Labour LGA Conference 2024: Day 1

 

At our annual Labour Local Government Association Conference. Currently in a packed and lively training session led by Mo Baines, CEO of APSE on "How can a future Labour Government stem the tide of Section. 114?"

Mo asks why is local governemt beong treated so differently from other public service? 

Central government does not have to balance its books every single year? Why can't budgets be managed and spread over the medium term?

There are lots of good questions, answers, ideas and comments. Looking forward to rest of conference.

Off to support Gen Kitchen in Wellingborough By-Election on Thursday 15 Feb 24

 

I have booked annual leave for next Thursday to travel up to Wellingborough to support the Labour Candidate, Gen Kitchen, in the Parliamentary by election. Gen was brought up in Northamptonshire but has lived in Newham. She was an excellent local Councillor and I am sure will make a great MP. 

A number of Newham member are also going to help on the day and I hope my West Ham Councillor Colleague, John Whitworth, will be coming since he was also born and bred in  Northamptonshire. 

You can register on the Labour Party website here https://events.labour.org.uk/event/400426 if you can join the team on polling day. 

Greater London UNISON AGM 2024

Today we had our London UNISON AGM and I was pleased to be re-elected unopposed as Regional Finance Convenor (and therefore a London Regional Council Officer)

Thank you to our keynote speakers, Shadow Secretary of State for Health, Wes Streeting MP and Richard Angell, Terrence Higgins Trust for their superb speeches. 

I gave the AGM finance report and as a Housing Associations Delegate moved our motion on "Peace and Justice for Palestine" which was overwhelmingly passed despite a couple of speaker who sadly wanted to attack the Labour Party more than the Israeli government. 

"Income needed to retire jumps..."

Check out https://bbc.co.uk/news/business-68222807

So you need now a #pension income of £31k if single & £43k per year if couple, for a "moderate" retirement (e.g go out for a family meal once a month?). How many will get this this much?

Remember this is "net of income tax" and does not include housing costs (since we will all have paid off our mortgages by then...yeah. How many will still be renting or paying off mortgages in their retirement).

Under the Conservatives: Dentistry isn't working

Hat tip Labour Party & Ken Penton. A powerful image and caption

"Yesterday, hundreds of people desperate for an NHS dentist appointment queued for hours when a new practice opened in Bristol.After 14 years of Tory decline, this is the Britain we live in today. It's time for change.

Labour has a fully funded plan to rescue NHS dentistry with 700,000 emergency appointments and new dentists where they're needed the most".

TUC Understanding Pensions Course - (London Classroom)

My first ever pension course was provided by the TUC (a long time, long ago) But I can still remember it. I would recommend all union reps should attend such a pension course. Over the years Jonathan has been my TUC tutor on a number of occasions. 

"This course provides a basic knowledge to union reps around pensions.

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 09:30 - Thu, 11 Jul 2024 16:30 BST

The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London, Tottenham Centre

High Road London N15 4RU

Pensions are an important trade union issue. The trade union movement has consistently argued that pensions should be equitable, fair, and provide a decent living standard in retirement. Over the past 10 years the landscape of pensions has brought many changes. This course cuts across of that to provide a basic knowledge to union reps to know what these changes are and the impact on them and their members. It is also an opportunity to think about how to organise in our workplaces around this issue.

How long is the course?

This course will be delivered over 3 Thursdays in a classroom.

How much is the course?

There are no course fees for union reps from TUC affiliated unions.

PLEASE NOTE: This course is for residents of England only. This course will be delivered by The College of Haringey, Enfield and NE London. Please be aware that funding restrictions in some areas may mean that a college cannot accept your application: if this is the case you will be notified which college to reapply to.

Please be aware, applications will cease to be available 2 weeks before the scheduled start date. If you wish to apply after this date, please contact jonathan.jeffries@conel.ac.uk.

*Please ensure that you have time off to attend this course and that you have notified the appropriate union branch official or officer that you intend to take the course.Over 

Labour Unions Campaign Weekend on New Deal for Working People: Cities of London & Westminster

 

Yesterday UNISON activists (and national officials) joined Parliamentary candidate, Rachel Blake and supporters to canvass for Labour and also promote the Party policy on the "New Deal for Working People". Which to my mind is probably the most exciting policy so far that a Labour Government will commit to if we win the next general election. 

See further details here but giving working people legal rights from day one of employment, getting rid of fire and rehire, sectorial pay bargaining as well as ending compulsory zero hour contracts is going to make a huge positive difference to so many workers and their families.

I have know Rachel for a number of years (and worked with her in the Labour Housing Group) and she will make a great MP. 

The canvass went well but it was difficult to speak to people since there was many private flats that we could not get into and many properties appeared to be unoccupied. However, I spoke to one resident who was voting Labour for the first time ("90% likely") and wanted to get rid of this current government as soon as is possible. 

The many "London Mews" we visited were amazing but I hate to think how much they would cost to live in. Despite the obvious wealth in  this part of Westminster there is huge poverty and deprivation in other areas. More reasons why we need a Labour Government. 

Fund raiser for Labour GLA Candidate Marcela Benedetti with keynote speaker Sadiq Khan

On Thursday evening (after another Labour Movement event) I went with UNISON Labour Link colleagues, to a fundraiser for the branch chair of our London Voluntary Organisations branch (Vol Orgs), Marcela Benedetti.   

Marcela is the Labour Candidate for the  South West London (Kingston, Richmond & Hounslow) seat in the Greater London Assembly Elections in May. The keynote speaker was of course, London Mayor Sadiq Khan aided by Kevin McGuire. 

I have known Marcela for a number of years and she is a brilliant UNISON activist and able chair of one of the largest union branches in London. Under her chairship, Vol Org has been one of the fastest growing and best organised UNISON branches in the Country.  I am sure she will make a great London Assembly member.

I was also pleased to see that the Richmond venue was the home of the London Welsh Rugby club. 

Labour New Deal for Working People National Campaign Weekend 3/4 Feb 2024

Check out events near you https://labourunions.org.uk/newdealweekend/ . Greater London UNISON Labour link activists will be at :-

Cities & Westminster - 2pm Saturday 3rd Feb. Meet at Marylebone Gardens, W1U 5JE

Uxbridge                      -  2pm Sunday 4 Feb. Meet West Drayton Station

Greater London UNISON Celebration : Year of the Black Worker

This evening I was pleased to have been invited to this celebration in the UNISON Centre in Euston. Our General Secretary, Christina McAnea, spoke and took part in Q&A as did our London Regional Secretary, Jo Galloway. 

There was another great panel with the leader of Islington Council, Cllr Kaya Comer-Schwartz and UNISON Eastern Regional Secretary, Tim Roberts. At the end there was a reception with keynote speaker, London Assembly member, Sem Moema. 

Afterwards, myself and Labour Link colleague, Joseph Ogundemuren, left for another Labour movement event with London Mayor, Sadiq Khan in Richmond. Further post to follow.