New government threats to force another 50,000 unemployed 18-21 year olds onto Workfare placements with charities and voluntary groups is facing a fresh storm of protest. Volunteers Week,…Read more…
Soaring bills
Health secretary Jeremy Hunt announced today (June 2) a pledge to clamp down on the health service’s soaring agency staff bill – a bill that’s spiralled out of control after his own government’s…Read more…
Winner takes it all
The London property market while considered a boom for one group of people is a crisis for many others. The day after the Tories secured a majority in the general election sales of luxury…Read more…
Will the doctor see you now?
Committing to a seven-day health service in the queen’s speech last week (May 27), the government echoed its manifesto pledge to provide GP access all days of the week from 8am to 8pm. …Read more…
No to poverty pay
Unite members at EM News Distribution are set to commence strike action for improved pay tomorrow (June 3) after an overwhelming ballot in favour of industrial action. Workers will…Read more…
Bromley: Tories ‘running amok’
Bromley council’s plans to carry out a mass privatisation of services are being challenged by members of Unite with a third wave of strikes. The selective strikes from June 10 to 20 come…Read more…
Uplifting success
The dispute over a tracker device in the vehicles of employees working at the Finnish-owned lift firm Kone has been successfully settled today (June 1). As a result, the two-week strike by 300…Read more…
Never forget working people
There has been much discussion in the wake of the disastrous general election result about the future direction of our party. A full and frank conversation must take place, involving all parts of our…Read more…
Scotland: Setting the record straight
In a few weeks’ time, Jim Murphy will submit his ideas on how to revive Labour’s fortunes in Scotland. He will then leave the office of leader of the party in Scotland and a debate on his…Read more…
Labour needs trade union allies
Over my long life I have been many things: As a lad I was a child labourer who lived in cheap doss houses with my parents who had been made destitute by the Great Depression. As a young man, I…Read more…
“Height of insanity”
The Tories’ latest right-to-buy housing scheme will spell disaster for London’s already beleaguered housing market. A key part of the Conservative manifesto, extending right-to-buy to housing…Read more…
EU: why Labour has to say yes
With a majority Conservative government that is slim and therefore vulnerable, and a government programme that a Guardian editorial this week described as ‘rag bag’, members in both Houses will be…Read more…
Racism and bullying revealed
Allegations of sexual abuse in the Methodist Church – and now racism and bullying could also be rife, Unite revealed today (May 28). Unite, which includes the 2,500-strong faith workers’…Read more…
The seven deadly bills
The Tories may have run a vague and convoluted election campaign, but now that they’re in with a wafer-thin majority, prime minister David Cameron laid out his policy plans yesterday (May 28) , as…Read more…
Bash, slash, cut and freeze
Bash the unions, slash welfare spending, cut benefits for the young, freeze in-work benefits and add a generous helping of deep austerity cuts. The Queen’s Speech shows the Tories are nasty again….Read more…
Tory ‘toothless’ hours law
A key coalition government measure came into force on Tuesday (May 26) – the banning of exclusivity clauses in zero hours contracts. Now, employers cannot block workers who are on the…Read more…
Hanging in the balance
The future of the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board (SAWB) hangs in the balance as the new Scottish government look at the option of scrapping it yet again in a consultation set to close at the end…Read more…
People are not your priority, Mr Cameron
Commenting on today’s Queen’s Speech, Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey said, “Given the profound challenges facing this nation, it is staggering that a priority for this government is…Read more…
Fighting the battle of ideas
Richard Angell recalls the moves a couple of years ago to have Progress, the organisation he directs, excluded from the Labour Party. Ungenerously, he omits to record that Len McCluskey spoke…Read more…
Feeding the meter
More than half a million people struggling with debt have forcibly had prepay gas and electricity meters installed by their energy suppliers, a BBC investigation has found. Figures reveal that…Read more…