http://www.glasgowcityunison.co.uk/index.php/news/118-homeless-caseworkers-dispute-unison-glasgow-branch-statement
In many ways the highlight of this year’s UNISON National Delegate Conference, which took place last week in Glasgow, was that it took pl…Read more…

I go on leave for a week to enjoy the sunshine in Sussex and the Government introduces draconian restrictions on the rights of workers to organise and take action as trade unionists (in the Trade Union Bill).This isn’t quite the existential threat to trade unionism itself which many of us continue…Read more…

http://art-bin.com/art/omodest.htmlHarriet Harman has reportedly claimed (without mandate or authority) that the Labour Party will not oppose the restriction of child tax credits so that they shall bring no additional benefit to households where the pa…Read more…

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33490959
Labour’s right-wing are taking fright at the prospect of significant support for socialist candidate, Jeremy Corbyn.
The link above reports the desperate attempt to unify supporters of the three pro-austerity candi…Read more…

Below is a message which I have sent to relevant members of my UNISON branch, in line with the agreed policy of the branch. I would urge every UNISON activist to encourage their branch to send a similar message (if your branch has taken a similar decision). As UNITE’s decision to nominate Jeremy…Read more…

‎I pass on the following news without comment except to express full solidarity and support to John Burgess and Barnet UNISON.
As trade unions resist the attacks we…Read more…

http://moderngov.lambeth.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=733&MId=9423
With apologies for parochialism, I didn’t want to let pass blogging my attendance (though not as a member) at the inaugural meeting of the local Pensions Board last night (toppin…Read more…

http://www.unison.org.uk/news/barnet-members-prepare-for-budget-day-strike
Solidarity and good luck to comrades in Barnet UNISON striking tomorrow against privatisation. The latest step in Barnet’s long struggle against rampant outsourcing is well time…Read more…

http://www.iansunitesite.org.uk/2015/07/unite-rules-conference-day-one.html?m=1
Diligent readers of this blog (Sid and Doris Blogger) will know that its author has an almost unhealthy interest in the UNISON Rule Book.‎I have therefore read with interest the post at the link above, from the blog of…Read more…

http://m.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2056
Above is a link to the page on the website of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) where research papers are published. The most recent reviews the first year of (compulsory) “early co…Read more…

http://www.unitetheunion.org/news/unite-announces-corbyn-one-burnham-two-in-labour-leader-vote/
The Executive Council of our sister Union, UNITE, has shown the elementary consistency of backing, in the election for Labour Leader, the candidate who most…Read more…

http://www.unison.org.uk/news/higher-education-members-vote-to-accept-pay-offer
This story – from our national website – reports the decision of the Higher Education Service Group Executive (SGE) to accept the employers’ pay offer, following a consulta…Read more…

I blog in order to share my views and to let people know what I am doing. It’s part of accountability.I have little admiration for those who cloak the expression of their views in anonymity.Since the last General Secretary election we have been blessed with the online presence of a normally…Read more…

The news that the Association of Colleges (AoC) (the national employers’ organisation for the Further Education sector) has made a 0% pay offer doesn’t simply challenge our use of the English language.
(In what sense is an offer of nothing “an offer”?)…Read more…

http://www.londonmetunison.org.uk/2015/06/ten-ways-to-support-our-strike-on-25th-june/
UNISON members at London Metropolitan University are on strike again tomorrow as part of their continuing campaign against cuts and job losses.
The link above detail…Read more…

Yesterday’s marches against austerity were a timely and appropriate response to the election of the most reactionary Government of our lifetimes – the spirit of the marchers is an inspiration for the resistance which will be required. The immediate challenge is to find a way to focus the…Read more…

‎As much as delegates at UNISON Conferences may express disappointment at perceived shortcomings of the Union leadership, delegates on the left can be equally critical (if not despairing) of the “left” in the Union (and – in particular – for the difficulty we have in being united). There is a…Read more…

‎As delegates stream away from the Conference Centre after the close of Conference on a Friday afternoon, the National Executive Council are – in the years when there has been an NEC election – led away to a darkened room.
This is not for a lie down, but to hold‎ the inaugural meeting of the new…Read more…

Before UNISON Conference I expressed my disappointment about the way in which Conference has evolved over the past twenty years.I also said that I would comment further on the ways in which lay democrats within UNISON could try to turn this tide.Since then, of course, I’ve been a bit busy. At Local…Read more…

The delegate from Brighton and Hove who spoke against an inoffensive motion on public services from the Northern Region on the grounds that it was a “business as usual” motion summed up the crisis which confronts UNISON.Of course delegates did not, in their great majority, follow his lead. Faced…Read more…