Redbridge Trades Union Council Rally 2pm Saturday 7 December

Looking forward to speaking about cuts to NHS and what we need to do to solve the housing crisis

LAPFF Conference: Phone Hacking

Insightful session on phone hacking whistle blower, former tabloid journalist, Dan Evans, in conversation with John Gray, discusses his experience of phone hacking

Hat tip #LAPFF

LAPFF Conference: Cyber Security & Social Media Abuse

Former Newham Councillor Seyi Akiwowo (and Pension Committee member) outlines why she founded Glitch after online abuse and a poor response from the tech companies. 

LAPFF Conference: Engagement with Ryanair & Sports Direct

“LAPFF’s deputy chair John Gray presents the successful outcome of engagement with Ryanair which is showing signs of progress on labour rights and board independence plus the challenges of engaging with SportsDirect”.

Hat tip Local Authority Pension Fund Forum Conference. 

Get involved in West Ham CLP General Election

You will require a laptop/tablet device and a mobile phone which will be integrated with Labour party activist tool Dialogue.

Don't worry if you have not phone banked before or have trouble with tech issues. There will be others there to help you!

Please click on link below for an introduction on Dialogue:

https://youtu.be/H3Jx2eEPUWg

Location: 89 St Luke's Centre Tarling road.

E16 1HN

Friday   5-7 pm 6/12/19

Monday 5-7 pm 9/12/19

Also please click the link below to see our grid:

https://www.westhamlabour.org/2019/11/04/general-election-campaign-grid/

Newham Council sets out new strategy to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping

Hat tip Newham Council website. “Newham Council Cabinet last night (Tuesday 3 December) voted to adopt a new strategy to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping in the borough.​​

​It is the first time in a decade that Newham has had a dedicated Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy, and is the product of new priorities set by the current administration.

A considerable amount of work has been done in the areas of homelessness prevention, and in particular rough sleeping. The strategy has compassion and care at its core and has been drawn up with the support of the homeless charity Shelter. It will cover the period December 2019 to December 2021.

Newham faces enormous challenges on two fronts, first on the issue of people experiencing homelessness, defined as anyone who does not have access to suitable accommodation.

Shortage of social rented property, high private rents and benefits changes have pushed more Newham residents into homelessness, which has resulted in over 27,000 households on the council waiting list and more than 5,000 in temporary accommodation at a cost of £5.5m a year to the council.

The council is committed to increasing the number of genuinely affordable social rented homes in the borough, and plans to build at least 1,000 such properties by 2022 are in place with some building work already under way.    

The more visible challenge facing Newham is the rise in street homelessness. Since 2015/16 levels of rough sleeping in Newham have increased by 135 per cent. 

There is a particular concentration of rough sleepers in and around the Stratford Centre due to the availability of shelter and food, 24 hours a day. Stratford is now well known across the wider rough sleeper community, drawing people in from outside the borough and creating one of the largest rough sleeping hotspots in London.

To tackle the two issues Newham’s strategy has been split into two, with an interim programme, and a longer term plan.

The interim programme is already under way, tackling the immediate and urgent issues like implementation of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, and measures to deal with rough sleeping.

Rough sleeping presents acute health and safety threats to those bedded down on the streets, with people vulnerable to crime, violence, exploitation, drug and drink addiction and mental illness. In a bid to reduce the number of people facing these dangers, Newham Council has:

• Established a rough sleeping taskforce bringing together representatives from all relevant council departments with partners like local charities, businesses, health partners, national charity groups, government, the Greater London Authority and people with experience of rough sleeping,  to find solutions.
• Set up Co-Production forum called Newham Homelessness Action Group to find grassroots solutions to the wider homelessness problem

Colin Ansell, Corporate Director of Adults and Health for Newham Council said: “The Council is working from a historically very low base of provision for rough sleepers and homelessness prevention. 

“This administration has prioritised this provision, and alongside policies designed to increase the availability of genuinely affordable property, it is committed to reduce the need for anyone to sleep on the streets, or face the threat of homelessness.

“We have a long way to go, but with our partners and community support we are determined to improve the current situation, both in the short and long term.” 

Community Executive NEC report: John Gray 4 December 2019

Firstly, apologies that I will have to leave this meeting early as I have to travel to Bournemouth today to attend a Pension Conference.

NEC 9 October 2019

This was the first full meeting of the new NEC at the UNISON centre. There was still problems in the centre following the recent flood which has damaged the lifts.

Following notice of obituaries, the General Secretary, Dave Prentis gave his report to NEC. He noted that UNISON is now the biggest trade union in the UK and that we have some 80,000 more members than the next biggest, Unite. Also, despite the fact that some consider us not to be a “militant” union we actually take more industrial action than all over unions put together! He spoke about our award winning legal services; our anti-racism work with “Hope Not Hate”; our support for WASPI pension rights; 100 years anniversary of Council Housing and UNISON’s ongoing support for the Durham Miners Gala.

Brexit is of course a huge issue and the prospect of a “No deal” could threat the peace process in Northern Ireland, cost private sector jobs, cut our income from taxes and therefore destroy public services. While a trade deal with Trump would mean the privatisation of the NHS. In the discussion I pointed out to the NEC that in the Community sector fears of Brexit had already caused housing associations to stop new housing projects and lay off staff.

There followed a debate about whether UNISON delegates at the recent Labour Party conference had followed or not our “policy” on Brexit. Delegation leader, Gordon McKay, made it clear that we had and apart from some silliness this was accepted by NEC. Dave spoke about the massive spike in our online membership during the conference debates on Brexit.

In a debate about the Climate change emergency I reminded the NEC of the absolute importance of ensure a “Just Transition” and that there are well paid and skilled “green” jobs to replace those currently dependant of carbon. If not this could derail change. Remember that Kentucky coal miner’s had helped Trump win in the USA and the French “yellow jackets” who had successfully wreaked increases in carbon taxes. Due to austerity many working class areas believe that they have been betrayed by society with low paid, insecure and exploitative jobs as well as rotten housing.

The debate on Brexit was I think the longest in my experience on the NEC with a wide range of views expressed but the vast majority of NEC members were supportive of UNISON on this issue while recognising that our members held a range of legitimate views.

The rest of the meeting had to be rushed. There was positive reports about recruitment and updates on our pay and industrial action campaigns.

The next NEC meeting was put back due to the General Election clash and will now take place 18 December 2019.

If any branch or regional Community branch wants us to attend any meeting or events (especially campaigns or industrial action) then let Denise and I know and if we can, we will attend.

Other NEC reports

Industrial Action Campaign Committee (IAC): As vice chair of this committee I have continued to support branches and services groups to take industrial action up and down the country. Note our record on action (Page 1 Para 2).

Staff Pension Trustee: Member of trustee board and Chair of Investment Sub-Committee. Attended trustee meetings and training including TUSO (trade union shareholders organisation).

PDCC I was unable to attend this subcommittee.

Labour Link Committee - General election 12 December

I respect the fact that UNISON has members from all political parties and traditions. However, I will say that this is a really crucial election to all union members, especially those in Community. In my view not only is the future of our public services such as the NHS under threat but our voluntary sector and our trade union will find it difficult to survive if we have a Uber right wing government in power for the next 5 years.

Please go out and campaign in marginal seats for candidates who want change. (I think members of the SGE can guess who I want them to campaign and vote for).

John Gray
Community NEC email: JohnDOTGray2012ATicloud.com

A living wage for all from St Antony's Primary School

Yesterday was quite unusual since I visited two excellent Newham primary schools (for different reasons). Check out previous post on West Ham Primary in the morning.

While after school I went to St Antony's to listen to their fantastic choir sing about the importance of a London Living wage. A superb performance.

Next we went to a meeting with senior pupils and supporters of London Citizens to be questioned about Newham Councils implementation of the London Living wage and our policies on building new housing. My colleague Cllr Mohammed also attended.

I though it went really well and was impressed by the challenge and range of questions from pupils and supporters. I hope they were also very interested with our programme in Newham such as to deliver 1000 new homes at social rents, community wealth building, reducing rough sleeping and improving the fuel efficiency of our existing housing stock.

The London Living wage is really important but what is needed is also a living rent, a living pension and a living sickness pay policy as well as safe, secure jobs where workers are given respect and control.

There will be a follow up meeting in February. 

A Healthy School Street for West Ham Church Primary School

This morning my West Ham Ward Councillor colleagues, Charlene McLean, John Whitworth and I went with local residents to support Newham Council Highway officers and school staff implementing the Healthy School Street programme for West Ham Church Primary School.

The main drop off point to the school will be closed from 8.30am - 9.30am and 3pm - 4pm.

This is not only a road safety issue but also designed to protect our children from car fume pollution.

So far 5 Newham schools have implemented this programme and more are due to follow. The vast majority of parents seemed very supportive and apart from a very few grumpy looks from some car drivers this initiative seems to be well supported.

We were really pleased to be invited to the school assembly afterwards to speak to the children about the importance of road safety and healthy streets. Cllr Jane Lofthouse, who is the Deputy Cabinet member for Education was asked to award "goodie bags" to the two school pupils who had helped design the West Ham leaflet to parents about healthy streets.

It was a real pleasure to speak to parents and pupils about this project and I have never ever been as popular as I was today, when handing out today the fluorescence yellow and pink road safety stickers to children that they can stick on their coats. 

Chipping Barnet is dead heat between Labour & Tories

This afternoon I went to support Labour Candidate, Emma Whysall, in the most narrow Tory held marginal in London, Chipping Barnet. Emma lost by only 353 votes in 2017 to hard line Tory Minister, Theresa Villiers.

Fellow West Hammer, John Morris was there as was UNISON Labour Link national officer, Mark Ferguson (a local resident).

Emma gave activists a stirring speech before we went out to canvass. The latest polls are putting Labour and Tories head to head at 41% each. (usual warning about accuracy of polls)

I was a "board runner" today with a team of 3 other Labour Party activists. I don't mind doing the board (telling other members of the team which homes to call upon and recording the result) but I prefer knocking on doors and speaking to people.

We had some good results and were able to identify new Labour voters and reaffirm existing supporters who are still Labour. So lots of supporters to "knock up"on polling day and encourage to vote.

Check out future canvass events for "most marginal seat in London" Chipping Barnet here. I was really impressed how organised and friendly everyone was.