Rev. Jessie Jackson – A London trade union reception.

I’m still playing catch up with last week. A highlight of which was attending a reception in the Washington Hotel in Mayfair for the American civil rights activist and Baptist minister, the Rev Jessie Jackson.

It was pretty informal but crowded with people eager to see Rev Jackson. Labour Party MP Keith Vaz chaired the reception with his usual eloquent good humour. UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis welcomed Rev. Jackson and spoke about the successful UNISON campaign “Show Racism the Red Card”.

The Rev. Jackson himself was very impressive with the traditional grand and formal US church style of oratory which us Brits tend to be very sniffy towards. Frankly, in person he knocks spots off the vast majority of our public speakers.

He was very, very supportive of the importance of joining trade unions and collective action to fight for fairness. He also reminded everyone while there may be far less direct and overt racism nowadays (thankfully) you still need to concentrate how many young black people go to college and become doctors, school teachers, professors or senior business executives.

I was with the newly re-elected London UNISON Convenor Gloria Hanson, Deputy Convenor, Conroy Lawrence and Publicity officer Lynn Bentley. There were also a number of other leading UNISON activists present.

Conroy (bottom left) works as an electrician for a NHS Hospital Trust. He is standing in next month’s UNISON National Executive Council (NEC) elections for the “sensible left”.

Unions 21, the Financial Crisis and Capital Stewardship

I missed this conference. A shame. Hat tip thingy to Dan McCurry. Great Video.

UNISON London Labour Link (APF) Forum

I’m playing “catch up” tonight but a quick report on last week’s Forum meeting at the House of Commons.

It is really lovely to have a meeting in this venue, even if was in committee room 9, the “Peel Room” named in honour of 19th century Tory Prime Minister, Robert Peel. No doubt the forces of darkness will see in this some sort of scary conspiracy but such is life.

We had as our keynote speaker, Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson, who gave what I thought was a feisty and pugnacious speech reminding everyone what the Government had achieved especially in the NHS. Good stuff! I think it is gradually dawning on some people that actually Labour hasn’t been “all that bad” and that it would be an absolute complete disaster for working people if the Conservatives are elected. Better late than never I suppose.

The debates went pretty well, despite the representative of the bosses’ class from Islington making his usual weird and wonderful comments on a daft rule amendment proposal. I think he threatened to report me to Private Eye or something for exposing last year the practice of SWP branch officers voting for their mates in Labour Link elections. Yeah, well - make my day.

The rule amendment for all elections to take place at the annual forum rather than postal ballot (and thus disenfranchise those who cannot attend) was kicked out pretty convincingly. The motion about supporting the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) was passed and will be one of the two motions we will sent to National Labour Link Forum. I’ll post on this important motion another time.

The Parliamentary report was by Tooting MP, Sadiq Khan, who has done really good work in supporting UNISON in local hospitals in his CLP. National Labour Link vice Chair Rachel Voller gave a succinct update on the review of the UNISON political funds.

I'll post as soon as I know the results of the 2009 London Labour link elections.

Violent Abuse of Housing Staff is “shameful”

This week’s Inside Housing highlights the daily (at least) attacks on public housing officers up and down the country. A freedom of information request of Councils and ALMOs (by the Tories for heaven sake!) showed that nearly 1200 housing staff were attacked between 2006 and 2008. Over one per day.

I think that everyone will accept that this is in fact a massive under reporting of the problem. No Housing associations were surveyed and many organisations actively discourage staff from reporting attacks.

There is also a very sensible proposal that the Audit Commission and the TSA should take responsibility for ensuring housing organisations properly assess risks and take appropriate preventative action which is welcomed.

I’ll bang on again about my argument that there is a common interest between staff and residents on these issues. Housing organisations that fail to look after their staff properly will also be the ones that fail to provide decent services to their residents. Staff are most at risk when trying to protect residents from violence or harassment.

Next month on Tuesday 28 April it is Workers Memorial Day. This is not only a time to remember those who were killed while at work or died prematurely of industrial diseases such as asbestosis but it is also a health & safety campaigning day. UNISON will be organising events to mark this day up and down the country.

Why not set aside a small part of that Tuesday to checking your risk assessments are up-to-date and personal safety control measures are in place and being followed? Remember – housing staff are at risk - it is not a matter of “if” but “when”.

In UNISON on the G20 March

"Cuddly Cameron" threats to your rights at work

Just received an email from unionstogther with this new video pointing out to ordinary trade union members the real consequences of Tory leader, David Cameron’s plan to pull out of the European Social Chapter.

“He wants to scrap the legal guarantee that gives us four weeks paid holiday, the right to be consulted about changes at work and our entitlement to parental leave - denying the legal right for parents to spend time with their newborn babies in the critical first few weeks. That's just three examples - but Cameron's threatening dozens more of your rights”.

Sign a petition against this here and fw copies of the email to friends and colleagues.

Victory to Steve and the Labour Party in Royal Docks By-Election.

Just back from the Count at Newham Town Hall. We now have a new Labour Councillor for the Royal Docks ward, Stephen Brayshaw.

Labour 723
Respect 35
Tories 708
CPA 94

22.81% turnout.

A tight result but in the present political environment I think a stunning victory. I will discuss the result in more detail later (and the let us say “ungracious” comments made by one of the losing candidates).

Congratulations to Steve, our organiser Lisa and everyone in Newham Labour Party for rallying around Steve and the campaign.

Off to “The Count” – Royal Docks By-Election

The polling stations have now just closed and I have stopped off to leave the car and make a quick post on this Council by-election in Royal Docks ward in Newham.

I did a couple of hours as a Labour polling agent this morning before having to go off to an excellent UNISON Pension training seminar (post on which to follow) and this evening was “knocking up” in Britannia village and in North Woolwich.

I spent a hour or so in the freezing wind and light rain with Alan Craig of the CPA outside the polling station in Camel Road! I also met the Conservative Candidate, Neil Pearce, for the first time. He said “Hello John” and I responded “Hello Brother Pearce”. Which he took very well.

I’ve got to do it - and I will put my neck on the line and predict the result. Labour won all 3 seats in the 2006 Council election by a fair majority but only by 30 votes in the GLA elections last year (not including postal votes?).

My prediction which will remain in the blogosphere from now on is that Steve Brayshaw will win for Labour by a comfortable margin. At least 100 votes. The Tories will be second, CPA third and Respect last.

Of course - one of the exciting things about politics is when things are close - you never ever really know until the count has finished.

Fingers and toes?

Vote Steve Brayshaw - Vote Labour in Royal Docks By-Election 26 March

Tomorrow (Thursday 26 March) is the big day - it is polling day for the Royal Docks By-Election in E16, Newham, London. If you are available to help out please contact 8 Constable Avenue E16 (Bus 474, DLR West Silvertown or across the footbridge from Custom House DLR). Text 07772 723 765.

Picture above includes pics of Government Minister, Tessa Jowell, who went out canvassing for Steve (centre) on Tuesday.

Today was pretty busy, I’ll post on it another time - UNISON London Labour Link/APF Forum in House of Commons, Reception for Rev Jessie Jackson in Washington Hotel and this evening a “Chatham House rules” meeting on Capital Stewardship also in House of Commons.

Looking forward to 6.45am report in for polling station duty.

Brother Pearce and the collective ownership of the means of production.

Is the Tory candidate for the Royal Docks By-election, Neil Pearce, a militant far left entryist into the Conservative Party?

This question arose following the shock disclosure in local newspaper "Wharf" (no link) that he is also a Shop Steward for the GMB trade union (General Municipal and Boilermakers Union).

This major trade union is affiliated to the Labour Party and has in its GMB rule book (Rule 2.8) "aims" to help elect MPs and Councillors who

“are pledged to collective ownership, under democratic
control, of the means of production, distribution and exchange”.

Nice but dim Royal Docks Tory spokesman Anon claimed that they would report anyone who claimed that Comrade Pearce was not a true blue Tory to the Central Committee. While former Newham Labour Councillor turned Tory firebrand, Mike Law, is believed to have rejected any suggestions that Neil was part of a desperate plot by disheartened militant tendency supporters to infiltrate the Conservative Party.

Working class Tory MP and ex-shadow Home Secretary, David Davies (and grandson of revolutionary communists) is secretly pictured above with his Conservative Red Action supporters during his recent coup attempt to become leader of Conservative Party.

Nuff said?