as others are no longer with us but there was many good times as well. Highlights of the year for me was being re-elected as a Councillor in West Ham, visiting Ireland and completing the London Triathlon.

Stuart Barber "A true tribune of working people...a comrade in arms"

On Saturday I went to the celebration of the life of London UNISON regional officer and my good comrade, Stuart Barber, who sadly died unexpectedly of a heart attack earlier this year aged 64.

The celebration was held in Conway Hall in Red Lion Square, Holborn. London UNISON regional secretary, Linda Perks, spoke first about this being a celebration of Stuart's life as well as remembering him. His death was a shock to work colleagues, UNISON members and his family.

Stuart was born in Scotland in 1949. He started his involvement in our Labour movement family as a steward in the steel works in Corby. He was a leading activist in the fight to try and stop its  closure.

His union recognised his talents as an organiser and sent him to the famous Ruskin College in Oxford.  Afterwards he become an official for the National Union for Public Employees (NUPE) which was a predecessor union of UNISON. Firstly in Wales then in London. He had 35 years of service to our union.

Linda remembered his commitment and dedication to the union and colleagues. He was brave and loyal, who put members first. If he came across an injustice, he would turn every stone to overcome it. He was not however a self appointed crusader for the working class but also caring and kind.

Linda and many others had never met his daughter but felt they knew all about her since he was so proud and would tell us all about her.

London Ambulance Service (LAS) branch secretary and Vice President of UNISON, Eric Roberts spoke next. He first came across Stuart during the LAS pay strike of 1989. He was their new regional official with this gritty, hard, Scottish accent who was full of energy. This was a bitter dispute with ambulance workers locked out and troops sent in to try and break the strike.

It was a battle but Stuart was in his element. He should have been a spy or a secret agent since one of his talents was to obtain very confidential information from management in order to help win the dispute

Next was Jeremy from Wandsworth branch, who remembers Stuart ringing him up days before he died (while officially off sick after his first heart attack) but still working hard from home worrying about his members.

Stuart's partner Clare spoke about his "cloak and dagger" activities when he was in Cardiff, also getting confidential information to aid the union. She told us that there will be candles lit and Red Flags flying in honour of Stuart today in Wales as well.

Debbie was next. A young UNISON organiser and colleague, who told us straight from her heart, that not only was Stuart's knowledge and skills second to none, he was a friend and mentor, without whom she would not be here today. She missed the chats and moans during their "catch ups" in Cafe Nero. No question was ever stupid to him. He will be sadly missed but left very fond memories.

Mike use to be the branch treasurer for Richmond Local Government. He had known Stuart for many years and had similar experiences as others. Stuart was not a normal Regional officer. He was the "Scottish tornado". A 7 days per week man. He remembers a Council Assistant Director who whenever he saw Stuart in the Town Hall would immediately turn in the opposite direction and try to sneak away. When they made Stuart - they broke the mould.

London UNISON Health Manager, Chris Remington, read out to us an address by our former General Secretary, Rodney Bickerstaffe, who had to be at the Miners Gala that day. Rodney had great memories of Stuart. He was quick witted and full of banter. Mischievous, cheeky and very funny. A true tribune of working people. A comrade in arms.

Stuart's brother in law Andy spoke about a hugely principled and courageous trade unionist. A marvellous father. Stuart would have been a wonderful investigative journalist. He remembers Stuart leaking information about clandestine British Government activates in Ireland during the Troubles which made front page news in the Irish Press.

Linda finished by reminding us that Stuart had died too young but we must remember how rich a life he had and how he contributed to the welfare and benefit of colleagues and our members. He lives on in the life of our union and our members. "We will always remember you and always love you".

High above the floor in the main auditorium in at Conway Hall there is their motto "to thine own self be true". At the time I smiled and thought... that is Stuart...to a tee.

(Great picture of Stuart in his younger days fighting some fight on behalf of his union)

UNISON National Delegate Conference 2014 #uNDC14

UNISON National Delegate Conference has just started. Picture from early this morning at Brighton beach.

For the first time ever at Brighton, I finally managed to go for a swim in the sea. It was, let me say, rather cold, but you soon got use to it. Must remember to keep my mouth shut when under water mind.  Some folk may suggest this is not the only occasion that I should keep it shut.

I arrived yesterday evening and went straight to the London Regional briefing for delegates and visitors in the Holiday Inn. Conference Standing orders Committee (SOC) took a bit of stick over motions ruled out of order. "SOC bashing" is of course a recognised UNISON sport enjoyed by many.

I am on the platform at front of conference with my National Executive Committee (NEC) colleagues. NEC Bashing" is another traditional conference sport, which which no doubt will be indulged in during the coming days.

First business at conference was the introduction of international guests. Now Maureen  le Marinel is making her Presidential address to conference. Her central message is that when we are united and work together - we can win.

Maureen made a personal, passionate and emotional speech "straight from the heart" as my good comrade Mary Locke sitting next to me said.

Next, conference remembered all those members and Labour movement figures who died in the past 12 months. The first name to appear on the screen behind us was Stuart Barber, London regional organiser who sadly died of an heart attack this year and whose memorial service will take place next month.

I will try and post on NDC as much as I can during conference. In between preparing my speeches and helping my branch delegation. 

Remembering Tony Benn

Maybe its because I'm getting older or more probably it is just chance but the last few weeks have been dominated by the deaths of what were to me - important Labour movement figures who helped shape my beliefs and politics.

Today Tony Benn died aged 88, which was not unexpected and who had reached a good age. On Tuesday Union leader Bob Crow who was only 52. The week before Stuart Barber also died unexpectedly. Stuart was a mate and a top UNISON regional officer in London. While last month, West Ham Labour Party lost one of its longest serving and most loyal members Gerry Carlile.

My social media today is dominated by tributes to Tony Benn. I first heard about it by text from a fellow Newham Councillor at 7.22 as I was about to go out and deliver Labour Party leaflets in my ward. "Morning Comrade. A sad day for all socialists with the passing of Tony Benn".

I love this iconic photograph above of Tony Benn. Like many Labour Party supporters I was never a supporter of most of his solutions but I agreed with his analysis of the problems and admired his courage in standing his ground, despite everything thrown at him.

As always in "This Great Movement Of Ours " (aka tigmoo) Labour movement family members will usually agree where we want to go but can't agree on the best way to get there. 

I had the privilege to listen and even speak to Tony Benn on a number of occasions.

He spoke at the AGM of my  branch at the time, Tower Hamlets Local Government UNISON and happily chatted to us all beforehand while drinking a massive mug of tea.

At a SERTUC international meeting in 2007 he reminisced as being on a British troop ship sailing back to “Blighty” after the second world war. He was at the time a RAF pilot and Labour Party parliamentary candidate in the 1945 elections. He remembered the debates on board the troop ship about why was it possible to have full employment when the country was at war killing German’s but not in peacetime when they could be building hospitals and schools?

On a similar theme an UNISON national officer speaking at a branch meeting once recommended  Tony Benn’s simply definition of socialism. “If we have unemployed building workers and homeless people why don’t we get the unemployed to build homes for the homeless”.

I thought his arguments in favour of republicanism were unanswerable. He made it perfectly clear that he had nothing but respect for the present Royal family and especially their service in the second world war and thought it was a complete distraction to attack them personally. He just wanted and demanded as a democrat to have an elected Head of State.

I can remember him talking powerfully about taking a trip on a train in Thatcherite Britain. At the beginning of the journey everyone just sat in their seats, did not have any contact with their neighbours and read their books and newspapers. The train broke down and while the passengers were waiting for it to be fixed they started to talk to each other and share food and drinks. At the beginning the train was a Tory train, selfish and individualistic. When the train broke down it became a socialist train, collective and sharing in adversity.

I suspect that the second world war shaped Tony Benn as much as the first world war had affected Clement Attlee.

One of my favourite recent memories of him is sitting on a panel at a public debate in a hall at Tower Hamlets waiting to speak, happily puffing away on his pipe while sitting directly under a large sign saying "No smoking". No-one dared to ask him to stop.

A good UNISON comrade of mine went to see him speak last year at at a memorial celebration in Bow of the 1888 London Women Matchmakers Strike. Tony convinced him to join the Labour Party in his speech (which I had never been able to do).

My final favourite quote from him is this :-

“We are not just here to manage capitalism but to change society and to define its finer values.”