Ken thanks London UNISON for help during Mayoral campaign

This letter from Ken Livingstone was sent to Linda Perks, the London UNISON Regional Secretary and circulated to our regional committee.

"Dear Linda
Thank you for everything you and London Unison did to help with the London Mayoral election campaign.

London Unison has been fantastic - not simply by donating, but through unwavering support, the ideas you contributed and the campaigning you undertook.

Please also accept my thanks for the very excellent work of London TULO, without which we would have been far less effective.

The trade union movement is central to achieving progress in our society.  From the outset I wanted a campaign that worked with the unions, that knitted in the progressive ideas of the trade union movement, and sought to address the very issues faced by our trade union members.  I am proud that we worked so hard to achieve those goals.

Many people wrote the campaign off from the start and could not have expected it would come so close. I am sorry that I was unable to pull off a victory that so many hard-pressed Londoners were depending on.

We didn't win, but the idea of a fairer London should not be lost.  Our policies showed a fairer way forward for the Capital's residents: cutting fares; improved neighbourhood policing; introducing a London EMA; providing better and cheaper housing; helping people with the cost of living from affordable childcare to reducing price of household energy bills.

Please ensure my thanks are passed on to everyone in the union who played their part.

It has been a great inspiration to be part of this London election campaign with you. I very much look forward to working with you again in the future.

Thank you again.

In solidarity

Ken Livingstone

Standing Up for Public Services

These message have been sent out to the 130,000 UNISON members who live in London about the forthcoming GLA elections. By post, phone, email and text.

"All members living in London
　
UNISON Membership No: ******
　
Date: 23 March 2012
Ken Livingstone has published six pledges to address the increasing cost of living in London. These are: cut fares by 7%, saving the average Londoner £1,000 over four years; reverse Boris Johnson's police cuts and restore local sergeants to Safer Neighbourhood Teams; help reduce rents and provide more secure tenancies through a London non-profit lettings agency; tackle heating bills, help households save over £150 a year; restore the London EMA, up to £30 a week to help young people stay in education; support for childcare with grants and interest-free loans, and campaign against Tory cuts to childcare tax credits. All are costed and affordable within existing budgets.

 Make sure you have YOUR say in London's future on Thursday 3 May when Londoner's elect the next London Mayor and the Greater London Assembly. London members have a chance to make a difference. Your vote WILL count. Register to vote or for a Postal Vote at http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/.
　
UNISON Greater London Region - Standing Up for Public Services
　

Greater London UNISON Pension Strike Briefing

Picture is from the very successful London UNISON pension strike briefing on Tuesday.  The room was packed with reps from all over London and all parts of the union.  There was standing room only.

Regional Secretary Linda Perks is seen hammering home the importance of successful strike action to save members pensions and how we need to organise to win. I was impressed with the mature and constructive comments and questions made.

Of course there was some daft stuff by those who don't understand what strikes and picket lines are about. As well as the grumpy obligatory sectarian leadership bashing. However, I was also astonished at the praise heaped on Labour Councils for their support of our cause by one comrade.  Who I have known for nearly 20 years and who has never, ever said a good thing about Labour before.  Perhaps he has seen the light:) 

Anyway, overwhelmingly a good solid, purposeful and determined meeting.  While we all hope for a negotiated settlement, if we don't get one, roll on N30.