I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s monthly employment statistics (it’s an exciting life at the TUC) and I’ve been thinking about the employment and unemployment gaps between men and women. In some respects, the convergence of men’s and women’s employment opportunities that we’ve got used to over a…Read more…
What if Mao still ran China?
I’ve always been a sucker for those ‘What if?’ historical scenarios. What if John Smith hadn’t died in 1994? Would New Labour ever have happened? How would social democracy look today in the UK? Or: What if Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro had not been kidnapped and killed by terrorists in 1978?…Read more…
Using agency temps to replace striking workers will threaten the basic right to strike for all
Two years ago this September, workers at Hovis in Wigan took strike action and won a landmark victory over increasing zero-hours work in their factory, safeguarding an important source of secure…Read more…
Don’t let employers use agency temps to break strikes
The Government plan to overturn the longstanding ban on using agency temp workers to break strikes.Read more…
Limited Company
LORD DAVID SAINSBURY, generous donor
Leadership hopeful LIZ KENDALL
http://averypublicsociologist.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/why-are-right-endorsing-liz-kendall.html
WITH all…Read more…
Not a nice guy, never been a good MP, certainly not making the weather…
http://www.alastaircampbell.org/blog/2015/08/10/nice-guy-good-mp-making-the-weather-but-it-has-to-be-abc-anyone-but-corbyn-labour-is-finished-if-he-wins/
I’m a little surprised that Alastair Campbell (best known as the inspiration for the funniest poli…Read more…
Dave’s dining tips
When you tip your server at a restaurant, you’d expect the full tip to be given to the server, who works hard to ensure you have a good dining experience. While most restaurants do give their…Read more…
Sense of hope
Unite member Samantha Ritchie has been actively involved in the Labour party as a youth officer in her Constituency Labour Party, and signing up to vote in this year’s leadership election, is, for…Read more…
Clearing rush
Record numbers of students are rushing to get a university place through the Clearing system, as maintenance grants are set to be scrapped by the government and replaced by loans next year. …Read more…
Holiday hunger
For many families the six weeks holidays are a time to look forward to where children can relax, enjoy day trips and holidays abroad or try different holiday clubs. But for many the shocking…Read more…
Chutzpah on global migration from the Foreign Secretary
There were many things that made people’s blood boil about Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond’s statement that Europe’s social infrastructure was under threat from migrants fleeing war-torn or poverty-stricken countries in Africa and the Middle East, like the scaremongering…Read more…
Cracking down on migrants or on exploitation?
The Home Office Immigration Minister James Brokenshire MP (who, lest we forget, replaced Mark Harper MP in the role after Harper was exposed as having employed an ‘illegal immigrant’ as his cleaner) has announced a crackdown on those who employ illegal immigrants, promising Border Force…Read more…
The Isle of Wight is Disproportionately Singled out for Attack:
There is growing evidence that the Isle of Wight is being singled out by Government. The factual base would be testimony enough to provide the means for a counter to the isolation and attack on its…Read more…
An attack we’ve seen off before
Trying to stop nurses, care workers, teaching assistants, hospital cleaners and town hall staff from paying their union subs directly from their wages is an attack we’ve defeated before and one which…Read more…
Isle of Wight Dairy Farmers Join Protest:
Isle of Wight dairy farmers clear supermarket shelves of milk. Isle of Wight dairy farmers have joined the national protests calling on supermarkets to pay a fair price for milk. They urge…Read more…
TUC to organise national demonstration during Conservative Party Conference
The TUC will organise a national demonstration in Manchester this autumn against the government’s austerity agenda and attacks on trade unions. It will take place on Sunday 4 October and will begin…Read more…
LGA legal advice on Pensions for Councillors
The Local Government Association has publised guidence obtained from Eversheds solicitors on “Powers of Councils to Pay Pensions to Elected Members”.
The summary of this advice (copied below) is in its latest newsletter which can be found here. &…Read more…
Dr Arieh Yaari, 1918-2005
Today marks the tenth anniversary of the passing of Dr Arieh Yaari — socialist, Zionist and fighter for peace. I first met Arieh in January 1981 when I arrived at Kibbutz Ein Dor as a new…Read more…
London Loop Walk Section 5: Hamsey Green to Benstead Downs
Off message but another marvellous 10 mile loop walk from last Saturday. Hamsey Green is not easy to get to from East London. Train it to East Croydon then 10 minute walk to 403 bus to Hamsey Green. Used “The London Loop” guide book.
Weather was…Read more…
The Real World Meets the Gig Economy
Colleagues,
Apologies for such a long delay between this post and my last – reporting on another great CWU BME Leadership Weekend – but I have been away teaching a tremendous amount, with little time to reflect and write. (Al…Read more…