Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Picket, Regional Council then Strike rally

Busy day. Started off 7.30 on Picket line outside East Ham Town hall. Newham UNISON are on strike for the day over the discipline hearing that will take place tomorrow against Branch Chair Michael Gavan.

Then off to London Regional Committee and Regional Council. As usual the Council meeting was inquorate. It is just silly that we have 4 “mini” regional conferences per year (my personal view). UNISON activists I think are just too busy to come to such meetings.

This was the first Council meeting to be Chaired by Gloria Hanson (left: also Newham UNISON) following Alan Jarman decision to step down after taking redundancy from his employer. As usual the invited speakers to the meeting made their contributions despite it being inquorate.

Speaker Alan Tate from the CWU gave a very honest and level headed review of the recent strike action.

John Burgess; Carmel Reynolds and Lango Gamonya (Strikers) gave an emotive speech in favour of the Freemantle Strikes. They were very well received.

David Eggmore (Camden and Local Government Executive) spoke about the recent strike ballot on pay. Since there was such a close result (51%-49%) and a relatively low turn out (24% as well as the T&G and the GMB agreeing to deal beforehand) there will be no strike action and the pay deal will be accepted (watch out next year NJC).

There was also a very interesting and useful presentation on the problems facing the Union from the equal pay legal actions.

Jeremey Corbyn MP gave a Labour Link Parliamentary report.

Next was a lunchtime rally at Stratford Church which was very well attended (I arrived late).

Tomorrow Michael will face a gross misconduct hearing which could result in him losing his job. I won’t go into the details of the allegations made against him. Not least because the underlying facts are under dispute.

However, put it like this, its is absolutely vital that if a union member wants to speak to their rep (such as me) in private, about a union matter, they would not expect that rep to run off to management and tell them all about their meeting. We are not talking about child protection issues or anything like this. This is such silly and dangerous anti-trade union rubbish.

Newham Council should remember the golden rule of management (and of life) – Rule Number 1 – if you are in a hole – Stop digging!

UPDATE: Michael's hearing went on for most of the day. Then it was adjourned until November 19.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

John-I disagree.The National Rule book says we should have 4 regional councils a year -something the region had not been doing anyway but will now due to the rule change. Yes -it is a formal setting and could probably be improved -and I know John Burgess from barnet branch had a really good motion -that somehow region misplaced -to maximise the effectiveness of such meetings in terms of training and networking to make them more relevant and participative. If we could get that past the dragon's den then may be we can have council's that are more useful. Indeed -they may even be quorate.

But I also have to say that I was utterly shocked and dismayed at the way in which the the regional committee,before the council meeting. was conducted. If I had been a novice delegate I would have been left with a very sorry view of what passes for democracy in the region. To see regional officials more or less instructing an acting convenor to curtail a meeting, followed by a walk out of staff and Regional Council Officers while people were still waiting to ask questions was instructive in how 'democratic process' is viewed in the region at the moment by some. I looked up the UNISON code of conduct and national rules on running meetings etc and it is clear that rules and guidance -let alone manners -have been ignored by officials. I did not see one Regional Council Officer attempt to intervene or comment on what was happening! Shocking.

Then I went to the rally for Michael Gavan and saw lay democracy at work! A stark contrast to the regional committee meeting where lay democratic engagement was clearly not welcome.
Kat

John Gray said...

Hi Kat

Not sure that we were at the same meetings yesterday? The national rule book does not state (I think) that we should have 4 regional councils a year? I don’t really think it is fair that you are publically (ok, I’m stretching “publically” a bit) criticising paid staff who can’t answer back. By all means attack elected regional council officer if you want (I don’t mind) but not union officials.

We were definitely at different regional committees yesterday (and I thought I saw you there!).

One of the reasons why we do not have quorate regional councils is that we have a tiny minority of delegates who deliberately set out to wreak, grandstand, pontificate and otherwise disrupt meetings. For various reasons others “tolerate” (and patronise) this behaviour.

Ordinary delegates who find it really hard to get time off for union meetings are bored stupid by such antics (and you know it).

Once again, as people who know me - know – these are my own personal views, not anyone else’s what so ever!

Anonymous said...

John - I know I wear glasses and have some hearing impairment but we were defintely at the same meeting. You were sitting with the 'high table' -I was sitting opposite watching the whole show! Perhaps where we chose to sit gave us different perspectives?
Officials read this blog -no doubt - so can hang their heads in shame or jump with delight at their ability in trashing the rule book and treating democracy with contempt.They are after all our employees -but employees that we are not allowed to instruct! I felt very sorry for Gloria as it was clear that she was relying on Officials for advice in what is a new situation for her.
On Regional Council -yes, people do grandstand. That is the nature of the game and we have procedures to deal with -points of order etc?
But we do need to make them relevant and informative so we do have a quorum and people feel that it was a worth while democratic and participative meeting. Of course,better publicity might help in encouraging people to attend as well!
Ah but of course - you mean the minority you speak of who set out to disrupt the meeting may be Officials?!-is that who you mean? Silly me!

John Gray said...

Hi Kat

Perhaps I was wearing rose-tinted spectacles? I always try to wear them before Regional Committee meetings in the vain hope that we can deal with matters of interest and concern to the membership not what the united left caucus decided would best further the revolution!

Gloria was excellent at that meeting and will go from strength to strength.

Sorry Kat but there is a strong whiff of sour grapes amongst UL. You keep being defeated by the membership, so are resorting to childish and petty-minded complaints.

How did the UL meeting go on Thursday? Was there a collection for respect? When is the funeral? Can I send flowers?

Anonymous said...

Well this can go on and on John, but I'm pretty certain who was being rude and petty at the Committee meeting. If people are -politely -waiting to ask relevant questions related to the Council agenda then I do not expect the senior officers and officials to abruptly terminate a meeting to avoid answering those questions.

I do expect a certain amount of professionalism on the part of the 'top table'. Or at least a working knowledge of Unison's code of conduct.

You are a good and active trade unionist but regrettably see 'red' if anyone questions poor behaviour on the part of officialdom. Or are we never to question something that is wrong? Kat

John Gray said...

Hi Kat

It’s been a while since anyone has associated me with being “red”! I suppose we will have to agree to differ on this one. I am 100% certain that no union Rule or code of conduct was broken. The rudeness was from a small minority who had planned beforehand to have a “row” and frankly we have all got better things to do than humour them.

The only thing wrong in my book is when folk who should (and do) know better collude and plot with toy town revolutionaries, who want nothing more than to destroy the union to further their own half baked and barmy politics.

I would have thought that people would have learnt something by now from the disintegration of Respect.

Anonymous said...

Well done John for sticking up for the silent majority. I wasn't at the regional meeting as I am not a regional rep but attended the Council meeting later where this woman, I think her name is Katrina, was being aggressive and shouting at the Convenor and challenging the top table. This behaviour puts people who are new to meetings off coming. She was obviously trying to attract attention to herself but for the wrong reasons.

Anonymous said...

That was indeed me - as no questions were allowed despite John Burgess of Barnet asking that people put questions. My 2 questions from the back were whether the top table supported the Barnet Campaign and if so, would they would sign the petition.Will be interesting to find out if they have! Have to admit -it's the first time I've ever shouted from the back but then the preceding meeting didn't want to allow anyone to ask anything at all!
And yes -we will have to agree to differ. I'll keep my mind open if you will John! I am always open to reviewing the evidence as I hope you are too.Cheers, Kat

John Gray said...

Hi Kat

I must admit that I didn’t hear you.

Yes, agree to differ and keep our minds open. But....

Anonymous said...

Well I can't have been that loud then! Probably need voice coaching. Good to see the stuff about Fremantle on your blog -absolutely vital we get people there to show how we feel about attacks on ( already) low paid women workers! Hope our regional Officers etc can show up.
Privatised care -dangerous!
kat

Sean said...

John I was one of the people who had my hand up when the Chair closed the Regional Committee meeting. I hadn't spoken and was seeking some clarification on a point.Not sure that makes me determined to disrupt the meeting and destroy the union. Intrigued if I qualify as a toytown revolutionary or one of those who should know better in your opinion but then in the words of Vicky Pollard "Am I bovverred !!"

John Gray said...

Hi Sean

If that was your intention, which I am sure it was, then I am equally sure that it was just a misunderstanding and you were also let down by those who just wanted a row.

Sorry, I must bring up this extremely serious point of dialectical principle, but was it not the blessed Vicki Pollard("No but yeah" "Or summing or nuffing" "Shut up!" "Vis whole fing happened wha' I don' even know nuffing about" "I a'n't done nuffing or nuffing!" "Don't go giving me evils!" "'Cos wha' 'appened was" "Oh my God! I so can't believe you said that!") but rather Lauren Cooper? Who said such words of wisdom and wonder. I think we should be told?

I do understand how middle class people can get confused. We all sound alike to them.

Sean said...

lol dont think anyone other than you John has referred to me as middle class (not the first time you have done so in the "blogsphere") Then again I don't think anyone in my Branch has ever referred to me as a trot or toytown revolutionary either. Amazing the difference between the perceived and the reality innit!

John Gray said...

Hi Sean

Not sure that I have called you “middle class” even though you do seem to pander to their class interests.

However, we can both agree about what some of our colleagues in the united left (both the “renewal” or the “independents” wing) actually think of all us in UNISON who are Labour Party supporters. Just google “useful idiots”

John Gray said...

Hi Kat

I have politely asked you previously not to make personal attacks on people who cannot answer back on this blog. So I have not published your new comment made at 19:48 today. By all means have a go at me and all the regional council officers who you do not agree with, but not people who cannot answer back.

Sean said...

John "useful idiot": well sometimes I think the Labour party sees me like that as it goes a useful resource to have around election time to deliver leaflets doorknock etc! Pandering to midlde class comrades class interests? Like more progressive taxation more eradication of low pay and an end to privatisation?

Am intrigued as to your depth of knowledge of the united left "wings" is there something you need to tell us?

John Gray said...

Hi Sean

I have friends in low places!