Showing posts with label St Mungo’s. Show all posts
Showing posts with label St Mungo’s. Show all posts

9 March 2024

LOBBY Unite's Executive Committee to Protest its Shameful Silence Over Genocide in Gaza

Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham Must Stop Obstructing Solidarity with the Palestinians

Lobby Unite’s National Executive Monday March 11th @ 12.00 p.m

Unite House, 128 Theobalds Road, London WC1X 8TN (nearest tube Holborn)



On Monday at 12.00 p.m Unite members will lobby Unite’s Executive Committee in solidarity with those experiencing genocide in Gaza and for an end to the obstruction of General Secretary Sharon Graham.

Unite has perhaps the best policy of any trade union on Palestine. Yet you would have to go to the United Left website to find it. It is nowhere to be seen on Unite’s own website.

On 16  October Unite put out a statement which

‘unreservedly condemned and expressed its revulsion  at the recent appalling acts of violence by Hamas against innocent civilians in Israel’

But it could only ‘deplore the subsequent suffering and loss of life being endured by civilians in Gaza.’

The difference in tone between ‘revulsion’ at the loss of Israeli compared to ‘deploring’ the loss of Palestinian lives was no accident. Clearly Palestinian lives don’t matter.

Large numbers of injured people are brought into Shifa Hospital in Gaza City after an Israeli attack on the courtyard of al-Ahli Arab Hospital. [Abdelhakim Abu Riash/Al Jazeera]

This despite 2,750 Palestinians having been killed by October 16, the day when Israel bombed Al Ahli hospital killing a further 500 Palestinians.

Since then Israel has bombed every single hospital and health facility in Gaza, murdering patients and doctors alike.

On November 3rd after considerable pressure from activists including an online petition  Unite issued a second statement which this time called for an immediate ceasefire.  The statement was however pitiably weak calling on ‘all parties to respect international law’ as if the Palestinians experiencing genocide were equally culpable as the murderers. Nowhere did the statement mention genocide.

Nor did the statement mention the fact that Israel had imposed a Nazi style food, water and fuel blockade on the Gaza strip resulting in starvation according to the United Nations.

A letter on December 19 to Sharon Graham said:

You have done nothing to publicise all the previous national demonstrations.  Are you going to ignore the one on January 13 too? There has been no national Unite presence on the marches to date.  

In fact it subsequently turned out that Graham had actually prevented the national Unite banner being taken on demonstrations. The letter demanded that Graham

publicise all future demonstration, that you provide the resources necessary for Unite members to attend, that Unite nationally is present on the march together with its banner and that Unite has a speaker at the rally.

Jim Kelly, Chair of London & Eastern Region Unite Speaking to a Palestine Trade union Rally 

Not only were none of these things done but according to Jim Kelly, Chair of London and Eastern Region, Graham’s representatives had ‘advised’ Peter Kavanagh, the Regional Secretary, not to speak at a Palestine solidarity demonstration. Kelly described how activists on Palestine had had to work in ‘an environment of silence and obstruction’ by union officials, in particular Graham.

Kelly described how Graham had attempted to suppress attempts to mobilise solidarity in support of the Palestinians.  He described an ‘expectation that employees will not speak alongside other General Secretaries’ at demonstrations.

Unite has had no national presence at the London demonstrations calling for an End to Genocide and solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza. Nor has Unite done anything to publicise thee demonstrations.

Kelly highlighted the activity of Unite branches despite Graham’s attempts to stop solidarity. He mentioned St Mungo’s and Doctors in Unite in particular.  Kelly highlighted Graham’s ‘excellent’ speech at the trade union rally in Cheltenham against the government’s anti-union laws but pointed out that fighting racism and international solidarity were equally important for socialists.


Since October 7 over 30,000 Palestinians have been murdered in Gaza including at least 13,000 children. Over 70,000 have been injured.  Hospitals, ambulances, homes have been bombed in an attempt to ethnically cleanse Gaza. Israeli Ministers such as Minister of Heritage Amichai Eliyahu have openly called for the annihilation of Palestinians suggesting dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza as well as wiping out the month of Ramadan.


There is a database of 500 genocidal statements by Israeli leaders including Prime Minister Netanyahu who called on soldiers to ‘remember Amalek’ the mythical biblical tribe whose extermination god ordered.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the Gauleiter of the West Bank, has described 2 million Palestinians in the West Bank as Nazis. This is a recipe for extermination. This was after calling for the Palestinian town of Huwara to be ‘wiped out’.

The description of poor, homeless and starving Palestinians as ‘Nazis’ by those in full combat gear armed to the teeth shows not only a complete disconnect from reality but a fascist mentality.

Sharon Graham and the National Executive have openly ignored Unite policy in support of the Palestinians which states that

‘The time has now come to stop the Israeli ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people and for Unite to take a lead in taking bolder steps like those that were taken against the South African apartheid regime.’

Unite should have been trying to persuade Unite workers not to handle arms shipments to Israel. When it came to Ukraine Graham gave her full support to dockers refusing to unload Russian oil. The Guardian quoted Graham as saying that Essar, the owner of the Stanlow oil refinery

may believe that it is justifiable to transport Russian oil under a flag of convenience but Unite does not. Unite urges the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, to close this loophole immediately.

This comes on top of Graham’s banning of the film ‘Jeremy Corbyn – The Big Lie’ which showed how anti-Semitism had been weaponised in the Labour Party against Jeremy Corbyn.

Former South-East Regional Secretary Sarah Carpenter, who banned Jeremy Corbyn – The Big Lie from Unite premises in Portsmouth with a series of lies, has just been appointed Graham’s new Chief of Staff.

Carpenter got off to a flying start when she threatened Peter Cavanagh, the union’s London regional secretary, with the loss of a discretionary pension bonus if he did not pull back from his support for Palestinians in Gaza.

Carpenter, according to Skwawkbox was appointed by Graham without the position being advertised and without the approval of Unite’s elected executive. See new Unite chief of staff ‘threatens London sec with loss of pension bonus’ for Gaza support

We demand that the National Executive instructs Graham to actively work for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, that she be present with the national banner on future demonstrations, that she should speak at them and above all that she should stop obstructing the work of others.

At a time when Israel is massacring Palestinians waiting for the delivery of food and executing prisoners and torturing captives it is outrageous that our General Secretary, by her silence and obstruction, is effectively giving support to the genocidal war mongers in Tel Aviv.

Unite and its predecessor union have a proud record of giving support to the struggle against Apartheid in South Africa. We expect it to do the same against Apartheid in Israel.

The Shameful Support of the Left Sects for Sharon Graham's Refusal to Support the Palestinians

All the 'revolutionary' left sects - from the SWP to the Socialist Party - even Counterfire - are making excuses for Sharon Graham, complaining it's not her but the United Left on the Executive that is blocking her. This is clearly and obviously not true. It is Graham and Graham alone who has taken the decision not to have a National Unite presence on the demonstrations.

I have to confess I was surprised by the reaction on a Unite Palestine Discussion group by the opposition of Counterfire's Richard Allday, a member of Unite's National Executive, to the lobby. I accused him of being a member of the SWP until he corrected me. Supporters of the SWP had also made it clear on the group that they didn't support the lobby.

Because of her limited support for strikes, on a wholly non-political basis, whilst at the same time supporting Starmer against the left, the left sects have given their unqualified support to Sharon Graham's racism, British nationalism and support for imperialism. Karl Marx, who supported the Fenians and the Irish struggle for liberation, would turn in his grave if he saw who it was who were claiming to act in his name today. As Marx once said:

'a nation that oppresses another nation cannot itself be free'

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12 August 2023

St Mungo’s is a Homeless Charity Whose CEO Emma Haddad Gets More than £200,000 a Year Whilst Its Workers Are Facing Homelessness!

 Support St Mungo’s Workers  Don’t Allow This Corporate Charity to Break the Strike With Agency Scabs

Strike Rally on August 10th

Last Thursday I attended a mass rally in support of the St Mungo’s strikers outside their plush headquarters in East London, located near luxury yachts and St Katharine Docks. There were hundreds of supporters there and a fierce determination to ensure that the trustees and management, who almost all come from the corporate and financial sector, are not allowed to break a strike of low paid workers.

Please Give Generously to St Mungo’s Strike Fund here

Cheques payable to Unite Housing Workers LE/1111 Branch

or send money to

Unite Housing Workers LE/1111 Branch

Reference St Mungos Hardship fund

Account number: 20040626

Sort code: 608301

Emma Haddad, their Chief Executive Officer, was on £189K according to their last accounts. St Mungo’s has refused to divulge her current salary so we can be certain that she is now receiving over £200K a year, that is 10 times more than St Mungo’s low paid workers.

Haddad has absolutely no experience of the third sector, still less homelessness. She has come from the Home Office where, by all accounts, she had an appalling record.

Whilst the strike has been on St Mungo’s have appointed a Transformation Director, Sean Palmer, also from the Home Office. There seems to be a revolving door between the Home Office and St Mungo’s.

The job was advertised as starting at £130,000 but it is understood that Palmer  negotiated closer to £160,000. It is the usual story. More money for the rich whilst telling its workers they have no money left for them.


Rally at St Mungo's HQ

Palmer was previously involved in the Napier barracks scandal whereby asylum seekers were unlawfully detained and when at the Ministry of Justice he was involved in the shutting down of 100 courts thus creating a massive backlog in people having their cases heard.

Haddad, their CEO, and Palmer oversaw deathly and inhumane accommodation at the Home Office for refugees.  How one wonders are they appropriate for running homelessness accommodation?

Unite lead officer Onay Kasab speaking at the St Mungos strike rally 

As for the trustees, they are almost all are from corporate accounts and finance backgrounds with barely any homelessness experience between them.

True to form these corporate scoundrels first attempted to break the strike using agency staff. When the High Court outlawed that particular practice they decided to hurriedly appointing appoint temps to permanent posts, at great expense, to try and break the strike. What is clear is that this is not about  money but the viciously anti-union and anti-worker mentality of those who occupy corporate boardrooms.

Rally at  St Mungo's HQ

St Mungo’s strikers have been on strike since the end of May. They are currently on week 11. Their demand is for a 10% pay rise for all.

None of this has stopped St Mungo's PR boasting that ‘we’re all united in our values and our aim of ending homelessness.’  So who are what they call their  Team Members?

Rally at St Mungo's HQ

Who Are St Mungo’s Executive Directors?

Emma Haddad, the Chief Executive Officer comes directly from the Home Office where she was responsible for housing for asylum seekers and refugees and before that she worked for the DWP and before that ‘working with EU partners on the migration and asylum agenda.’ Implementing racist migration and asylum policies is her forte

David Fisher - The only Executive Director with any experience in the housing field

David Fisher, the Executive Director of Services, previously worked in three London based charities; Single Homeless Project; Housing Services Agency and Broadway.

Jonathan Manuel - his experience of drink is no doubt invaluable in helping the homeless to become addicted to alcohol

Jonathan Manuel, the Executive Director of Finance, has spent most of his career to date at FTSE 100 drinks company Diageo. Clearly he is well qualified to work for St Mungo’s.

Joanna Killian - no experience in housing but plenty as a partner of crooked accountants KPMG - St Mungo's favourite company

Who are the Trustees?

Well Joanna Killian, who is – Chair of Trustees, is Chief Executive of Surrey County Council. Before that she was a Partner and Head of Local Government and Devolution at crooked accountants KPMG LLP, who seem a favoured company with St Mungo’s.

Rolande Anderson

Then there is Rolande Anderson, who is following a senior career in the civil service. Rolande is Vice Chair at London Metropolitan University and an Associate of the College of Policing. Handy experience if you are dealing with vagrants as the Police term the homeless.

Alexander Beidas - commercial lawyer

There is Alexandra Beidas, who as a commercial lawyer and Global Head of Employment and Incentives at Linklaters, a big city solicitors, has a wealth of experience walking past the homeless each day.

Rob Bradshaw

Not forgetting Rob Bradshaw who is currently Client Director at Gate One, a digital and business transformation consultancy. He has previously worked as a management consultant for PwC and KPMG (again).

Dan Corry - Vulture Capitalist - Gone Missing - Please Report if Spotted

And another housing and homelessness expert is Dan Corry, who seems to have gone missing since the beginning of the strike. Dan is also Chief Executive of New Philanthropy Capital, having held a variety of posts in public policy and economics including as Senior Adviser to the Prime Minister on the Economy from 2007 to 2010.

Darren Johnson - Asset Stripper - Another Trustee Gone Missing

Darren Johnson is another trustee who has gone missing since the dispute began. As Chief Operating Officer at Impax Asset Management, Darren adds to the roster of housing experts at St Mungo’s. Impax Asset specialises in investing in companies involved in the transition to a more sustainable economy. Prior to this Darren was Head of Operations at Talisman Global Asset Management.

Lorraine Mealings

Lorraine Mealings is one of the few who doesn’t have a corporate finance background. Not that she has any experience of homelessness. Lorraine joined BCHA, a housing association as Chief Executive in November 2022 and prior to that was Director of Housing at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.

Philip Moore’s qualifications to sit on the board of a homeless charity are unquestioned. His background is as a finance professional. His most recent full-time role being Group Finance Director with the Liverpool Victoria Financial Services Ltd, which he held until 2017. Philip is an experienced non-executive within both the third and private sectors and includes appointments with North Hertfordshire College, Skipton Building Society and the real estate company, Connells.

The Elusive Teddy Nyahasha

Not forgetting of course the elusive Teddy Nyahasha, who is Brighton based. Teddy too brings a wealth of experience to a homeless charity as the CEO of OneFamily, the UK’s third largest mutual, which is based in West Street, Brighton. Teddy previously held a series of high-profile roles within start-ups and global multi-billion-pound household names such as Ernst & Young, Aviva and Royal London as well as working as a specialist adviser at the FSA.

Teddy is a qualified Chartered Accountant, a Certified Financial Risk Manager and has an MBA from the London Business School.

The elusive Darren Johnson

Teddy is however shy by nature which is why, when strikers have come down to his office to demonstrate he has refused to come out and speak to them. Quite understandable in the circumstances. As one striker told me:

He is a trustee of the organisation. They say they are transparent, but when we try to speak to the trustees we are either ignored or referred back to St Mungo’s CEO. If he doesn’t want to be involved in the work of the organisation why is he a trustee. 

It is a good question and the answer is not hard to find. Charity is the conscience of the rich. Doing ‘good works’ is a way of compensating for the day to day business of exploiting their workers. Being a trustee of a charity is a good way for corporations and their executives to demonstrate how caring they are. It is all about PR and branding.


Stephen Smith

Stephen Smith too is more than acquainted with the homeless. He was a Board and Executive Director of the National Audit Office from 2015 to 2020. Prior to this, he was a partner with KPMG (clearly a favourite spawning ground for St Mungo’s) where he provided restructuring advice to governments and banks, and led KPMG’s European Transaction Services mergers and acquisitions support business. Restructuring is finance jargon for sacking people and getting those remaining to do more work for the same pay.

Helen Walters - the odd one out who isn't a financial parasite though she is complicit in forcing sick people to work

Then there is Dr Helen Walters who is indeed an odd fish. She comes with no financial or asset stripping experience. Instead she is a doctor specialising in Public Health and John Watts too doesn’t seem to have the requisite City experience being an award winning writer, musician and actor.

Mariam Sani

Not forgetting of course the Independent Committee Member, Mariam Sani, whose background according to her bio is in the affordable housing sector. She initially worked for a law firm before moving to a Registered Provider. Before you get too worried, we are assured that Mariam has over 15 years of experience in the niche area of securitisation/property charging and her skills range across to governance and risk, being responsible for the Asset & Liabilities Register and Insurance within her current role as a Head of Securitisation and Asset Control at Legal & General Affordable Homes. One suspects that her experience of affordable homes, at least to the homeless is strictly limited.

John Watts - one of only 2 Trustees with no expertise in dodgy finance - it's a mystery what he's doing on the trustee board unless he is someone's crony

These are the potted bios of the current board of trustees and they help explain why it is that St Mungo’s has chosen to break the strike rather than pay a living wage.

Brighton Mungo's strike leaflet 2020

The current strike at St Mungo’s is not the first you will be pleased to hear. In March 2020 workers went on strike against what I called at the time a ‘Dickensian Employer’.

St Mungo’s was trying to reduce the number of experienced, higher paid staff in favour of junior staff who were less well paid. I asked then 'What employer wants to sack employees with experience other than one for whom providing a service to clients means less than cutting costs?'

St Mungo's strike picket 2020

Staff told me of a ‘reign of terror’ in which workers were afraid to go off sick because people who got sick also got dismissed. So the staff started to book their time off sick as leave.


Working with the Home Office to Deport Migrants

St Mungo’s first came to my attention when some of its outreach workers were found to be passing on information to the Home Office about which homeless migrants they could deport.

Immigration enforcement staff accompanied outreach workers in London before the High Court ruled the policy of deporting homeless migrants from the EU was unlawful.

Brighton rally in support of the 2020 Mungo's strike

At first St Mungo’s simply lied and denied everything. It was only after had been found out that it was forced to apologise. As the Public Interest Law Centre stated:

“The findings of St Mungo’s internal review have vindicated the work of migrants and homeless rights campaigners who have spent years trying to hold the charity to account for collaborating with immigration enforcement in the detention and deportation of homeless people,”

“St Mungo’s has admitted misleading the press, campaigners and, most importantly, rough sleepers about the way they worked with the Home Office.

I asked ‘What Kind of Homeless Charity is it which Works with the Home Office to Deport Homeless Migrants? Step Forward Howard Sinclair – their £160,000 union busting CEO.’

Sinclair accidentally sent an email to a Unite official in which he wrote:

‘No need to change tac (sic). Our strategy should be to…stop more people joining and erode support.’

Sinclair was running a union busting operation. Despite this St Mungo’s claimed that 'We actively encourage our staff to join the union of their choice'. They really have no shame.

Rally at  St Mungo's HQ

However according to the Telegraph it was all previous Unite General Secretary Len McLuskey’s fault: ‘Homelesses charity accuses Len McCluskey of putting lives at risk with strike’

Tony Greenstein

See St Mungo’s strike in the media

Staff at a homelessness charity are holding a ‘mega rally’ against their toxic bosses - (The Canary)

 

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