Two years into the coalition government’s austerity programme in 2012, routine figures released by the department of work and pensions revealed a shocking phenomenon – in just one year (2011) more…Read more…
Our car workers are star workers
The news that automotive workers are the UKs most productive employees, each generating £100,000 a year in added value, will come as no surprise to Unite members working in the sector. …Read more…
Solidarity and freedom
The fight to reinstate the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) goes on despite the election of the most extreme right wing government since Mrs Thatcher, pledged Unite agricultural workers’ leader,…Read more…
The impossible dream?
Find a job, marry, start a family, buy a home – even after rapid social and technological changes of the past century, traditional rites of passage have largely persisted to this day. But if…Read more…
Just not taking it
Residents on the Cressingham Gardens estate in Lambeth are celebrating a small victory in their three year-long campaign to save their homes from demolition after being granted a judicial review….Read more…
Buy British-made cars call
Two MPs launched a debate in the House of Commons last week (July 16), calling on police forces to support the UK automotive industry by buying British-made cars – a policy that Unite has long…Read more…
‘Curtain of secrecy and fear’
Tory-led Bromley council has suspended a Unite rep in a bid to silence critics of its privatisation programme. The council suspended Unite rep Alan Brown on Friday (July 17). Details of the…Read more…
Not to be ignored
The workplace at present is full of uncertainties and insecurity. But one thing is certain. The workforce is getting older and workers, by choice or necessity, are working longer. So what are…Read more…
Courage of their convictions
After the Tories’ proposed welfare bill, which aims to slash child tax credits and lower benefit caps among other cuts, received its second reading yesterday (July 20), nearly 50 Labour MPs voted…Read more…
War on the poor
The Tories smash and grab raid on tax credits, benefits and the unemployed who are sick and disabled has been cheered on by its supporters. Families in desperate need of financial support to keep…Read more…
#ImInWorkJeremy
Health secretary Jeremy Hunt has been slammed for his out of touch approach to the NHS. Not only was he the man who vetoed a paltry 1 per cent pay rise by the pay review body meaning nurses…Read more…
‘Special’ solidarity
Speaking to Unite Community coordinator Dave Condliffe on this dreary Monday morning it was clear that he was one person who definitely didn’t have the Monday blues. Dave was still buoyed up…Read more…
NHS – safe in Tory hands?
Tory health secretary Jeremy Hunt launched a 25-year plan for the NHS but failed to mention how he would fill a £822m hole in NHS finances. He also failed to address how he was going to lift morale…Read more…
NI NHS staff: pay us properly
Understaffing and underfunding are the main barriers to a seven-day NHS in Northern Ireland, Unite said today (Friday July 17) – and not staff costs for working unsocial hours. The…Read more…
Not so sweet
Ministers should introduce a sugar tax and ban the advertising of sugary drinks and food, as the obesity crisis amongst children grows, Unite, the country’s largest union, said today (Friday July…Read more…
Just can’t take it anymore
Unite is at the forefront of Ireland’s Right2Water campaign, which has mobilised hundreds of thousands of people in the Republic against yet another austerity tax: water charges. Although…Read more…
Unsocial hours payments should stay
The independent Pay Review Body (PRB), which recommends pay for NHS staff, released a report today (July 16) examining the viability of delivering healthcare services seven days a week. Unite,…Read more…
An ‘asinine logic’
In an act of political doublespeak, business secretary Sajid Javid described the purpose of Trade Union Bill – which has its first reading in the House of Commons today – thus, “Trade…Read more…
Noticeable by their absence
Unite will play a leading role in tackling race inequality in the health service, which was discussed on Tuesday (July 14) at a conference held by the union, launching its campaign to support black,…Read more…
‘Bitter blow’
Ministers’ failure to support manufacturing over high energy prices has significantly contributed to the loss of 720 jobs at Tata Steel in Rotherham, Unite said today (July 16). Unite, which…Read more…