"Newham Voices" Support meeting 17.12.22

Yesterday I went to Stratford Library to attend this meeting, celebrating 2 years of "Newham Voices" but also a call to arms for local residents, organisations and businesses to get involved and support it for the next 2 years and beyond. 

I missed the beginning (and other speakers including the Newham Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz) but was impressed that around 50 people, had over the course of the meeting, turned up the weekend before Christmas to talk about how to promote this important independent community voice. 

"Newham Voices" needs more sponsors, advertisers, subscribers and most important, more volunteers prepared to give up a little bit of time to support the project. There is fantastic support and training offered to volunteers. 

Check out for free the latest monthly edition here and how to subscribe, advertise and volunteer. 

West Ham TULO: Living wage update; Royal Mail, Bangladesh Accord, Equalities & Save NHS

On Tuesday we had had our 2nd meeting of West Ham Labour Party TULO. Chaired by our TULO officer, Kim Silver. Kim is also an UNISON London NEC member and Convenor in Newham Local Government branch.

Royal Mail CWU activist (and Labour Party Councillor candidate 2014) Idris Ibrahim gave us an update on the dispute in Royal Mail following privatisation. The strike has been postponed pending talks (which are still ongoing this weekend).

Idris thanked us for our offer of support if there is a dispute (Solidarity actions on strike days, stalls, petitions and leafleting). 

Kim gave an update on our campaign for Fair Pay for all in Newham. Our motion from West Ham CLP has been sent to Newham Local Campaign Committee for support. If it is passed at the LCF then it will be sent for consideration to Newham Council Labour Group.

I raised the issue of the TUC backed campaign in support of UK retailers who source clothing from Bangladesh to sign the international Accord on Fire and Building Safety. This Accord is trying to stop the slaughter of textile workers that we have seen in the Tazreen factory fire and the Rana Plaza collapse. There will be independent funded professional safety inspections, training of Union safety reps with the right to stop work if there is an imminent danger without loss of pay.

Only a few British based Companies are refusing to sign the Accord. The TUC are organising a protest on Saturday 23rd November and are calling on supporters to download and deliver a letter of protest to all Edinburgh Woollen Mills stores (EWM - Parent company of Peacocks, the high street retail chain).

We agreed to  send a West Ham TULO delegation to deliver the letter of protest to the Newham Green Street and Stratford Mall Peacocks stores on Saturday.This will coincide with local Labour Canvassing campaigns.

Next BECTU member (and Labour Party candidate 2014) Sue Masters briefed us on the Save Our NHS campaign in Newham. There is a heavy Labour Party presence on this campaign which is led by patient representatives and independent clinicians. It is a non party political organisation and all West Ham TULO activists are encouraged to support.

Winston Vaughan (local Cllr and retired CWU activist) is also the West Ham CLP Equalities officer and he raised with us how Union activists feel he could promote the issue of equalities in the CLP.

Reminder that at next West Ham General Committee  Phil Wilson MP will be the Guest speaker and that we will be discussing the trade union link with the Labour Party. All CLP members can attend the GC as visitors. There is also a motion from West Ham Ward on retaining the link. The special Labour Party Spring conference on the link will take place at Newham Excel on Saturday 1 March 2014.

Under AOB we agreed to add the important issue of the public ownership of the railways to our  objectives.

Next meeting will be 7.30pm on Tuesday 21 January 2014 at West Ham Labour HQ, 306 High Street, E15.

UPDATE: success - EWM have signed the Bangladesh Accord!!! the action on 23rd has been called off (for now)

West Ham Labour Party AGM 2013 results

Picture is from the end of tonight's West Ham CLP AGM and of some of the new "dream team" Executive also celebrating the 65th birthday of the NHS.

58 delegates crowded into the Party rooms at 306 High Street, Stratford, E15. Best attendance since 1980s according to one delegate.

Can't think why? :)

For contested positions we had one minute hustings then ballot. It all went pretty smoothly.

From left - Julianne Marriot, new vice Chair Campaigns & Communications; Terry Paul, re-elected Assistant Secretary; Gordon Miller, re-elected Agent and new Vice Chair membership, Charlene McLean, re-elected Chair; Alan Griffiths, re-elected Secretary and Anne Easter, new Women's officer.

Not in photo was John Saunders, re-elected Treasurer; John Whitworth, re-elected political officer;   Winston Vaughan, re-elected as Equalities Officer; Kim Silver, re-elected as Trade Union Liaison officer; Ahmed Noor, re-elected as Social officer. Apologies if I have missed anyone out?

Kim and I were also re-elected to the Executive Committee as 2 of the 4 trade union delegates.

Team Labour in Forest Gate South

“On the Knocker” in Forest Gate South

After this morning’s Stratford Street Stall we went off to Forest Gate with our Parliamentary Candidate, Lyn Brown. There had also been a local Labour Party stall in the ward this morning in Woodgrange Road which had gone down well I understand.

We had all three members of the local Labour Action Team who are standing for the Council with us. It was really good to be able to grab one of them to deal with any tricky case work.

On the whole there was a pretty overwhelmingly positive response to Labour. There are serious issues that were brought up and which need to be dealt with but a clear majority of electors that I spoke made it clear that they were not only going to vote for the Party but they were “Labour and Proud of it”.

East London Labour Movement rally - Alan Johnson 4 Deputy Leader

Tonight in Brick Lane, East London there was a coming together of all sections of the London Labour movement for Alan Johnson to be elected Deputy Leader. Alan is pictured with some of the London UNISON Labour Link supporters (who helped sponsor the event). However, local MP Jim Fitzpatrick, other MP’s, London Councillors, Party members, supportive community leaders and affiliated trade unionists came to support Alan as the best candidate for Deputy Leader.

The superb Sonar Gaon Restaurant was taken over by over a 100 supporters for a series of speeches and an opportunity to meet Alan over a top curry. 3 different Asian TV stations were present. We even had a little demo by disRespect to welcome Alan.

There was a panel of speakers, Jim Fitzpatrick MP started with a ringing endorsement of Alan as someone who would help Gordon Brown rebuild the Party and secure victory in the next elections. Alan Jarman (another “AJ”) Greater London UNISON Regional Convenor , spoke about UNISON "Labour Link" support for Alan due to his trade union background and understanding of many issues such as public sector Pensions. However, despite that, UNISON did have differences with the government but at least Alan would listen and would act to support us if he thought we were right. It was good to hear him speak about LGBT issues.

Newham Cllr Winston Vaughan, is a long standing member of the CWU who had known Alan Johnson for many years, he described him as someone he could trust; Rushanara Ali, the prospective parliamentary candidate for Bethnal Green and Bow, spoke I felt eloquently about the importance of renewing the Labour Party locally and taking on Respect at the next general election. Shahid Malik MP gave a cracking speech, I lost count but it must have contained at least a 100 reasons to vote Labour, he drove home all that Labour had done for the Muslim community (and its mistakes) and exposed the racist underbelly of the Tories. Shahid also mentioned the “story” that Alan represents. Someone who was born in poverty and deprivation yet has risen to become a leading cabinet minister. He reminded us that Alan as a postman use to deliver letters to Dorneywood, which was the official residence of the deputy prime minister. Now he may get the keys. You can understand the appeal that this “story” has for the BME community and this is the reason for his widespread support.

Jim Knight MP gave a laid back but effective endorsement of Alan as someone whose moral character and personal strength would makes him an excellent deputy leader. The session was chaired by Mizanur Rahman Chaudhury. Good to see relatively young members in such a role and doing it well. This is good for the future of the Party.

Alan Johnson gave an exceptional speech. He appeared at ease and to enjoy himself. I felt he was pleased with the breadth of support, especially by the trade unions and felt at home. He compared himself to a stick of Blackpool Rock, he was a trade unionist to the core. He agreed with UNISON Regional Convenor Alan Jarman, that the Unions will not always see eye to eye with a Labour government however, the important issue is that if compare our differences within the Labour Movement (Labour Party, affiliated Socialist Societies and Trade unions) with that of the Tories then our differences are minor. Hilary Clinton used a similar argument on the democratic TV hustings in the States a little while ago. He attacked those of the extreme “left” who practice postures politics (I wonder who he could mean?).

Alan also pointed out that the single major difference between this Labour government and previous ones is that they have stayed in power for more than one full term. It takes time to change society and we have to keep winning. He finished by personally thanking and mentioning all of the panel. Alan was received enthusiastically and then went on to “work” the floor (which he is very good at) and spoke to every table.