***********Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus*********

Hat Tip thingy COHSE History

The Belles of Bow

I came across an advert for this historical walking tour organised by the Museum of London. I assume the walk will go past the “Lord Morpeth” Public House in Old Ford Road which is built on the site of what was a Toy factory set up by Sylvia Pankhurst (picture is from the old pub sign). This pub is a poplar venue for “leaving do’s” by local workers which I have frequented once or thrice (or more). I work from a office only about a 10 minutes walk away.

Nearby was the site of ex-public house called the “Gunmakers Arms” which Sylvia used as a crèche and soup kitchen for the local poor. She renamed it the “Mothers Arms”.

Check out this site for extracts of Sylvia’s journal.

Check out this link to the last time(s) I posted on Bow Belles.

Sun 8 Mar, 2.30-4.30pmThis walking tour with Blue Badge Guide Rachel Kolsky follows in the footsteps of Sylvia Pankhurst, who chose east London as the starting point for her campaign for women's suffrage. Pankhurst established a creche, restaurant and model toy factory in the area, believing that East End women were key to the success of the Suffragette movement. The route highlights Suffragette supporters and workplaces including the famous Bryant & May match factory, site of the Match Girls' strike of 1888.Book in advance £8, 18+

The Labour Minister, the Tory Cllr, the Barrister, the MBE, the NEC & the RCO v. One Housing Group

This is a report from last night’s public meeting in the Isle of Dogs, E14 which was in support of Debbie Cordrey, the local housing officer who was recently sacked by One Housing Group.

I should also add that around 100 local residents and UNISON members also turned up to support Debbie at the Barkantine Hall meeting.

It was definitely the most diverse panel of speakers I have ever spoke from - Local Labour MP and Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick, spoke first (see picture of Jim and Debbie sharing a joke just before start of meeting - behind bloke in purple). He offered solidarity with Debbie and recalled how stressful it had been for him when he was a fire brigade union steward and had been issued formal warnings over his trade union activities. It was worse for Debbie since she had lost her job. Jim attacked One Housing Group for failing to honour their promise of a local resident led housing association. Also that they were still failing to provide a decent housing service to residents. Jim questioned why elsewhere in Tower Hamlets, Housing associations could be resident led yet still offer an excellent service? What is going on with One Housing Group?

Tower Hamlets Conservative Councillor Tim Archer (and prospective Tory parliamentary candidate against Jim at next election) spoke next in support of Debbie and attacked One Housing Group for failing to deliver for residents and failing to honour their promises over governance.

Martin Young, who is a Barrister and former local Labour Councillor (and Chair of East End Homes Housing Association – but tonight he was appearing in only in his personal capacity) reminded the audience how important is was for ordinary working people to join a good trade union like UNISON.

I spoke next (UNISON RCO and on behalf of the Housing Association Branch) and pointed out that I had worked with Debbie for years and that I did not believe the allegations against her nor did anyone who knows her. I also reminded everyone that while individual local housing officers and residents don’t always see “eye to eye” on all things all the time. If Housing associations treat their staff unfairly then you can bet your bottom dollar they will treat their residents unfairly as well! We have a common interest.

Local resident and former Barkantine chair, Sarah Castro MBE, spoke how she had been forced out of chairing the local resident’s board and how important it was that resident representatives are democratically elected. I will declare an interest that I use to work with Sarah and I think she is an absolute star (Unison member of course – and our favourite Spanish translator for Cuban trade union visitors). What on earth is One Housing Group problem?

The final panel speaker was UNISON NEC member John McDermott who came down from Leeds to speak in support of Debbie. John is a housing worker in a Leeds ALMO and is having his own problems with his management. He was facing a gross misconduct hearing today (I don’t know what happened – I will update when I hear). I don’t agree politically with John at all, but he gave a very good speech in support of his trade union “sister” Debbie. While he was attacking One Housing group I was pleased to see Tory Cllr Tim Archer nodding his head in agreement to much of what he said.

Debbie herself was the last speaker. She gave a very simple and moving speech thanking everyone for attending and for their support.

There were then a number of positive contributions from the floor. Local resident after local resident pledged support for Debbie. UNISON members from Newham and Havering were present to offer solidarity as was the Tower Hamlets NUT and the local GP’s representatives.

I met a lot of people at the meeting that I hadn’t seen in years. Including Debbie’s daughter who I had last seen with her Mum on the picket lines as a 10 year old in the month long Tower Hamlets Housing strike of 1999.

Debbie’s appeal against dismissal is on March 19th and the Chair of tonights meeting, John McLoughlin, announced that they may be organising transport and refreshments to hold at the same time a traditionally East End Beano outside the One Housing head office in Chalk Farm in support of Debbie.

Now, with my captain sensible regional head on I’m not exactly sure that this will be in reality all that good an idea but it seemed to go down very well on the night.

Fair Deal on Redundancy

I’ve just emailed my MP to ask her to support the “Unions Together” campaign in support of the proposed bill to increase statutory redundancy pay.

Check out the link here to email your MP. You only need your post code and it took me 2 minutes. Forward the link to as many people as you can.

Many employers do pay above the statutory minimum but unless we get this increased then good employers run the risk of being under pressure to pay less. It would be a race to the bottom that we do not want to take part.

This is the request from Helen at Unions Together

"On Friday March 13th, Lindsay Hoyle MP will be putting forward a Private Member’s Bill in the House of Commons that would uprate the current level of statutory redundancy pay – the minimum that workers can expect to be paid if they are laid off. When it was first introduced, this was more than double the average weekly wage. But because it has not been increased with inflation, it is now worth only half of average pay. This is an important issue for working people, particularly in these turbulent economic times.

Because of the rules on Private Member’s Bills, we need enough MPs to turn up to support the Bill, or any MP who opposes it can just “talk out” the Bill, preventing it even getting to a vote. It is crucial that we ensure there are enough Labour MPs supporting the Bill in the House of Commons on March 13th so it can move forward. That’s where you can help – by writing to your MP and asking them to be in the House of Commons for the debate".

Join "Unions Together" facebook here

UPDATE: I got an email response from my MP Lyn Brown this morning and we will have a "talk" about this issue.

“Housing - the hottest issue” - Nicky Gavron AM

UNISON Housing Association Branch Briefing.

Nicky spoke at our AGM last week and this is a copy of our press release.

“Housing - the hottest issue” - Nicky Gavron AM

Nicky wants Boris to come clean over London Housing targets.

At last week’s AGM of UNISON Housing Association in the NUT HQ, Hamilton House, Guest speaker London Assembly member and Labour Housing spokesperson, Nicky Gavron, called on Mayor Boris Johnson to come clean about his 50,000 target for new affordable homes .

“If Boris is determined to keep the 50,000 target he will only get anywhere near it by double-counting, smoke and mirrors and other creative means - not by significant numbers of new build or supply”.

Also at the meeting was UNISON National Housing officer Pete Challis who spoke on the “Housing Crisis” and warned that some financial institutions were classifying shared ownership loans as “Sub-Prime”.

The meeting was the last of 4 AGMs which had taken place across London to encourage participation of UNISON members (others took place at Family Mosaic, Notting Hill and East Thames Headquarters). Common key concerns expressed by members at these meetings were over health & safety of staff, funding for "Supporting People", job insecurity and below inflation pay rises.

Any further information please contact.

John Gray
UNISON HAB Communications Officer

“On the knocker” for Labour in Royal Docks

Tonight after work I joined a Newham Labour party canvass team which went out knocking doors and talking to residents about the Council by-election next month and our candidate Steve Brayshaw.

I managed to arrive on time for the briefing and we were soon sent out in various teams to cover the ward. My team went to the more traditional Labour heartlands in the ward which lie towards the Woolwich Ferry.

I thought that we had a good reception. I felt that people were pleased to be canvassed for their views. Even amongst those few who said they would not vote for Steve I felt that there was no real hostility to Labour. I didn’t see any opposition supporters at all in the ward.

We had 3 Newham Councillors with us in our team of 7 (which was a bit too large). Local Royal Docks Cllr Anthony McAlmont (and his son!), Cllr David Griffin and Cllr Amarjit Singh.

What I was really pleased about was the state of the housing stock which I believe is largely run by Newham Homes (the Council owned ALMO). The stock and the street seemed to be well maintained and cared for which is a credit to the residents and the housing staff.

The only problem we had that night was when Labour stalwart John Whitworth tried to hand over our vote ID returns to HQ and he had to fend off Steve’s dogs at the front door who were busy trying to lick him to death.

Support for Debbie Cordrey

This is from another leaflet about Debbie Cordrey. What is good to see is the message of support from the CEO of Tower Hamlets Community Housing.

“This news was deeply shocking. I have known Debbie for quite some time now and she is not only a good officer but also someone who gives a lot back to the community, through various Community Groups
in Poplar that she is involved in; and by serving as a Resident Board Member at Poplar HARCA.

As a local resident, Debbie understands that we are here to serve residents, and she has a deserving high
reputation amongst those locals who have benefited greatly from her work in housing over the years.”

MIKE TYRRELL THCH Chief Executive, former Tower Hamlets Council Housing Manager”.

(Double click on picture to read if properly)

Pensions for Posties and British Investment for British Workers

As a member nominated rep on a pension scheme I can understand why the Chair of the Post Office Pension scheme trustees “supported” the partial privatisation (or “partnership” according to Lord Mandelson) of the Post Office.

Since in return the Government would guarantee the scheme. So it is a “no brainer” for trustees since their absolute legal duty is to beneficiaries. If the government offered to guarantee any trust based pension scheme then you can understand why they would support this. Regardless of what the trustees themselves may feel about privatisation (or “partnership”).

I think that the Government should step in and guarantee the existing scheme. A major reason for any deficit is the contribution holidays taken under the Tories in the past by the Post Office when it was very clearly a public sector organisation. The scheme itself has been radically changed to make it much cheaper but there are rather daft accounting rules for such long term public sector schemes which base liability deficits on the barmy assumption on what would happen if everyone retired or died - tomorrow. The oft quoted £8-9 billion “deficit” is just a nonsensical and meaningless calculation. It is accepted that the Scheme does have funding problems but not to the extent suggested.

Leaving aside the pension question then of course the government should fund major investment into Post Office modernisation. Such “quantitative easing” is what the economy is crying out for. Investments in intensive capital programmes which actually improve efficiencies in the economy while also pumping money into it are desperately needed to avoid the threat of depression and deflation.

This is not a fight the Government should be having at this time with some of their core supporters. It is a distraction and potentially an own goal. There are other more important issues to pick fights over.

Whatever happened to joined up thinking?

TULO Parliamentary Reception for Claude Moraes MEP and Anne Fairweather

Just back from this TULO meeting at the House of Commons which was sponsored by Islington South & Finsbury MP, Emily Thornberry.

Emily is on the left of the photo addressing the meeting while Claude and Anne are standing on the right.

Claude is defending his seat with with fellow MEP Mary Honeyball. While Anne Fairweather is trying to be elected for the first time as a London MEP. Anne is in 3rd place in the Labour Party list for London (its a PR election). At the moment Labour holds 3 out of 9 MEPs but the number of London MEPs is decreasing at the June election to 8 (due to new countries joining the EU).

Claude spoke about the importance of ensuring that enough Labour MEPs are elected in order to help their fellow socialists in the European parliament continue to pass progressive policies such as the new rights for agency workers and ending the opt out from the Working Time Directive. Also they have passed much needed social legislation such as European Works Councils and the landmark proposal for an EU wide ban on discrimination in the provision of goods and services. Labour MEPs are also fighting the threats to trade union collective agreements following the adverse legal judgments of Viking, Lavall & Ruffert.

The message is don’t let anyone (or any Tory tabloid) tell you that the elections in June are not important.

I had a chat afterwards with Claude and Emily about attending possible Worker Memorial Day (WMD) events. Which I will see if I can organise via TULO. While Anne accepted an invitation to help out in the Newham Royal Docks by-election.

'Seasoned hay, tasty pastures, good beer, comfortable beds'.

Slightly off message. I’m just back after a walking weekend in the village of Stockbridge, Hampshire. The weather was excellent and on Saturday, Mrs Grayee and I walked alongside the glorious River Test and across country to the Hill Fort at Danebury (also very impressive) and then back to the village.

As we walked back to the hotel in Stockbridge we come across an old Drovers inn (see photo - now a private house with a traditional thatched roof). I was astonished to see in bold large letters right across the front of the building words in Welsh “GWAIR TYMHERUS - PORVA-FLASUSCWRW - CWRW DAA - GWAL CYSURUS”. These words were an early form of advertising dating back to when the inn catered for Welsh Drovers - the words translated as 'Seasoned hay, tasty pastures, good beer, comfortable beds'.

Stockbridge is a really pretty traditional English village where it seems like everyone you meet is polite, wears a Barber jacket and out walking with a friendly wet Labrador.

I was feeling just a little smug after our 8 mile odd tramp through the countryside. Yet for centuries some of my forefathers had walked from Wales to Hampshire (then onto Southampton or Surrey and back home again – 600 miles?) every year to bring Welsh black cattle to English markets. The cattle would have been fattened up on the local pastures and meadows after their long journey. Before the railways the Welsh had been cattle and sheep drovers to England (the first cowboys?) since at least the 13th Century.

Since the "Drover House" is no longer open I would nowadays recommend the “Grosvenor” Hotel (another Welsh connection?) for “comfortable beds” and the “Three Cups Inn” for tasty produce (if not pastures) and for sure - “good beer”. I am afraid that I cannot comment on the local “Seasonal Hay” but I am certain it is also very good.