My own personal blog. Labour & Co-op Cllr, Statutory Deputy Mayor & Cabinet Lead for Housing, UNISON NEC member for Community, Branch Secretary, London Regional Council Officer & Chair of its Labour Link Committee.
Newham Cllr for West Ham Ward, Vice Chair of Local Authority Pension Fund Forum, Pension trustee, Housing & Safety Practitioner.
Centre left and proud member of the Labour movement family. Strictly no trolls please.
The Times Education Supplement (TES) reports about the prominent BNP members, Adam and Mark Walker, who stood for the BNP in last year's Council elections. They are facing being struck off the teaching register for their "racial and religious intolerance".
They are accused of misusing school computers for BNP (a Nazi supporting Party) political purposes. Mark Walker resigned but Adam Walker was subsequently found to have used School computers to post what even one of his supporters described as “very intemperate” stuff about immigrants and Muslims.
This same person claims that the elder brother, is not a racist since "he taught Karate and had been married to a Japanese women".
So that’s alright then.
Christinna McAnea, Head of Education at UNISON is quoted as questioning whether BNP members should be allowed to teach. "Schools should be centres of learning and tolerance, not a breeding ground for the poisonous views of the BNP"
Hear, hear!
(Picture above is of young children who were subject to medical experiments in a Nazi death camp. I hope those who support the Walkers will look at this picture then look at their own kids/nieces/nephews/grandchildren...and think a little)
Mostly off message and self indulgent, but what the heck. Last month Mrs Grayee and I were in North Wales, looking after my sister’s house, Jazz the Chocolate Lab and the cats (Psycho Jack and New Moses) while the family were on some lovely hot Greek Island.
On the Friday before the Bank holiday, I was let off for good behaviour to go and walk up Snowdon by myself.
Now there are various footpaths up and down Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon – the highest mountain in Wales). I have gone up all the main footpaths a number of times over the years, but I had a yen to get there via the famous Crib Goch ridge walk. I had a vague idea that I had walked this path with my Dad when I was a kid. I thought it had been a bit hard but not that bad. That day the weather forecast was pretty good, so I thought - go for it. I had an OS map which appeared to show a footpath all the way.
I drove to the car park at Pen-Y-Pass and luckily managed to secure one of the last parking spaces just after 8.30am. I was full of energy and enthusiasm and stormed up the Pig’s trail to the turning off for Crib Goch.
Pretty soon the path disappeared apart from cairns. I then soon lost the cairns and was scrambling and climbing up what I thought was pretty damn steep climbs. It wasn’t a great day to wear shorts either and my knees and shins were just scraped to pieces. At this early stage I was not that happy (little did I know that it got worse – or how worse). The really good thing was that my fellow climbers were not sure about the best route either and that we started chatting about what we should do next? We didn't know each other. Now on a normal busy day, the footpaths to Snowdon are the fresh air equivalent of the M25 at rush hour. As you pass people bye up and down, you usually only exchange a "good day" or a joke at best. The half of dozen of us within sight at this time attempting Crib Goch were calling out to each other, warning about loose rock and discussing about the best way forward.
You don’t walk up Crib Goch, you climb. Now, while to any experienced climber, I have no doubt that this so-called “climb” is to them a “walk in the Park”. To the majority of us, it was bloody hard work and very difficult. A few times I climbed up so far, only to lose my nerve and think, nah – I ain't going any further this way. You then had the even unpleasant climb down to some point where you could start again via another possible route.
One completely unexpected problem was that the rock itself was not always that secure. Much to my horror, you would grab hold of what appeared to be a secure bit of rock or use it as a foot hold and it would come away. I dislodged a rock the size of a half brick which came tumbling down and nearly hit a very friendly young couple below. Eventually, I found that there were climbs that you initially thought were impassable but eventually you could scramble ungainly up them, with sweat pouring out of your every pore.
When we finally got up to the top, after what I thought at the time was a really unpleasant and in fact, bloody awful experience, I was to be absolutely horrified at what I found next.
The London Regional Convenor, Gloria Hanson made this (title) comment at the close. I must admit that it was the most sensible and constructive regional committee meeting that I have ever attended. This was a relief after the rather weird and wonderful antics at the recent Regional Local Government meeting.
This committee is made up of elected lay Regional Council officers (the “Executive”), Regional Committee members and representatives from UNISON Service group committees and self-organised groups. London UNISON elected National Executive Committee members can also attend and speak (but cannot vote). Senior full time UNISON employees such as the Regional Secretary are also present.
UNISON’s democratic structure is - how can I put it? Somewhat complex....if you are a UNISON member and want to find out more about how your union is organised then there is a very good course (and aptly named!) called “Lost in UNISON” which I would thoroughly recommend.
I attend as a lay elected Regional Council Officer and as Regional finance convenor I presented the finance report to the committee.
There was a report on recruitment and organisation. In London region we have 130,000 UNISON members. Some 10% of all UNISON members are in our region. On September 5 there was a very successful and well attended “Organising our Future” event. The event launched the “Branch Resources Recruitment Stick”. This clever idea is a computer memory stick for branches which holds core resource and recruitment information. It contains key website links, for recruitment material as well as model templates for letters, flyers, induction power point presentation, guides for newsletters etc. This is a really exciting development which we think is unique to London region.
There was a sober and wide ranging debate on pay negotiating and bargaining. The campaign continues but we must examine what has happened so far and learn lessons for the future. Discussions have been re-established in the local government pay dispute.
Members in Probation are about to be balloted for strike action over a disappointing pay offer and the failure to implement last years award in full. In Further Education a 3.3% offer has been made and this will be balloted on with members.
The Regional Secretary reported on Pension governance. Work in the region has begun on mapping the existing governance arrangements. Once competed there will be targeted briefings for current and potential (YES!) trustees and member nominated reps. This is really good news. Investment Governance is now starting to be mainstream.
On diversity issues there will be an Equalities seminar on 22 October. Where a new regional Equalities Award will be made. The focus will be on training and preparation for the Single Equality Bill. There was an update on the Stephen Lawrence Action Plan.
The report on Political Campaigning concentrated on the important work the region carries out on campaigning against the Far Right. The local UNISON branch in the GLA has received a lot of support following the election of the Nazi BNP member, Richard Barnbrook.
It was reported that the BNP are standing a candidate in a Camden Council by-election next week (September 25th)
UNISON regional Labour Link (APF) is working with TULO on the European elections next year and the borough elections in 2010. It is also helping to fund the Labour campaign organiser against the Far Right in East London. The London Labour Party regional Biennial Conference will take place on 22 November (I’ll be there).
The Regional Policy day will take place on 21 October (Trafalgar Day). This is a training day and will evaluate the regional plan, identify next year’s priorities, working with other unions and budget planning.
There were useful discussions about UNISON national consultations on a branch and regional structure review, reserved seat consultation (those NEC seats reserved for low paid female workers), the national minimum wage target, branch representation at National Delegate Conference.
The sad news about long standing UNISON activist Joyce Conway (Health) who passed away on 17 August resulted in all members standing for a minute’s silence. UNISON was well represented by branch and regional officers at her funeral. “She will be missed”.
My Finance report went ok (pretty boring and mostly for noting).
The arrangements for the next regional council Meeting on 9 October were discussed.
Reports from Self organised groups, retired members (David Jones putting the rest of us to shame with his full and detailed report), sub-committee reports (I gave one on behalf of Europe/International and health & safety committee).
The final item was a report on the Labour Link committee by its Joint Chair, the indomitable (a School crossing officer or lollypop lady - from Barking and Dagenham) Louise Couling.
Louise talked about the importance of campaigning against the BNP, not only in her borough but else where in London “the plague is spreading”. Louise is a top to bottom, grass roots, trade union activist and Labour Party diehard supporter. She recognised that the party was going thorough difficult times and that it had made mistakes (public sector pay) but she was passionate in her conviction that we had to support the Party to defeat our natural enemy, the Tories.
It was a bit of a shame that in the Q&A afterwards, one committee guest who claims somehow to be a Labour party supporter, was practically dribbling in his excitement at the prospect of the Party losing the next election. He also asked Louise, I assume sarcastically, how could she contribute to Labour winning the next General election? She immediately replied “by voting Labour” which brought claps and cheers by the non-defeatist majority of the committee.
As Gloria said “A good meeting”. May there be more of them as we play our bit.
(this is of course my own very personal interpretation and report back on this meeting and is not intended to be an official regional record or minutes in anyway – BTW - since this is not a radio advert you do not need to read this quickly)
As much as I am loathe to make any reference to The Sun, on the way home tonight I saw this front page banner headline (crash, bang & wallop) and the by-line "We will all pay a price for unscrupulous bankers who threw caution - and our money - to the wind."
Quite true I thought. But please can we in the Labour Party also ask certain junior ministers and MP’s to stop being politicians who are throwing caution away (never mind there I say prudence) - into the call for a "Perfect Storm"... A divisive, bloody leadership contest a mere 18 months before a probable general election.
Do I really have to spell it out any further?
Crash, bang, (and then) wallop – would sum up pretty well what will happen to us unless people start to unite.
Nothing, repeat nothing is inevitable in politics except defeat due to division.
We do not want the Tories to win FULL STOP This should be our real overriding manta. A change in leadership is not going to achieve anything.
The joy, the joy....having done something awful in a previous life I must now atone for my sins by being a delegate to this committee.
While I think it is important this committee has some representatives who actually reflect the wider membership of the union and recognise that they live in the here and now, it should really be subject to some sort of a preservation order.
Some delegates (excluding myself obviously) actually made some well founded and even articulate arguments (which I may or may not have agreed with). But most of the contributions were from a past golden age in the Labour movement when Trotskyite ranting and postulating actually meant something (not a lot even then).
As someone who loves political history, I revelled in the passionate tales told of duplicitous full time trade union officials, a sell out elected national leadership and numerous accounts of very, very "angry" and very, very "disgusted" members. All of whom want nothing more than strike, after strike, after strike.
Wake up comrades.
In particular I will treasure the contribution by one I know well, who addressed the meeting on a motion regarding the Labour Party. He confidently assured the audience that there was no-one present who thinks that the Labour Party will win the next general election. Hello? Comrade grayee of course made clear his views that the Party can indeed win, even if it is going to be difficult. It is fair to say that most present did not of course concur. But if we had to rely on their votes – Deus, adiuva nos.
Yesterday I went to Tower Hamlets to help out with campaigning in the new Poplar and Limehouse parliamentary constituency (CLP). West Ham CLP is twinned with this seat, which is held by Labour MP, Jim Fitzpatrick.
Jim is supposed to be facing the utterly loathsome, George Galloway, as his “Respect” opponent in the next General election. The SWP/bigots coalition has largely collapsed recently, so the only beneficiaries of a respect campaign in this area will be the Tories. Galloway, of course would still have his radio and other well paid media interests when he loses.
We ended up in Berkeley House, which is a 21 floor tower block in the British Estate. This block is managed by East End homes and is being refurbished. We picked up quite a lot of case work, especially over the renewal of the block lifts and parking issues.
I found solid support for the Labour party in this ward, also no interest whatsoever in any change in Labour Party leadership. Picture of my ace canvass team Rachel, Jimbo and James is above.
While to the left the picture is a new sign of the times; the graffiti in the communal stairs includes people’s email addresses!
I can't believe that there is no apparent Concierge service for this block? We just walked in. It is not the answer to all problems, but you do need effective 24/7 security for such blocks.
I appreciate that the block is being refurbished but the graffiti in the stairs was particularly bad.
Congratulations to Iain Gray after becoming the elected Party leader of the Scottish Labour Party (my father was from Edinburgh but Iain is no known relation – Gray is quite a common surname in Scotland).
I can't remember coming across him when I lived in Edinburgh and was a Party member in the mid 80's? I think he was probably working as a teacher in Mozambique at that time.
Iain was not the favourite to win but ended up with 57% of the vote.
From the video he comes over as a really decent bloke. He seems also to have seen something of the world outside the usual political bubble. Gordon's preferred candidate apparently...which is interesting. If Gordon is as hated as some would have us believe then he would not have stood a chance. I'll post on this later.
A good news story. The UNISON branch at St Georges Hospital, Tooting, South London has won a £76 per week pay rise for 350 private contract hospital cleaners employed by ISS. This is a massive 36% rise for some of the lowest paid hospital staff in London. They now have a minimum wage of £8.21 per hour, up from £6.03.
Local Labour Party MP Sadiq Khan was thanked for his help in the campaign. A good example of "joined up" working I think.
From UNISON press release
Michael Walker UNISON Regional Officer said; “This is a great victory for some of London's most important but often neglected group of hospital workers "This interim agreement represents the culminations of months of campaigning and lobbying by UNISON, we are pleased that the UNISON campaign has not only secured the support of medical and nursing staff, but also of local Members of Parliament, most notably Sadiq Khan MP for Tooting".
Geoff Thorne UNISON Branch Secretary said:"UNISON has worked hard to bring about a minimum wage of £8:21 for all staff employed at St Georges Hospital, whether NHS or private contractors. "This interim agreement represents a sound base to build for pay justice for all health workers""Many of our members were presently finding great difficulty in living on just £6:00 an hour this increase is good for them and their families
Shirley Thompson UNISON ISS convenor at St Georges said:“The cleaning staff at St George's hospital come from all corners of the globe and play a vital role in keeping hospital infection rates down. This interim agreement is an important step in reflecting that vital role and securing pay justice for hospital cleaning staff."
I’m on-line, officially thanking anyone and everyone, soon of course emotion will completely overwhelm me and I will burst into bloggersphere tears and start sobbing my virtual heart off. I will blubber (via facebook) my thanks to Mom, Pa, Mrs Grayee, my blog readers (and even my blog haters!) the London regional Council officers, the convenor and GOD (If you are an UNISON activist you will know who I mean).
The reason for this raw display of emotion is that the TIGMOO web site (This Great trade union Movement Of Ours - tigmoo) reports that John’s Labour blog is the Number One trade union blog in the UK (sort of)!
Trade Union Web 2.0 super propagandist Johninnit reports that this poll was in response to Tory Boy, Iain Dale, who has recently with Total Politics ranked UK political blogs. I was apparently the 32nd Labour Party blog, 68th left wing blog and 177th overall Political blog.
Not that we should really place that much reliance on Tory Boy!
This is what Tigmoo has posted (pdf) and why they think I am the "number one" trade union blogger.
“TIGMOO.co.uk is an aggregator service for blogs about unions and unionism in the UK. Over 90 blogs have joined the network, which scans them for new content every hour and publishes a feed of links directly into their stories. By visiting one site, you can stay up to date with over 90 different opinions on union matters.
1: John's Labour blog Unison NEC member reporting on his work as an elected official and union issues in general, with a strong focus on Labour party activism through the Unison Labour Link, and on developments in pensions policy. grayee.blogspot.com
The 94 blogs in the TIGMOO network were ranked according to four equally weighted factors: Traffic ratings from Alexa.com, number of posts in the last 8 weeks, number of comments in that time, and the number of inbound links found by Google. Of course, these technical measures have a huge margin of error, especially when dealing with smaller sites, and quantity doesn’t always predict quality (ouch!).
BTW - I am not of course a UNISON NEC member. Freudian slip no doubt.
Good news – We heard this morning that he was unwell. Now we find that what goes around does eventually come around. Both Dear leaders of the SWP and disrespect (seen left toasting each other in happier days) are about to become ex-leaders and central committee non-persons.
The SWP central committee have obviously decided to punish them for allowing the Stalinist Galloway to win the only party political victory in his life. Not that he will be around for long either.
This is from “Left Alternative Members Bulletin 10th September 2008". Which of course is just a SWP front.
“1. Statement from Left Alternative officers “The officers of the Left Alternative are sad to have to inform our members of the resignations of John Rees and Lindsey German from the officers group and National Council. However, they remain members of the Left Alternative.
“John and Lindsey have been tireless members of the officers group and National Council since the inception of Respect. As National Secretary, John has provided consistent judgment and direction in the most difficult political circumstances, while Lindsey has been our inspirational Mayoral candidate in the GLA elections in both 2004 and 2008.
“The National Council, at its meeting on 6th September, agreed a unanimous vote of thanks to John and Lindsey for everything they have done for our organisation. We are proud to have them as members of the Left Alternative and look forward to continuing to work with them in campaigns from Stop the War to the People before Profit Charter.”
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Please do not insult our intelligence.
Harrys Place has the best info on this but I like this comment (from someone who is not a friend of Kim and his Mrs) :-
"it just shows what utter political failures the SWP are 30+ years on and they are still small, miniature when compared to European parties of the Left. these people are professional activists, it is all they do day in day out, and they are utterly useless at it, by their own criteria failure after failure:
1) StWC, millions lost, down next to nothing2) create Respect, support Galloway’s iffy goings-on3) get stitched by Galloway, lose the plot4) start another front organisation, watch it fail at the London election5) haemorrhage members Left, Right and Centre6) Piss off nearly everyone else on the Left.7) watch this other front organisation collapse complete inadequates, useless"
The Times Education Supplement (TES) reports about the prominent BNP members, Adam and Mark Walker, who stood for the BNP in last year's Council elections. They are facing being struck off the teaching register for their "racial and religious intolerance".
