While Prime Minister May was engaged in a second weekend of mixed messages about whether she will advocate a hard or soft Brexit, her Chancellor was telling German newspaper Welt am Sonntag that if we don’t get to keep full access to the single market, Britain will indeed be likely to become…Read more…
Getting it right in schools
Reorganising education governance is simply a distraction from the real issues facing our schools as highlighted in UNISON Scotland’s survey of school staffs. That’s also the conclusion of a wide…Read more…
‘Fair funding’ must also mean sufficient funding, say education unions
Following the publication of the Government’s final proposals for its long-awaited National Funding Formula (NFF), organisations representing school staff, teachers and leaders – ATL, GMB,…Read more…
Working people will judge the PM’s Brexit strategy on whether it protects jobs and rights
After hearing for months that Brexit means Brexit, we may be about to hear what it actually means. As Theresa May gives her big speech to diplomats at Lancaster House on Tuesday, on how she intends to negotiate our exit from the EU, working people will be watching to see if her strategy will do…Read more…
What has globalisation ever done for the workers?
These remarks are an edited version of a speech I gave on union responses to globalisation at a joint seminar organised by the TUC and the University of Exeter on Brexit, globalisation and migration…Read more…
Public supports tough line on exec pay shocker
As I blogged previously, the commentariat was united last week in its certainty that Jeremy Corbyn was talking rubbish when he proposed some pretty tough positions on executive pay.
Amazingly, it turns out the the public favours taking a very tough li…Read more…
London Loop Walk: Section 9 – Uxbridge Lock to Moor Park:
To confuse matters this walk is posted out of sequence on this blog due to my error. This was the second day of a weekend “London Loop” walk. This is a circuitous 150 mile walk in stages around London which my wife and I started in 2015 and have still …Read more…
Statistics of the health crisis
The word crisis is often over-used, but the NHS is facing a genuine crisis in which its component parts are struggling with the amount of work they face and the financial and human resources which they have at their disposal. A House of Commons Briefin…Read more…
MPs right to call for a Brexit that protects working people
The first report of the Brexit Select Committee, published this morning, is right to call on the government to set out its plans for Brexit, including membership of the single market and the Customs Union, among other things. The TUC believes that thes…Read more…
West Ham Labour January 2017
Dear John
Happy 2017!
Below are some of West Ham’s January activities. If you’ve been meaning to get more involved in the Labour party we’d love to see you at something. All members are very welcome.
This Saturday (14th) – visit to William Morr…Read more…
The Right to Diconnect
Dear Colleagues,
There has been so much to write/post about over the period leading up to the end of 2016, and as we head into the new year.
On the domestic front the good news is around trade union growth, both in the form of density, but also (as …Read more…
Love Unions Week 8-14 February 2017
“Following the popularity of the ♥unions campaign week last year the TUC family of unions has agreed to run the campaign again, this time 8 – 14 February 2017.
· Every union Branch is being urged to organise some kind of activity to celebrate its achievements.
Every trade union…Read more…
SERTUC: Women’s Rights
Women’s Rights Committee celebrate: Mary Quaile Activist, Agitator and Trades Unionist – Wednesday 18 January 2017 Date and time of event: Wed 18 Jan 2017 – 17:30 to 19:30 Venue and…Read more…
Atomic weapons workers to strike
UK’s atomic weapons workers to stage two 48hr strikes in January Atomic weapons workers will stage two 48-hour strikes from Wednesday next week over what they claim are “broken promises” over pension…Read more…
If the government cannot solve the problem in the NHS, then surely they should step aside and allow those who can!
Minor illnesses and people turning up in A&E should not be seen as the problem of crisis now hitting the NHS and St Mary’s. There is enough evidence around to see what the problems are and how to…Read more…
‘No time to waste’
As prime minister Theresa May continues to ignore the mounting funding problems faced by the NHS — whose ongoing crisis was most shockingly exemplified by the story of a sick baby being treated on…Read more…
Decent basic rights call
Angry dock workers at Liverpool’s Seaforth container terminal working for Peel Ports have had enough and pictured today (January 13) are Unite members protesting over the atrocious poor conditions…Read more…
Justice fight goes on
Up to 300 workers, members of Unite are continuing to take strike action today (January 13). But in a goodwill gesture, Unite is suspending the strike action scheduled for Thursday (January…Read more…
Anti-austerity’s frontline fighters
Volunteer benefits adviser John Kelly has got used to seeing people on the breadline in distress because their welfare has been stopped or sanctioned, but that doesn’t make it any easier in the heart…Read more…
Globalisation isn’t a ‘given’
Thanks to Geoff Tily, who co-authored this blog. The impact of globalisation on working people’s wages, jobs and prospects emerged as one of the key themes of 2016, following the seismic political developments in both Europe and the US. 2017 sees no sign of the debate going away. The policymaking…Read more…