I have long been very sceptical about the Daily Torygraph headlines about defined benefit (DB) pension schemes being “in massive deficit”, “gold plated” and/or “unaffordable”. Check out this paper below by Dennis Leech, Emeritus Professor of …Read more…
Third time unlucky?
For the third time this summer I have to ask you, dear reader, to keep to yourself some information concerning disciplinary action being contemplated against your humble blogger.
I won’t bore you with the observation that this third and latest indicat…Read more…
Keep health visitor promises
Scotland’s leading health visitors’ union says the Scottish government has to keep its promises on fair funding and extra staff if it wants the named person scheme to be a success. The…Read more…
Taking back control of our borders. Unless you’re a city fat cat.
There are over three million EU citizens living and working in the UK who are concerned about their future right to remain in the UK. Many Brits currently living and working in the rest of the EU have the same concerns about their own future. Organisat…Read more…
‘Rank incompetence’
Prudential employees, based in Reading, will stage two 24-hour strikes over plans to offshore an estimated 82 jobs dealing with annuities to India. Staff, members of Unite, will strike for 24…Read more…
‘A big, big victory’
Unite secured a massive victory in its fight against Bromley council’s privatisation agenda, after its campaign forced a main plank of the local authority’s proposals to fall. Bromley has…Read more…
With so much to deal with in 2016, why debate a return to 1950s education?
So my first week as the new AMiE president – and the first of the new academic year – draws to an end. Glancing through the press this week, it’s clear that there will lots of to talk about over the…Read more…
Everyone deserves to go to a good school – but new grammar schools aren’t the answer
Everyone deserves to go to a good school – regardless of their background or their academic ability. That simply won’t be achieved by stacking even greater advantage and privilege in the hands of a…Read more…
From Uber to Sports direct
The fight to defend the UK’s industrial economy will be spearheaded by Unite at the Trades Union Congress when it gathers in Brighton from September 11 to 14. Taking part in key Congress…Read more…
Cavendish Coalition: tackling the #right2remain for health & care workers
We have read, written and talked much in recent years about the enormous pressures in our health and social care systems – pressures caused by increasing need as people live longer but are not always well; by public spending cuts; by the necessary expenses of modern, high-tech care; and,…Read more…
Grammar schools belong in the past, says UNISON
Friday 9 September 2016 For immediate release Commenting on the prime minister’s speech about grammar schools today (Friday), UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “The country may be under new…Read more…
Sports Direct must change their ways
I was proud that as a member of the Trade Union Share Owners group, UNISON was able to play a role in holding Sports Direct to account, by pushing them to allow independent investigation of their…Read more…
Is the Daily Mail right about increasing strike action? (Spoiler: No)
The Daily Mail took the TUC to task this week over claims made by our General Secretary, Frances O’Grady that industrial action was not on the increase and that the number of strikes were “very, very low”. Referring to industrial disputes on Southern, ScotRail and Virgin East Coast, the Mail…Read more…
Ghana TUC: building workers’ power for decent work & national development
As delegates head to Brighton for the TUC’s 148th Congress, we’ve received a fascinating report from the Ghana TUC Congress held last month, which we wanted to share. Thanks to Justice Baako Ntarmah,…Read more…
Cycle to Work Day: Wednesday 14 September 2016
This is a fantastic initiative by the London Cycling Campaign. My union work takes me across London and I find cycling often takes less time to get there than public transport or by car. There are also a number of relatively quiet and attractive …Read more…
Strong and determined
Security staff at Community Safety Glasgow say they are standing firm against cuts of up to £4,000 in their take-home pay. Around 30 Unite members started strike action today (September 7)…Read more…
Ban zero hours contracts call
While many had predicted that zero-hours contracts (ZHCs) would diminish as the economy picked up again following the financial crisis, successive annual figures show that these work arrangements…Read more…
‘Blue blood’ monopoly
Snobbish investment banks are barring nearly all but the very wealthiest from entering the industry thanks to unforgivable infractions – like wearing brown shoes, speaking with the wrong accent and…Read more…
The fight that can never rest
Top former footballers including Les Ferdinand MBE and Paul Elliot MBE will be among those coming together at Unite’s headquarters this Friday (September 9) to promote the 20th anniversary of the…Read more…
Victory against insecure jobs
A victory against the insecurity of agency working has been won on behalf of 42 escorts on Hackney school buses who now have permanent jobs. Unite took up the cudgels for the escorts, all of…Read more…