Cockney Heritage Fesitival 2013

Check out this Tower Hamlets Council local history site for further details!

To try and get justice at work you will need lots & lots of money (or join a trade union)

XpertHR confirm here that this Tory led government has published an implementation date of 29 July 2013 on fees for employment tribunals and appeals.

If this is agreed by Parliament (hopefully it won't) on this day you will be expected to pay :-

"For level 1 claims, the issue fee will be £160 and the hearing fee will be £230. For level 2 claims, the issue fee will be £250 and the hearing fee will be £950. Different fee levels will apply to claims involving multiple claimants.  For lodging an appeal with the EAT, the appellant will pay an issue fee of £400 and a hearing fee of £1,200."

I believe that most cases heard will be level 2. So if you are unfairly dismissed at work you will have to fork out £1200 for a hearing and another £1600 for any appeal.

This is despicable and will deny justice for millions and millions of working people. Bad bosses will treat people with contempt since they know they will not be able to afford these fees. Most trade unions I am aware of will pay these fees for cases that have a reasonable chance of success. Another reason for joining a union.

Better still join an union because you are far, far more likely to have a decent employer in the first place if you have an union in the workplace and avoid needing to go to law! 

The recent small but welcome increase in union membership may mean that workers are beginning to understand (again) that they cannot rely on their employer for justice at work, nor can they rely on the law.

The only people who can really protect them are their fellow workers and their trade union!

Nominate Jason Anderson as London rep on UNISON National Labour Link Committee

Can all UNISON Branches in London who support the forces of light and reason against the evil ones (aka miserablists) please consider nominating Jason.

You can download a nomination form from here. It needs to be signed by 2 branch officers who are Labour Link members (including the Link officer if you have one in post). Don't worry about the election statement or candidate form, Jason will send that direct to UNISON HQ.   His RMS number is 4565268. The form needs to be returned by Friday 14 June by email (elections@unison.co.uk) or post or fax.

"Dear Colleague,

I am writing to ask your branch to consider nominating me for the London seat on the National Labour Link Committee.

About me

My name is Jason Anderson and I work as a Frontline Ambulance Technician and have been a member of the London Ambulance Service’s ‘Hazardous Area Response Team’ for the last two years. This involves attending to casualties in many different environments’ i.e. Fire Incidents, Water, and Decontamination, Biological, Chemical, Nuclear and mass casualty.

I am now in my 13th year in the London Ambulance Service and have seen many changes to staff working conditions like the introduction of ‘Agenda For Change NHS’, and now the prospect of restructuring across the Service (mainly due to the financial cuts being forced on the NHS by the Conservative/Lib Dem Government). I am acutely aware of the role we as a union have in demonstrating the effects Con/Dem policies are having on our members and the services we deliver.

We have a key role to play in building opposition to the Government and enabling Labour to win the next election in 2015.

I am a committed trade unionist, first joining after leaving school and starting work on a ‘Maggie Thatcher’ YTS Course (which not surprisingly didn’t last!) and have held numerous UNISON roles including Station Representative, H&S Representative and Branch Labour Link Officer for the past two years.

I am a life long supporter of the Labour party and have been a party member for the past few years. I have recently moved home and my CLP has changed from Mitcham and Morden (where I have supported Siobhain Mc Dough MP with the ongoing campaign to keep the A/E and Maternity departments open at St Helier Hospital) to Epsom and Ewell where I am already getting involved in campaigning around the local Elections.

Labour in Government delivered real improvements for our members, but, Labour needs to change and do more to win the General Election in 2015. We need an alternative economic policy. I believe in supporting the Party, but also in campaigning for or against change where it impacts on our members.

If elected I will :-

• Represent the views of APF payers in the London Region. 
• I will work towards ensuring the voice of UNISON members is heard within the Labour party. We need to champion trade union issues and move our members concerns up the agenda, promoting a manifesto that includes; 
• Defend our NHS 
• Reinvestment & defending our public services 
• Defending pay and public sector pensions 
• Access to housing for public sector employees 
• Economic policies that promote growth and jobs 
• A Labour victory in 2015 must be a priority for us all. We must get rid of this Tory led Coalition Government determined to destroy our public services and welfare state before they do any more damage. 

I hope your branch will consider nominating me. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Regards
Jason Anderson"

West Ham Labour London Euro MEP hustings 2013

Picture is from the hustings that took place on Tuesday evening at the Vicarage Lane Community Centre in Newham. The event was organised by West Ham Labour Party (sponsored by London UNISON Labour Link). Chaired by Charlene McLean (middle)

All Labour Party members have by now been sent by email how to ballot on line and I believe next week they will receive postal ballot papers to use if they prefer.

London UNISON Labour Link have endorsed our members Sanchia Alasia (first left) and Ivana Bartoletti (2nd left). So we recommend you vote for either - 1st or 2nd choice on ballot paper. Other candidates are Andrea Biondi, Seb Dance, Lucy Anderson and Kamaljett Jandu.

I was away and couldn't make the event which is a real shame. Hat tip picture Ali G.

NAPF Local Government Conference 2013

On 21st May I attend the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) Local Government Conference. The keynote speaker was the Minister for Local Authorities, Brandon Lewis MP.

Now I know many people think pensions is boring but there are 4.6 million people in the UK who are members of a Council pension scheme. Collectively they are all worth around £150 billion and if combined would be the 5th biggest fund in the world. 

The minister announced a "root & branch review" of Council pension schemes (LGPS) including possible merger of the current 99 separate funds. He said "things will change but nothing ruled in or out" at this stage.

In the Q&A I asked him what is the main driver for merger-  is it to save money or is it to save the economy through infrastructure investment?  He suggested that the LGPS is bigger than the Canadian public pensions schemes but does not have their scale and efficiencies (answer - main driver is to save money - but I am not convinced this is the reason)

Next we had "Implementing the LGPS 2014: from here to go-live".  First was Chris Megainey, a senior civil servant from the Communities and Local Government department (who was described as the"new Terry Crossley"). His big news was that the new governance arrangements for the LGPS would not be in place before 2015. Rodney Barton from West Yorks Pensions scheme spoke about the huge threat to schemes from the complex career average administration arrangements.

Brian Strutton from the GMB reported on the LGPS Workstream 2 "governance & cost structure" and the problems of trying to convince the HM Treasury that there is a difference between a funded and unfunded public sector pensions scheme (NB £150 billion of assets methinks!). There appears to be some sort of classic "fudge" agreed with different valuations being allowed.

My question to panel was while it is important to get the details right, LGPS 2014 and auto enrolment means there is a massive opportunity to increase membership into the scheme but this will need local and national campaigns. (answer from Chris that there is no national money available so will have to be local).

I then went to the "All Change: Employer security & the new LGPS" workshop. Schemes face grave problems if admitted body employers go bust without adequate security and also these employers face often massive termination debts when the last employee retires. I asked the question that to avoid these debts should employers apply to open schemes to new entrants? Especially since the LGPS 2014 has radically changed due to cost sharing? (answer from panel that some employers have indeed done this just to avoid existing debt. But this is a cynical response? Well, cynical or not it makes sense to me!)

Back to the main conference room for "The 2013 Valuation: Health Check Results" to hear Ronnie Robertson from Hymans Robertson. The 2013 valuation is likely to be the 3rd "bad" funding vaulation outcome in a row. Employers such as housing associations will find it "very scary".  He quotes Michael Johnson who describes underfunded pension schemes as being in a "death spiral".  The interest on deficits & less assets means the fund eats itself.  My question was is the real problem the way we measure liability? investments are up but liabilities are much, much higher. Gilt yields are at a 200 year low? Yet it drives the entire investment philosophy? (answer was yes but no but)

Next workshop was "Responsible Investment: what it means for the LGPS?" NAPF used this to launch a new report on RI here.  Dr. Craig Mackenzie from Scottish Widows pointed out how much things had changed since in past there use to be argument about whether RI was even legal for pensions to consider. My question is there hard data available that can show pension committees that RI not about hugging trees but delivers superior returns? (answer: Yes, lots of it)

The last business item of the day was to be a bun fight debate on LGPS merger. However it turned out to be a bit of a let down.  Edmund Truell from London Pension Fund Authority (for merger - and general world domination) and Nicola Mark from Norfolk Pension Fund (against merger) were too polite and reasonable for a great debate.

Edmund argued that in London alone they could save £120-200 million per year from merger and unless we do so we are essentially all doomed. Nicola counted that all new local government ministers firstly ask why can't we merge the LGPS? -  then they ask "how can we get our hands on this money". She pointed out that if there is a 1% change in the Norfolk £2.5 billion scheme investments there is a £25 million difference. If there is a 1% change interest rates its impact is £480 million

My question to both was if pension funds are supposed to act in the interests of beneficiaries and with LGPS 2014 there will be risk sharing with employees, what consultation have you done with beneficiaries on whether merger is a good thing or not? (from the rather wafflery answers clearly neither have done any such consultation. Which I knew already since I have members of my trade union branch in both schemes. So why do they think they can speak on their behalf?)

The guest speaker at the dinner event was former adviser to prime minister Tony Blair, Alastair Campbell. Who gave a typically entertaining and provocative speech. For once I did not ask any questions.

I missed the next day's session since I had to go to a Pension Trustee meeting.

Stratford and West Ham Spring Festival 2013

Collage from the recent Stratford and West Ham Spring Festival which was held inside the Stratford Shopping Centre. A wide range of stalls, competitions and exhibitions. From health MOTs, ball room dancing intro, Air Cadets, Girl guides, Owls, Russian folk songs, tea dances in the Town Hall, Talent competition, Face painting, massage, Poetry, Zumba, cake decorating (and much more).

A great event and many thanks to all the local volunteers, businesses and the Newham Council staff who participated in the event and with all the planning.

We Are The Many - Hope Not Hate

Please click here and sign this Hope Not Hate letter for tomorrow's Daily Mirror :-

To: The Editor, Daily Mirror
From:

We Are The Many

Today, the violent English Defence League will hold demonstrations in towns and cities across our country, trying to spread their message of hate. By blaming all Muslims for the terrible murder of Drummer Lee Rigby, the EDL will attempt to whip up a climate of fear and violence towards the Muslim community in Britain.

But the EDL will fail. They will fail because we, the British people, reject their ignorance.

The EDL and Islamic extremists are more similar to each other than to us. They share a violent, hate-fuelled desire for conflict and war, and we will not let either group tear our country apart.

We condemn the shameful rise in anti-Muslim violence since Drummer Rigby's killing. The fair-minded majority of Britons understand that a community cannot be blamed for the actions of just two. We know that the EDL does not speak for all Britain, just as we know that Muslim extremists do not speak for all Muslims.

We, the British people, shun the EDL's message of hate today because they do not speak for us. We are confident that HOPE will prevail. It will prevail because they are the few, and we are -- and always will be -- the many.

Yours,

Pension Minister Steve Webb MP to address AMNT 26 June 2013

Association of Member Nominated Trustees

Pensions Minister Steve Webb MP will be the keynote speaker at our first AMNT Summer Conference which will take place on June 26th 2013, at Towers Watson, 21, Tothill Street, London SW1H 9LL. Some details are still to be finalised, but currently, the day looks like this:

We will begin with registration from 0930, and the main conference starts at 1000.
Steve Webb has agreed to start us off with a keynote speech.

Then Co-Chair Barry Parr will go through the results of our Member Survey.
Bill Trythall (Committee Member) will then talk on "The Universities Superannuation Scheme".

After coffee, Ewan McGaughey will talk on "MNTs in Corporate Governance", then another Member will talk on "A Smaller DC Scheme".

Lunch and networking will be followed by our hosts Towers Watson talking on Current Pension Issues, then John Gray (Committee Member) will present on "London Borough/Local Government Schemes".

Following this, Michael Johnson will speak on "Charging in Pensions".

After a tea break, our Friends will leave us, and we will go into Round Table Debates on Current Pensions Issues with one of our Sponsors leading each table.

A final feedback session will be followed by a closing summary, which is due to finish at 1700.

After the meeting has closed, there will be the usual networking opportunity with drinks provided by our hosts Towers Watson

There are limited places available for this event, so please let us know as soon as possible if you are able to attend. Click on one of the below links and let us know by email, including whether you have any dietary requirements and if you plan to attend for the drinks reception.

Email mail@amnt.org if you wish to send the whole or part of the day at the meeting.

(if you are a member nominated Trustee or representative then join and apply to attend)

A Life for Freedom in South Africa: Denis Goldberg 80th Celebration

The picture is from the celebration of the 80th Birthday of South African freedom fighter Denis Goldberg. This took place in the South African High Commission in Trafalgar Square, London.

The celebration was in aid of the development Charity Community HEART  that Denis helped set up.  My fellow UNISON NEC member for Community, Izzy McVicar, organised the event.

Denis (centre - seen with London UNISON Convener Gloria  Hanson, Deputy Convener Conroy Lawrence and me lurking at the back) spent 22 years in prison during the struggle against apartheid. He was sentenced in the same trial as Nelson Mandala. However, since he was white, he was of course put into a different prison.

In his speech Dennis joked that he and his fellow ex-prisoners are the only people who celebrate the 50th anniversary of their arrests and for only getting life sentences (the prosecutors wanted the death penalty).

Although he is very proud of all that has been achieved in a free South Africa he recognises that there is much still to be done. He does think it is a little arrogant that some people in the UK criticise the lack of equality in South Africa when they have had since 1870 to do something about inequality in the UK. 

On a positive note Denis thinks that "the hormones in our teenagers" will eventually solve our racial differences.

One Nation Housing – 50 Policies for Labour

The Labour Housing Group has published this consultaton paper on its own website and on the housing site "Red Brick" in advance of their annual conference next month:-

Housing is central to Labour’s One Nation approach and our plans for economic recovery and social well-being.

Housing Investment

1.       Housing should be a central feature of a new National Infrastructure Plan looking ahead 10, 20 and 30 years at the country’s requirements for a modern economy and a cohesive society.

2.       Increasing housing investment in all tenures should be a key component of economic policy.

3.       To ensure an adequate supply of affordable homes, capital investment subsidies should be restored to 2008 levels as quickly as possible, with over-riding priority given to building homes for social rent.

4.       Councils should be enabled to invest much more under the new self-financing regime. The existing borrowing cap should be lifted and international conventions for measuring public borrowing (which exclude public corporations) should be adopted.

5.       Smart national accounting should be adopted that recognises how housing investment contributes to savings in health, education and benefits budgets. 

Planning for Housing 

6.       Councils should be under much stronger planning duties to meet housing needs in their areas, to plan for mixed communities, and to co-operate in planning for new housing across sub-regions, especially City regions.

7.       Local plans should prioritise social rented homes separately from other sub-market rented and low cost home ownership homes.

8.       Local communities should benefit more clearly from development through requirements for affordable housing and other facilities.  

9.       The New Homes Bonus should be ringfenced to be spent on housing infrastructure and benefits for communities affected by development only and should be phased out.

10.    A proportion of new homes should be made available to people from the local area.

11.    There should be much stronger duties on public agencies to release land for affordable housing.

12.    As a general principle, brownfield land should be used first and broad Green Belt protections should remain.

13.    Minimum space standards should be applied to all new homes.

14.    More rapid progress should be made towards achieving high environmental and energy efficiency standards in new homes, with higher priority given to cycling, play and recreation facilities.

15.    Planning permissions should expire sooner and should be based on project completion.

16.    Planning powers should enable Councils to take more effective enforcement action against rundown and empty homes that blight neighbourhoods.   

Tenure Reform

17.    Labour should undertake comprehensive tenure reform with standard mandatory tenancy conditions across private and social renting.

18.    Labour should adopt a plan to ensure that the Commonhold form of tenure, introduced by the last Labour Government, is more frequently used.

19.    Labour should renew its commitment to co-operative and new forms of tenure.

Private renting

20.    The private rented sector should be modernised and reformed, with longer tenancies, more predictable rents, better regulation, and proper enforcement of safety and decency standards.

21.    There should be tough regulation of letting agents and encouragement of not-for-profit agencies.

22.    Stronger enforcement action should take place in cases of landlord crime like harassment, illegal eviction and theft of deposits.

23.    All landlords should be registered in a self-financing scheme.

24.    As part of a package of reforms, Labour should review the tax treatment of private landlords to encourage investment, and reintroduce repair grants to achieve a new PRS decency standard.

25.    Shared housing should be regularly inspected to ensure compliance with standards. 

Social housing

26.    All social landlords in receipt of public money should be subject to effective regulation and occasional inspection to achieve higher standards in terms of customer service, efficiency, governance, accountability, and viability.

27.    Statutory requirements for tenants to be involved in scrutiny and in the regulatory system should be strengthened and the right to complain to the Ombudsman should be strengthened.

28.    Labour should ensure that housing associations remain not-for-profit organisations and review the scale and use of their surpluses.

29.    There should be genuine ‘like for like’ replacement of Council homes sold under Right to Buy. Give-away discounts should be restricted. Councils should be enabled to take an equity stake in sold property and strict covenants should be applied in relation to future letting and onward sale. 

30.    A new social sector Decent Homes Standard should be adopted with stronger environmental and communal area requirements.

31.    All social landlords should produce an annual Asset Management Statement, demonstrating how they have made best use of their stock. There should be a presumption against unjustified sales of property.

32.    Security of tenure should be restored so there is a basic requirement that a household cannot lose their home without the landlord’s case being tested in a court. 

33.    It should be a priority to ensure that homes that have been ‘converted’ from social to so-called ‘affordable rent’ revert back to their original status.  

Home ownership

34.    Government help for home ownership should be targeted to provide help with deposits for first-time buyers.

35.    Labour should require the energy industry to provide better grants and loans to ensure minimum standards in energy efficiency.

36.    Repair grants should be reintroduced in housing priority areas to enable owners to bring their homes up to basic standards.

37.    Labour should work with the development industry to introduce a Rent To Buy scheme for first time buyers.

38.    Labour should work with the mortgage industry to deliver more loans at higher loan-to-value ratios but without encouraging sub-prime lending. 

Tax and benefits

39.    The total benefit cap should be regionalised to take proper account of rent differentials between areas of the country.

40.    Local Housing Allowance should be made available up to the level of median rents in an area rather than the 30^th percentile.

41.    HB direct payments to landlords should be restored based on tenants’ choice.

42.    The ‘bedroom tax’ should be ended in favour of a new national plan to tackle under occupation based on incentives and a stronger ground for possession with a right to suitable alternative accommodation.

43.    Labour should develop and adopt a long term plan to switch from personal subsidies to investment subsidies in housing, reducing the benefit bill by reducing the cost of rented housing.

44.    A Mansion Tax on properties valued at £2m or more, or additional Council Tax bands, should be introduced.

45.    Options should be investigated to impose additional taxation on foreign buyers in the prime property market.  

46.    Additional charges should be levied on long-term empty properties and unused development land.

47.    A fundamental review of property taxation and reliefs should be undertaken, including council tax, capital gains, stamp duty, to find a system that meets wider housing objectives. 

General

48.    It should be a key target of a Labour Government to reduce homelessness. The strong homelessness safety net should be restored.

49.    A new National Tenant Voice should be created, for all tenants.

50.    Labour’s commitment is to encourage mixed and sustainable communities across the country - in cities towns and rural areas.