13 May 2015
By Professor Keith Ewing
Shortly after the general election in 2010, I wrote in these columns that Cameron would win the 2015 general election (Morning Star, 18 June 2010). The…Read more…
“Do you consider yourself to have a disability?” – a bipolar worker speaks out
“Do you consider yourself to have a disability?”; even if you’re completely open about your mental health disorder, you can’t help but think about it for a moment when you see this question in your…Read more…
UNISON turns up the heat on Murphy
Union says it will not oppose a change of leaderRead more…
Bin there, doing it again – Barking and Dagenham workers begin 13-day strike
More than 100 GMB members employed as bin lorry drivers for Barking & Dagenham Council Environmental Services today begin a 13-day strike over a £1,000 pay cut. They have already taken 15 days…Read more…
Agitate, educate, organise!
In the aftermath of the general election, trade unions have a unique role in leading the fight back against the Tory offensive, writes John Stevenson of UNISON Scotland:
‘The…Read more…
How many Cabinet members would have failed the trade union ballot test?
Unions condemn Tory plans to toughen up strike ballotsRead more…
US Senate blow to Pacific trade deal means TTIP is in trouble
The US Senate decision last night to withhold fast-track ‘Trade Promotion Authority’ for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a blow also to the EU-US Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP), and it demonstrates that opposition to TTIP is not a solely European…Read more…
Why can’t Turkish government be honest about the past?
FORCED MARCH. Armenians being deported under armed guard, 1915. People were punished if they tried to help the victims.
RELATIONS between the Turkish government and Germany could be…Read more…
Without a candidate – what does the left have?
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/may/12/forget-leadership-contest-new-labour-roots-social-movement-supporters-save-party
I spent this evening at two meetings.
The later (or latter?) was a meeting of the left caucus of members of the UNISON…Read more…
Greater London UNISON international Committee and Greece Solidarity Campaign
Picture is from yesterday’s AGM of Greater London UNISON International and Europe Committee. Kim Silver was re-elected Chair and I was re-elected Vice Chair.
Below is the draft report on this part of the meeting. I hope to also post later t…Read more…
What are we going to do now?
https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-eced-WHERE-DO-WE-GO-NOW#.VVJgj2pMVxs
I ended the last post on this blog with an implicit echo of Spike Milligan’s question – at the end of each episode of the various “Q” series – “what are we going to do now?”
I t…Read more…
Trade union leaders and the Tories – “business as usual or unite like never before”?
http://www.theguardian.com/public-leaders-network/2015/may/12/trade-unions-next-five-years-unite-like-never-before
I don’t know how grateful trade unionists should be to the dear old Grauniad for asking our leaders for their prognosis for the next five…Read more…
Cameron’s Equality appointments: the latest Whitehall Farce
Equalities has always been central to my trade unionism: if we are not about equality, then we are nothing.
The new Tory Government has said that it thinks equality (other than economic equality, of…Read more…
BREAKING: Docklands Light Railway workers vote ‘Yes’ for strike action
RMT members vote for action in two separate disputesRead more…
Safeguard our jobs
At the Irish policy conference of Unite, held in Croke Park yesterday (May 12), Ireland deputy regional secretary Jackie Pollock called for action to safeguard jobs in the manufacturing sector….Read more…
Under attack
Sajid Javid, Vince Cable’s replacement as business secretary, today (May 12) set out his plans for office in an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme. Javid, a former banker appointed…Read more…
Statement by UNISON Scotland Labour Link on Scottish Labour Leader, Jim Murphy
Tuesday 12 May 2015
"The scale of Scottish Labour’s defeat in the General Election result last Thursday indicates the need for a radical change in approach. The problems of Scottish Labour long pre-date this election and the current leadership.
"It is unprecedented for a party leader not to stand down after such a defeat, particularly when he loses his own seat. The campaign may have beenRead more…
And so it begins…
The newly elected Tory government has wasted no time in its assault on working people and the organisations that represent them, as business secretary Sajid Javid announced this morning (May 12) new…Read more…
Tories set to all but end right to strike – how shall we respond?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32702585
Unlike the Lib Dems five years ago it looks like the Tories intend to keep to some (at least) of their manifesto commitments.
The widely canvassed 50% turnout threshold for strike ballots (with a higher bar o…Read more…
When will all of our children and teachers have the learning environments that they deserve?
Anne Heavey is an Education Policy Adviser at ATL. Purposeful; Calm; Bright; Interesting; Clean. These words sum up the physical environment of both Stanley Park High and Springwell Learning…Read more…