WORK – The ESG Conference

 (This looks interesting. It should not have needed the onslaught of Covid to raise the profile of "Social" in ESG. There is also too much #LabourRightsWashing going on ) 

"WORK – The Conference

The Covid-19 pandemic has served to remind us of the vital role played by workers in a range of industries. Our societies rely on often modestly paid workers in sectors like food production and distribution.

Yet despite increased rhetoric about the importance of the S in ESG, most events touch briefly on these issues, in particular in relation to labour and employment. We know that investors are interested in understanding employment issues more deeply, and that workers and labour organisations want their concerns to attract more attention from responsible investors.

To shift the balance, we have decided to a day-long online ‘conference’ devoted to employment-related ESG issues, and nothing else. It will put work, and workers, centre stage for once.

Sessions will focus on topics such as labour market policy, the materiality of employment issues, the importance of bargaining power and more.

Speakers include:

Matthew Taylor, head of UK Government's Review of Employment

Paul Nowak, Deputy General Secretary, Trades Union Congress

Dr Wanda Wyporska, Executive Director, The Equality Trust

Christine Berry, author writing on democratic ownership (Verso 2022) and senior fellow at the Finance Lab

Katie Hepworth, Director of Workers' Rights, Australian Centre for Corporate Responsibility

Caroline Escott, Senior Investment Manager - Active Ownership, Railpen

Damon Silvers, Director of Policy and Special Counsel, AFL-CIO

Duncan Symonds, Executive Director, IFM Investors

If you would like to attend please register on the link below, there is also a link to register on the attached conference flyer.

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_i46-VaJjT0iph0RZccoREQ

Please note, the conference will run in two sessions (10:00 - 12:30 & 14:00 - 16:30). After registering, individual login details will be provided for each session via a calendar invite to the email provided".

His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

While I am a convinced Republican, who does not believe in a hereditary Head of State, I echo the words of Keir.

“The United Kingdom has lost an extraordinary public servant in Prince Philip.

“Prince Philip dedicated his life to our country – from a distinguished career in the Royal Navy during the Second World War to his decades of service as the Duke of Edinburgh.

“However, he will be remembered most of all for his extraordinary commitment and devotion to The Queen.

“For more than seven decades, he has been at her side. Their marriage has been a symbol of strength, stability and hope, even as the world around them changed – most recently during the pandemic. It was a partnership that inspired millions in Britain and beyond.

“My thoughts are with The Queen, the Royal Family and the British people as our nation comes together to mourn and remember the life of Prince Philip.”

Keir Starmer
Leader of the Labour Party

We're voting for Change: Newham Governance Referendum May 6, 2021

 

Dear friends,

Please find attached our latest campaign newsletter; feel free to share and forward to friends and comrades.

Featuring:

- Our brand new leaflets - get in touch if you're able to deliver any in your local area by replying to this email newhamvotingforchange@gmail.com.

- Support our crowdfunder! We're raising funds to make a video to maximise our social media reach while physical campaigning is limited.

- Join our Digital Army! Our Whatsapp group will share campaign materials and actions for supporters.

- And catch some of our recent appearances on local media: John Whitworth in Newham Voices ………. John Gray speaks to Puru Miah and Andrew Wood on Relaks Radio’s Politics show ………. Josephine Grahl and Anam Islam chat to Jenny Fisher on East London News’s ‘The Tuesday Show’

In comradeship,

Newham Voting for Change

WEBSITE: https://newhamforchange.org/ 

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/newhamvotingforchange/ 

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ForNewham/

 

 What a great initiative. 

Working for UNISON – Online taster session

29 April 20213:00pm–4:30pm

MS Teams

UNISON is the UK’s largest Trade Union with over 1.3 million members,  around 80% of whom are women. We represent public sector employees at work, support them to speak up with their employers, lobby the Government and campaign for an equal and fair society for all.

UNISON is a diverse union; with democratic structures designed to give a voice to those under -represented in society and positions of power – Disabled members; Black members; LGBT members, Women and Young Members.

We want our staff to represent the diversity of our membership.

The Greater London Region is holding an open taster session for anyone interested in finding out what it’s like working for UNISON – what the different roles are; what skills and experience you need; the process of applying for a job in UNISON London Region and how you can make a difference every day.

This virtual session will be run on MSTeams.

To register please send your full name, contact details (including e-mail address) and where you saw this advert to GreaterLondonRegion@unison.co.uk by 12 noon Tuesday 27th April.

You do not need to be a current union member or activist to attend.

Attendance does not guarantee an interview or future job.

Sadiq for London Manifesto launch - "My Green New Deal will support 175,000 jobs"

 This morning there was the launch of Sadiq's Manifesto to be re-elected as London Mayor. Check out YouTube launch here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBkSm0cGEqo

If you love London: vote for it. #VoteLabour

UNISON Unity NEC elections: A Voice for members

Check out also this Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/avoiceformembers which is supporting candidates in the forthcoming UNISON NEC elections who promise to be a "Voice for Members".

The UNISON NEC (National Executive Council) acts as our "Trade Union Parliament" for 51 weeks of the year outside our annual national conference.  

Denise Thomas and I are standing to be re-elected to the UNISON NEC 2x Community seats (representing 80000 members who work for housing associations and the voluntary sector)

Postal ballot papers for all NEC positions will be sent to members home addresses from 4 May 2021 and the election ends on 27 May 2021. The results will be announced on 11 June 2021.

Mereworth Woods & West Peckham Walk

 

Off message but yesterday Gill and I went for our first walk outside North East London since the relaxation in "Lock Down" restrictions. We went to Mereworth in North Kent for this lovely "up and down" 6 mile circular walk. 53 minutes drive from Forest Gate with some great views. 

It was fascinating to go in spring to see all the fruit, hops and vine plantations. Must go back in autumn to see what is produced,  

We last did this walk 8 years ago (check out https://www.johnslabourblog.org/2013/09/a-kentish-walk-class-cleansing-downton.html) where I did not post on why it is such a lovely walk itself but rather its historical - Class cleansing, Wanstead House, "Downton Abbey" connections). 

Newham Voting for Change

 Hat tip One Bangla News "Newham Voting for Change is the campaign set up in October 2020 to campaign for change in the local governance referendum which will take place on 6 May 2021.

The group, formed of Newham residents and councillors, believes that the committee structure is a more open, democratic and accountable way for Newham Council to make decisions.

The referendum on the 6 May 2021 offers Newham residents a choice between the current Democratically Elected Mayoral system, or the committee system, where decisions are made not by one person (the Mayor) but by committees formed of elected councillors.

Cllr Anamul Islam, Chief Whip for the Newham Labour Group of councillors, said: “The committee structure is a more democratic, inclusive and open way of making decisions in the local council. It allows much more participation from community groups in council decision making and ensures that local councillors are more accountable to the people who elect them.”

Josephine Grahl, Newham resident and campaigner for the committee structure, said: “The vote on the 6 May 2021 is binding for ten years, so it’s really important that Newham residents have their say. We’ve had a directly elected Mayor for nearly twenty years, but now is the time for a change to a fairer, more democratic system.”

Contact details
newhamvotingforchange@gmail.com"

https://newhamforchange.org/

https://twitter.com/ForNewham

https://www.facebook.com/newhamvotingforchange

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/newham-for-change

Back on the Campaign Trail for Labour in West Ham

 

Today I went into the attic to retrieve Labour placards, UNISON Labour Link clip boards and my agent "campaign bag" (placards, marker pens, cord, FB & drop keys, tapes etc). Due to Covid it has been over a year since I had last done any "physical" campaigning work for Labour. 

Government guidance on political campaign under Covid has been relaxed and now allow for leaflet distribution and even door knocking. There is of course, still strict safety guidance on numbers of volunteers out together and social distancing. 

I had picked up leaflets to be delivered to the ward I represent (West Ham) on the Council and started delivering (by myself). My ward Councillor colleagues and Labour activists have also been out delivering so have other wards. 

It was great to be "out and about" in the ward, enjoying all the spring blossom while getting fit going up and down communal stairs in our blocks.  I was able to note Communal repairs and maintenance issues which I will take up with the Council. 

It is so important that we re-elect our Greater London Assembly (GLA) Labour Mayor, Sadiq Khan, our local Assembly Member, Unmesh Desai and the Labour London List Assembly members. For example in Newham we would have found it really difficult to deliver on our "1000 homes at social rent" manifesto pledge without the Sadiq's GLA grant of £107 million. 

While I will continue to leaflet and telecanvass, I do look forward to knocking on my constituents' doors, being held to account and speaking directly to residents as soon as it is safe to do so. 

NHS STAFF DESERVE A PROPER PAY RISE - UNISON

 

"Families and individuals across the UK are being urged by health unions to create colourful window displays in their homes and workplaces today (Thursday) to show support for NHS staff on the day they should have been getting a pay rise.

Artworks designed by children’s illustrators and writers are part of a growing collection of posters available to download from a campaign page designed by the 14 unions, who between them represent more than a million health workers across the UK.

This includes drawings from Nick Sharratt, whose books include Shark in the Park, Ketchup on Your Cornflakes? and the You Choose series; Emer Stamp, author and illustrator of the Diaries of Pig; and Nick Butterworth – who is behind the Percy the Park Keeper books.

Today is the day that NHS staff across the UK – including paramedics, domestics, radiographers, nurses, midwives, 999 call handlers and healthcare assistants – should have been due a wage rise, say unions. The three-year deal agreed back in 2018 came to an end yesterday.

But despite all the efforts made by health workers throughout the pandemic, the government says staff must wait until the NHS pay review body (PRB) makes its recommendation later in the summer.

To add insult to injury, say health unions, the government’s evidence to the PRB proposed a mere 1% pay increase. The Prime Minister has insisted it’s all that can be afforded, but last week health workers in Scotland were offered pay rises worth 4% overall.

However, a decent pay rise for NHS staff has overwhelming public support, say the unions, which include UNISON, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).

A strong show of support from the public should help convince the government that the time has come for a rethink on NHS pay, say the unions.

UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “The public want NHS staff to get a decent pay rise. They know how tough this past year’s been for health workers who’ve gone to incredible lengths caring for patients, saving lives and keeping us safe.

“It’s now time we did something for NHS workers. By downloading and colouring in supportive posters, people can show the Prime Minister just how much NHS staff matter to them.

“Health workers are worth much more than 1%. The entire nation knows this. Let’s get creative, show the government how very wrong it is on NHS pay and encourage ministers it’s high time they thought again.”