#UNDC13 Austerity Uncovered Bus at UNISON Conference - Wednesday morning

Early start on Wednesday morning with photo call with UNISON members at the TUC "Austerity Uncovered" bus which is touring the UK gathering evidence that "Austerity is hurting, it isn't working".

We were welcomed by the Liverpool socialist choir and joined by Labour Mayor of Liverpool (and Unison member) Joe Anderson.

Check out the website to find out when the bus is near you.

#undc13 Branch Resource Review fringe - Tuesday

Sorry this has been posted late but it has been a busy few days. Picture is of NEC Chair of Finance Mike Hayes at the fringe on Tuesday evening.

Mike spoke about the compelling need to change the way Unison resources its branches.

There is internal and external pressures for change.  From our auditors and from the tax office. Our processes are not safe enough to protect members money.

The fringe went really well and I was pleased that the finance rule changes went through on Thursday. See what happens with motion 107 later on this afternoon.

#UNDC13 "Do they mean us? The squeezed middle and the new politics of pay" fringe

Picture from fringe on Tuesday lunch time at UNISON National Delegate Conference 2013 chaired by Jane Carolan from NEC.

First speaker was James Plunkett (left) from the Resolution Foundation.

He reported on the collapse in pay increases since 2000 (Not just since the 2008 recession) and pointed out that only 1/3rd of welfare cuts have taken place so far. He described a "Epidemic of low pay" which he believes is structural. While there has been growth in high pay jobs, there has been a reduction in middle pay jobs and growth in low pay jobs.  He believes that better training is not going to be enough to change things. Why does Norway have 1/2 the number of low pay jobs than the UK?  It is because they have made different choices than us.

James thought that a way forward is the level of the Living wage but he does not believe it should be compulsory but there should be transparency and companies that can afford to pay should be named and shamed if they don't.

Next was  Faiza Shaheen from the New Economic Foundation (3rd from left). She agreed about the massive low pay problem. Not only is there the cost to individuals who face the choice of eat or heat there is an wider economic cost.  The cost of tax credits to subsidise low pay have increased by over 50%.  While even the IMF recognise that low pay has resulted in low demand in our economy. She linked pay levels to union density. The higher the density the better the pay. In the public sector unions have done good work especially on low paid but it is still a low pay sector despite the outsourcing of 400k jobs to the private sector. Faiza thought that looking at wage ratios may be better than the level of living wage. 

She posed the question - why is the gender gap bin the private sector between men and women significantly higher than the public sector?

Final speaker was Assistant General Secretary Karen Jennings (4th left). Karen reminded the fringe that UNISON use to be criticised within the labour movement for its support of the minimum wage and although it is not enough the minimum wage has made a real difference to the lives of the working poor. The growth in the pay gulf has led to many of the poor being dependent on food banks and payday loans. Despite the "bile" of the Tory press about public sector pay the reality is a massive increase in claims from our members to UNISON welfare.

A paramedic now earns  £5k less in real terms than 2010.  While a teaching assistant is £7k worse off. The way out of poverty is now not hard work. No matter how hard they work many are still stuck in poverty. The answer involves the living wage, spread of collective bargaining and ending of employment practises such as no zero hour contracts.

But we also need to get people to understand more about the politics of pay.  In a recent YouGov poll people listed their top 5 priorities.  They complained about high prices for goods and services but only listed pay as their 5th priority. They failed to make the connection between being unable to afford things and their low wages.

In the Q&A I asked about the possible role of wage councils in addressing this problem? Other northern European countries still have such bodies and have better pay levels, especially in industries which are hard to organise. James thought they could have a role. Another member reminded everyone that it was not the the traditional low paid who have difficulties. Even if you earn £30k per year. James said that the housing model for the squeezed middle is completely broken. They are unable to buy and pay high rents with no security. He is looking into the role of institutional investment in the rental market.

UNISON National Delegate Conference 2013 :Tuesday

Today is the start of our National Delegate Conference in ACC in Liverpool.

I understand that there are 2500 delegates and visitors present and it is one of the largest trade union gatherings in Europe.

The conference was welcomed to Liverpool by a special guest, Comedy TV personality, Ricky Tomlinson. Ricky introduced his home town as a City with two famous football teams - Liverpool FC and Liverpool FC reserves! However he made a serious point about his conviction and that of  the"Shrewsberry 24" pickets who he believes were "fitted up" during the national building workers strike in 1972. 

After the President's Address, Standing Orders Committee, Annual and Financial report, business started on a Composite motion on Employment  and Trade Union rights. 

During lunch I went to a Fringe (which I will post upon later) then business started off at 2pm with th emotion "Kick it Out - Racism has no place in football". 

Next was our General Secretary Dave Prentis (see picture) who gave his annual speech to the conference. 
Dave's main announcement was to call on the TUC to organise a mass rally and lobby of this year’s Tory party conference, in defence of the NHS.“And if they don’t, we will because we are the folk to fight for it.” He also said “We need Labour on our side. But for too long we’ve built the careers of Labour politicians, only to be let down when we’ve needed them most.”

After his speech there were important debates on Outsourcing and Privatisation; NHS campaigning and NHS and Social Care integration.  Its now 4.40pm and I'm not sure if there will be time for me to speak on the housing motion 33 next?

Update: Nope - not enough time. Conference closed. Finance Fringe next. 

One Housing Group Strike - this Wednesday, 19th, Thursday 20th and Friday 21st June London

This week there will be a 3 day strike by Unite care and support workers at One Housing Group in London against plans to cut their wages by up to £8000 per year (averaging £2000).   This according to their press release is at the same time that its Chief Executive accepted a £31,000 increase in pay and bonuses.  One Housing Group is in surplus and is winning new contracts with local authorities.


Due to 3 years of pay freezes staff wages have already been reduced in real terms by 13%. Their new proposed salaries are often lower than rates paid 15 years.

Unite members voted by a margin of 83.7 per cent in favour of strike action.

One Housing are refusing to accept any referral to ACAS.

PICKET LINES FOR ONE HOUSING STRIKE

19th, 20th 21st June 2013

OHG Head Office
100 Chalk Farm Road (next door to The Roundhouse) NW1 8EH Picket Line 8.15-17.30

Lincoln House, Corner of Hertford Road & Lincoln Rd, Ponders End, Enfield, EN3 4AH, Picket Line 8.15-11ish

The Chocolate Factory
Palmer House, 3rd Floor, Unit 304, Clarendon Rd, (off) Coburg Rd, N22 6UJ, Picket Line 8.15-11ish

Arlington House
220 Arlington Road, Camden, NW17HE, Picket Line 7.30 -10.00 ,13.30-15.30 ish

13 A Great Chapel St, W1F 8FL, Picket Line 8.15-11 ish

 2A Agnew Road, London, SE23 1DJ and literally around the corner 20 meters

Honor Lea, 103-117 Brockley Rise, Lewisham, SE23 1JW, Picket Line 7.30-10.30

737 Garratt Lane, Wandsworth, SW17 0PD Picket Line 7.30-10.30

Libel Reform Celebration

Last Wednesday evening I was invited to take part in an event organised by the Libel Reform campaigners to celebrate the Defamation Act which received Royal Assent in April.

This Act has been achieved very much against the odds and is a real victory for free speech, reasoned argument and citizen power.

It has still not been "enacted" and there are concerns that much of the detail on regulations and procedures have not been clarified. Also Northern Ireland needs to ensure that citizens have the same protection as elsewhere. But the Libel Reform campaign has been incredibly successful in such a short period of time (2009). There is still more to do of course.

I met my old blogging mucker, fellow Labour Party loyalist and Libel Survivor Dave Osler in the Betsey Trotwood Pub beforehand. At the event (next door at the Free Word Centre in Farringdon, London) itself we met up with Alex Hilton (see photo right) and Libel freedom fighters David Allen Green,  Robert Dougans and Nick Cohen.

After the event we retired back to the Betsey to continue putting our world to rights. Interestingly, Dave Osler is going to provide me with evidence that Trotsky was actually all the long a mixed economy reformist - just like me :)

(sorry picture is a little flat but surprisingly cannot find anything better on internet to pinch)

London UNISON Labour Link says "Happy 30th" to Jeremy

At the recent meeting of London UNISON Labour Link, Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn came to give us his regular Parliamentary report. 

We ambushed him with a "Congratulations" card celebrating the 30th anniversary of his election as an MP. 

UNISON also sponsored a Party held last Sunday at his constituency.

Branch Outreach Worker Job Advert

Salary: £33,440 (+ £4947 London weighting) and 1% pay rise from July 2013

Hours: 35 hours - 3 month Fixed term contract (may last longer)

Job location: North London base (N7)

Reference number:

Job description: UNISON is the biggest trade union for people working in housing. Our members work in housing associations, trusts, groups and co-ops in the London and South East area. UNISON Housing Associations Branch has around 3200 members working in social housing in the Greater London Area. Our members work for over 180 employers. We have 11 workplaces with over 100 members, and many other workplaces with smaller groups of members. We organise and represent all staff, whatever post they hold. We recruit in every group of workers; Support Workers, Team Leaders, Housing Officers, Cleaners, Housing Managers. UNISON recruits temporary and agency workers. Sixty seven per cent of branch members are women. We have over 100 elected local representatives. We are recruiting for a Branch Outreach Worker. The overall aims of the job are: Delivering casework and development support in equal measure to the Housing Associations Branch, showing flexibility in responding to varying peaks in demand; Providing advice to and representing members of the Housing Associations Branch, where there is no local representative or where the local representative requires additional support; Referring cases on to the UNISON Regional Officer where a legal opinion is sought; Recruiting members to the Housing Associations Branch; Recruiting, developing and training Stewards and other activists; Negotiating with employers on behalf of UNISON members; Implementing Branch Development Plan; and advising Branch Officers on recruitment strategies and difficulties.

Closing date: 28 Jun 2013 17:00

Contact for more information: Interviews: TBC but likely to be in week starting 8 July 2013. For an application form, job description and person specification email info@unisonhablondon.org or contact UNISON Housing Associations Branch, Resource for London, 356 Holloway Road, London N7 6PA. (TUC vacancies Website)

The quiet & retiring Pete Willsman speaks to West Ham GC

Each month West Ham Labour Party invites a guest political speaker to our General Committee meeting. All party members are also invited to attend (non voting).

Our speaker last month was the secretary of the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy (CLPD) Pete Willsman.

It is the 40th anniversary of the CLPD. He promoted the 3 websites that they run including Left Futures. Which he claimed was not only for "lefties" but admitted that not many contributors were from Progress!  Mind you he praised Peter Mandelson for his loyalty to the Party.

He promoted CLPD rule changes for the 2013 Labour Party conference including making political levy payers full members of the Party (they use to be), an electoral collage to elect local Labour Group leaders, the Party should have an independent ombudsman to investigate complaints and the right of members to select who are their Parliamentary candidates.

Pete predicted that after the next general election there may be a split in political parties and that Cameron Tories, Orange Book Liberals and Progress will break away and join up together. He finished his barnstorming speech by asking the Blarities currently criticising the Party to all "shut their mouths"!

Pete gave a hugely entertaining, tub thumping and colourful speech which demonstrated his lifelong passion and commitment to the Party even though I am not that sure how many in the room he persuaded to actually join up.

(Picture Pete, Chair Charlene and Ali G)

A message to London UNISON members of the Labour Party

Dear John

UNISON London Labour Link is supporting Sanchia Alasia and Ivana Bartoletti in the London wide MEP ballot for the following reasons:

Sanchia Alasia

·Will use her campaigning experience of defeating the London Regional Coordinator of the BNP, Robert Bailey in Barking, to defeat the far right across Europe

·Is determined to defend and strengthen the social Europe agenda, building on the victories of part time and agency workers rights to get a better deal for hard working Londoners

·Has been an active campaigner for equality and workers rights for the past seven years

Ivana Bartoletti

·Has an optimistic vision for Britain in Europe. She does not accept the Tory and UKIP narrative of Europe in decline, and will fight for reform, jobs and growth.

·Has spent over a decade with the European Left, and at every level: on the doorstep for Labour, working with women to organise the fight back, and with Labour sister parties, at both grassroots and the heart of government.

·Is proud of her Labour values, and to have made her career in the NHS. As MEP, she would take Labour values to Brussels and help give London the partner there that it needs.

It is really crucial that UNISON members vote in this ballot to rank candidates from 1 to 6 to determine their order on the list. The London region needs strong voices in Europe, people with the drive and determination to work with the trade unions in Europe on equality and employment issues. With the experience and skill of Sanchia and Ivana, they will be able to make very positive differences and will be proactive MEPs for London, representing the interest of ordinary workers at the European level.

We urge UNISON and Labour party members to support Sanchia and Ivana in the ballot.

With best wishes

Linda Perks

Regional Secretary, UNISON Greater London Region

P.S you can get in touch with the candidates using the details below:

Sanchia Alasia Email: sanchia4europe@yahoo.co.uk Twitter: @sanchia4europe #sanchia4mep Facebook: facebook.com/sanchia4labour Website: www.sanchiaalasia.com

Ivana Bartoletti Email: ivana4mep@ivanabartoletti.co.uk Twitter: @ivanabartoletti #ivana4mep Facebook: facebook.com/Ivana4mep Website: www.ivanabartoletti.co.uk