Laura Wilkes
@lawkim.bsky.social
Full time trade unionist & Branch Secretary with Unison. Enthusiastic but very amateur artist. Pronouns she/her. If you’re right wing in any way, shape or form, don’t bother engaging, I’m done with your shit.
@tracychevalier.bsky.social another excellent read! Thank you for your meticulous research and damn good storytelling. I came across this little gem at the library, remember to support your local library and get fabulous books like this for free 😊
January 3, 2025 at 7:43 AM
@tracychevalier.bsky.social another excellent read! Thank you for your meticulous research and damn good storytelling. I came across this little gem at the library, remember to support your local library and get fabulous books like this for free 😊
Been laid up with a wrenched muscle in my back so read this straight through in two days and it was a damn good read! In my 40s when I was desperately unhappy I took up long distance walking and this book resonated with me on so many levels, definitely recommend this @phoebesmith.bsky.social
January 3, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Been laid up with a wrenched muscle in my back so read this straight through in two days and it was a damn good read! In my 40s when I was desperately unhappy I took up long distance walking and this book resonated with me on so many levels, definitely recommend this @phoebesmith.bsky.social
True. And the Board at ESNEFT should be ashamed of themselves for outsourcing services such as housekeeping, portering and catering in the face of clear evidence which says outsourcing results in poorer care for patients and less job satisfaction for hard working NHS staff.
We can rebuild the NHS without privatisation. We do not need to involve private companies in the delivery of patient-facing public healthcare.
The only people who benefit from NHS privatisation are private company shareholders 🚨
The only people who benefit from NHS privatisation are private company shareholders 🚨
December 27, 2024 at 7:14 PM
True. And the Board at ESNEFT should be ashamed of themselves for outsourcing services such as housekeeping, portering and catering in the face of clear evidence which says outsourcing results in poorer care for patients and less job satisfaction for hard working NHS staff.
Reposted by Laura Wilkes
I seem to have upset the Nigel Farage fan club - so let me be clear.
This man sows hate, lies and division.
He is a grifter and a conman.
He does not represent the vast majority of Britons.
Repost if you agree
P.s. multiculturalism is great.
This man sows hate, lies and division.
He is a grifter and a conman.
He does not represent the vast majority of Britons.
Repost if you agree
P.s. multiculturalism is great.
December 27, 2024 at 9:55 AM
I seem to have upset the Nigel Farage fan club - so let me be clear.
This man sows hate, lies and division.
He is a grifter and a conman.
He does not represent the vast majority of Britons.
Repost if you agree
P.s. multiculturalism is great.
This man sows hate, lies and division.
He is a grifter and a conman.
He does not represent the vast majority of Britons.
Repost if you agree
P.s. multiculturalism is great.
Fun day planned, heading down to the coast to check out two record shops and a few antique shops and a nice stroll along the (probably very foggy) promenade. Whatever you have planned, have a lovely day
December 27, 2024 at 8:50 AM
Fun day planned, heading down to the coast to check out two record shops and a few antique shops and a nice stroll along the (probably very foggy) promenade. Whatever you have planned, have a lovely day
Already playing with our Christmas present, me and me fella treated ourselves to a turntable and very decent Bluetooth speaker, currently enjoying some old British blues, plucked from the bargain bin at a local record shop. I think vinyl will be our new obsession 😁
December 22, 2024 at 6:12 PM
Already playing with our Christmas present, me and me fella treated ourselves to a turntable and very decent Bluetooth speaker, currently enjoying some old British blues, plucked from the bargain bin at a local record shop. I think vinyl will be our new obsession 😁
Agree. If you look into them they are a pretty shady bunch
I almost forgot: your annual reminder not to give one single penny to those homophobic and transphobic brass band bastards of the Salvation Army.
December 21, 2024 at 2:04 PM
Agree. If you look into them they are a pretty shady bunch
Well, this is nice after a bumpy week. Non-working Friday afternoon, enormous cuddly cat on my lap, lovely cup of decaf and a book about the history of art. I should be wrapping Christmas presents but I’ll do me instead 😊
December 20, 2024 at 3:17 PM
Well, this is nice after a bumpy week. Non-working Friday afternoon, enormous cuddly cat on my lap, lovely cup of decaf and a book about the history of art. I should be wrapping Christmas presents but I’ll do me instead 😊
I used to journal like crazy, for years, then I suddenly stopped. I’m not sure why but perhaps I realised I needed to do something to change my life rather than just write about wanting change. A friend has gifted me a lovely notebook and I just can’t think what to do with it, how I can use it well
December 20, 2024 at 3:10 PM
I used to journal like crazy, for years, then I suddenly stopped. I’m not sure why but perhaps I realised I needed to do something to change my life rather than just write about wanting change. A friend has gifted me a lovely notebook and I just can’t think what to do with it, how I can use it well
What a wonderful photo of an extremely courageous woman
Photo of the Day, if not the Year.
Solidarity and admiration.
📸This brilliant photo of Gisele Pelicot, leaving court for the final time yesterday, was taken by Arnold Jerocki for Getty Images.
Solidarity and admiration.
📸This brilliant photo of Gisele Pelicot, leaving court for the final time yesterday, was taken by Arnold Jerocki for Getty Images.
December 20, 2024 at 3:06 PM
What a wonderful photo of an extremely courageous woman
Of course they bloody would 😡
Gisele Pelicot should named as the Time person of the year. For bravely waiving her anonymity in one of the most horrific rape cases the world has seen, to take a stand for survivors and shame the perpetrators.
Instead they’re featuring Trump, a rapist, for the second time. Obviously.
Instead they’re featuring Trump, a rapist, for the second time. Obviously.
December 13, 2024 at 3:10 PM
Of course they bloody would 😡
Reposted by Laura Wilkes
The rate of unemployment for disabled people is double compared to their non‑disabled counterparts.
Discrimination against disabled people is unlawful. It's time to ask your employer to make a commitment to supporting disabled employees by signing the charter.
Discrimination against disabled people is unlawful. It's time to ask your employer to make a commitment to supporting disabled employees by signing the charter.
Opinion: Inspiring action and change for disabled workers | Article, News | News | UNISON National
UK Disability History Month helps to recognise the valuable role disabled people play and work and in society
www.unison.org.uk
December 12, 2024 at 9:34 AM
The rate of unemployment for disabled people is double compared to their non‑disabled counterparts.
Discrimination against disabled people is unlawful. It's time to ask your employer to make a commitment to supporting disabled employees by signing the charter.
Discrimination against disabled people is unlawful. It's time to ask your employer to make a commitment to supporting disabled employees by signing the charter.
Decided to prioritise drawing over chores this morning, a habit I really must cultivate, and re-drew my favourite jug. It’s been months since I worked on my pencil skills and I haven’t got the top of the jug right, but I thoroughly enjoyed drawing it. Now to revisit oil pastels 😁
December 8, 2024 at 2:42 PM
Decided to prioritise drawing over chores this morning, a habit I really must cultivate, and re-drew my favourite jug. It’s been months since I worked on my pencil skills and I haven’t got the top of the jug right, but I thoroughly enjoyed drawing it. Now to revisit oil pastels 😁
Feeling exhausted today, been a bit under the weather all week and today we held our quarterly (they should be more frequent!) bargaining and negotiating forum. Started prickly but managed to warm it up halfway through. Shouldn’t be this hard though to look after our people
December 5, 2024 at 8:13 PM
Feeling exhausted today, been a bit under the weather all week and today we held our quarterly (they should be more frequent!) bargaining and negotiating forum. Started prickly but managed to warm it up halfway through. Shouldn’t be this hard though to look after our people
Reposted by Laura Wilkes
Please be kind. 12 weeks ago I started on a beginners art course. I had zero experience having not studied art at school. I’ve learned so much about colour, mixing and different formats. This is my final piece of a sea scape and tall ship, in acrylic. I’ve already signed up for next term 😁
November 27, 2024 at 6:29 PM
Please be kind. 12 weeks ago I started on a beginners art course. I had zero experience having not studied art at school. I’ve learned so much about colour, mixing and different formats. This is my final piece of a sea scape and tall ship, in acrylic. I’ve already signed up for next term 😁
Good for her for living her values, but what shocks me more is that Elonia was even in the RS! My understanding is that he has no technical knowledge (but claims all the technical credit)
It is good to see people stand up and have the courage of their convictions like Professor Bishop. The Royal Society should expel Elon Musk.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Oxford scientist resigns from Royal Society over Elon Musk’s continuing fellowship
Prof Dorothy Bishop said fellowship was ‘a contradiction of all the values’ of UK’s national academy of sciences
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2024 at 7:35 PM
Good for her for living her values, but what shocks me more is that Elonia was even in the RS! My understanding is that he has no technical knowledge (but claims all the technical credit)
Reposted by Laura Wilkes
Totally non-work related post, but enjoying day drinking with my daughter. Not regular occurrence with me but it’s been a helluva week. Changing careers at 58 and leaving the wonderful world of libraries for the brash world of trade unionism has been a shock, but, I’ve got this ✊🏻
November 23, 2024 at 5:20 PM
Totally non-work related post, but enjoying day drinking with my daughter. Not regular occurrence with me but it’s been a helluva week. Changing careers at 58 and leaving the wonderful world of libraries for the brash world of trade unionism has been a shock, but, I’ve got this ✊🏻
Reposted by Laura Wilkes
If you oppose NHS privatisation, please could you repost this and follow me? I need to know who to follow next (it’ll be you!) 🌟🌟🌟
November 22, 2024 at 7:33 AM
If you oppose NHS privatisation, please could you repost this and follow me? I need to know who to follow next (it’ll be you!) 🌟🌟🌟
Reposted by Laura Wilkes
Large parts of adult social care in England face collapse, thinktank says.
The budget blamed but there are other factors.
Massive real cut in local govt funding since 2010.
Privatisation: 30%-40% of money vanishes in profits. Money buys less.
End Privatisation
www.theguardian.com/society/2024...
The budget blamed but there are other factors.
Massive real cut in local govt funding since 2010.
Privatisation: 30%-40% of money vanishes in profits. Money buys less.
End Privatisation
www.theguardian.com/society/2024...
Large parts of adult social care market in England face collapse, thinktank warns
Sector will have extra £2.8bn cost burden from April due to tax and wage rises announced in budget, says Nuffield Trust
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2024 at 7:55 AM
Large parts of adult social care in England face collapse, thinktank says.
The budget blamed but there are other factors.
Massive real cut in local govt funding since 2010.
Privatisation: 30%-40% of money vanishes in profits. Money buys less.
End Privatisation
www.theguardian.com/society/2024...
The budget blamed but there are other factors.
Massive real cut in local govt funding since 2010.
Privatisation: 30%-40% of money vanishes in profits. Money buys less.
End Privatisation
www.theguardian.com/society/2024...
<sigh> well, meeting my new MP last night was a disappointment. He seems a genial, naive sort of guy who admitted to knowing nothing about my nhs trust, in his own constituency, which leads me to believe I’ll get no help there so I’ll look to my union comrades for help instead ✊🏻✊🏻
November 23, 2024 at 7:47 AM
<sigh> well, meeting my new MP last night was a disappointment. He seems a genial, naive sort of guy who admitted to knowing nothing about my nhs trust, in his own constituency, which leads me to believe I’ll get no help there so I’ll look to my union comrades for help instead ✊🏻✊🏻
Reposted by Laura Wilkes
Why are Guardian and Observer journalists going on strike for four days in December over the deal to offload the Observer onto a failing digital startup? Five reasons here. Please repost 🙏
November 22, 2024 at 7:50 PM
Why are Guardian and Observer journalists going on strike for four days in December over the deal to offload the Observer onto a failing digital startup? Five reasons here. Please repost 🙏
I’m off to the West Suffolk Trades Council event tonight to meet the local Labour MP (an amazing achievement in true blue Suffolk) and to describe what it’s like to support members through a chaotic and totally mismanaged financial crisis brought about by sheer incompetence 😡
November 22, 2024 at 5:32 PM
I’m off to the West Suffolk Trades Council event tonight to meet the local Labour MP (an amazing achievement in true blue Suffolk) and to describe what it’s like to support members through a chaotic and totally mismanaged financial crisis brought about by sheer incompetence 😡