Mark is a friend, a UNISON comrade and fellow Labour Party activist. He is a similar age to me and of course, a fellow taff. It was shocking that such a larger than life, fit and active person should become so ill. A lesson to all of us to keep se…Read more…
There for all our members in the time of coronavirus
A call to arms: how your branch can help There for You help members hit by crisis and loss of money
There for You is there for UNISON members who experience hard times. In the current coronavirus crisis, that’s pretty much everyone.
As our welfare cha…Read more…
Review: Gooseberries, by Anton Chekhov
The first of the Penguin Little Black Classics series that I’ve read — having bought a whole shelf of them a few years back — and it’s a good one. Chekhov is described as…Read more…
NHS organisations must be honest with staff over PPE stocks, says UNISON
Rationing shouldn’t take place while supplies exist
The article NHS organisations must be honest with staff over PPE stocks, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.Read more…
How Newham has deployed an army of volunteers to support residents
Hat tip Labour List by Rokhsana Fiaz, Executive Mayor of Newham.
“Two weeks ago, there was nothing. Some ideas, lots of questions and a whole bunch of challenges to overcome. How can we get food, medicine, essential household items and support to…Read more…
Ask Alys: what are my rights as a vulnerable employee?
Q: What are my rights as an employee who is in a vulnerable or at-risk group? This week, Unite solicitor Alys Cunningham explains what your rights are as a worker who is ‘at-risk’ –…Read more…
Workers cant’ pay the price again
After the financial crisis working people paid the price through cuts to jobs, pay and public services. Once stabilised, the big question of the pandemic will once again be, who pays for the crash?…Read more…
Heroes and zeroes
Each and every week, heroes and ‘zeroes’ have emerged in the coronavirus crisis. Here are this week’s latest HEROES Rainbow kids As UniteLIVE higlighted earlier this week, many…Read more…
UNISON calls for government to prioritise staff safety before re-opening schools
Suggestions that the government in England is considering reopening schools has caused huge anxiety amongst school staff and parents
The article UNISON calls for government to prioritise staff…Read more…
Review: Lovecraft Country, by Matt Ruff
Matt Ruff has taken a long, hard look at what life was like for African Americans in the early 1950s and reimagined it as horror fiction written by the master, H.P. Lovecraft. All the main…Read more…
Five Trade Union Federations Statement On Covid-19
Five of the worlds largest trade union federations (the biggest affiliates of the International Trade Union Congress) have issued the following internationalist statement on the Covid-19 crisis. The…Read more…
Book review: the birth of the NHS
If you need a distraction in lockdown, here’s a book that celebrates the birth of the NHS and leaves us with an unspoken question: what would be happening now without our health service?
The article…Read more…
You Clap for Me Now: the coronavirus poem on racism and immigration in B…
Fantastic video. We must not forget.Read more…
Lessons to be learned from the pandemic
The Covid-19 pandemic has immediate implications for its victims and those in health and care treating them. There are also medium and long-term implications to consider if we are to avoid the…Read more…
Keeping on to the end
This is one of those unusual posts on this blog which is mostly about me (your humble blogger) and (for me at least) it isn’t good news.
The summer before last I blogged here about popular support for the National Health Service when I got my diagnosis…Read more…
Council workers keeping vital local services running during the pandemic deserve a proper pay rise, say unions
Chancellor urged to fund top up to pay offer
The article Council workers keeping vital local services running during the pandemic deserve a proper pay rise, say unions first appeared on the UNISON…Read more…
‘Heart-breaking sacrifice’
Unite has paid tribute to bus and transport workers in London who have died after contracting coronavirus ahead of a one minute’s silence being held at 11am tomorrow (April 17) and demanded that more…Read more…
Cities facing crisis
The economic impact of the coronavirus epidemic continues to be felt right across the UK. But new research has found that certain cities will be harder hit than others. An analysis from the Centre…Read more…
“Statement from GMB Labour Party staff branch in response to leaked internal report”
I must admit to being very shocked at reading about this issue and fully support the decision by Keir and Angela to launch an urgent independent investigation into the “dossier”.
I note this briefing from the trade union branch that represents L…Read more…
Recognition for care is welcome but government needs to deliver on PPE, says UNISON
Raising status must be backed by better pay
The article Recognition for care is welcome but government needs to deliver on PPE, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.Read more…