Help Save Homeless Londoners' Lives

 

"As temperatures drop to freezing, the @mayorofldn.bsky.social and London Councils have activated the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP), which means that London boroughs and City Hall will be opening up emergency accommodation for rough sleepers".

Hat tip @tomcopley.bsky.social

UNISON Housing Association AGM - Branch Chair report

 A real shame but understandable that we had to cancel our Branch AGM tonight at London City Hall. Many thanks to Deputy Mayor for Housing, Tom Copley, for offering to be our keynote speaker and to his staff for organising it (also to my local Assembly member Unmesh Desai).

I would also like to thank branch Executive members for all their hard work in organising the AGM.

Below is my report as Branch Chair which I would have presented tonight (and will still be sent out to our members in our annual report)

"Branch Chair report

While the dreadful general election result was the low point of my year as Chair of the branch, it has actually meant that our union is even more important to our members who have faced amongst the very worst cuts in jobs and attacks on their pay, pensions, terms and conditions. 

Care and support members are under threat as some unscrupulous employers deliberately underbid to win contracts then try and do everything they can to destroy pay protections. Many housing management organisations are making large surpluses yet refuse to give their staff decent pay rises.

Winning trade union recognition agreements and greater trade union membership density in our workplaces is absolutely key to saving jobs and improving pay. The more members we have in any employer, the better the deal we will always get for those members. 

To do this we must carry on with the reorganisation and modernisation of our branch to ensure that members and stewards get the very best support and assistance. This is a “bread and butter” issue and we must make sure that the branch, in partnership with the region, delivers for its members.

Due to other commitments I am standing down as Chair but I hope to still remain on the branch executive. 

My high points as Chair was watching and listening (and learning too) to our branch delegates and members speaking in many debates at our UNISON National Conference in June and our Community conference last month. In terms of ideas and vitality the branch is punching above the weight of its 3000 members in a 1.3 million union.

Finally, I would like to thank our directly employed branch workers and UNISON regional staff for their hard work in advising and representing members. But most importantly, I also want to thank our lay activists and shop stewards who are the unsung heroes of our movement and the first line of defence in so many workplaces.

UNISON Housing Associations AGM 2020: Keynote speaker Tom Copley - London Deputy Mayor for Housing

 "The Branch Annual General Meeting will take place on Thursday, 19th of March (note change of date) from 6:00pm-8:00pm at London City Hall.

This meeting is open to all members of UNISON Housing Associations Branch. At the meeting Branch Officers will present their reports and field your questions. Elections to the Executive Committee and National Delegate Conference will be held in the hall. We will also debate and decide upon any motions on branch policy submitted by our membership.

Anybody who meets the criteria stated on the nominations and motions form is eligible to submit a motion or to be nominated to any of the Branch positions.

We particularly encourage nominations from Women, BAME, Low Paid, Young, LGBT+ and Disabled members as these groups are under-represented in the current Branch structure.

If you are able to attend, please confirm by sending the information below to AGM.Admin@unisonhablondon.org

1. Full Name
2. Membership Number (if known)
3. Name of Employer

If you wish to bring a guest (who will be able to observe but not vote) please include this in your email.

We have a fantastic venue and keynote speaker on the day. Tom Copley is the newly appointed Deputy Mayor for Housing at City Hall and a long time friend of the branch. 

There is a free social with food and drinks taking place near to City Hall after the AGM. 

Please monitor our website as further information will be published soon.

If you have any queries or questions please get in touch by e-mail to AGM.Admin@unisonhablondon.org".