First Hustings - A Comment By Diana James, in a Personal Capacity

Having Attended the first hustings at Highbury House today I think it is important to feedback my observations

Misleading claims from Andrew Berry?

Is a manager a frontline member of staff?

Today Andrew spoke of his work in frontline service.  He is a Homecare manager managing staff and it is they who are on the frontline not him. I noticed that he was keen to emphasise that he had made the decision to return to work 5 years ago yet he didn't talk about his various acting manager roles  at the Town Hall in Lela Kogbara's team either. He is stressing the importance of his work credentials so he should be honest in sharing that he is a manager and that he gave up the Deputy Branch Secretary position for career progression in management

An election candidate should be genuine and honest with the membership

As a member I don't want to be given personal 'spin' - that's what the voting public are sick of in our politicians. For me trust and confidence is key. The phrase 'pulling the wool over my eyes' springs to mind. 

Low paid workers

Observing a recommendation in the form of an objection made by Andrew yesterday makes me question His commitment to low paid workers. Yesterday he was totally out of step with the general consensus at the Greater London Regional Council AGM. The jury's out for me on his judgement as I saw him put in an objection to carrying forward a motion to National Conference for policy debate on setting up sector pay-councils in the private sector, previously successful and then dismantled. The impression Andrew left for me when he put in an objection for the motion to go forward , he recommended to delegates   not to   vote 'for'  but  to *refer back' this motion to support improving low paid staff terms and conditions in the private sector, literally was out of step with every other delegate in the room who came from the Local Government, Health and Voluntary sectors as well as with the Regional Committee, which recommended to support this motion. Delegates from Camden  to Croydon , Lambeth to Waltham Forest voted collectively for the motion to go through. What Andrew conveyed from the podium was not a clear rationale. He asserted that sector pay councils had been debated before and needed further debate. So what's to debate? The debate of the debate?! Thank goodness the consensus in the room delivered the 'yes' vote progressing this motion intended to enable the setting up of negotiating mechanisms for disenfranchised low paid workers.

Regards

Diana