Welsh National Anthem - "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" - Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus!

Love it. 

35 Best Labor Blogs and Websites - John's Labour Blog

 

It was nice to get this notification this evening via twitter "Congrats @grayee Your blog has been selected as one of the Best Labor Blogs on the web by @_feedspot".

"The best Labor blogs from thousands of blogs on the web and ranked by traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness".

It seems that I am number 13 out of 35 (unlucky for some) just below Labour Party NEC member Luke https://lukeakehurst.blogspot.com/

I have no idea what criteria was used to make this ranking but after an extremely frustrating Labour Movement day (don't ask) it was good to get some positive feedback. It may indeed help with some forthcoming union and political campaigns. Watch this space.

https://blog.feedspot.com/labor_blogs/#rightModal

Newham Voices: March 2023

 

Check out the latest version of our free Newham community newspaper. 

Social housing bosses need formal qualifications? Yes but....

Today the Government has announced that it will change the law to make it compulsory for Social Housing Managers to hold formal qualifications in a similar way to social workers and teachers. The reasons given were "both Grenfell and the death of Awaab Ishak showed the "devastating consequences of residents inexcusably being let down by poor performing landlords who consistently failed to listen to them"

Personally, I would support this requirement. I am a London Councillor and work in social housing. I happen to have a post graduate diploma in Housing and I am a Practitioner member of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIOH). I would also agree with the housing campaigner, Kwajo Tweneboa, that this should not be just senior managers but all housing officers should hold these qualifications.

But if it is right for Housing Associations and Council Housing managers, what about the huge Private Rental sector? A sector well known for problems regarding damp and fire safety. Would this requirement also apply to the private sector managers who maintain ministry of defence" properties plagued also by damp or those who provide often substandard homes for Asylum seekers.

Damp is often caused by overcrowding and/or fundamental design faults. I often see families of 5 or 6 living in a one bedroom flat with no adequate washing or drying facilities. Where is the money to build the new homes desperately needed to overcome overcrowding and rebuild defective housing?

It is going to cost a huge amount of money to really tackle fire safety, damp and mould. As well as making our housing stock green and low carbon. At a time of below inflation rent caps (welcome obviously to tenants) where is this money going to come from?

The simple truth of the matter is that many Housing Associations and Councils are already being forced to compromise on management standards in order to "sweat" their assets (cut costs) to find the funds to build more affordable housing due to grossly inadequate state provision. 

My final point for now is that since there is little meaningful, independant and democratic tenant representation, who will make sure that landlords will actually "listen" in the future?

6 reasons to join UNISON

Heart UNISON is part of Heart Unions Week, the TUC’s annual event to celebrate unions, to make sure everyone knows why we’re vital at work, and to encourage everyone to join one. Here are 6 reasons why it’s a better time than ever to join UNISON.


Google https://joining.unison.org.uk/join-unison-today/ or scan below

COVID-19 (again)

 

I been feeling under the weather lately and felt that I had a "lergie" (winter cold) coming on. This afternoon I was supposed to be carrying some joint visits with Police to see some tenants. So I thought that I better do a COVID test but felt pretty sure I didn't have it. I had brought some tests a while ago from Boots. I think they cost £8 for a pack of 4 tests. 

It was the "nose only" one which is much better than the throat swabs. To my astonishment it showed positive very quickly. I am double vaccinated with Oxford/AstraZeneca, then had Pfizer booster in 2021 and Moderna in 2022.  

I had COVID during Christmas 2021, which was pretty unpleasant due to a very painful sore throat but so far, the symptoms this time are mild and just like a common cold - tiredness, blocked nose, sneezing, slight cough, slight temperature etc. The vaccinations don't stop you from catching COVID but they are very effective at protecting people from being caused serious harm. Effective does not mean 100% protection.

While I am fed up at being stuck indoors until Tuesday, according to the NHS COVID app (I believe it is okay to go outside for fresh air in the open as long as you avoid people but take a mask) I am pleased that I did the test because of possible contact with vulnerable people who have an underlying health condition. 

Many thanks to my ward colleague, John Whitworth, for agreeing to cover my Councillor surgery tomorrow morning but it seems that I will miss Full Council meeting on Monday. 

Local authority pension fund investment in affordable housing

This meeting of the APPG for "Local Authority Pension Funds was focused on local authority pension fund investment in social and affordable housing. To address the issue and whether there is a case for doing more, the event heard from four speakers: Cllr John Gray (Vice-Chair, Local Authority Pension Fund Forum); Paddy Dowdall (Assistant Executive Director at Greater Manchester Pension Fund); Helen Collins (Head of Affordable Housing, Savills); and John Butler (Finance Policy Lead, National Housing Federation)". Chaired bt APPG Chair, Clive Betts MP.

Check out YouTube of yesterday's panel debate/Q&A. An interesting panel and some great questions. Hopefully, my "ums" and "ers" were not too annoying (and to my continuel surprise on video my accent is still so northern/scouse after all these years down south). 

My message was that Council pensions funds can invest in so called "Affordable" Housing and get a appropriate return from sub market (60-80%)  rents which are good quality, low carbon, well managed homes but low income families in high rent areas need social rents (40-50% of private rents) or they will spend their lives on benefits and in poverty. 

To provide social rents you need subsidy. In the main, this has to come from the government of the day. You cannot expect tenants to receive inadequate housing services from their landlord in order to provide subsidy to build new homes. 

I posed the question at the end of the debate on whether housing associations, advisors and "for profit" provisors, understand that in all probability, in 18 months time or so, there will be a new government in power (not taken for granted for a moment) which may be quite different from the one in power for the previous 15 years? I think not. 

Vote Denise and John your UNISON Community Candidates for UNISON's NEC Elections 2023 - ballot papers drop 17/4

Many, many thanks to all the 40 plus branches that nominated us. Next step is verification of these nominations, any possible appeals then physical ballot papers due to drop at your home address on 17/4/23. 

If any branches are hosting hustings let us know or if members want further information check out https://www.facebook.com/JohnandDenise4CommunityNEC/

Prospective Parliamentary Candidates: Greater London Labour Link

 

This evening I interviewed prospective candidates wishing to be nominated by UNISON Labour Link to a Greater London Parliamentary seat. Labour Link (used to be called the APF) is the Political Fund which is affiliated to the Labour Party, which UNISON members can choose to join. 

This was in my role as the elected lay Chair of the Greater London UNISON Labour Link Committee and I was assisted by the elected lay Vice Chair, Yvonne Green.  We were supported by the Greater London Political Secretary, UNISON full time official, Joel Bodmer, acting as Procedure Secretary.

We have had a pretty good "success" rate so far in London, of nominating our members who have since become Parliamentary candidates. 

There was a number of excellent candidates interviewed tonight via MS teams and there was one who was successful. 

All UNISON Labour Link members (normally with at least 6 months membership) are eligible to make an expression of interest to the Political Secretary about which seat the are considering, then when the Labour Party decide to start the nomination process in that Parliamentary seat, Joel will email out application forms to those who expressed an interest. 

However, we do welcome applications from new UNISON and non members, who are strong Labour movement candidates. Please note that other UNISON Labour Link regions will have different processes. 

These forms will all be considered and after a long listing process by Yvonne and myself, we will interview candidates via teams who wish a nomination.  All candidates interviewed will be asked the same questions and responses will be marked by an agreed matrix. The candidate who has the highest score will be nominated. If the scoring is very close we may reconsider application forms. 

We are accountable for the process and our decisions to our Regional Labour Link committee. We want to make sure that all candidates, including those not successful on this occasion, get positive, but honest and constructive feedback.

While apologies that this post is more than a little formal, I think it is important that we are transparent and everyone understands the process. We have had a lot of positive feedback from candidates who regardless of results think we have a fair and understandable system.

UNISON Women's Conference 2023: Denise Thomas report

Guest post by Denise Thomas.

"I attended Women’s Conference as a delegate from Cymru Wales, Ymlaen/Forward Branch.

This year it was held in the wonderful seaside resort of Bournemouth. Firstly, it was great to see so many friendly faces as this was the first face to face Women's conference since Covid.

Conference held a minute silence to remember Brianna Ghey and other Transgender people who died at the hands of violence

There were many interesting motions and great speakers on Cost of living, sexual abuse, industrial action and mental health amongst young workers. These were all motions that resonated with me, working as a Black support worker for a national charity supporting vulnerable residents, who live in a 24/7 residential project.

Our General Secretary, Christina McAnea gave a great speech to conference, which was well received, explaining how Women are at the forefront of so many of our disputes and campaigns, fighting for fair pay and for the future of our public services. Women are empowering women to not give up with the challenges we are facing.

Labour Bridget Phillipson, Shadow Secretary of State for Education addressed conference about the importance of childcare and education in Labours plans to form the next UK government. Many exciting ideas and plans.

Attending the Community Service group meeting, which continues to struggle and still experiencing the same issues, lack of pay due to the lack of local government funding, lone working, shortage of staff plus recruitment due to low pay, facility time plus the difficulties of organising due to the workforce being so fragmented.

With the cost of living continuing to rise, members are having to work extra hours or having to take on a second job in order to just survive.

Conference congratulated Sian Stockham, Unison Member for National Executive Council, on receiving an OBE for her Political and Public Services".