In private, and off the record, politicians of all political persuasions will admit that Ofsted is no longer, if it ever was, the key to raising educational standards. It is now widely acknowledged…Read more…
Fair pay starts at home: report reveals widespread low pay in Leicester garment industry
It’s Fairpay Fortnight at the TUC. One of the sectors we know workers particularly face low pay is the garment industry. Usually it is the very low rates of pay workers are given in countries like Cambodia and Bangladesh that we hear about. A new report produced for the Ethical Trading…Read more…
Ofsted must re-think the way it collects and uses evidence during inspection
By Terry Pearson Mary Bousted blogged well last year about the inadequacies of Ofsted quality assurance systems. I’d like to look at one of the fundamental problems with Ofsted’s methodology…Read more…
News roundup: Qatar under attack! Sort of.
It’s never reassuring when anyone, having been caught doing something bad, apologises, promises to fix things, but then starts telling everyone else that you’re being really unfair on…Read more…
Speak up for Justice – Not the Global Law Summit
The Speak up for Justice campaign calls for an integrated, publicly owned, accessible and accountable justice system that protects our right to justice. We also campaign against cuts to jobs and services and for a properly funded justice system. The ca…Read more…
London Loop Walk: Section 2 – Old Bexley to Jubilee Park
Off message but photos are from the 2nd London Loop Walk last Sunday. This was just under 8 miles and much more attractive than the first. The riverside walk along the River Cray was very muddy but it was fun watching daft dogs jumping into the freezin…Read more…
What future for Council Housing?
Council housing and the housing crisis A book by Martin Wicks Everybody knows there is a housing crisis. However, it is usually written about by academics or professionals who work in the housing sector. Tenant voices are rarely heard. What Future for …Read more…
The Value of Ethical Trade
Pamela L’Intelligent will be attending the Fairtrade Fortnight event at the STUC centre on the 23rd February. To register for this free event email Helen Martin on hmartin@stuc.org.uk
Pamela is a 44…Read more…
Saving Our Safety Net Fact of the Week: “not statistically different from zero”
The big social security news of this week has been the Prime Minister’s announcement of major benefit cuts for young people if his party wins the election. On Tuesday he promised to end the “well worn path from the school gate and onto a life on benefits”, with “no more something for nothing”. As…Read more…
Energy profits and the failed market
Scottish Power profits have increased by 41% year-on-year in its generation and supply business for 2014. This comes after the Competitions Authority said the Big Six providers, including Scottish…Read more…
“The Tories have become the political wing of the Hedge Fund Party”
This story in the Guardian is petty shocking. This email below was sent out on Tuesday by Labour General Secretary Iain McNicol.
Of course the real scandal is these Hedge funds managers are only making this money in the first place by ripping off you…Read more…
House-building picked up in 2014 – but what will happen this year?
Is house building really recovering, as the government asserts, or is this just a good spin? Housing Minister Brandon Lewis welcomed new figures* showing a rise in the numbers of homes being built across the country, saying “Today’s figures show we’re on track and turning this around….Read more…
Four things you can do to help Barnet care workers
Share: Facebook Twitter Google Plus LinkedIn There are 4 things all of our supporters can do to help
1. Ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion 778
read moreRead more…
UNISON NEC – the other report
http://www.unison.org.uk/news/the-most-important-election
The link above is to the official report of yesterday’s meeting of UNISON’s National Executive Council (NEC).
It rightly focuses on the two most important topics which we discussed.
First,…Read more…
It’s not my hobby, it’s my profession: Fair pay for musicians
Spare a thought for freelance musicians this Fair Pay Fortnight, and what it must be like to fight for fair pay every day that you work. Working musicians are frequently being asked to work for…Read more…
Fidelity, the Tory-friendly fund manager
As the latest info from the Electoral Commission reveals, Fidelity is still funding the Tories. £25,000 donated in November took their total for 2014 up to £120,000.
They are also still paying Tory MP Sir John Stanley for advice on “business opportunities and risks” at the rate of £1,800 a month…Read more…
TUC: David Cameron wants you to believe he’s the workers’ friend. Don’t fall for it
Frances O’Grady Average wages have decreased in real terms under the present government. Expect more of the same – and worse – if the Tories are re-elected Which party is most trusted to be on…Read more…
Legal moves to protect migrant domestic workers
The much anticipated Modern Slavery Bill is entering its final phases, with Report Stage in the Lords scheduled for next Wednesday, 25 February. However, unless the Amendment tabled by crossbencher Lord Hylton, Labour’s Baroness Royall, Conservative Baroness Hanham and the Bishop of Carlisle…Read more…
Wage stagnation has increased the deficit by at least £33bn, says TUC
16 February 2015 The government is collecting £33.4bn less in income tax and national insurance than official forecasts suggested because of the lack of earnings growth in the UK, according to…Read more…
Fair Pay Fortnight: Getting beyond poverty pay
Fair Pay Fortnight (16 February to 1 March) is a campaign from Britain’s unions, calling for a fairer approach to wages across the board, from the poverty pay that’s rife in many sectors,…Read more…