Their dreams turn to ashes..... London UNISON sees off United Left

This is a quick post on the main Election results of the (Ash Wednesday) London UNISON AGM that took place today.

I was very pleased that I was re-elected as Regional Finance convenor. However, we won all the Regional Council posts with Gloria Hanson being elected Regional Convenor, Conroy Lawrence: Deputy Convenor, Lynn Bentley: Publicity Officer and Gill Brown as Equalities Convenor. Sarah Lewis was re-elected unopposed as Young Person convenor.

Commiserations to all those who lost (sincere this time since I have lost elections in the past and will no doubt lose others in the future). But many, many thanks for all those who voted for us.

We’re find out the result of the other committee elections tomorrow. I’ll post a full report on the AGM as soon as I can (just back from a Labour Party “fish and chips supper” fundraiser for Ken and the GLA elections – so it has been a long day)

Picture of our Guest speaker, UNISON President Norma Stephenson, speaking to AGM, with Sarah and Gloria on the top table.

BTW – yesterday was the first anniversary of my very first posts.

Walthamstow UNISON Labour Link meets Jennette & Stella

Picture is from a successful Walthamstow UNISON Labour Link (APF) mobilisation meeting held last Thursday (31 January 2008) in Walthamstow, East London.

The widely respected local London Assembly member (and this year’s candidate of course) Jennette Arnold was the GLA speaker at the meeting (the one with the thumbs up!).

While local Labour Prospective parliamentary Candidate (and sharp cookie) Stella Creasy (on left) was also a much welcomed speaker and contributor. Stella is writing to all members about their specific concerns while Jennette is inviting female members present to the next Capital Women’s event.

Branch Labour Link officer Alan Griffiths (white shirt) organised the event and I think that it is the Walthamstow UNISON branch secretary, Dave Knight, standing next to him?

I couldn’t make this meeting but I have been at similar UNISON Labour Link meetings at Tower Hamlets and my own London Housing Association Branch. It is good to see UNISON branches rallying behind Labour GLA candidate for the forthcoming elections.

It will be an absolute and utter disaster for all Londoners and especially UNISON members, if the Boris and the Tories win in May. We need to get this message out to our members.

Tories say too much money spent on recruiting more Police?

What a bonkers political statement by Tory AM Richard Barnes in the Ealing Times.

THE Mayor of London is putting too much money into extra cops according to Ealing's London Assembly representative.

Richard Barnes, assembly member for Hillingdon and Ealing made the remarks in response to Ken Livingstone's announcement that he will fund an extra 1,000 officers in the next financial year.Mr Livingstone announced this week extra cash would be spent on the Met.He said £59m will fund additional security and counter-terrorism officers, £3.9m will fund officers to tackle specific community issues and £2m will be put into combating gun and gang culture in the city.

But Mr Barnes said he does not think so much money needs to be put into extra policing.He said: "More police in London are always welcome, but I don't think so much money should be spent on them."Better policing could also be achieved by restructuring in the organisation."

Mr Livingstone, said: "I am able to confirm that with this budget London will gain an extra 1,000 uniformed police, a major contribution to making our city safer and more secure."The results of more police on the beat on local streets are there for all to see, crime in London fell for the fifth consecutive year in 2007.""The successes in reducing overall crime levels must be extended to tackle the toughest problems like youth gun and knife crime, by providing the police with the resources they need and by investing in our young people through a massive injection of support for youth provision."

Ken Livingstone has responded:

‘This is an amazing statement, totally contradicting what most Londoners think about the need to fund our police service properly.

‘I give an absolute commitment that I will not cut the financial support to our police officers and the Tories in London should be ashamed for calling for this cut. Time and time again in London we have seen the consequences of cuts to our public services and we cannot afford to go back to ill-judged cuts which damage London in the long time.’

Richard Barnes AM - What a plonker?

Merry Shove Tuesday Mr Lawrence

(If you are not interested in the internal political machinations of the trade union UNISON in London then please ignore this post.)

Well, actually it should have been titled “We are not Trots Mr Lawrence (honest gov)”.

Picture (left) of Conroy and current acting convenor Gloria!

Things are hot-ing up a little for the London UNISON regional Council AGM on Wednesday (see email below sent to various London UNISON branches today). Malcolm “methinks thou dost protest too much” Campbell has had a “dig” at top UNISON Health steward (hospital electrician) Conroy Lawrence, who actually did not know who exactly would be part of the SWP/United left slate when he put in his nomination (except of course that there would be one).

It is interesting to note that apparently Mandy has now “left” the SWP after 20 odd years of membership and that none of the other candidates are members of Trotsky Entryist Labour Party factions. Well, that’s all right then. I thought *** was never a member of United Left? and that of course the wonderful Katrina has been taken over by UL Zombie body snatchers.

Has anyone in disunited left ever heard the saying “I joined the Labour party to help change the world, not to change the minutes of the previous meeting”? What on earth is Malcolm going on about? I assume that I was at the same meetings and do not recognise what on earth he is actually making a complaint about. I thought I was a total anorak?

Whatever the result it should be a fun packed AGM. I will let you know what went on.

From: Malcolm Campbell Sent: 04 February 2008 08:55Subject: URGENT - Regional Council AGM
Please forward this to your Regional Council delegates and ask them to read it carefully.

I'm writing to urge you to vote for the following people in the election of Regional Council Officers this Wednesday:

Convenor: Mandy Berger
Deputy Convenor: Malcolm Campbell
Finance Convenor: Heenal Rajani
Publicity Officer: Katrina Hoogendam
Equalities Convenor: *** ****

In his election address, Conroy Lawrence (who is standing against me for Deputy Convenor) talks about the Region being "captured by those who take their policies from extreme parties and who are answerable to their political masters and not UNISON's members". He is clearly suggesting that this describes those of us standing against him and his running mates. This is completely untrue.

I'm a member of the Labour Party and have never been a member of any other political party. Heenal, Katrina and *** are also members of the Labour Party, and Mandy is not a member of any party.

The idea that we won't be answerable to the membership is misleading in the extreme. We're standing on a platform of democracy and accountability, because we believe that the leadership of the Region for the last two years hasn't been allowing the views of the membership to be considered. Debate has been stifled.

Examples of this are:

An inquorate Regional Council meeting where debate was quite rightly allowed regarding the fight against fascism, but we weren't allowed to discuss the Pensions Dispute, which was at a crucial stage
Not allowing the Regional Committee to vote on a proposal for a Regional rally on a strike day, when other regions were holding them.
A consultation exercise regarding the establishing of a Regional Standing Orders Committee which only outlined two alternatives, and not a third which had been proposed involving a directly elected SOC
Introducing an SOC comprised of the Regional Council Officers, without the agreement of either the Regional Council or the Regional Committee
Not allowing a proper debate regarding motions submitted to Regional Council which had been ruled out of order (this was at a meeting of the Regional Committee curtailed after only 10 minutes of the allotted 45, when the Acting Regional Convenor and the Regional Secretary left the room despite there still being a number of people indicating that they wanted to speak!)
Not allowing a vote at the last Regional Committee on a perfectly valid proposal to commit the Region in principle to a joint union meeting in the future over Public Sector pay
This list isn't exhaustive and demonstrates that the way the Region is currently being run just isn't good enough.

PLEASE VOTE FOR DEMOCRACY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

CheersMalcolm Campbell

UPDATE: I have been asked by someone mentioned on this post to remove their name. I have done so. grayee

Barack Obama - Yes We Can

Earlier on today I had yet another rather dispiriting exchange with a BNP supporter on my blog over Ken Livingstone and the London GLA elections. Is it politically incorrect to call people morons nowadays?

Tonight, while checking out my daily “bloggers4labour” digest, I came across the Tom Watson MP link to “Yes We Can - Barack Obama Music video”. Tom calls it “powerful” stuff. I agree. Barack really has got something. He is very, very good. I’m not naturally that keen on inspirational “Kennedy” type figures. However, maybe I am just a little too cynical?

Anyway, good luck to the US Democratic Party candidates. Either way there will be UNISON members who will be giving up their holidays and flying across the pond to help out in the actual Presidential elections.

I know I shouldn’t but if Ken decides to retire (God forbid of course) as Mayor in 2012, I just hope we have an inspirational Black Labour candidate whose parents were originally immigrants to London. The prospect of winding up BNP supporters with such a candidate is just too good to miss.

The blog from the trenches

A link to the fascinating First World War blog by the grandson of Private Harry Lamin.

“This blog is made up of transcripts of Harry Lamin's letters from the first World War The letters will be posted exactly 90 years after they were written. To find out Harry's fate, follow the blog!”

The latest post includes a link to a petition that there should be a national bank holiday each year to remember those who have died in the service of our country.

This site makes me remember my own Taid (grandfather) who won the MC while serving in the Royal Naval Division in 1917. This is still to my family, after all these years, an incredibly important episode and matter of family pride.

I will post on Captain Frederick John Matthews’ somewhat colourful, military history (he was an officer in the Royal Naval Division, a RSM in the Royal Welch Fusiliers and a Warrant officer in the RAF) at another time.

An image that changed the World?

Today is the 40th anniversary of this infamous murder of a Viet Cong prisoner in Saigon by South Vietnam Police Chief General Nguyen Ngoc Loan.

I can remember being shocked as a kid the first time I saw this photo (and the video). Over the years I think we have become somewhat insensitive by repeated media images of man’s inhumanity to man. However, this picture is credited with changing the World’s (and American public opinion) attitude to the Vietnam War.

Conversely I wonder if this picture would be widely publicised nowadays or would it be self censured as too violent or intrusive?

Before we get too smug about things – let’s not forget these recent public murders in our European idyll

Thanks to Colonel Roi for reminding us all

Tories want £4 million cut to London Police & Fire Brigade

"Tories on the London Assembly have announced they would cut £4 million from London's Fire Service to save tax payers just 14p a week.

Their proposals leave most of the Mayor's budget in tact and show there is only one party setting the agenda for London.

John Biggs, Labour's Assembly budget spokesman, said, "For the last four years City Hall has been full of Tory hot air as they huff and puff about our 'over-spending, wasteful Mayor'. So why have they accepted 90% of his budget? Where are their fresh policies for the future of London? Their proposal for a £4 million cut to London's Fire Service will put Londoners - especially older Londoners - at risk for the sake of saving them 14p."

"There will be a clear choice for Londoners in May: continuing investment in public transport, police and the fire service alongside free travel for the young, disabled and elderly, more affordable housing and action on climate change OR a 14p weekly council tax saving, cuts to our emergency services and not a single new policy to speak of."

After eight years in opposition, London's voters will expect more than the same old tired promises on tax. The Conservatives have shown they have neither the the ability nor the imagination to run our city.

"Commenting on the Tories' proposal to cut community and home safety fire services - relied on by the elderly and those on low incomes Assembly Member Val Shawcross, who chairs London's Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) said, "Be in no doubt, the cuts proposed by the Conservatives would put Londoners at risk. At a time when the Authority's budget is already stretched, the Tories want to impose cuts. The Authority has already voted against their dangerous proposals."

"The Conservative amendment to the Mayor's budget proposes a £10 million cut in the grant provided to the Met by the GLA for additional officers and equipment and almost £4 million from the Fire Authority's budget)

(press release from GLA Labour group.)

Training doesn’t take the strain

“Training” is the holy grail of health & safety. Many managers (and practically all consultants) stock response to any safety issue or concern is to propose sending workers on a “training course”. While training is usually really important in ensuring that there is an effective safety management system in an organisation, it is not the answer to all risks.

For example there is an excellent press release from the TUC today on research from the British Medical Journal that just training employees on the correct way to lift heavy weights doesn’t necessary result in fewer injuries. Rather you should be concentrating on reducing the weight of things that need to be lifted manually. I know that trade union Unite are campaigning to cut the maximum weight of baggage to 23k from current limit of 32K (see photo with Labour Minister Paul Goggins).

Equally it is useless just to send front line housing staff to “dealing with aggressive clients” courses when you don’t have a proper system in place of identifying and assessing potential violent clients. Instead you must make sure that workers are not simply sent out to make lone visits to residents unaware that they are potentially violent.

Disorganised Left Machinations?

A number of true comrades have fw me this interesting exchange from the “disUnited Left” (SWP et al) about their plotting and conniving for next weeks London UNISON AGM. I trust everyone did what they were told?

From: JON ROGERS
Sent: 30 January 2008 21:39

Subject: Re: Regional AGM

Speaking personally I have to agree that it is important that the left maximises our position on the Regional Committee. Over the past two years, although the office has won most of the Regional Council Officer positions we have managed to hold a working majority at most Regional Committee meetings.

Although we have been able to do no more than prevent the office having any mandate for their machinations I am sure that it would have been - and would be - far worse if we had not had this working majority. Whether we win or lose the Regional Convenor and other positions it is important that we do as well as possible in the elections for the Regional Committee.

We are in a poor position already in that - for various reasons - we have not nominated enough candidates for the women's seats. Therefore if we can hold four out of six of the general seats we must. Given the reality of STV we could not possibly hold five out of six.

The office will have issued detailed instructions to "their" delegates on how to vote and use their preferences to maximise their position. They are standing four candidates as that is the maximum they could realistically win by the most effective use of first preferences. If we run five left wing candidates for the six general seats the distribution of first preferences will probably mean that we win two or at most three seats, whereas if we run four candidates we are more likely to win three or even four candidates.

It is unfortunate that this year we have been insufficiently organised and are left having to try to arrive at decisions at the last minute. However, XXX is entirely right about yesterday's decision and that decision was also correct.

The candidate who is withdrawing will need to notify the office of course.

Best wishes Jon Rogers

----- Original Message ---- From: XXX
Sent: Wednesday, 30 January, 2008 7:53:43 PM

Subject: Regional AGM
Dear

The campaign meeting last night discussed the general regional committee seats (again!)
The position is that it is going to be extremely hard to keep the 4 incumbent seats we have but obviously we should give it a go and try our hardest.

If we stand 5 candidates for the 6 general seats and the rightwing are standing 4 we will be splitting our votes and won't have any chance of retaining 4 seats - and more than that we may not even get 3 people elected.

The meeting last night agreed that the united left should only stand 4 candidates which I'm afraid means one of you withdrawing.

The meeting decided its preference would be for the 4th candidate for a balance between service groups.

Can you get back to me asap please as the region need to be told tomorrow in order to stop the ballot papers being printed with all 5 names.
Thanks XXX xx