Corbyn's suspension is a disservice to anti-semitism report

As a UNISON member it is not usual for me to compliment my comrades in Unite very often. But Len McLuskey hit the nail on the head when he said: "This was a day for our party to move forward as one to defeat the evil of anti-semitism. However, the decision to suspend Jeremy Corbyn has threatened that opportunity.”

I wish my own union had made such a principled statement. Maybe it will follow.

It is also worth pointing out at the beginning that amidst many of the criticisms in the EHRC report, there is also a recognition that the problem had been recognised and attempts were being made under Corbyn’s leadership to improve disciplinary processes. See at least pages 36, 41, 71, 73 and 82. https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/publication-download/investigation-antisemitism-labour-party

UNISON general secretary election - change but what kind?

Oh to be a fly on the wall of UNISON national executive’s various cabals following the local government service group executive’s decision to nominate lay member Paul Holmes for general secretary of the union.

The backing of the leadership of the union’s largest occupational group must be a major boost for Paul’s campaign and one that, I suspect, will not be universally welcomed on the lay NEC (along with associated officers) as they approach decision time on their own nomination.

It would be foolish to just put the nomination down to the varying influences of the usual factions on the 40+ strong committee or a vote split between the two full-time officer candidates. That would ignore the disaffection many have felt over recent years due to the growing gulf between front line activists (of all politics and none) and the Euston Road bubble.

Denis Goldberg: Making life better for people. Is that not what the revolution was about?

Tributes poured in across the world last month on the news of the death of veteran anti-apartheid campaigner and honorary UNISON member Denis Goldberg.

UNISON Scotland had a long friendship with Denis and we were continually inspired by him.

A new resource to keep Rodney Bickerstaffe’s legacy alive for current and future generations

First published (edited) in the Morning Star April 2020: Legendary Scottish miner’s leader Michael McGahey famously and often reminded us that, "We are a movement not a monument".

It was a quote that the late Rodney Bickerstaffe, ex UNISON general secretary and president of the National Pensioners Convention, kept returning to in his wonderfully crafted speech at the unveiling of a memorial to McGahey in Bonnyrigg at the 2006 Midlothian TUC Workers’ Memorial Day.

The colours of edinburgh

A few years ago I published a booklet of my photos of Edinburgh to support the UNISON Edinburgh Welfare Fund and Community HEART. There are some left at only £3 a shot. Contact me for details via twitter .

Reviewed in Scotland in UNISON (by Kate Ramsden) "In its pages John's passion for the city of his birth and his life shines through, from the beautifully crafted photographs, to the quirky "interesting facts" to go with them, set out with John's usual humour and lightness of touch."

Socialist ideals must be nurtured, not allowed to dissipate

First published in the Morning Star on 24 December 2019: 
Labour has a job on its hands to claw back from the toxic image it seems to have with many voters in Scotland.

That’s not all Labour’s fault. For the Scottish National Party to deliver on its raison d’etre of independence it had to destroy what had been the dominant force in Scottish politics. Any other issue was secondary.