Labour Deputy Leader Tom Watson made an interesting speech today, raising concerns about the erosion of transparency and accountability under our current government, and the threats this poses to our civil liberties. He accuses the Prime Minister in particular of “governing from the…Read more…
Too little, too late
The UK steel industry has received much needed support, as the UK was given EU state aid approval to give green tax rebates for energy-intensive industries. The aid package will be worth…Read more…
‘Star Wars’ digital revolution is coming
Serious questions are being asked whether the UK is fully geared up to profit from the ‘Star Wars’ digital revolution so eagerly being embraced by its economic competitors. As the prospect of…Read more…
Orgreave: justice fight goes on
Unite has backed the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign (OTJC) since its inception over three years ago. One of the campaign stalwarts is Unite industrial organiser Joe Rollin from Barnsley…Read more…
Breaking down barriers
For our last part in UNITElive’s series for Disability History Month this, we speak to Marsha de Cordova who explains how people with disabilities are being shortchanged by employers and the…Read more…
Investigate now call
A co-ordinated inquiry should be launched to investigate serious allegations about pay and working practices at Sports Direct, MPs who are Unite members have said. Undercover reporters from…Read more…
End ‘Victorian’ work practices
A review by Mike Ashley into the use of agency workers at Sports Direct will be nothing more than a public relations stunt if it fails to end ‘Victorian’ work practices at the retailer’s Shirebrook…Read more…
Keep coal alive
‘King Coal’ has a future as a UK producer, despite ministerial short-sightedness, driven by treasury cuts, Unite said yesterday (December 17). And coal’s importance cannot be…Read more…
ONS wealth data: the rich get considerably richer
In cash terms the top 10% own £5.0 trillion of UK total household wealth of £11.1 trillion – that’s 44.8 per cent (over 2012-14). Last time (2010-12), it was £4.1tn of £9.4tn – so 43.6%. This increased share of 1.2 percentage points (ppts) is very hefty relative to the past three…Read more…
Ceramic Valley may lose ceramic factories without support
In the Autumn Statement more Enterprise Zones were announced, including “Ceramic Valley” in the Stoke and Staffordshire LEP. For our members making construction product materials it should currently be a no-brainer to invest in extra manufacturing capacity, given: Cross-party agreement on the need…Read more…
International migrants day 2015: European unions call for refugee employment rights
The TUC has joined other unions around Europe to mark International Migrants Day (18 Dec) by calling for measures to get refugees integrated into the workplace, rather than left in limbo in camps or on benefits – or worse. The TUC made this call ahead of an international conference in Zagreb,…Read more…
Bedroom Tax – hurting just like we said it would
This was MPs’ last day before the holidays and the department for Work and Pensions celebrated by publishing fourteen – count them – reports, releases and statements. In this take out the trash glut you might be forgiven for missing the excitingly titled Evaluation of Removal of…Read more…
Pension costs – inertia rules
One of the challenges in participating in the long-running debate about the level of costs and charges levied on pensions is the risk of getting all Rumsfeldian. If we do not know what charges and costs are being borne by scheme members and their impact on savers’ standards of living in…Read more…
Episode 28: Organising to win
Sounds familiar? If you work in the hospitality industry you can join www.unitetheunion.org – if you earn less than the Living Wage (£9.15ph in London, £7.85 outside) for just £2.10 per week. …Read more…
Keep tips fair this Christmas
Unite’s campaign against restaurants skimming waiters’ credit card tips was a resounding success this summer. Pizza Express, along with other high street chains such as Zizzi, Ask and Giraffe gave in…Read more…
Cameron should concentrate on European pay, not benefits
Today and tomorrow, the December European Council, where EU leaders meet, will take place in Brussels. The big story for Britain is David Cameron’s EU renegotiation agenda. The TUC has called on him to concentrate on low pay rather than benefit curbs, and especially urged him not to let young…Read more…
Stand up
In part 4 of our Disability History Month series, UNITElive speaks to Unite equalities rep Marina Gunn about changing perceptions that others have about people with disabilities. Dry humour…Read more…
Unions pressing Cambodia for decent workers’ rights
The TUC is joining Cambodian and global unions to press the Cambodian government to give workers the rights they are due under ILO conventions. And in particular, we want the Cambodian government to…Read more…
Workers in Chattanooga choose a union
The first workers at a foreign owned car assembly plant in the southern USA have won collective bargaining rights. It’s the latest stage in the attempt by the mighty UAW, in association with…Read more…
Tip of the iceberg
Following a damning investigation by the Guardian into Sports Direct’s employment practices, which found that the retail giant may be paying its workers less than the minimum wage, £400m was wiped…Read more…