On the eve of the government’s Autumn Statement on Wednesday (November 23), Unite has revealed the necessity of immediate state intervention following a survey of the offshore…Read more…
Young worker’s Challenge #7: Precarious working conditions
This month we’re counting down the ten most significant challenges faced by young workers. Young people’s experience of work is increasingly dominated by precarious working conditions. It might be…Read more…
The campaign to Save Our Local Services goes on
UNISON will continue to campaign for vital local services to be properly funded after successful day of action focused on social care raised awareness with MPs
The article The campaign to Save Our…Read more…
The vindictive policy that punishes children for having more than one brother or sister
Last year, in his summer Budget, George Osborne announced a couple of measures designed to penalise large low-income families. One was the reduction in the Benefit Cap, from £26,000 to £23,000 in London, £20,000 elsewhere. The limit mainly applies to people who need to claim Housing Benefit for…Read more…
ACT NOW! Freedom for Iranian teacher union leader Esmail Abdi
The international trade union movement continues to deplore the actions of the Iranian government in its heavy handed stance of imprisoning trade unionists on unjust, trumped up charges. One such…Read more…
This school is ready to celebrate – are you?
This week UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis went to Waverley school in Enfield to celebrate the school support staff
The article This school is ready to celebrate – are you? first appeared on…Read more…
Brexit means Brexit. Workers on boards means workers on boards
We’re looking forward to the Prime Ministers speech this morning to the CBI, and any detail on the pledge she made in her conference speech to build ‘a country that works for everyone’. Theresa May’s signature policy to date has been her plan to include workers on company boards. In her pitch to…Read more…
Public sector cuts are stalling progress on closing the gender pay gap
Now at 9.4%, the gender pay gap has barely budged in recent years. Since 2011 the full-time gap has fallen by just 0.2 percentage points a year. At this rate it will take over 40 years to achieve pay parity between men and women. This means a young wom…Read more…
Patients facing bed shortages and long waits because government not delivering on mental health funding, says UNISON
Patients facing bed shortages and long waits because government not delivering on mental health funding, says UNISON Mental health patients are facing bed shortages, longer waits for treatment and…Read more…
Nine reasons why you need to go to your trigger ballot meeting and vote ‘NO’:
(I like these arguments. Hat tip Trigger Democracy)
If you believe in democracy, fairness and choice read on…No is NOT a vote against Robin Wales and his record. Voting No is actually voting YES to choice, YES to fairness and YES to democracy If members don’t vote this November for an…Read more…
Ageing Population: The Myth of the ‘Demographic Time Bomb’
Allyson Pollock November 14, 2016 http://www.sochealth.co.uk/2016/11/14/myth-demographic-time-bomb/ A repeated claim made by politicians and a justification for the…Read more…
Conference discusses fighting back against the politics of hate
LGBT delegates hear of fears after EU referendum and pledge to fight rise of hate crime after the vote
The article Conference discusses fighting back against the politics of hate first appeared on…Read more…
ILGA co-secretary general says: ‘We are stronger together’
Ruth Baldacchino tells LGBT conference that decades of mobilising gives us valuable experience for the future
The article ILGA co-secretary general says: ‘We are stronger together’ first…Read more…
Branch poster
For trade unions, Trans Day of Remembrance reminds us we must organise for trans equality
A trans person is killed globally every 1.4 days and black trans women are most heavily represented in these figures. Trans Remembrance Day is a time to remember the lives lost through hate and violence. In the workplace, three in five (60%) of trans workers have experienced some form of…Read more…
From gender reassignment to trade union activist – my story
Unions: not them; us. “Think not what your union can do for you but what you can do for your union.” Actually when I went through gender reassignment, my thoughts were very much with what my union…Read more…
Speech to London Labour Conference on Housing Composite
“John Gray, Unison delegate and speaking in favour of this composite. An unison motion on housing is part of the composite and I want to concentrate in this contribution on the Housing and Planning Act and the major threat that it poses to Londoners an…Read more…
Working people’s rights after Brexit: campaigning for continued compliance
This morning I was pleased to be asked to address a European policy forum in Yorksire & the Humber by the local Labour MEPs Linda MacAvan and Richard Corbett. Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union Keir Starmer spoke for Labour. Here are some of the remarks I made about…Read more…
Globalisers’ response to popular concern on trade agreements? Shut down debate
When the Walloons finally agreed to accept the passage of the Canada-EU so-called trade agreement, or CETA, one of the concessions they secured was that the legality of the investor protection element of the deal (known as ICS) would be tested in the E…Read more…
Delegates back call to improve representation
Under-representation – particularly among young members – cited as a problem that needs to be tackled
The article Delegates back call to improve representation first appeared on the UNISON National…Read more…