If you were following the coverage of TUC Congress earlier this week, you could be forgiven for thinking only one education issue was on the agenda: grammar schools. In the four days I spent at the…Read more…
Vital for world democracy
As democracy in Turkey has violently deteriorated over the last year, Congress agreed in an emergency motion on the last day of conference (September 14) to support progressive forces in Turkey, and…Read more…
Now is the time to fight for a new deal for workers
15 September
By Tony Burke, Assistant General Secretary, UNITE
Below is a video of, and the full text for, Tony Burke’s speech in favour of Composite Motion 16 at TUC Congress, which supported the…Read more…
Orgreave: Inquiry at last?
Orgreave miners and supporting campaigners welcomed reports today (September 15) that a public inquiry into the Orgreave miners’ picket in 1984 would be given the green light. The news, which…Read more…
Total bonuses reach record high
Government figures out today show that total bonuses across the economy have reached the highest level ever, surpassing the previous high seen just before the financial crash in 2007-8. While the financial sector accounts for nearly one third of the to…Read more…
‘Historic’ decision
Today’s (September 15) decision by Theresa May to approve the go-ahead for the Hinkley Point nuclear power station has been hailed as ‘historic’ by Unite. Unite said that the announcement by…Read more…
‘Their fight is our fight’
The trade union movement affirmed its continued solidarity with junior doctors in their on-going dispute with the government, which has sought to impose a contract that the doctors say is unfair to…Read more…
More in common
The Immigration Act 2016 went through Parliament with little fanfare in May — but its consequences are dire for not only recent migrants but also black communities who have settled here for decades…Read more…
Support refugee children
What’s often forgotten in discussions of the ongoing refugee crisis in Europe is that a large swath of these refugees are mere children, with many of them starting their new lives away from…Read more…
In Derby and Durham, this vital resource is under threat
This week I’ve been at Brighton with unions from across the country at the TUC, but I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to speak to and on behalf of Derby teaching assistants and other school…Read more…
Accessible transport for all
Congress hailed the announcement by London mayor Sadiq Khan last week that London TravelWatch would undertake a review of ticket office closures, a move that was the subject of an emergency motion on…Read more…
TUC Congress 2016: Day 2 Monday
My second collage of Twitter photos of the UNISON delegation (mostly) at this year’s TUC Congress getting stuck in and telling it as it is.
We started off with Gordon McKay, berating our mean employers for not knowing how to add up&nbs…Read more…
Trade unions must be represented in Brexit negotiations
By Jon Ashworth MP, Shadow Minister Without Portfolio Many Labour politicians will head to Brighton this week to meet up with trade union colleagues and take part in the debates at this year’s…Read more…
Derby school staff lobby Parliament
School support staff travel from Derby to Westminster to lobby MPs over 25% pay cut
The article Derby school staff lobby Parliament first appeared on the UNISON National site.Read more…
UNISON activists’ work recognised with TUC awards at congress
Eastern convenor Darren Barber and vice president Margaret McKee honoured at annual congress
The article UNISON activists’ work recognised with TUC awards at congress first appeared on the…Read more…
Our humanity
Speaking in support of a motion calling on the trade union movement to defend the Human Rights Act, Unite director of legal services Howard Beckett highlighted today (September 14) just how important…Read more…
Action not words
How many more emergency motions on Colombia do we need before the tragedy in Colombia is resolved? This was the unsettling question Unite delegate and cab driver Jim Kelly posed to Congress on…Read more…
What kind of way is this to run a decent and compassionate care service?
The blame for the social care crisis must be laid at the government’s door. Ministers must get tougher with enforcing the law so firms aren’t able to cheat their staff. More money must be put into…Read more…
No room to crow
Unite cautioned against complacency over today’s (Wednesday September 14) labour market figures warning that for millions the nature of work was becoming increasingly insecure. Pointing to a…Read more…
Culture of fear
Amid rising patient complaints in the NHS – the number now exceeds 4,000 a week – Congress highlighted concern over legal action being taken against health staff. While Congress recognised…Read more…