Parliamentary Reception for West Ham UNISON "Labour Link" members

Below is a copy of a letter that UNISON London Regional office has sent out to all “Labour Link” members in West Ham CLP inviting them to a reception at the House of Commons. Local Labour Party MP Lyn Brown PPS to Phil Woolas, Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (and long standing UNISON Member) will act as host (seen with Construction Union UCATT London & SE regional secretary Jerry Swain.

UNISON Labour Link use to be known as the UNISON "affiliated political fund". Unlike many trade unions, UNISON has two separate political funds. One for the Labour Party and the other for "general" political activities. Such as campaigning against privatisation. Members can choose which fund (or none) they can pay into. All eligible (800,000?) Labour Link payers will have a vote by secret ballot on the future Labour Party Leader (Prime Minister) and Deputy Leader.

This is the sort of event that Trade union liaison officers should be trying to organise with their local Labour Party MP’s (or candidates). This is not just a London thing. There are lots of similar events all over the country. I will let people know how it went.

Dear Friend,

PARLIAMENTARY RECEPTION FOR UNISON MEMBERS 7.30pm-9.30PM, THURSDAY 26 APRIL 2007

I would like to invite you and a guest to a reception that I am holding to thank trade union members for all they have done to make Newham a better place. It is also to mark the very hard work of trade unions towards improving the lives of my constituents on a whole range of issues, like Pensions, Equal Pay, the NHS, and so many other things. We have seen fantastic successes like the introduction of Britain’s first ever National Minimum Wage, unprecedented investment in our public services, and new laws to ensure trade unions are fully recognised by employers. We have achieved so much together over the past ten years but, of course, there is still work to be done.

I would be delighted to have a chance to discuss with you how we can continue to make a difference in East London, and, in particular, my ongoing campaigns:-

- to establish a Living Wage for London,
- ensuring that the 2012 Olympic Games bring real and lasting benefits to local residents,
- tackling Newham’s classification by central government as an outer London Borough, which costs our inner-city Borough over £60 Million in government funding.

The Reception will be held in the Jubilee Room, off Westminster Hall, at the Houses of Parliament.

Light refreshments will be provided and you are invited to go on a short tour of the Palace of Westminster following the meeting.

I would be most grateful if you could complete and return the enclosed reply form to let me know if you would like to attend by Tuesday 17th April.

I hope to see you on the 26th.

With all good wishes

Lyn Brown
Member of Parliament for West Ham

"Baader-Meinhof" Losing Candidate joins diss-Respect

Former Baader-Meinhof suspect Johanna Kaschke, who was one of the 64 candidates hoping to be nominated as the next Labour Party MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, has resigned to join diss-Respect/SWP. I read about this first in the East End Advertiser where she was quoted as saying that the reason was over the Council’s decision regarding its housing policy. I was going to run a post on why the Advertiser had failed to even consider that a reason for her defection could have been her utter failure to pick up any nominations (or I think any individual votes). A case of “sour grapes” rather than a conversion while on the road to Damascus?

However, this being Tower Hamlets the story developed, Dave Osler blog “Ex-punk. Ex-Trot. Unchanged attitude problem” (definitely not a New Labour Supporter) picked up that Johanna was also a former Baader-Meinhof (Also known as the “Red Army Faction”) suspect who was detained for 3 months on suspicion of being involved in terrorist activities. Baader-Meinhof was a particular nasty Left wing terrorist gang who murdered many people in Germany mainly during the 1970’s (and up to late 1990’s). They were found to be partly funded and supported by the communist East German secret police, the Stasi.

German born Johanna is quite open about this (and other things) on her website. It would appear that she was released without charge and that she was given compensation by the German government for wrongful imprisonment. However, she does give the impression that she was involved in fund raising activities for the terrorists although this is unclear. To be fair, she is now firmly and openly against terrorism. Dave points out that she is a small business woman who is opposed to the minimum wage and wants more support for small businesses!

I (think) that I have met her a couple of times and she seemed quite pleasant. However, reading her “New Labour, New Britain” Parliamentary Section CV again, I now understand her declaration on it that she “managed to get through life without any convictions whatsoever”. I am a little concerned that she should describe her family as working class, and then state her father was a Chartered Accountant. It seems that she was only active in the Party since Feb 2007. I note that she does not appear to be a member of a trade union, so she should fit in well with diss-Respect/SWP

Welcome home! The true story can now be told

“We had a blindfold and plastic cuffs, hands behind our backs, heads against the wall. Basically there were weapons cocking. Someone, I'm not sure who, someone said, I quote, 'lads, lads I think we're going to get executed'. After that comment, someone was sick and as far as I was concerned he had just had his throat cut.” Royal Marine Joe Tindell

Good to see the Royal Navy and Marines home at last, safe and well (in the circumstances). I think that they did a very good job under horrendous conditions. Faced with the prospect of summary execution or 7 years in an Iranian jail (pretty much the same thing) the "tongue in cheek" apologies by the Brits for the “apparent” intrusion into Iranian waters, fooled no-one except their less than bright kidnappers. Irony is apparently lost on Islamic fascists. Who it is clear simply had no idea how this television footage was being interpreted world wide. Nor the support they had created for a pre-emptive attack on their nuclear facilities (which I don't share - at the moment).

The Iranians behaved in the usual appalling brutal manner, pretty much as most right thinking people expected. It is such a same that such a country with such a rich culture and proud history is presently been run by an ignorant and uneducated leadership. The BBC are now reporting that their ambassador Rasoul Movahedian is saying “Iran seeks goodwill over captives”. This raises the question what qualities are needed to become an Iranian Ambassador? Is the lobotomy compulsory (or even necessary due to the obvious inbreeding by the Iranian diplomatic corp?)

While the “Far Left” and “Right” (increasingly two sides of the same coin on such issues) in this country haven’t exactly showed much judgement on how to respond. On the one hand we get the usual suspects such as John McNoHoper MP sticking up for Iran and we get twassocks such as the Daily Mail who attacked the hostages as “puppets” who should have fought to the last bullet.

There are elements in the Far Left who will automatically side with anyone who appears to be “anti-American”. See the tosh spoken also about Mugabe, while the Daily Mail is also so keen to attack Labour that they will stoop to any depths.

The person who seems to have come out of this the best is Tony Blair. “Tone” and I have had our differences over the years. However, he and Beckett seem to have handled this very well. By being firm but measured the Iranians were boxed into a corner and realised that Britain would not apologise to Iran and they had to back down.

I think that we ought to make sure that boarding parties are properly protected in the future and that Iran is aware of what will be the militery response if they try a similar trick in the future. If any Iranian warship comes any near any British craft then the Iranians face an early bath.

100% Vote to re-nominate Lyn Brown MP as candidate for West Ham CLP

100% Vote to re-nominate Lyn Brown MP as candidate of West Ham CLP

Last night Forest Gate North Labour Party branch (one of nine branches in West Ham Constituency Labour Party) voted unanimously for Lyn to be re-nominated as the Labour Party Parliamentary candidate for the next general election.

All sitting Labour Party MP’s have to face a trigger ballot for reselection. If a majority of local branches and affiliates support the sitting MP then they are deemed to have been reselected. If they do not get a majority then a full selection process will take place. Other candidates can then stand against the sitting MP.

Despite it being the eve of a Bank Holiday, 11 members eligible to vote turned up and all voted to re-nominate Lyn. John Saunders from the CLP Executive was there as their observer.

Some of the members who voted (Left to right) who are all wearing their Workers Memorial Day Ribbons (28 April 1207) Len Barrett, David Aubrey (new member who couldn’t vote but acted as teller), Cllr Michael Nicholas (Fire Brigade Union Executive Committee), Graeme Cabbage (Chair), Paul Cockerel, Glynis Carpenter (retiring Secretary), Olusina Oladipo Coker (Treasurer), Cllr David Griffin

Lyn is a very proactive, well respected and poplar local MP, who has recently been promoted by the government to be the Personal Private Secretary to Phil Woolas, Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (since 20 Nov 2006)

London4Change: Unison National Executive Council elections 2007

Stand Up and Vote for Democracy
Conroy, Irene, Louise & Kim are standing in the forthcoming UNISON NEC elections.

A vote for them is a vote to put the interests and participation of our members first. It is a vote to celebrate diversity and independent thought and to build the respect of the membership through progressive policies.

With the election of a new regional convenor 12 months ago things have begun to change in the London region. We have a more representative and democratic structure with the disproportionate influence of a vociferous minority reduced. We have also witnessed record membership recruitment across all service groups.

Now we must build on our success by ensuring London’s elected representatives on UNISON’s NEC, the ruling body of the Union, genuinely reflect our members views. The London region must not be held to ransom by the politics of extremists, with their narrow opinion on what the union should do for its members.

We believe all members should have equal access to our union. Those with the loudest voices should not be allowed to dictate the agenda. We believe in dialogue and negotiation, not confrontation.

Our members’ needs must be paramount and our priorities are:

• campaigning for improved wages for London’s public sector workers
• defending the NHS in London against cuts and marketisation
• opposing the privatisation of London’s education, social services and utilities and not abandoning our members who have been transferred to private companies
• defeating the far right particularly the BNP, because there is no place in our community for views that turn brother against brother, sister against sister
• building union organisation and membership
• promoting equality for all across the union as more than two thirds of our members are women, a third of members in London are black or from an ethnic minority.

“Support your union. Support collective responsibility.”

You will receive a ballot paper at your home address shortly. Please take the time to complete and return. Have pride in being a member of a strong union that defends public services and provides quality support for its members. Vote for Conroy, Kim,Louise and Irene.

“We believe in openness, democracy and participation not self -interest.”

Stand up and vote for Democracy

Conroy, Kim, Louise and Irene are standing in the forthcoming UNISON NEC elections. A vote for them is a vote to put the interests and participation of our members first. It is a vote to celebrate diversity and independent thought and to build the respect of the membership through progressive policies.

Unison National Executive Council elections 2007
VOTE FOR:
Conroy Lawrence - London Male seat
Kim Silver - London Female seat
Louise Couling - London Female seat
Irene Stacey - London Low Pay seat

UNISON Royal Borough Backs Workers Memorial Day 28 April

The branch Executive of the Royal Borough of Kingston UNISON supporting "Workers Memorial Day" by proudly wearing their purple "forget-me-not" remembrance ribbons (pictured inside Kingston Guildhall).

Yesterday I attended the Executive meeting to speak them about the workings of the UNISON London region and LGPS Pension Governance. I was there to speak to the branch on behalf of the elected regional lay officers Alan Jaman (Convenor), Gloria Hanson (Deputy Convenor), Lyn Bently (Publicity) and Sarah Lewis (Young Persons Convenor). All of us have been trying to visit as many London branches as possible to listen to members and take note of their concerns.

Beforehand I was at a meeting with branch Secretary Alex Yap and UNISON area organisers Maggie Jones and Jay Williams. They are taking part in a branch development partnership plan (an interest close to my heart!). It was a really interesting meeting. There is a lot the region can do to support branches, recruit and retain members. Organise or die!

Finally, a picture taken of Alex on route to a union meeting. Alex has obvious negotiated a top trade union facilities agreement with the Council!

(picture taken last Sunday). Nothing is too good for the workers.

Don't let Employers get away with Blaming Brown for Pension Cuts

Totally agree with this press release from Brendan Barber. Clearly, the Tory attack dogs are on the prowl. I agree that "Fat Cats" are more to blame than Brown. Check out top pensions blog (the only one?) Capital and Labour for more common sense about this and other issues.

"Don't let employers get away with blaming Brown for pension cuts TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber has hit out at those blaming changes in the way dividends are taxed introduced in Gordon Brown's first budget for the decline in occupational pensions.

Speaking to union officials at a meeting in Congress House, he said: 'Neither employers nor opposition politicians should be allowed to get away with blaming Gordon Brown for cuts in occupational pension schemes. When the tax rules were changed, pension funds were generally in surplus. Many companies had got used to long contributions holidays, and with typical UK short-termism had no plans for restarting contributions. Many companies used pension surpluses to make people redundant through early retirement. 'But when reality returned and employers started facing bills for their pension schemes once again, the retreat from quality schemes began.

Stock market pressures and longer life expectancies have caused far more difficulties than the tax change, which it should not be forgotten, was meant to encourage more long-term thinking in Britain's boardrooms and boost investment. 'But the bottom line is this. Many employers thought they could get away with cutting the pension of their staff, usually while gold plating those in the boardroom. And unsurprisingly they looked for someone else to shoulder the blame, and chose the Chancellor as their fall guy.

Ministers will need to brace themselves as employers who cut schemes in the next few years will inevitably blame the new pension settlement rather than own up to being mean. 'It is not that we are uncritical of the Chancellor. Unions have long called for state pensions to be linked to earnings, and although that principle has now been conceded we still want it to take place before 2012. But on the closure of occupational pensions the guilty men and women are not to be found in the Treasury.'

The race is on for Bethnal Green & Bow

Sorry folks, I got it wrong last night over the current position regarding candidates. Rupa and Shiria are through. There are only 2 vacancies left in the short list between 7 male candidates. I’ve cut and pasted this info from Ayub's site

Nominations have now finished. Two candidates have secured 51% of the nomination votes. This means they automatically go on the short list. The candidates are: Lutfur Rahman and Rushanara Ali. Well done.

This leaves the following candidates with nominations from whom the rest of the shortlist will be drawn from. They are:Rupa Huq, Shiria Khatun, Ayub Korom Ali, Helal Abbas, John Biggs, David Edgar, Abdul Asad, Moti Uzzaman and Shirajul Islam.

The two females i.e. Rupa and Shiria will automatically be placed on the short list because of the 50% rule. Congratulations.

This means the remaining two candidates will be chosen from the following:Ayub Korom Ali, Helal Abbas, John Biggs, David Edgar, Abdul Asad, Moti Uzzaman and Shirajul Islam.

So two of us out of the above seven will be selected at a shortlist committee of Bethnal Green & Bow General Committee on April 14. I am really looking forward to this.

Then the six short listed candidates will face a husting on April 26 with polling day count on April 28.

So Ayub will be up against some pretty serious opposition for one of the two short listed vacancies. There will be a short presentation and Q&A. Ayub gave a blinding interview at UNISON Parliamentary panel and the London region selection process. I am sure he will come through on the 14 April. I think that he is the candidate to unite all communities behind Labour at the next general election.

A Tory Reality Check

I know that this post has already done the rounds in Labour Party blogs. But I think it is really important that trade unionists remind themselves about who the real enemy is and why. This is a picture of Hendon Tory Councillor Brian Gordon. This is not a "one-off".

In 1977 Brian Gordon was the Conservative candidate for the Burnt Oak by-election, he told a meeting of Edgware Conservatives that he wanted an end to immigration because he felt that Britain should not be the 'dustbin' of the world At the same time he has also been accused of calling for an electoral pact between Conservatives and the National Front to defeat Labour.

While we have our differences with the present Labour Government it is clear in my view that it is in the overwhelming "interest" of trade union members that a Labour government continues to govern and is re-elected. The Tories are in the lead in opinion polls, not so much because of Labour failings (and there has been a few) but because the Tories have suddenly decided that they don't like being in permanent opposition and want to return to power. To do this they are trying to publicly ditch their old policies with a young, articulate leader and capture the centre ground. Sounds familiar? However, it is still clear from policy statements that they want to introduce insurance in the NHS, dismantle public sector pensions, end national pay bargaining, compulsory privatise all Council services, cap the minimum wage, get rid of pension credit etc.

Thanks to Gweirdo and Hendon Times.

BarryJones4Martin

Good to see former Flintshire MP Barry Jones (left) on “bloggers4labour” post tonight. He is supporting top Labour candidate Martin Eaglestone, a Labour Party candidate for the Welsh Assembly. I joined the Labour Party in Holywell, North Wales in (I think) 1978? Barry was our local MP. I can’t remember the first time I met him. It was either in a Holywell Council by-election or the 1979 general election. A lot of Wrexham lager was flowing at this time. However, I remember him driving me around during a local campaign. I would jump out of the car and deliver a leaflet then we would move off to another address. He was very pleasant and “normal”. None of that “I am a MP” great man nonsense. I wonder if Connah's Quay Labour Club is still about?

I remember the Holywell By-election, because on the day, I was with a local trade union steward (Paul? Shotton steel worker or textiles mills?) who’s effective but unorthodox campaigning tool was to stand on a wall looking out for people and grab workers on the way home from work to go and vote Labour. People would actually try to hide and run away. But he would always catch them and send them off to ballot box. This is of course totally unlike modern day Tower Hamlets or Newham (joke).

I am going back home to Wales for a long weekend after Easter and must help out the local party for an hour or 3.