http://www.grayee.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/london-unison-regional-council-agm-2015.html?m=1
In the eight and a half years in which I have been interrupting your blameless surfing of the internet with my meanderings I have sometimes been made aware of the…Read more…

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-government-transparency-code-2014
Tomorrow is the last date by which local authorities must publish certain data as specified in the Local Government Transparency Code.
“Transparency” is one of those wor…Read more…

Generally speaking this is a niche blog of interest to the handful of us who are fascinated by what is happening in our workplaces (particularly in the public sector) and to our trade union and labour movement.
However, our local action takes place in a global context and – just now – it is…Read more…

http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_events/pcs_comment/index.cfm/video-mark-serwotka-outlines-plan-for-pcs-future
The Tories (supported by their Lib Dem hangers on) are rehearsing – in the civil service – for the onslaught they intend to unleash upon all…Read more…

http://www.unison.org.uk/planned-nhs-strike-suspended
Ahead of Thursday’s planned strike action, the NHS trade unions (led by UNISON) have suspended that and any further action whilst members are consulted on an offer which our Head of Health describes…Read more…

http://labourlist.org/2015/01/16-labour-mps-release-statement-calling-for-change-in-party-policy-direction/
Greece may have just elected an anti-austerity Government, but in the UK we have rather fewer Parliamentarians prepared to commit to oppose the …Read more…

http://touchstoneblog.org.uk/2015/01/could-the-greeks-bring-us-gifts-this-sunday/
The General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (no less) posted the blog post to which I link above early last week in anticipation of what has now come to pass, Syri…Read more…

http://www.unison.org.uk/unison-statement-re-charlotte-munro
Former Chair of Waltham Forest Health branch, Charlotte Monro, is in the employment tribunal this week pursuing her claim for unfair dismissal for having been dismissed for her trade union ac…Read more…

It’s commonplace on “the left” to remark that our trade union organising must be about more than just electing individuals to positions.
And of course it must.
What our union needs most of all is effective networking between activists to maximise suppo…Read more…

‎I was one of more than 120 UNISON activists present at a “Reclaim the Union” meeting this afternoon at the Manchester Mechanics Institute, birthplace of the TUC.
Activists were present from every British Region of the Union, about a third coming from the North West, a quarter from Greater London…Read more…

http://www.jonrogers1963.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/an-early-xmas-present-for-tories.html?m=1
Regular readers (Sid and Doris Blogger) will know that I am never wrong.
Sometimes, however, in my eagerness to share my views I can omit context as I may have do…Read more…

Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE …Read more…

http://www.mikemarqusee.com/?p=1663
‎I am gutted, today, to learn of the death of a great socialist, Mike Marqusee. I met Mike many years ago when he was editor of Labour Briefing and though his decision to leave the Labour Party took him along different political paths, the inspiring example which…Read more…

http://www.unitetheunion.org/news/passengers-back-londons-bus-drivers-on-eve-of-london-wide-bus-strike/As a worker in Lambeth I am often – literally – the man on the Clapham omnibus (whose views are an established benchmark of reasonableness!)
However….Read more…

http://m.campaignseries.co.uk/news/national/11715463.Tories_vow_to_toughen_strike_laws/
Whereas the Tory announcement about caps on public sector redundancy payments was simply an electioneering gimmick, their plans to toughen further anti-strike laws …Read more…

Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE …Read more…

http://www.allposters.com/-sp/A-Garland-for-May-Day-1895-Posters_i1864412_.htm
This link takes you to Walter Crane’s “Garland for the Workers” which expresses some of the hopes which I think our movement was created to keep alive.
In the next few days …Read more…

Here’s how the Grauniad is reporting Ed Balls’ refusal to commit to end the pay freeze or the spending cuts in local government.

http://gu.com/p/44j5xLabour’s pledge to match Tory spending plans in the first year of a Labour Government makes such a Go…Read more…

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30662833
Today was my first day back at work for an organisation facing the prospect of further redundancies following the loss of a thousand jobs since the last General Election.
There are three things to be said ab…Read more…

Having enjoyed a festive break, your blogger is back for 2015 and looking forward to…  Reclaim the Union National Meeting
Saturday 17th January, 2pm to 5pm
The Mechanics Centre
103 Princess St
Manchester M1 6DD There will be a pooled f…Read more…