On Monday the Immigration Bill will start to be debated by the House of Lords select committee. As I have blogged previously, the Bill contains a number of threats for workers. It will introduce measures to criminalise undocumented workers that will make it easier for bad bosses to exploit migrants…Read more…
Big Boss becomes Big Brother
Bosses can now spy on their workers’ electronic communications, following a landmark decision by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Wednesday (January 13). Any form of communication…Read more…
A levy too far?
Unite is hoping that government plans to create three million apprenticeships in the coming years will lead to a new generation of youngsters being told: You’re hired. But the Chancellor’s…Read more…
Greatest bar to building is…?
Housebuilding in the UK will be severely hampered by skills shortages in the construction industry, according to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Construction professionals…Read more…
Bulldozing homes, bulldozing lives
The Tory war on council and social housing has taken a sinister twist this week with Prime Minister David Cameron backing proposals to bulldoze entire council estates. Those evicted will not be…Read more…
A great leap forward: the Women and Equalities Committee report on transgender equality
The report of the parliamentary Women and Equalities Committee inquiry into trans equality has now been published and its conclusions that trans people face serious prejudice and discrimination have attracted wide publicity. Trade unions views were amo…Read more…
Behind the Government’s tough talk on tackling worker exploitation
This week the Government published its response to the consultation on tackling labour market exploitation. It plans to give new powers to authorities to enforce basic work rights and it promises a new cross-government approach to enforcement. The BIS …Read more…
‘Driving force’ going off the road?
UK manufacturing is heading in the wrong direction, our balance of payments still on the critical list, exports are down, deflation is on the horizon and City pessimists warn of a another financial…Read more…
Time to care: Homecare workers speak out
Can you imagine having to have someone else help you brush your teeth? How about to get you out of bed, or even to wash you? What if it was a stranger each time? Over half a million adults in the UK…Read more…
Banner headline
Following the unfurling of the #SportsDirectShame banner at the Newcastle United versus Manchester United football match last night (January 12) Unite Community members continued to campaign…Read more…
Night tube nightmare
Work-life balance and an inadequate pay offer are the key issues in the long-running London Underground dispute over the introduction of the ‘night tube’. The 600 engineers and maintenance staff…Read more…
North Sea crisis not over
Oil giant BP yesterday (January 12) announced its intention to axe one in five North Sea jobs as part of a global workforce reduction. BP, one of the worlds’ ‘super-major’ oil and gas…Read more…
Steel industry warning
A new animated film warning that the clock is ticking on the UK’s crisis hit steel industry has been launched by Britain’s largest union, Unite. Urging the UK government to turn words into…Read more…
Sports Direct shame
Last night (January 12) Unite Community members and Newcastle United fans pulled off a mighty stunt together in protest over Sports Directs’ shameful treatment of its workforce. Fans unfurled…Read more…
Corporate and household debt hugely elevated on a (new) longer view on history
The financial and economic crisis is now widely understood as a consequence of excessive private sector debts. A more sustainable economic model into the future has been understood to involve a certain amount of so-called ‘deleveraging, so that debts are reduced as a share of income. Today the ONS…Read more…
Mind the disability gap
The employment gap between disabled and non-disabled people has hit 31 per cent, having remained stubbornly above 30 per cent since 2008. Progress in reducing the gap remains stuck, with less…Read more…
A radical new beginning
A new year always brings with it a sense of optimism and renewed hope and I’m determined 2016 should be no different. Yes, 2015 landed us with five years of Tory rule as David Cameron won a…Read more…
Brave new digital world
Phrases such as ‘Industry 4.0′, ‘Big Data’ and ‘The Internet Of Things’ are becoming common currency as the predictions of a new digital world and a new world of work in…Read more…
Lords second reading debate shows up the deep flaws in the #TUbill
Last night’s Trade Union Bill debate in the House of Lords exposed once again how ill-thought through and partisan the government’s Bill is. We heard concerns raised from right across the House about the threat this Bill poses to good industrial relations and fair treatment at work. Bishop of…Read more…
Carry on doctor
As the Tories and their tabloids ramped up attacks on junior hospital doctors, other health professionals rallied in support of the 24 hour strike action set to start tomorrow morning at 8am. NHS…Read more…