The new official statistics on zero-hours contracts in the UK are out today and they make for grim reading. Over the past year, Britain’s zero-hours workforce has grown from 747,000 to 903,000 – a rise of 21%. Zero-hours contracts have become an easy way for bosses to employ staff on…Read more…
“They treat you like rubbish”
Around 20 Unite Community members, from Chesterfield, Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield, were unfurling banners and unpacking pamphlets yesterday, when the factory tour led by Sports Direct billionaire…Read more…
UNISON working ‘tirelessly’ for teaching assistants
The union is fighting to protect the pay of thousands of its teaching assistant members around the UK
The article UNISON working ‘tirelessly’ for teaching assistants first appeared on…Read more…
Anger at the AGM
A shareholder revolt at Sport’s Direct has left owner and found Mike Ashley questioning his position, after angry scenes at the company’s annual general meeting. In a bizarre outburst during…Read more…
No place of safety
It’s a well-known fact that victims of domestic abuse are most likely to be harmed by a man they know – often a relative or partner. But did you know that in England and Wales alone two women…Read more…
Plenty of vision in government plan, but delivery is more challenging
The Scottish Government’s plan for the coming year is light on legislation, but there is more meat in the administrative sections, if it can move from process into action.
I outlined the key elements…Read more…
Sports Direct AGM
UNITElive is reporting from the Sports Direct AGM. For all the latest as it happens read UNITElive live tweets on Unite’s twitter feed. Tune in back to the regular UNITElive spot…Read more…
The Big Prize Draw is a big hit
UNISON’s prize draw winners joined general secretary Dave Prentis and the union’s sponsors to celebrate the drive’s success
The article The Big Prize Draw is a big hit first appeared on the UNISON…Read more…
To Russia, with love
An armed response unit, a Turkish coup and Turkmenistan’s ‘door to hell’ – all these (and more) featured in one member’s summer adventure
The article To Russia, with love first appeared on the…Read more…
We must fight to defend our rights at work outside of Europe – starting today
Before the EU referendum in June, our union and countless others warned of the consequences of leaving the EU. For UNISON members, the EU secures rights at work and at home that protect individual…Read more…
“Sports Direct cannot be allowed to mark their own homework”
Check out the press release below from the TUC about rotten employer “Sports Direct” whose company AGM is tomorrow.
The BBC report here that Sports Direct are desperately trying to pretend that all is ok and they are going to change.
Such huma…Read more…
Unions and investors come together to call time on poor employment practices at Sports Direct
Sports Direct is a household name, but one that is now nearly as famous for its use of zero hours contracts and mistreating its workforce as for the sportswear sold in its high street stores. Tomorrow the company’s Annual General Meeting brings the opportunity for investors to raise their voices…Read more…
‘Very dangerous situation’
Unite Wales has today (September 6) expressed its grave concerns for the future of Ford’s Bridgend engine plant. This follows the company’s decision to halve the plant’s proposed production of its…Read more…
Pension ‘robbery’
Members of Unite working for the Post Office have voted strongly for industrial action over plans by bosses to close the final salary pension scheme despite it being £100m in surplus. Of those…Read more…
Xmas bus strike on the cards?
The Weymouth bus driver ‘poverty pay’ dispute could continue to Christmas, after company bosses demanded ‘draconian’ conditions be imposed before arbitration talks could start. More than 110…Read more…
Apologies and deep regrets
In a remarkable triumph for Unite’s campaign against employment practices at the retail giant Sports Direct, the company has agreed to make significant changes following an investigation carried out…Read more…
If you don’t have time to read our new book on teacher workload, here’s a summary
By Nansi Ellis, Assistant general secretary (policy). It’s just how it goes: a new book comes out about teacher workload, and you’d love to read it but you haven’t got the time. So let me summarise…Read more…
Urge your MEPs to halt damaging trade deal with southern Africa
UNISON calls for aaction on trade deals with global South which stress liberalisation and threaten to damage economies and workers’ rights
The article Urge your MEPs to halt damaging trade deal…Read more…
‘End of their tether’
London bus workers at the bus operator Tower Transit will be staging a second 24-hour stoppage today (Tuesday September 6), over the imposition of roster changes and a failure by a hard line…Read more…
A matter of life and death
The NHS is continually criticised by its government regulator for being in the red – but it’s the beleaguered services that really matter
The article A matter of life and death first appeared on the…Read more…