Forces of light & reason win elections for London UNISON Labour Link Committee, its National Forum (& I am going to Labour Conference as a London delegate)

Fantastic news today that the Greater London Labour Link elections resulted in a clean sweep for those committed to win a future general election. We won all the elected positions of our regional committee, national forum and Labour Party Conference delegates. Thanks to team work and some great organising. 

This also shows that activists are rightly worried about the direction of our current NEC junta and want real change. We are fighting the Tories and we don't want ultra left student politics and the unacceptable bullying/harassment complaints of so many of our staff. 

In our slate we had a coalition of UNISON activists from all traditions of the union and the Labour Party. However, we need to win over those who know that the current NEC majority is acting badly and even disastrously and not in the interests of our members. 

(Picture from UNISON centre 2020 with our Labour Leader Keir Starmer MP, UNISON London Regional Secretary Maggi Fermcombe (currently on secondment) and super NHS branch secretary and Staff nurse, Rose Minty-Tutton. 

All Black shortlists: UNISON National Labour Link Forum 2017

This post is the speech that Greater London delegate, Sanchia Alasia, had prepared but Forum ran out of time to hear. See also here the speech moving the motion by London delegate, Liz Baptiste, on behalf of UNISON National Black Members Committee.

"Forum, we celebrate the increase in Black, disabled and women MP’s in the Labour party in the recent general election. For parliament to be effective and face the many challenges that lie in the months and years ahead, it needs to have diverse representation and people from all walks of life. Parliament is stronger when it reflects the society that it seeks to represent.

However there is a BUT here. Research from the Runnymede Trust carried out shortly after this election shows that 52 BME MP’s were elected across the house – however changing demographics within society mean that the gap of BME MP’s reflecting society is now the same as it was 25 years ago.

So effectively what is happening is that in 1987 when the 1st BME MP’s were elected, Diane Abbott, Keith Vaz, Bernie Grant and Paul Boateng, there was a 35% gap as to reflect society parliament should have had 39 BME MP’s.

However now although we have 53 BME MP’s which is an increase on previous years, there now is a higher gap of 39%, as to reflect the current makeup of society parliament should actually have 91 BME MP’s. So a lot has been done but there is still a lot to do.

We have seen the dramatic effect of all women’s shortlists, however very few black candidates come through this process. It was also disappointing that in this recent election and I say this as a Black woman that given the over-representation of Black men in the mental health and prison systems, not a single candidate from our party was a Black (African/Caribbean) man. Black men need role models too.

So forum lets explore the options and work together to increase Black representation across public life".

‘The Future of the NHS" - Seconding Composite B #LabLink!7

This is the speech by London Ambulance Service Paramedic, Jason Anderson, at Labour Link National Forum last week. 

"Firstly I would like to say Happy 69^th Birthday to the NHS – ‘Labour's Proudest Achievement’.

I am a front-line Paramedic, and like my colleagues around the country continue to provide emergency services while facing dire financial states. 

With poor staff retention and working conditions, and still no sign of a fair pay deal.

I and colleagues were on the front line on the days of the attacks in London. Dealing with horrific injuries, in chaotic and horrifying scenes.

We continue to be stuck with an under inflation or zero pay cap, for 7 years in a row.

Recent major events in London and Manchester have highlighted the hypocrisy of the Government. Theresa May,  shaking hands with emergency service workers, thanking them for their heroic work, yet at the same time refusing to lift the 1% pay cap and therefore cutting our pay, year in, year out.

The Government is continuing to push budget cuts in our emergency services, causing cuts to training for staff and cuts in equipment. Causing strain to provide emergency cover when attending Major incidents as well as routine daily operational calls.

As the Motion states we need;

A properly funded, publicly owned NHS, right for purpose, so that myself and colleagues around the country can continue to deliver the services the patients and public deserve.

Please support this Motion".