16 February 2017
By Sarah Glenister, National Development Officer, Institute of Employment Rights
The future is uncertain for migrant workers in the UK as the government prepares to trigger…Read more…
No mention of equality in Brexit white paper is “shocking and shameful”
UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis has described the government’s failure to mention equalities in the Brexit white paper as shocking and shameful at its annual women’s conference today…Read more…
‘A lot to answer for’
Misguided NHS bosses charged with reforming the health service are planning to close or downgrade 24 casualty departments because they believe that A&E units will see a 30 percent fall in visits…Read more…
Vauxhall latest: urgent talks call
Following the meeting between Unite general secretary Len McCluskey, the President of General Motors, Dan Ammann and the secretary of state Greg Clark, the union’s leader said, “My immediate…Read more…
EU migrant members speak up for right to remain
UNISON is supporting a day of lobbying and celebration in defence of its EU migrant members
The article EU migrant members speak up for right to remain first appeared on the UNISON National site.Read more…
Budget blogs – we need a budget for public services
In 2018/19, in real terms, NHS spending is going to go down – 10 years after Lehman brothers and austerity began Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England, wasn’t pulling his punches at the Public Accounts Committee last month. “There are very clearly substantial pressures and it doesn’t…Read more…
‘Determined as ever’
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey spoke this morning (February 16) in a wide-ranging interview with business news network Bloomberg over the news that Peugeot may buy out General Motors’…Read more…
‘Completely unacceptable’
Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner last night (February 15) spoke on the BBC One Show as it emerged that more than 300 companies have failed to pay the minimum wage, including retailer…Read more…
Budget blogs: Looking to the longer term
So far this week we’ve outlined the main challenges facing the Chancellor as he prepares his budget, and looked at the sharp rise in insecurity at work, and the hole it’s punching in the public finances. Today’s post looks at the longer term challenge of producing more good jobs and an economy that…Read more…
Solidarity with workers in Turkey
Last night I spoke at a hastily-convened but well-attended meeting at the NUT in solidarity with public sector workers, teachers and journalists currently suffering a state purge in Turkey. The…Read more…
Support EU citizens’ right to remain day of action
Join UNISON, in co-ordination with the New Europeans and the3million’s in the EU Right to Remain day of action.Register to join the lobbyOn Monday 20 February, UNISON members can meet their MP and ask them to support the following pledge:“I call on Theresa May to guarantee…Read more…
Workers’ rights in crisis in Bangladesh
Nine trade union members of IndustriALL affiliate, the Bangladesh Independent Garment Workers Union Federation, were detained over the weekend of 11-12 February in Chittagong after police interrupted…Read more…
Opposition will build against Business Council
The Conservative Coup Council along with the Council Officers of the State, Metcalfe and company are seeing their ‘regeneration for business’ start its work. The Isle of Wight Council’s…Read more…
Valentine’s Day #lastminute.com
Had to smile at the slightly panicky queue of men (including one women) inside my local florist in Forest Gate last night at round 7.30pm.
Have to admit that I have “been there, done that and got the tee-shirt” – so I’m not that smug:)Read more…
Care firms shamed are just the tip of the iceberg, says UNISON
Commenting on the 360 employers named and shamed today (Wednesday) by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy for failing to pay the national minimum wage, UNISON general…Read more…
Wage theft shocker
The government needs to take much stronger action to enforce the national minimum wage, raise living standards with a real living wage and introduce sector level collective bargaining, if it is…Read more…
Blog: Our NHS is in crisis – and it is a disaster of the government’s own making
Recently it was revealed that nine out of ten hospitals faced overcrowding this winter – a sure fire sign that government underfunding is beginning to impact on patient care. Waiting times are up….Read more…
European Parliament vote for CETA brings the battle for fair trade deals home
Today the European Parliament voted 458 in favour of the EU-Canada deal known as CETA with 254 votes against. This means that about 90% of the deal comes into force and paves the way for the deal to be sent to the UK parliament for approval. If the UK parliament agrees to CETA we will…
The…Read more…
Insecure work wastes billions
Insecure work is costing the government almost £4bn per year, a damning new report has found. The costs equate to a loss for £75m a week for the Treasury – enough to pay for a quarter of the…Read more…
Steel deal accepted
Steelworkers today (February 15) voted to accept Tata Steel UK’s investment proposals. In a consultative ballot on Tata Steel’s proposal on pensions, jobs, investment and production, Unite…Read more…