This month we’re counting down the ten most significant challenges faced by young workers. If you think about it, you’d expect younger workers to get more training than older workers – after all,…Read more…
The Econocracy: the stunning new book from Rethinking Economics
The ‘rethinking economics’ student movement has been one of the few highlights of the dismal years since the financial crisis. In their new book The Econocracy: The perils of leaving economics to the experts, three of their number – Joe Earle, Cahal Moran and Zach Ward-Perkins – set out in full…Read more…
“Axe the Housing Act”: UNISON Motion to London Labour Conference 2016
This is below a motion by Greater London UNISON Regional Labour Link to the London Labour Party Conference next Saturday 12 November.
“Housing continues to be the biggest challenge that Londoners face in the capital today with many who grew up in…Read more…
Unite dossier on Fujitsu pay inequality
Unite has today published a dossier on unequal pay in Fujitsu. The publication coincides with members in Manchester striking over…Read more…
Trigger Democracy – A choice for Newham
Can I recommend that anyone interested in the Newham Labour Mayoral selection process for 2018 looks at this new website https://triggerdemocracy.com/ and its Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Trigger-Democracy-523048401153002/ and its twitt…Read more…
Russian Revolution Centenary Celebrations
7th November 2016 (25th October in the old-style Julian calendar) marks the 99th anniversary of the Russian Revolution, famously dubbed by US journalist John Reed as “ten days that shook the world.”…Read more…
Let me tell you where to put your red poppy…
My poppy is white.
I won’t wear a red one.
If you want a red poppy you commemorate the British war dead (but not others).
And you say that charity – rather than the state – should provide for those injured serving in “our” armed forces.
I do not recognise my presence in any first person plural…Read more…
This is what free speech in our trade union movement looks like (it’s not pretty…)
When I started this blog, a little over ten years ago, I explained why I was doing so, and said; “ I believe that this blog is entirely within UNISON Rules and I don’t intend to carry any content which attacks our Union. This is not to say that I won’t publish criticisms of policies or decisions…Read more…
School Cuts (92% of schools will have their funding cut in England); Book Launch & Demo
Check out the http://www.schoolcuts.org.uk website and enter your postcode and you will see the schools around you that face savage Government cuts in funding. Incredibly 92% of schools face cuts, an average primary school will face £96,000 cut and average Secondary £290,000.
Locally…Read more…
Some inconsequential information
At a meeting of UNISON activists in London last week I shared with colleagues my decision not to seek an eighth term on UNISON’s National Executive Council (NEC) in the next round of elections.
I was pleased to learn that my friend and comrade, Sean Fox, the experienced and committed Secretary of…Read more…
Park Library petition – Catch 22 Swindon style
Swindon Council has refused to table Parks and East Walcot Community Forum’s petition for discussion at the November council meeting. The petition, which has more than 1,100 signatures, calls on the council to amend their proposal to include Park Library in the core provision of the new…Read more…
Defend our libraries!
Good luck to all those marching to defend our libraries today.
I won’t be amongst the lively Lambeth contingent as I am not in London, but am confident of strong support locally and nationally for this timely and important demonstration.
The Tory assault on our library services is not letting up –…Read more…
Len McCluskey On Brexit & Immigration
Britain’s exit from the European Union must deliver a migration policy that changes the UK from a ‘race-to-the bottom to a rate-for the-job country’, Len McCluskey of Unite will say today….Read more…
When Sir Alex Ferguson met UNISON’s Tom Hart
Union steward and football legend feature in Scottish government lung cancer awareness film
The article When Sir Alex Ferguson met UNISON’s Tom Hart first appeared on the UNISON National site.Read more…
The independent review of online voting for trade unions is finally happening
As someone working in digital services in trade unions, the legal ban on using online voting for union statutory ballots has always wound me up. So I’m very pleased at the news that the government are finally starting their promised independent review into online voting for unions. Sir Ken Knight,…Read more…
Welcome announcement
Caving in to pressure from all sides, including lobbying and campaigning from Unite, the UK government has finally announced today (November 4) that work on the long-awaited Type-26 frigates would…Read more…
Public oil investment call
Scotland’s biggest offshore union is calling on MSPs to back a Holyrood motion calling for public investment in the oil and gas industry. Unite is to ask every MSP to support a motion by North…Read more…
Farewell to conference
For Neil Marsden, who finally retired after one career in the police and then another in the police staff, winter is going to be about serious relaxation…
The article Farewell to conference first…Read more…
‘Shameful’
“Downplaying serious toxic fume events on board aircraft as ‘odour events’ smacks of spin and an attempt to manipulate official statistics to downplay how widespread the problem really is in the…Read more…
Transport strategy for all
“We think transport is at the heart of our communities and transport workers are at the heart of our communities”, explained Unite assistant general secretary for transport Diana Holland. …Read more…