“Yesterday also saw the re-election of Dave Prentis as Unison general secretary. Prentis won 49% of the vote against three further left candidates, and the scale of his victory will be welcomed by Labour moderates. While the trade union backed Co…Read more…
New ITUC Report “Qatar: Profit and Loss” Workers Paying with Lives as Companies Extract Billions in Profit
A new report from the International Trade Union Confederation estimates that $15 billion profit will be made by companies working in Qatar on infrastructure for the controversial 2022 FIFA World Cup…Read more…
Government from the dark side? Transparency is not strong with this one…
Labour Deputy Leader Tom Watson made an interesting speech today, raising concerns about the erosion of transparency and accountability under our current government, and the threats this poses to our civil liberties. He accuses the Prime Minister in particular of “governing from the…Read more…
Too little, too late
The UK steel industry has received much needed support, as the UK was given EU state aid approval to give green tax rebates for energy-intensive industries. The aid package will be worth…Read more…
Simple Minds called to campaign for world cup workers in Qatar
Date: Friday 18 December 2015
UNISON, Scotland’s biggest trade union, has written to the Scottish band Simple Minds asking they speak out for migrant workers rights in Qatar.UNISON supports the TUC Fair Play for Qatar campaign which is highlighting the poor working conditions of migrant workers who are building football stadiums and infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup.Simple Minds areRead more…
Sports Direct faces Christmas under pressure
The good news is we may be seeing the first signs of movement at Sports Direct. The bad news is that it is still not enough.Read more…
‘Star Wars’ digital revolution is coming
Serious questions are being asked whether the UK is fully geared up to profit from the ‘Star Wars’ digital revolution so eagerly being embraced by its economic competitors. As the prospect of…Read more…
Orgreave: justice fight goes on
Unite has backed the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign (OTJC) since its inception over three years ago. One of the campaign stalwarts is Unite industrial organiser Joe Rollin from Barnsley…Read more…
Breaking down barriers
For our last part in UNITElive’s series for Disability History Month this, we speak to Marsha de Cordova who explains how people with disabilities are being shortchanged by employers and the…Read more…
Investigate now call
A co-ordinated inquiry should be launched to investigate serious allegations about pay and working practices at Sports Direct, MPs who are Unite members have said. Undercover reporters from…Read more…
End ‘Victorian’ work practices
A review by Mike Ashley into the use of agency workers at Sports Direct will be nothing more than a public relations stunt if it fails to end ‘Victorian’ work practices at the retailer’s Shirebrook…Read more…
Marks & Spencer workers took over the retailer’s flagship store
M&S and Topshop workers demand to get living wage Friday 18th DOZENS of disgruntled Marks & Spencer workers in Santa hats took over the retailer’s flagship store in London yesterday to demand…Read more…
Is the care home market heading for a crash?
BBC There are over 500,000 care and nursing homes places in the UK – that is more than the entire population of Liverpool. The people living in them are among the oldest, most vulnerable people…Read more…
Keep coal alive
‘King Coal’ has a future as a UK producer, despite ministerial short-sightedness, driven by treasury cuts, Unite said yesterday (December 17). And coal’s importance cannot be…Read more…
ONS wealth data: the rich get considerably richer
In cash terms the top 10% own £5.0 trillion of UK total household wealth of £11.1 trillion – that’s 44.8 per cent (over 2012-14). Last time (2010-12), it was £4.1tn of £9.4tn – so 43.6%. This increased share of 1.2 percentage points (ppts) is very hefty relative to the past three…Read more…
Ceramic Valley may lose ceramic factories without support
In the Autumn Statement more Enterprise Zones were announced, including “Ceramic Valley” in the Stoke and Staffordshire LEP. For our members making construction product materials it should currently be a no-brainer to invest in extra manufacturing capacity, given: Cross-party agreement on the need…Read more…
UNISON Lay Presidential team statement on “tampered” recording
Subject: GENERAL SECRETARY ELECTION: COMPLAINT: GREATER LONDON REGION
TO: NEC
SENIOR AND NATIONAL MANAGERS
REGIONAL SECRETARIES
REGIONAL CONVENORS
SERVICE GROUP CHAIRS
RMT – GREATER LONDON REGION
Dear Colleague
As you know a number of serious all…Read more…
International migrants day 2015: European unions call for refugee employment rights
The TUC has joined other unions around Europe to mark International Migrants Day (18 Dec) by calling for measures to get refugees integrated into the workplace, rather than left in limbo in camps or on benefits – or worse. The TUC made this call ahead of an international conference in Zagreb,…Read more…
Not the end of the road
Whilst UNISON has not received the report of the Returning Officer in the General Secretary election, as investigations are still underway (and being assisted with unanticipated interventions from unexpected quarters), the Scrutineer has been able…Read more…
Bedroom Tax – hurting just like we said it would
This was MPs’ last day before the holidays and the department for Work and Pensions celebrated by publishing fourteen – count them – reports, releases and statements. In this take out the trash glut you might be forgiven for missing the excitingly titled Evaluation of Removal of…Read more…