All the union news that's fit to blog...
Every Unite branch and constitutional committee has until 15th February to submit one motion on general policy for consideration at the Unite Policy Conference which will take place in Brighton on 11-15 July 2016.
The paperwork circulated is here:
Let…Read more…
For years the government has been slashing at the NHS, cutting and privatising to boost the profits of the private health vultures (many of whom have unsavoury links to MPs and other decision makers).
Now Cameron and Hunt have decided to take on both …Read more…
The conferences were organised over three days, with services sectors on Monday, manufacturing sectors on Tuesday, and transport sectors on Wednesday. The Graphical, Paper, Media & IT (GPM&IT) conference was on Tuesday. This report covers the p…Read more…
I’d very much like to go to the Labor Notes conference next year, but the cost would be prohibitive. Me and a young member from the Hotel Workers’ branch in London who also wants to go have set up an appeal to raise money to make it possible.
If you f…Read more…
The Graphical, Paper, Media & IT NISC met on 12-13 November, and this is a report of some points of potential interest. It doesn’t include the (important) reports on what’s going on in various employers and sub-sectors, as the NISC regards these as…Read more…
I’ve written a piece on the Tories’ new Trade Union Bill and opposition to it, which has been published here.Read more…
This morning drivers and warehouse workers at Indesit depots around the country started their second strike over pay – this time escalating to 48 hours.
The strikers are based at Andover; Barnsley; Chepstow; Gateshead; Grangemouth; Hayes (west London…Read more…
There are many situations, from recruitment to promotion to redundancies, where employers make selections between people. You often hear people talking about the importance of doing “Equality Impact Assessments” and checking for discrimination, but I’v…Read more…
The Tories’ new Trade Union Bill is a massive attack on civil rights, from the right to strike to freedom of expression and assembly.
TUC General Secretary Fraces O’Grady has produced a short video as part of the campaign against it:
The TUC has als…Read more…
Note:
This report is incomplete as I don’t yet have the official record of decisions. I will update it when I do.
The main excitement of the day was conference overturning the Executive Council over Gibraltar. NR/4 created an Area Activist…Read more…
The main excitement on Wednesday was motion 2/1 from the Executive Council, which removed “so far as may be lawful from rule “2.1 The objects of the Union shall, as far as may be lawful, be:”. Len McCluskey gave a great speech arguing why it was …Read more…
Tuesday’s business was less contentious than Monday’s, but covered a wide range of issues.
In the debate on retired members, Assistant General Secretary Steve Turner clarified that “Executive Statements”, if passed, do actually change rules – it is up…Read more…
Most of the contentious business was crammed into day one.It started lively, with conference decisively supporting my move to reject the Executive Council’s undemocratic Standing Orders. Despite knowing in advance that the challenge was coming the lead…Read more…
Unite’s leadership is engaged in an anti-democratic power grab and delegates need to be ready to put a stop to it.
Unite’s Rules Conference starts on Monday and delegates have been sent a 160 page book of motions to change our rule book. The sh…Read more…
My article below first appeared on Novaramedia.
Apologies for the long break in updates to this blog. I’ve been unwell, but hope to gradually resume normal service now.
What does the Labour leadership election mean for the radical left?
Well done to Jamie-Max Caldwell for another excellent video:
On 8th November I attended four fascinating meetings at the Historical Materialism conference with people from the USA and Canada discussing the plight of the labour movement and ideas for turning it round.
I found the debates really useful and there …Read more…