All the union news that's fit to blog...
Last weekend (July 19-21) Unite members revelled in yet another successful Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival this year, which came back in full force after it was cancelled last year due to inclement weather. In the short film below, UniteLive hears from Tolpuddle attendees on why they go to Tolpuddle: You can view a photo gallery of […]
The post ‘Spending time with good people’ appeared first on Unite Live.
Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham rallied the crowds at this year’s Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival, getting huge cheers as she welcomed people to the event saying, “This is the first time in 14 years that Tolpuddle has met without the cloud of the Tories hanging over us.” Sharon said: “Friends, as we gather here today in […]
The post Sharon Graham rallies the Tolpuddle faithful appeared first on Unite Live.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham joined thousands of trade union members at the Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival in Dorset this weekend (July 19-21). On the final day of the festival (July 21), Sharon gave a barnstorming speech paying tribute to the Martyrs, their successors — Unite’s agricultural workers — as well as the Martyrs’ descendants, linking […]
The post Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival – in photos appeared first on Unite Live.
HSE report shows rise in workplace fatalities The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published its latest set of statistics for workplace deaths, and 2023/24 makes grim reading with numbers once again rising, and construction and agricultural workers being most at risk. The report, Work-related fatal injuries in Great Britain, 2024, says that: “The construction and […]
The post Construction and Agriculture deaths top grim table appeared first on Unite Live.
Unite welcomed the scope of the government’s ambition following the publication of today’s (July 17) King’s Speech. The union said it was clear that Britain needs a Labour government. But it added that Labour must also be ready to meet the economic challenges and to deliver the change workers and communities need. Unite’s comments come […]
The post Unite welcomes King’s speech appeared first on Unite Live.
Unite highlighted this week why the UK must have a strong future in shipbuilding and must protect the legacy of shipbuilding in Belfast, which dates back over a century. The union’s comments come as Harland & Wolff is ‘reworking’ an application for government support for its shipyard in Belfast. The company is seeking a government […]
The post Harland & Wolff key to national defence appeared first on Unite Live.
Last month, UniteLive highlighted a new film, Strike: An Uncivil War directed by BAFTA-winning filmmaker Daniel Gordon, which tells the story of Orgreave, when forty years ago police forces brutally assaulted striking pickets near Sheffield. It was a pivotal moment in the 1984-85 miners’ strike, after which dozens of pickets were arrested on trumped up charges […]
The post Orgreave film latest appeared first on Unite Live.
Members from the Somerset & North Devon Unite Community Branch attended a packed community festival in Yeovil over the weekend – and were bowled over by the level of interest in trade unions from people. The Yeovil Together Festival happened on Sunday 14 July in the town’s Westlands Entertainment Venue, and was organised by Love […]
The post Unite joins Yeovil Together Festival appeared first on Unite Live.
Unite joined the wider trade union movement at the 138th Durham Miners’ Gala this weekend, where attendees marked the 40th anniversary of the miners’ strike. Held on the second Saturday of July each year, the gala sees trade union members and their friends and families descend on the city of Durham for the largest gathering […]
The post Durham Miners’ Gala – in photos appeared first on Unite Live.
The Pinc list is an annual celebration of the most influential LGBTQ+ people in Wales, and this year Unite activist and rep Phil Jones joined their ranks after being nominated. Phil is the first trade union rep to ever be recognised on the list. He said the news “came out of the blue.” and he […]
The post Phil makes the Pinc list appeared first on Unite Live.
The countdown to this year’s Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival begins! In just a week’s time — from Friday, July 19 to Sunday, July 21 – Unite will be joining the wider trade union movement at the iconic festival in Tolpuddle, Dorset. Trade unionists and their friends and families will gather to pay tribute to the Tolpuddle […]
The post Countdown to Tolpuddle appeared first on Unite Live.
Unite has hailed what it called ‘extremely positive’ talks with the incoming Labour government’s business secretary Jonathan Reynolds over the future of steel in Port Talbot. The meeting was held on Wednesday morning (July 10) amid government negotiations with Tata to secure a new deal that preserves jobs and a viable future for the plant. […]
The post Steel talks ‘extremely positive’ appeared first on Unite Live.
Unite last month celebrated news that a major new order will preserve jobs at the Derby train maker Alstom. The order includes 12 new trains for the Elizabeth Line in London in an agreement between the Department for Transport, Transport for London and Alstom that was finalised in June. Unite members at the train manufacturer […]
The post Alstom’s future ‘looking bright’ appeared first on Unite Live.
Activists and officers from the Unite Electrical, Mechanical Engineering Construction (EMEC) Combine have been braving the weather to build support for the unions campaign to set a fair rate for electrical workers. Unite is currently carrying out a “Pay and Salary Benchmarking Survey” , something that was agreed as part of the last pay settlement […]
The post Electrical Workers – make your voice heard appeared first on Unite Live.
European unions bring message of solidarity Members of Unites sister unions in the construction sector visited a learning centre in Canary Wharf last week, before joining a NISC meeting to highlight shared issues. One of the first stops for the delegation from Belgium, France and Italy was the Canary Wharf Learning Centre (CWLC) in the […]
The post International visit to Unite Learning Centre appeared first on Unite Live.
Unite recently ran a course for young members to give them the tools to become effective reps and organise in their workplaces. The Young Member Education Course took place over a week in Birmingham in June and aimed to equip young members and reps with a knowledge of Unite’s structures, break down some of the […]
The post Young members gain the tools to organise appeared first on Unite Live.
Guys and St Thomas’ theatre nurses take action over increased hours Burnt out nurses went on strike last Thursday (27 June) after warning that a further hour extension to, already long, shifts risks patient safety and staff wellbeing. Day surgery theatre nurses at Guys and St Thomas’ hospitals went on strike after bosses extended their […]
The post Dangerously overworked London nurses strike appeared first on Unite Live.
Unite Wales is inviting people to head to Tredegar on Sunday 7th July and join them in celebrating Aneurin “Nye” Bevan and the National Health Service. Bevan Day is an annual free event organised by Tredegar Town Council and supported by Unite. It is a packed day that features a banner march through the town […]
The post NHS founder celebrated on Bevan Day appeared first on Unite Live.
Unite is inviting you to raise a tankard with lifelong trade union member Nigel Clatworthy when he makes his Tolpuddle debut at the Unite Marquee at this year’s festival. Nigel plays under the name “FMI Clatters” and is a regular sight in the pubs and festivals across the south west – but what many people […]
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Business representatives, oil and gas workers and Unite officials unveiled a giant letter this morning (27 June) at Aberdeen Maritime Museum. Nearly 200 firms from Scottish towns dependent on the oil and gas industry have signed an open letter backing Unite’s call for Labour to drop its policy of banning new North Sea exploration licenses […]
The post Scottish businesses back Unite’s oil and gas campaign appeared first on Unite Live.