UNISON Housing Associations Branch AGM Tuesday 18 March 2014

There are two meetings, please attend whichever is more convenient:

Tuesday 18 March 2014

Afternoon   2.00 – 4.30 refreshments from 1.30

Evening      6.00 – 8.30 refreshments from 5.30

Venue: Resource for London, 356 Holloway Road, N7 6PA

(closest tube station Holloway Road)

All branch members are welcome – please try and attend as this is when officers are elected and the branch agrees its policy for the next year.

Speakers include: Tom Copley, London Assembly Labour Spokesperson on Housing (evening meeting) and Mathew Donaher UNISON Community Organising Co-Coordinator – other speakers to be confirmed.

The Annual Report and papers for the AGM are attached to member emails and on request.

If you are interested in getting more involved in your union, there are vacancies on the branch committee, or you may wish to attend UNISON National Delegate Conference. 

Please email the branch office to confirm. If you need more information about travel or any special needs, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@unisonhablondon.org or call 020 7697 5030.

Justice for Cleaners - SOAS strike for sickpay, leave and pensions equality

This morning I went to the UNISON cleaners picket line at the University School of Oriental and African Studies in London (SOAS) to pass on a message of support from my branch.

Around 50 UNISON members who are cleaners at SOAS were on strike yesterday and today.

They work as cleaners at SOAS but are not employed by the university but by the private outsourcing company ISS. After a previous fight the cleaner's now get a London Living wage rate but are still treated as third class workers at SOAS since colleagues directly employed receive contractual sick pay, 30 days annual leave and a defined benefits pension scheme.

It really is disgraceful that the lowest paid staff in such organisations will fall back into poverty if they are sick or when they retire. The taxpayer is then expected to subsidise the poverty pay conditions of employers such as ISS and the so called "elite public research university" SOAS.

I was once many moons ago at a meeting with management and HR to discuss a restructure with a consultant present who questioned why the organisation still directly employed cleaners rather than outsourcing them. I replied because we don't believe in serfdom.

I wish the cleaners at SOAS well and think they have a strong bargaining position due to their solidarity and the support of their union colleagues and students.

I still think in the long run we need binding collective wage councils for such vulnerable workers but  in this current dispute everyone who thinks it is wrong to treat such workers as serfs should demand that ISS and SOAS treat their workers with dignity and respect and pay them live able terms and conditions. 

Union density chart

This CEPR chart shows union density - coverage of collective bargaining arrangements and actual membership (X). Why is there such a massive difference between countries and what can we do to change density levels?

Moving the motion in favour of "Sectorial Wage Councils"

"Council, there are many things wrong in our society and one thing that is particularly rotten is that the lowest paid in our union are also the most at risk of the greatest exploitation and the ones most likely to suffer poverty pay, poverty sickness benefits and poverty pensions.

These members who care for the most vulnerable members of our society – the elderly, the infirm and the disabled - are themselves vulnerable because they typically work in very small and fragmented workplaces over a large geographic area or they work part time - or have two or more jobs - or work shifts.

Anyone here at this meeting who has tried to organise in these conditions to fight for better pay and terms will know how difficult it is.

This is not a new thing. Poverty pay in these sectors has been a curse for generations. So what is the answer?

In the medium term the only way we as a trade union are going to improve the chances of our members getting more money in their purses and pockets is to campaign and argue for the reestablishment of wage sectors in such sectors.

Please note Council the word “re-establish”. For decades millions of workers in this country were protected by wages councils. This is a “back to the future” proposal.

In other countries it is still the norm for trade unions and employers to still down together, bargain and set terms and conditions.

This Tory led coalition last year to its everlasting shame dismantled in England the last major wages council – the Agricultural Board.

Why is it all too often in this country that the collective is seen as “bad” and rampant individualism as “good”? I think when we look at the growing inequality of wealth in this country we know the answer.

Wage councils are not just about pay and conditions. They also include a training levy and education classes. Often run by trade unions.

There is a desperate need in our society to train and skill up workers, not only to improve the service they offer to their clients but to give them a proper career structure.

This should not be seen as just a bureaucratic measure, it should be seen as collective bargaining and if there is a failure to agree, then there must be the risk to employers of industrial action.

Council, if the union supports this measure there will be a huge political fight ahead of us. We will have reverse decades of neo-liberalism and the belief in unfetted "free markets rule" propaganda.

And even those who don’t think that such a measure goes far enough will see that this can transform the lives of our members for the better.

When you look at the problem and what are the alternative practical possible solutions then this makes sense. It has worked in the past, it works elsewhere and it can work in the future.

Council, please support this motion. I move.

(hat tip picture HAB Chair Comrade Power)

Sectorial Wage Councils for Vulnerable Workers

Both our branch motions were passed at last week's UNISON London Annual Regional Council AGM. I'll post my speech moving the motion next.

Only one delegate actually voted against our motion calling for wage councils and another made a very odd speech supposedly in support. Neither of course were female, BME, low paid workers on zero hour contracts with no sick pay or pensions. 

• All service groups in UNISON will have members who are employed by private contractors that have traditionally suffered from low pay and poor employment conditions. 
• For example Social care and support, private health care, cleaning, security and catering services. These sectors also tend to employ women and BME staff, pay the minimum wage rate with no decent sickness protection or pensions on insecure contracts.
• The employers are often very small and have fragmented workplaces over a large geographically area. Many staff also work part time and/or shift work. 
• It has always been very difficult and challenging for unions to organise in these workplaces which are a major reason for the low pay and poor conditions. 
• Due to Austerity and the polices of this Tory led government the pay and conditions of these already badly paid staff has gone down due to cuts in government, council and health budgets. 
• Attacks on TUPE and the growth of Zero hours employment contracts have made things even worse. Millions of UK workers are treated in this way. The Government has to spend billions of pounds on tax credits and housing benefit subsidising employers who treat their staff in this way. 
• This is an unacceptable state of affairs in the 5th richest economy in the world. In other European countries such vulnerable workers are protected by wage councils where employers and trade unions collectively bargain on binding national agreements not only on pay but training, overtime, sickness benefits, holidays, pensions and trade union recognition. 
• In the UK during the 1930’s the Conservative Government of the time set up wage councils in order to increase demand in the economy in order to pull the Country out of recession. Over the years these Councils have been abolished by post Thatcher Conservative governments on free market ideological grounds most recently the Agricultural wages Council in 2013 

1. This Greater London Regional Council believes that the UK should support and campaign for the setting up of Sectorial wage Councils in this Country for such vulnerable employment sectors.
2. Regional Labour Link should be asked to consider supporting such a campaign.

(if this motion is passed and sent to any other forum then the wording should be changed accordingly)

UNISON Greater London Regional Council AGM 2014 Election Results

"The results of the elections held at the Council AGM on 25 February 2014 are given below. The elections were conducted, in accordance with the Regional Rules, under the single transferable voting system (STV) and were carried out by the Electoral Reform Services.

REGIONAL CONVENOR (1 to elect)
HANSON Gloria                                    150 Elected
KELLY Glenn                                        49 

DEPUTY REGIONAL CONVENOR (1 to elect)
LAWRENCE Conroy                            140 Elected
THOMPSON Marsha Jane                    54 

REGIONAL FINANCE CONVENOR (1 to elect)
GRAY John                                            140 Elected
SANGARAPILLAI Vinothan                 54 

REGIONAL PUBLICITY OFFICER (1 to elect)
BENTLEY Lynn                                    142 Elected
CASHMAN Ruth                                   52

REGIONAL EQUALlTIES CONVENOR (1 to elect)
GREEN Yvonne                                     144 Elected
LAWLER Gabrielle                                42

REGIONAL YOUNG PERSONS CONVENOR - Michaela Smikle was elected unopposed".

Update: just compared it to what I thought was a great result in 2013. This time even better!

There for you - UNISON Community Seminar 2014

The next speaker at the seminar was Julia Grant, the head of UNISON "There for you" - our registered charity for members which has been around for over 100 years. It is in the top 500 charities and in the last 18 months there has been a 400% increase in our members asking for help.

Julia said that research had shown that next to seeking employment protection at work; welfare support and services was the 2nd reason given by non members on why they would join UNISON.  Julia thanked branch welfare officers and regional committees for all their help in dealing with the huge increase in case work..

A growing area for help is for victims of domestic abuse where members need to leave the family home. Julia's team can agree emergency help over the telephone to put food on the table or make sure their house is kept warm - until they can assess the application form. UNISON Winter fuel and school grants are very welcome even though only they are only £40-£50, this is enough to buy new shoes for children.

They also run a "Well being" programme for the long term sick which can help with breaks for the sick or disabled members and their carers.

There is a 24/7 Debt telephone line programme which will undertake a full fact find and provide for free a "full range of solutions to problems".

Working with Credit unions who charge far, far, far less in interest than payday loans and other loan sharks is a new development.  Branches can work with employers to encourage payroll deductions which can result in very quick access to loans for members.

This was well received presentation and in the Q&A many thanked Julia and her colleagues for the work they do and wanted to know more about how to access the services for their own members.

(picture of Julia with our Community SGE Chair Kevin Jackson)

Collins Review and West Ham CLP

I'm on my way to the Labour Party Special Conference in London from Brighton and have some time to reflect upon the debate we had on Thursday evening on the Collins Review at West Ham Labour Party General Committee.

We had existing policy opposing the initial proposals on reforming the relationship of the Party with the trade unions. This was the last chance for us to let our CLP delegate ,Terry Paul, know our views in light of the latest review (I am going there as a UNISON delegate)

The debate was actually more about London Primaries and the raising of the threshold for MP's to nominate a Party leader than on the future relationship with trade unions. I think that most members knew that the affiliated trade unions were on the whole supporting the proposals.  Yet there was a concern that this would damage the link with the unions.

I told the meeting that I thought that classic compromise had been hammered out which has got to work. While I am a supporter of the principle of collective affiliation, trade union members actively choosing to opt in and pay a levy to the Labour Party (which is the UNISON model) should finally end the lie about so called "union barons" controlling the Labour Party (if only).

If the proposal go through then the unions and the Party have got to use this opportunity to not only persuade train unions members to pay their £3 per year affiliation but also to get them, their friends and family to join the Party and participate.

We need to do because there is a massive disconnect in our politics. The working class in this Country have traditionally bought themselves political power and economic/social benefits by the ballot box. Many working people don't "get this" anymore. We need to get people to understand that if they want increases in pay, more homes, secure employment and save the NHS then they not only have to vote Labour but also take part and participate. The Party itself is in desperate need of new activists who are rooted in their community.

The issue of Labour Party "supporters" was debated and some members thought it was simply wrong that those who paid their full membership were in effect being disenfranchised in the London selection process for Mayor.  There was also a fear that the process will be dominated by the media. While one member argued that the Party outside London is basically dying with less than 200 in each CLP. We need new blood and new ways of attracting support.

Another member complained about the failure in the Collins report to reform the Labour Party NEC since there was still only 2 on the Executive from Labour Councillors despite them being the largest financial contributors to the Party outside the unions.

The raising of the bar for MP nominations for leader was attacked because it would make it very difficult for women and BME candidates and not give the wider Party a real political choice. 

There was a proposal that the Collin Review should be taken in parts which was agreed at the meeting. Yet in the vote on a London Primary for selection for London Mayor it was passed overwhelmingly. While by a narrow majority so was the proposal for the raising of the threshold for nominating a Party leader. Since there are no apparently no rule changes at the special conference regarding the trade union link we didn't have any formal vote.

Picture of long standing Party member John Saunders giving us the benefit of his views! London Labour Assembly member and Tower Hamlets Mayoral candidate, who is to left of picture, spoke to us next which I hope to post upon soon.

UNISON Community Seminar and Conference 2014

This afternoon was the start of the UNISON Community (Housing Associations and Voluntary sector) Annual Seminar and Conference 2014.

Our key note speaker was Karen Jennings, the Assistant General Secretary who spoke about UNISON's strategy for the future - recruitment,organising and campaigning. We have over 60k members in our Community service group, which she pointed out was more than many national professional organisations.

Karen explained about the UNISON "Worth it" Campaign". When we talk to members and potential members we have to use their language not that of activists.  We need to increase our members self belief and self esteem.

"Worth it" reveals how people across UK are struggling: how to make the case against austerity and how many of our members are the working poor who simple cannot pay their bills.  At the moment we are mobilising to support the TUC Fair Pay Fortnight. 22 March to 6 April.

UNISON has also in the last year started a huge advertising campaign with adverts in national newspapers, TV and radio. It has shown to be particularly effective during children programmes. Parents join UNISON on the phone while their children watch cartoons.

A major campaign is asking why tax payers pick up the bill for poverty pay? People are paid so low by huge corporate companies and tax payers pick up the wage. Karen called for a living wage and better procurement. 

Finally Karen reminded everyone that the cuts had not fully happened yet. 400k jobs have gone in public service but there are 750k to come.  Labour only has a slim lead in the polls so any one who wants Labour to win cannot be complaisant. UNISON is targeting106 marginal seats with Tory majorities less than unison membership in the area.

UNISON was unhappy about many things last the last Labour government did but we need a message of hope. We recognise the very important statements from Andy Burnham and Ed Miliband to abolish the bedroom tax, the Health & Social Care Act, unfair zero hour contracts and support a living wage.  We need more detail.

But just think about the future if Labour fails and think about the Tories and their record and its impact - pay freeze, pay cuts, families struggling, cuts in the NHS.

UNISON members in large numbers voted for Tories and Lib Dems in last election. Our task is to ask members to think again about what will happen if the Tories get in - we need to speak to our members . Get a postal vote since it is easier to vote if you have 2 jobs.

Labour doesn't have the money that Tories have but they can win if people volunteer their time to knock on doors.

Is the Daily Mail "Sorry" it backed the Nazi?

Superb cartoon in Guardian by Steve Bell. A response to the deliberate Tory smear attacks on Harriet Harman.Hat tip Ravi.

Check out this : -
(Daily Mail owner) Lord Rothermere was a friend of Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler, and directed the Mail's editorial stance towards them in the early 1930s.^[34][35] Rothermere's 1933 leader "Youth Triumphant" praised the new Nazi regime's accomplishments, and was subsequently used as propaganda by them.^[36] In it, Rothermere predicted that "The minor misdeeds of individual Nazis would be submerged by the immense benefits the new regime is already bestowing upon Germany". Journalist John Simpson, in a book on journalism, suggested that Rothermere was referring to the violence against Jews and Communists rather than the detention of political prisoners.^[37]
Rothermere and the Mail were also editorially sympathetic to Oswald Mosley and the British Union of Fascists.^[38] Rothermere wrote an article entitled "Hurrah for the Blackshirts" in January 1934, praising Mosley for his "sound, commonsense, Conservative doctrine",^[39] and pointing out that: "Young men may join the British Union of Fascists by writing to the Headquarters, King's Road, Chelsea, London, S.W."^[40]