40 temporary housing tenants take direct action along with the newly elected Mayor of Newham, in response to ‘out of control’ temporary housing contractor Mears
On Thursday 16th August 2018, 40 temporary housing residents, all members of PEACH, travelled on a coach to Mears Offices to take direct action on temporary housing contractor Mears (previously Tando Property Services). Last year, the group of temporary tenants (then called Tando Tigers, now the Mears Cats) made a viral video exposing their poor treatment and calling for the previous council administration to ‘take back control’ of the properties. In an unlikely turn of events, the newly elected Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz and her cabinet member for Housing, Cllr John Gray joined the action yesterday to demonstrate their support of the temporary tenants and to hand a letter to the CEO, David Miles. A video of the action can be found here https://www.facebook.com/PEACH.E16.org/videos/2165459886857778/
Residents brought cockroaches along from infestations that Mears had refused to treat, and told stories of their ill-treatment. Jade Hills, Mears Cats Member recalled that “I recently didn’t have any hot water for over 8 weeks. My 3 year old son has chronic eczema and because I couldn’t bathe him properly during the heatwave, his skin was infected and he had to go to hospital 4 times. I hope that by taking this action we get an end to the stress of paying high rent and getting no repairs.”
Samantha Napa, Mears Cats Member had this to say “We are so excited to that Mayor Fiaz and Cllr John Gray have joined us in solidarity today. We will keep fighting until Mears are out of lives for good.”
Children of the temporary tenants performed a rendition of Drake’s Hotline Bling, singing ‘I know when that repairs line bling, Mears won’t do a single thing!’ followed by ‘No more Mears, no more Tears!’
A delegation of Samantha Napa and Ivorine Bogle from the Mears Cats along with Mayor Fiaz and Cllr Gray were invited in by Mears management for an impromptu meeting. Ivorine handed over the cockroaches to Mears Management and negotiated for a number of repairs, rehousing and rent issues to be resolved. 2 hours after the action, one tenant had already been called with an offer of a new property. A follow up meeting between Mears, the Mears Cats, the Mayor and the Lead on Housing has been scheduled for September.
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