"Clarion Housing Group must raise pay and stop pension cuts to avoid strike action, says UNISON"

 

Yep. My "social mission" employer is cutting my pay by up to 8% and also planning to sack me after 30 years of service (and other UNISON members) in November, in order for them to break the pensions promises they made to staff (and local authorities). Watch this space.

UNISON Press release - more to follow. Please pass on. https://www.facebook.com/clarionunison

Staff working at Clarion Housing Group, including caretakers and sheltered housing wardens, have rejected a 5% pay offer, and their union UNISON, has urged the employer to think again.

UNISON says the current offer is essentially a pay cut, as it falls well short of inflation and that staff deserve more.

Clarion has also announced plans to cut the pensions of nearly 300 staff. The housing association has said it intends to close the defined benefit scheme, which means employees will be significantly worse off, adds the union.

Clarion is planning to close the pension scheme by using ‘fire and rehire’ tactics, says UNISON. The housing association is threatening to sack staff and re-employ them on new contracts and an inferior pension scheme. Staff have been told that anyone who refuses to accept the new contracts will lose their jobs, says UNISON.

UNISON London convenor and tenancy specialist at Clarion John Gray said: “Clarion has offered little or no justification for wrecking the pension futures of so many of their long-serving staff.

“Employees were promised their pensions were safe if they transferred into Clarion from the local authorities where they were originally employed. Housing association managers have now gone back on their word. This is completely unacceptable behaviour, and the employer must think again."

UNISON London regional organiser Ezequiel Kramer said: “The fact that Clarion, the largest housing association in the country, is using this extreme practice to impose detrimental changes on staff pensions is disgraceful.

“This will affect staff moral and it shows the type of employer Clarion really is.”

Notes to editors:

- Staff are currently on a final salary pension scheme. With a defined benefit (DB) pension scheme, the amount paid out is based on how many years someone has been a member of a scheme and the salary they earned at the time they left that employer or retired.

- A consultative ballot conducted by UNISON over this year’s pay offer saw 92% of staff who voted reject the 5% offer, with 87% supporting strike action and 91% action short of strike action.

– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Branches requested to nominate ANU PRASHAR to be London Rep on UNISON National Labour Link Committee

 

UNISON National Labour Link 23: Motion 12. Stop Bogus self-employment companies exploiting workers

My speech to Forum. "Chair, Forum, John Gray from Greater London Region, moving our regional motion on stopping bogus self-employment companies exploiting workers

 
Forum, the recent BBC TV documentaries referenced in the motion have exposed the scandal of many thousands of worker being exploited by unscrupulous organisations and employers.

 
People respond to direct sales adverts apparently promising good pay and even salaries but it turns out that these are in reality, commission only jobs, often with a culture of bullying and pressured working, forcing staff to work 60/70 hours plus per week. Long hours and commission only means many are cheated from even receiving the national minimum wage, as well as associated benefits and pension contributions. Of course with such bogus employment, the government is also cheated of much needed tax and national insurance contributions.

 
I will admit, many moons ago I tried out, like no doubt others here today, direct sales jobs, it was even then a pretty miserable existence and I soon began to look for other work. 

However, somewhat naively, I had thought that with the advent of the national minimum wage and recent trade union victories in employment courts on uber etc bogus self-employment, that such exploitation had been largely done away with. However, those BBC programmes show that such practices are alive and kicking.

 
What was particularly shocking to me as a community service group NEC member and housing worker, that so called respectable registered charities have outsourced their sales and fund raising services to such bogus employment companies, so are making money out of exploitation.

 
By coincidence, 2 weeks ago I was working from home in East London when the doorbell rang and I went down to the door and to my surprise, there was a young man outside our door holding a large tray of household cleaning products. He politely showed me an identification card and explained he and his girlfriend were living in a homeless hostel run by a well-known homeless charity and he said that he needed to sell a number of products to meet a target in order for them to stay in the hostel for another week. If they did not meet this target they would have to leave. I brought a brush which we did not need from him for tenner.

 
Forum, I am trying to find out more about this call but if this is true that a charity is effectively forcing a young homeless couple to go door to door selling cheap household goods to keep a roof over head or be thrown out – this is not just exploitation, it is modern day slavery and that charity should be investigated by the Charities commission and if proven, it and any others that carry out such practices should be closed down.

 
Forum, this motion calls on our national labour link committee to campaign to change employment law to ban “commission only” employment and for every worker to receive a living wage. Also an investigation into such practices but also Forum, also most importantly, penalise such organisations and companies that make money from such exploitation.

 
Forum please support this motion. I move".

East Ham Newham Voices - By Elections Hustings

 

Yesterday morning I went to the hustings in East Ham Library organised by Newham Voices. Picture is of Labour Candidate for Boleyn Ward, Sofia Patel (Stephanie Garfield, Wall End Labour candidate was unable to attend) telling it as it is on - fly tipping, sex education, hate speech, housing, policing and diversity. 

I admit that I am biased but I genuinely thought that Sofia was head and shoulders above everyone else on the panel. Dispite a rather vile sexist and anti working class question directed at her by those who claim to be pro equality (aka posh middle class white Green male's) that since she worked for the Labour Party she must be a Personal Assistant. However, she kept her cool and answered this and some other unpleasant attack questions with dignity, passion and great skill. 

Many thanks to Newham Voices for organising this event and to all the candidates and all residents who attended (even the sexist bigots, who hopefully learnt some things - probably not).

I hope that there is a good turnout this Thursday 13 July, at the two by elections and we must let the People of Wall End and Boleyn wards decide (but don't forget to bring your photo ID!)

UNISON National Labour Link Forum 2023 : Greater London Region speaks out

 

This picture collage is of our delegation (and other London members here in different roles) speaking on the key debates during Forum yesterday. 

UNISON National Labour Link Forum 2023 6.7.23

Yesterday evening delegates to UNISON National Labour Link Forum (the UNISON political fund that is affiliated to the Labour Party) gathered in Newcastle. After a meeting of our Greater London delegation to decide on who to speak on motions, there was a reception with our General Secretary, Christina McAnea. This was a special time for UNISON following our recent 30th Birthday celebrations and also the 75th anniversary of the NHS. 

Afterwards, London delegates went for a meal in nearby restaurant followed by some drinks back at the hotel. Forum started at 9.15am the next morning. 

Happy 75th anniversary of the NHS

 Never forget that the Tories voted against the NHS in 1948 and the principle of free health care at the point of need. They simply cannot be trusted with it and we need a Labour Government in power to save the NHS and make it even more effective.  

Getting the Labour Postal Vote out in Boleyn

 

On Saturday morning I joined Labour colleagues door knocking in the Boleyn ward by election in East Ham. The local Labour Candidate is Sofia Patel. Thanks to Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz for main picture of us mostly trying to install the Labour doorstep information on our phones (my attempt failed)

We were calling at residents who had previously said they were postal voters and we were gently reminding them to vote. The response was on the whole really positive and residents either knew or had heard of Sofia and the vast majority had already voted (most for Labour). 

During the session I only came across 3 residents who had not voted Labour. One was a relative or tenant of the so called "independent" candidate, another was a labour supporter who apologised for voting Green due to a "moment of madness" but would be voting Labour again in the future. 

The third was someone who I had a decent political conversation with. He was not supporting Labour since he wanted more to be done to protect cars in his road since he had recently suffered "hit and run" damage on his car. I suggested that Labour in Newham was very much in favour of traffic calming & diversion  schemes which would help with this problem. 

He then said he was against emission parking charges in Newham, despite the fact he had a lovely young daughter running around in the hall. I mentioned again (same as last Saturday in Uxbridge campaign) the views of my UNISON paramedic colleague (Peter Hannell) that in central London 25% of kids suffer from asthma but in  his home town in rural Hertfordshire it is only 5%.

I think he got that point. Afterwards canvassers enjoyed coffee and gossip in Red Rock cafe right next to the Champions Statute. 

Jacqui's leaving Do: 29 Years as Tower Hamlets UNISON Admin Officer

 

On Friday evening I went to the London Hospital Tavern in Whitechapel for the "leaving do" for Jacqui (in blue on right). Jacqui had been a key support officer for Tower Hamlets UNISON Local Government Branch for 29 years. I used to be the Assistant Branch Secretary (for local government AP&T grades - which I was never that sure what that meant?) for many years before I was TUPEd out (with an absolute Pension promise, which is another story).

Jacqui and her colleague Bernie (see left of picture in blue Jeans) where the bedrock of the branch (alongside other colleagues) for all the time I was there. They were both competent, friendly, helpful, cheerful and reliable. What more can you ask for in a hugely busy office which has, what can I say, very "demanding" members and Branch officers. 

There were a number of long standing activists (Shaz) there as well as the previous 3 branch secretaries John Mac, Jean G and even Derek R, as well as former admin officer Kath. 

I had to leave early to go to another commitment but best of luck to Jacqui with her new career move and thanks to current Tower Hamlets Branch Secretary, Kerri-Anne for a wonderful goodbye speech.

Happy 30th Birthday UNISON!

Our General Secretary Christina McAnea "1993 was a year of exceptional events. Nelson Mandela received his Nobel Peace Prize, the world wide web was introduced, the EU was formally established – as was the UK Independence Party.

The film Groundhog Day was also released and, as in the film, it feels like we’re stuck on repeat. Although it’s 30 years on, the political debate on the EU continues, and another Tory prime minister is preparing for a wipeout at the next general election. Perhaps John Major and Rishi Sunak are comparing notes.

1993 also saw a significant event, that was sadly, not a one-off. The racist murder of Stephen Lawrence – a Black man on the streets of London – and the failings in justice that followed, was a nightmare that’s still repeated for Black families. And after the World Health Organisation declared tuberculosis a global emergency in ’93, another even more deadly virus took hold across the globe.

But one other positive thing that was created in 1993 has lasted throughout – UNISON. The UK’s biggest union was formed on 1 July 1993 at the merger of COHSE, NUPE and Nalgo, representing 1.3 million members in public services, and still going strong.

In those 30 years, governments have come and governments have gone, but UNISON has been there to protect and defend our members’ rights, their jobs, public services, and has campaigned non-stop against discrimination and to advance the trade union movement around the globe.

And this, our thirtieth year, is UNISON’s Year of Black Workers. At our national delegate conference earlier this month, we presented Doreen and Neville Lawrence with honorary life membership of UNISON – in receiving this award, they join a very select group that includes Nelson Mandela.

Never lose sight of the importance of what you do, every day for UNISON members. Events that happen in one day can shape the world for decades, while what we achieve today will benefit our public services – and the workers who provide them – for years to come.

I know that with our shared commitment and hard work, we can make sure UNISON is still around for another 30 years and beyond".