All the union news that's fit to blog...
As the general election nears, campaign promises are a dime a dozen. Elections are usually a flurry of predictably vague pledges, with politicians revealing just enough of one policy or another but conveniently omitting the fine print. This time round, however, is decidedly different. Labour has hit out with bold, clear policies, and their […]
The post ‘Totemic’ tax move appeared first on UNITElive.org.
A group of the nation’s senior doctors have come together to deliver a damning indictment of the coalition’s record on the NHS. In a letter published in today’s Guardian, the health professionals conclude that this administration’s record is “characterised by broken promises, reductions in necessary funding and destructive legislation, which leaves health services […]
The post NHS squeezing laid bare by top docs appeared first on UNITElive.org.
As AKD Engineering in Suffolk announced that it will shutter its doors yesterday (April 7) after 60 years in operation, more than 100 skilled jobs will be lost, delivering a “massive body blow” to the workforce and local economy. After several years of substantial losses, the oil and gas engineering firm has been particularly hard […]
The post Massive body blow appeared first on UNITElive.org.
That’s it. The first five-year, fixed-term parliament is over, limping to an exhausted, shabby end. This cursed coalition has disbanded. Yet, with the official campaign finally underway, the voting public is not exactly thrilled at being pursued by the escapees from London SW1. The noisiest sound from the streets is that of millions of […]
The post Less sotto voce – more loud-hailer appeared first on UNITElive.org.
Angered over a tracker device measuring workloads inaccurately, more than 300 engineering service workers employed by lift firm Kone took strike action today (April 7). The vehicle tracker device, known as VAMS, has shown itself to be unreliable, Unite contends. For example, one driver was alleged to have driven 1,000 miles in one day […]
The post Spy in the cab appeared first on UNITElive.org.
Unite kicked off its fight back against mass privatisation of Bromley council services today (April 7), in day one of a widely supported two-day strike. Unite members working in libraries, adult services and parks, among other areas, are participating in the walk-out as the Conservative-led Bromley council embarks on a privatisation programme which will […]
The post Strong message appeared first on UNITElive.org.
“The NHS is one of the country’s most treasured institutions. But its future is under serious threat.” That is the warning of more than 40 signatories – including Unite’s Len McCluskey and Hollywood actor Michael Sheen – to a letter published in today’s Guardian to mark the launch of the People’s Convention for the NHS. […]
The post Signing up to save NHS appeared first on UNITElive.org.
Nothing was more indicative of the Tories’ base of support than a letter published in the Telegraph yesterday, signed by 103 big business leaders, calling on the public to vote Conservative in May. Among the letter’s signatories were Bob Dudley, the American boss of BP, Tidjane Thiam, the chief executive of Prudential who received […]
The post Who does this country work for? appeared first on UNITElive.org.
Pictured are some Unite Community members today (April 2) supporting Unite Smurfit Kappa members on their picket line. David Condliffe, Unite Community Co-ordinator for the East Midlands, said he was proud Community could be there in solidarity for our industrial members. “Community members from Leicester and Derby were supporting Smurfit Kappa comrades today. […]
The post Supporting our reps appeared first on UNITElive.org.
Unite has warmly welcomed an election pledge from Labour to scrap controversial employment tribunal fees brought in by the Tory-led government almost two years ago. The upfront fees – which have been heavily criticised by some bosses as well as trade unions – are believed to have denied millions their rightful access to justice. […]
The post Workplace justice access hope appeared first on UNITElive.org.
Rural communities across Northern Ireland are under grave risk to their safety after Unite has discovered plans to severely cut road maintenance services. Unite representatives were informed that Transport NI management have proposed reducing the inspection of rural roads for potholes from three times a year to only once a year. Management has also […]
The post Attack on rural communities appeared first on UNITElive.org.
This general election has been dubbed the most important in a generation and – it is for many reasons – not least the protection of our NHS. But another crucial reason that makes this election important and it’s our membership of the European Union. Back in 1975 Margaret Thatcher campaigned to […]
The post Stop this calamitous course appeared first on UNITElive.org.
Labour announced yesterday (April 1) that it would clamp down on exploitative zero-hours contracts, by guaranteeing people who work regular hours the right to a regular contract. The video below features the decisive moment in last week’s ‘Battle for Number 10’ programme, in which presenter Jeremy Paxman presses David Cameron to answer a very […]
The post Could you live on a zero-hours contract? appeared first on UNITElive.org.
Imagine being a single parent struggling on benefits. You look long and hard for some sort of stable job – anything that will pay the bills and feed your child. You’re finally hired. It’s on a zero hours contract, but no matter. At least it’s something. Kelly, this young woman’s father, recalls how overjoyed […]
The post Stop the suffering appeared first on UNITElive.org.
As the general election campaign heats up, prime minister David Cameron made a startling claim on Monday night (March 30) – under his watch, he says, 1,000 jobs were created every day, an accomplishment he pledges to continue if a Conservative government were to be elected in May. Sounds great, but just how much […]
The post The claim, the maths and the reality appeared first on UNITElive.org.
Workers at the Northampton plant of one of the world’s largest packaging firms have begun a 48-hour strike over the dismissal of two Unite shop stewards. Unite members at Smurfit Kappa, who had previously been working to rule, walked out at midnight (April 1) calling for their colleagues to be immediately reinstated. Speaking from […]
The post Resolute in purpose appeared first on UNITElive.org.
1 million people have fallen off the electoral roll since the government changed the way we register to vote back in September. Many won’t even know. If you’re a one in the million then you’ll miss out in the most important election in our times. But there’s still time to make sure that […]
The post 20 days to go. Are you one in a million? Don’t be appeared first on UNITElive.org.
The Tories are refusing to set out how they are going to cut £12 billion from the welfare budget. But documents leaked to the BBC show they are looking to hit carers, children and the disabled in the next round of cuts. Labour urged the Tories to ‘come clean’ about where the axe will […]
The post Where will the axe fall? appeared first on UNITElive.org.
As UNITElive reported today, most of us expect our pay to stay the same this year or rise ever-so-slightly. Drivers who transport disabled children to school for Hackney council, however, face something else entirely – an astounding 50 per cent slash in their wages as the local authority embarks on vicious cost-cutting measures. […]
The post Striking for a fair deal appeared first on UNITElive.org.
When chancellor George Osborne gave his speech to outline the government’s budget earlier this month, he hailed the UK’s supposedly growing economy, calling it the “Comeback Country”. He claimed living standards were rising and that the coalition government had created a labour market that “made work pay”. That Osborne’s speech was far from […]
The post Still waiting appeared first on UNITElive.org.