All the union news that's fit to blog...
As Irish trade unions, including Unite, step up to challenge the false narratives of the far right today, we draw inspiration from events nearly 40 years ago, when Dunnes Stores workers took strike action after a colleague was suspended for refusing to handle goods from apartheid South Africa. The suspended worker, Mary Manning, had refused […]
The post The Dunnes Stores Strike – lessons in solidarity appeared first on Unite Live.
Bus workers employed by Arriva working in Newcastle and Northumberland are being balloted for strike action in a dispute over pay. The dispute involves 330 drivers and engineers who are members of Unite. The workers have been offered a pay increase worth 10 per cent (paid in two stages) for the drivers on the highest […]
The post Newcastle and Northumberland facing Arriva bus strikes appeared first on Unite Live.
All out indefinite strike action impacting 93 per cent of the West Midlands bus network by 3,100 National Express drivers will begin on Monday (March 20). Strikes are back on after National Express refused to allow drivers to vote on its latest offer during meetings at their depots. The union was willing to put the […]
The post West Mids National Express bus strike back on appeared first on Unite Live.
Responding to the government’s new pay offer for NHS workers in England, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Following months and months of unnecessary delay, the government finally gets into the negotiating room. They need to take full responsibility for their dither and delay, which has caused unnecessary pain to both staff and patients in […]
The post Unite response to NHS pay offer appeared first on Unite Live.
Dear Chancellor: We’re told it’s the ‘Budget for Growth’. That is – apparently – what everyone is talking about. Well yes Chancellor. You’re right. Our members are indeed talking about growth. Because as you release your Budget and spout on about your GDP and your business incentive drives, my members are talking about the sickeningly high growth in their weekly […]
The post A letter to the Chancellor appeared first on Unite Live.
Construction employers who negotiate the pay and conditions of hundreds and thousands of workers, who operate via the Construction Industry Joint Council (CIJC), have been exposed for cynically driving down workers’ pay. Rates have become so low that the employers’ side is being forced to increase the lowest rate (for general operatives) outside of normal […]
The post Construction bosses exposed over poverty pay appeared first on Unite Live.
New Unite research, analysing the FTSE 350 shows how profit margins for the first half of 2022 were 89% higher compared to the same period in 2019. FTSE 350 profits have spiked even higher than in 2021 where profits jumped 73%, according to Unite’s first profiteering report, published in July 2022. Unite’s latest report on […]
The post Corporate profiteering soars appeared first on Unite Live.
Unite has called on prime minister Rishi Sunak and home secretary Suella Braverman to stop with “racist and inhumane, dog-whistle announcements” after the government published its Illegal Migration Bill, which has been widely condemned. Unite executive head of operations Gail Cartmail wrote to the prime minister and home secretary this week, urging them to focus […]
The post Solidarity with refugees appeared first on Unite Live.
Unite Equalities celebrated International Women’s Day on Wednesday (March 8) with an inspiring online webinar that featured a range of Unite women activists making a difference in their workplaces. The online event was hosted by Unite regional officer Allison Spencer-Scragg and Unite national chair of the women’s committee Jane Stewart, who is also on the […]
The post Equality “at the heart of everything Unite does” appeared first on Unite Live.
Every day over the Christmas period, UniteLive is running a different story from our top stories of 2023. Today, we look back at our Get Me Home Safely Campaign, which celebrated its one-year anniversary in March and highlight the many wins the campaign has had since. — As the world today (March 8) celebrates International […]
The post UniteLive stories of the year – Get Me Home Safely goes global appeared first on Unite Live.
Although spiders’ webs froze on treesand overflows’ constant drip became shafts of iciclesLidia still bedded down in Kentish Townon cardboard under polystyrene Born in Bolivia her face lit upwhen someone spoke to her in SpanishHer heart gave out on TuesdayOn the railings a bouquet of red tulips For Lidia we gathered. We walked behind the […]
The post A Cold Spell appeared first on Unite Live.
International Women’s Day isn’t just about celebrating milestones in the fight for equality – because that fight is never done. This year on International Women’s Day on March 8, Unite Equalities will host a special online event from 6.30pm to showcase the difference that Unite women activists have made in their workplaces, and how you […]
The post ‘We have to keep fighting’ appeared first on Unite Live.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham convened a summit in the East Midlands on Wednesday (March 1) where union activists from across the region met to discuss Unite’s laser-focus on jobs, pay and conditions. Nearly 200 union activists attended the meeting in Leicester from the region, including reps from Rolls Royce, Toyota, Nottingham City Council, Siemens, […]
The post ‘Where workers unite, we win’ appeared first on Unite Live.
Government proposals to force GPs to sign fewer sick notes for workers have been rejected by Doctors in Unite, which represents GPs and doctors operating in the NHS. Detailed government proposals were first briefed to the media earlier this month, indicating that the chancellor could announce in next month’s budget changes to the sick note […]
The post Doctors in Unite rejects government plans to force the sick to work appeared first on Unite Live.
Unite the union has vowed to fight to defend every job under threat at British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant. The union made its declaration this week (February 23) after the company confirmed it intends to make approximately 300 workers redundant and close its coking ovens, which produce the fuel to power its blast furnaces. Unite believes […]
The post British Steel must come clean appeared first on Unite Live.
It’s no secret that Unite has made huge gains in the bus sector over the last year, winning big inflation-busting pay rises for tens of thousands of drivers and other bus workers across the UK. This month, Unite notched up another notable win when the union secured a 10 per cent pay increase for members […]
The post ‘Through solidarity we win’ appeared first on Unite Live.
Commenting on Labour leader Keir Starmer’s speech in Manchester, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Keir Starmer’s speech in Manchester today offered a vision of what a Labour government could mean for the British people after 13 years of Tory ‘sticking plaster politics’ serving vested interests. So Unite welcomes the promise of ‘a government on […]
The post Future Labour government must fix broken economy appeared first on Unite Live.
Unite has reiterated its call for a windfall tax on big banks as they post yet another year of bonanza profits amid a cost of living crisis that has seen millions of ordinary people suffer. On Friday (February 17) NatWest announced its highest profits since the global financial crash, recording more than £5bn in profits […]
The post ‘Epidemic of profiteering’ appeared first on Unite Live.
It’s only just over half way through the month in February, and already Unite has secured a number of major wins for its members. During Heart Unions Week this week, we have a look at these latest wins from this month. Abellio London The long running industrial dispute involving over 1,800 bus drivers employed by […]
The post Winning for you appeared first on Unite Live.
This February marks the one year anniversary since 450 B&Q workers in Wincanton won their fight for fair pay after bravely striking for months. During Heart Unions week this week, UniteLive looks back at this key win. — The B&Q distribution centre in Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire, is built on the remains of Manton Colliery. The colliery […]
The post Camaraderie, organisation and doing the maths appeared first on Unite Live.