This spring our branch affiliated to Hackney Trades Council, an official TUC body bringing together union members to build a strong, broad-based labour movement in Hackney, east London.

The Council has been supporting campaigns in Barking and Dagenham to defeat the British National party, who are fielding candidates in the coming local and general elections. While it is unlikely that Nick Griffin (the leader of the BNP and its candidate for the parliamentary seat) will win, there's a really strong possibility, if left unchecked, that the racist BNP could gain control of the local council and its £200 million budget.

This Saturday (17 April) the Council is encouraging all trade unionists and anti-racists to come along and take part in an anti-BNP mobilisation. On this one day activists will be asked to deliver a HOPE not Hate newspaper to every home in the borough.

A coach has been booked and will be leaving Mare Street, by Hackney Town Hall, at 9.45am on Saturday 17 April. If you are free and able to come along, do sign up for the HOPE bus here.
Lunch is being provided by the NUT (the teachers union) and PCS (the civil servants union); Billy Bragg and a local Gospel choir will be performing.

----
This is an edited version of a regular email-update to all our members sent on behalf of the UNISON Branch Executive Committee. If you want to subscribe to these regular updates on what we’re doing, you need to join UNISON.

We are pleased to announce the launch of our new website www.londonmetunison.org.uk, the online home for all things London Met UNISON.

Read the latest branch news, find out who your Branch Officers and Stewards are and join in with our current campaigns.

If you are not yet a member of UNISON, find out why you should join us and send us your details online. If you are a member, then contact us to let us know what you think, to share your ideas and get involved. Remember, you can also contact us for advice with specific problems or concerns you may have at work, or take a look at the Branch Officers and Stewards list and get in touch.

You can even watch our own UNISON Youtube Channel or our photo slide show. With links to other useful organisations, wider UNISON news and our very own Save Londonmet Uni blog, www.londonmetunison.org.uk will keep you in the picture. Let us know what you think by leaving a reply in the comments section below.

Thousands march to save public services (c) http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/

London Met UNISON branch joined thousands more demonstrators in London on Saturday to support public services and the welfare state, and to protest against planned cuts.

The sun shone brightly on us as we joined other trade unionists from across the country to send a clear message to whichever party gets elected in May: make the bankers pay for their crisis – not the public sector.

We lined our banner up alongside UNISON colleagues from Kings College London who are currently fighting cuts at their university to show them solidarity.

Max Watson and Paul Holmes in front of London Met UNISON banner

We also met with Paul Holmes, Secretary of Kirklees Local Government Branch, who we nominated for the upcoming UNISON General Secretary election. When asked about supporting campaigns against cuts in public services, Paul Holmes said:

“The Royal Bank of Scotland, a nationally owned bank, gave 100 people a £ million bonus.

“If there’s money for the things the bosses and the government want to do, then we’ve got to be out there and saying we want that money for our public services.”

London Met University UNISON branch members defend public services

Speaking at the London rally, organised by the National Pensioners’ Convention under the slogan: ‘Protect our welfare state and public services’, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis declared:

“There has never been a more important time to show our support for public services.”

Read a full report on the UNISON website and also read ‘Thousands march to save public services’ in the Morning Star.

Bulletin on the implementation of a university Cycle to Work scheme

Bike stands at Calcutta House - UNISON and UCU are campaigning for improved cycling facilities at London Met

UNISON and UCU are pleased to report their cooperation and involvement in a series of successful meetings with senior management and HR  over the last 6 months that take the university closer to fully implementing a Cycle to Work scheme for staff. This has long been a pressing concern of members and one that the unions have worked hard to bring about (see our petition here).

The scheme will allow to staff obtain a bicycle and equipment at a price considerably discounted by 30-40% from a supplier of choice. They will then lease back the bike from the university through monthly direct deductions from salary (full details will be announced in due course).

Details of the scheme are approaching finalisation. Showers facilities and lockers are being identified and secure parking will be designated on north and south campuses. Not everything can be provided at once, for example some secure parking might be temporary pending the completion of building programmes, but the fullest support possible to encourage and support cycling is planned. With this purpose in mind we plan to have a cycle to work section linked to Metranet and a Bicycle Action Group (BAG) will be established.

Any members or non-members wishing to participate in the LMU-BAG in future should contact either Richard Payne or Christopher Wright UNISON) to register their interest prior to an inaugural meeting.

Richard Payne – UCU Environmental Officer – R.Payne@londonmet.ac.uk

Christopher Wright – UNISON Health & Safety Officer (North Campus)

What does LGBT stand for?

A lot of heterosexual people are unsure of what LGBT stands for, so here it is: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans.  Trans is the umbrella term for transsexual, transgender and transvestite.  There are people who identify as Queer or Pansexual, some who would never use those phrases to describe themselves.  Some people prefer to not any words at all.

The same, but different

LGBT people look just like you.  We come from all races, ages, abilities, cultures and religious beliefs.  LGBT people deserve the same rights and respect at work that heterosexual people enjoy.  However we are far more likely than heterosexual staff to experience harassment and discrimination because of our sexual orientation and gender identity.  We need a responsive union to support us if trouble arises, just as you do, but we also need our heterosexual union members to be our allies too.

Get involved

You may not identify as LGBT, but you can be an ally to us by supporting your LGBT colleagues.  You may be heterosexual, but statistically speaking, there’s a good chance that someone you know at work is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Trans.  If someone makes a nasty comment, don’t ignore it; just because it doesn’t directly affect you, it will still have an impact on your working life.  Lack of morale, staff leaving due to bullying and harassment, and a poor general work atmosphere affects everyone.

There are fun times too!

Unison usually has a big presence at London Pride, and Black LGBT Pride too.  Both of these events take place in the summer, and can be a great free day out if you volunteer on a stall.  Many heterosexual relatives and friends of LGBT people help out on these days.  They can be a positive, fun experience for everyone, no matter how they identify.  Unison also has a presence at BiCon, a weekend-long convention and conference for bisexuals.  If you want to get involved, or learn more about these events, please contact me.

Jacqueline Applebee

LGBT Officer

Moorgate Library

j.applebee@londonmet.ac.uk