Are we ready for a fight?

We are all waiting for the employer to issue news on how they intend to implement the cuts so no one is in any doubt as to whether there will be reductions in jobs and services and instead it is all a matter of when, how and by how much.

So the question, following from that, is what it is that can be done to deal with this imminent attack and how ready are we to get members on board and ready to resist. The only thing that is clear is that we all agree we have to fight back so the debate is about how competent we are in deciding when and where.

I have of course 22 years experience of organising action and so do other people in my branch. The one thing I am not prepared to do is to start the debate by saying why it is that we can't deliver so I will want to concentrate my effort on declaring that we can achieve our aims if we were clever on the ground and were able to understand and assess our strengths and weaknesses. Identifying where our strongholds are must be the first task and redeploying our resources where these are needed would also help. We should also be looking at coordinating any action and ensuring that whenever we act we do so within a national context because any national effort would yield more results, localised action is rarely productive.

So there will be those reading this blog thinking that I am advocating revolution or strike action. I want to make it clear that I am not doing that but talking instead about the mechanics of how that can be delivered if we were forced to be in that situation. Most important thing is for us to remain strong and united.

Reformists vs Revolutionaries...

I suppose that the rift between the left of the left within unions is very much to do with the divide between those of us who are Reformists and the others who think that the revolution is around the corner. I am a well known Reformist and I am confident that the vast majority of our members believe in achieving change within the law which of course involves campaigning to change the law at the same time. Members expect the leadership of the union to take responsible positions when deciding to take action. Examples of long strike action that I have personally been involved with, like the 12 week payroll dispute in 1993, have shown me that more effort needs to be put towards resolving problems. This does not mean that I am against strike action but I insist that whenever we go down that road we must, a) be prepared, b) be sure that the members will support us, c) ensure that the action will be effective.

Blogging interupted..

I am afraid I have that nasty cold or flu and I feel dreadful so can't be asked to say much today!

Is monogamy possible?

The thousands of of you who never read this blog will know about my constant quest and exploration on the concept of monogamy. I am specifically concerned about the fact that many men and women spend their entire lives being untrue to themselves and not utilising the one and only opportunity they will ever ever get to have fun? I don't think nature would have given men the ability to produce 50 million sperm a day every day if she wanted them to sit home and knit jumpers every night, or even worst watch coronation st?

I am definitely doing the research into this subject as the united left has failed to take this matter seriously and the initial results (based on more than 25 years research) shown that men especially will always play away whenever they can. Women (well most of all my female mates do) do this as well. So its about time we dropped the nonsense about the need to stick with one person and create bloody drama every time someone in a relationship goes out to play for Chelsea or Arsenal? Lets get real and grow up.. Nature intended us to have fun the society and the norms we created in our capitalist system has nothing to do with what nature intended. Just make sure you play safe though! (disclaimer: whilst my entry here talks about the generalities it should not be taken to mean that it is my personal intention to misbehave, not before I discuss it with my partner who never reads this anyway!)

Another defeat?

Well got to say I was disappointed yesterday at regional Council the region had the chance to elect a new team but the members decided otherwise. That is the nature of democracy. Glad to see that my predecessor, John of the Gray, has been polishing his accounting skills up and wanted to question whether 115 votes against 97 was more than two thirds? Sorry John I just had to publish that! But hey on the other hand he was out there chatting to delegates before the election and getting them to vote his way so in a way he is, I suppose, good at that! I am still happy that I only lost by 3 votes against him years ago (sour grapes of course..)

Good to see some comrades that I haven't seen for a long time there. John from Barnet, for example, lost some weight and looks fighting fit and Marsha Jane was looking her best. Jon of the Rogers made a good speech, Andrew Berry for spotting the Finance Convenors obsession with detail and questioning it.. and the LGBT team did well with Alan presenting a motion.

Anyway maybe the not so united left will learn a lesson now? Or is it the left of the left to the left? Congratulations to the winners of course....

London UNISON Region AGM

Well we are two days away from the Regional Council AGM and I am openly supporting Margaret Greer for the position of Regional Convenor. I have very little to say about others but I know Margaret for many years and I have seen her work hard. She is an organiser and as someone who comes from a Self Organised Group perspective her aims and objectives are both pure and good. She will also be able to work with everyone in the region and support the regional committee.

Lambeth Unison

Another late meeting with Lambeth activists tonight and we all agreed that the branch unity is our priority. We declare that there is only one branch and only one sort of membership. All members in Lambeth Unison are Lambeth activists fighting for unity, equality and fairness at work. We will not allow for divisions that are fuelled by external forces to torpedo the progress the branch has made in the last 10 years. Our unity is our strength!