Colleagues, I am just preparing a blog item on a long-standing area of interest around machine learning and the distribution of information/knowledge. In preparing for this I reflected on the purpose and value of this blog. I occasionally come across people who have read posts, but I…Read more…

Colleagues,

I wrote earlier in the year about the attempt by the employer’s group within the ILO to challenge the fundamental right to strike in ILO Convention 87. One of the points I had commented on was that part of the group’s intention was to limi…Read more…

The continuing intensification of neoliberal policies across Europe and beyond will bring major challenges to the workers and popular classes, at home and abroad.

The re-composition of radical left politics in the UK and internationally presents b…Read more…

Colleagues,

Apologies for such a long delay between this post and my last – reporting on another great CWU BME  Leadership Weekend – but I have been away teaching a tremendous amount, with little time to reflect and write. (Al…Read more…

Colleagues,

Many thanks to Trish Lavelle (CWU Head of Education) and CWU colleagues at the union’s magnificent education facility Alvescot Lodge in Oxforshire, for organising and hosting another fantastic BME Leadership Weekend.
Yet again we have been…Read more…

For details:http://www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/end_austerity_now_national_demonstration_saturday_20th_juneRead more…

Colleagues,

In what will be the first of at least a couple of posts I feel the need to re-but the entirely inaccurate, biased and poorly researched attempts by the BBC recently to allege that Ruskin College is diminishing its founding principles throu…Read more…

Colleagues,

Just a short piece to report on a truly amazing day on Saturday accompanying the students of the MA ILTUS at Ruskin who have worked tremendously hard to gain a day off to attend the annual Levellers’ Day event in nearby Burford.

I had com…Read more…

Colleagues,

Without doubt the 2015 general election outcomes present organised labour with considerable short and long-term challenges.

Len McCluskey’s statement represents, I feel, an important state of preparedness in what will clearly be  a d…Read more…

Colleagues,

Just a quick post as I am tied up preparing for teaching this weekend, and I want to follow the news of the early outcomes of today’s general election in the UK.

So much hangs in the balance for the British labour movement of the election…Read more…

Colleagues,

In recognition of the last post, and the need to focus on solidarity action for the people of Nepal, I wanted to post this famous Walter Crane May Day painting from 1889. Please do what you can to raise funds to send via your unions.

Wher…Read more…

Colleagues,

All of us have been following the news following the tragic events in Nepal.

There have been a series of initiatives launched across the global labour movement, working in alliance with other organisations to distribute aid and support th…Read more…

Hold an event next week! 
 
Read more…

Colleagues,

There is much that feeds into the educational and pedagogical strategy of the international labour and trade union studies programme at Ruskin College.

Some of this is a reflection of our day-to-day work with trade unions when meeting the…Read more…

Colleagues,

This short article of mine has been published today on the Future of Work Hub website: http://www.futureofworkhub.info/allcontent/2015/4/14/power-from-the-people-why-trade-union-decline-should-concern-us-all
Power from the people: why trad…Read more…

Colleagues,

A reminder that this event is coming soon and one of significant interest to trade unionists internationally. There is a fantastic line-up of speakers and current/past students of the MA ILTUS at Ruskin speaking about their allied research…Read more…

Colleagues,

Ruskin College is an associate member of the Global Labour University (GLU) which is a network of universities, trade unions and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) delivering an MA programme similar to that run at Ruskin: http://w…Read more…

Colleagues,

I’ve just finished an exhausting, but hugely rewarding weekend’s teaching on the MA in international labour and trade union studies (ILTUS) at Ruskin.

A huge thanks to all who contributed. On Friday this was:

Sue Ledwith (creator of the …Read more…

Colleagues,

Maurizio Atzeni has organised a fascinating, international line-up of speakers around the theme of workers’ organisation and precarious work at Loughborough University 23-24 April.

The event reflects key themes of his last book (http…Read more…