Behind the group of great women in the famous 1968 strike at Ford’s Dagenham plant there was a man. Bernie Passingham – who has died aged 90 – played a crucial role as TGWU convenor in…Read more…
One per cent in wages ‘howl’
When the National Minimum Wage (NMW) was first introduced in 1999, many in the business community claimed the sky was falling – unemployment would skyrocket, profits would fall, and the very people…Read more…
Protect your vote
Unite has expressed grave concerns over Tory plans to speed up crucial legislation to voter registration. The campaign group Hope Not Hate is warning that as many as two million voters will be…Read more…
EU court’s common sense decision on time spent travelling to work
The European Court ruling this week was indeed a good decision for people working long hours, a phenomenon that TUC research shows is on the rise again in Britain. But many of those commuters happily seeing the headlines saying “EU court rules travelling to work ‘is work’” could…Read more…
Say #refugeeswelcome – march on Saturday
The vivid stories of human suffering that have dominated the media coverage of the refugee crisis have provoked reactions of shock and, importantly, solidarity by the public. As organisations founded…Read more…
Bill no mates: Growing opposition to the trade union bill from across the political spectrum
Civil liberty groups, voluntary organisations, NGOs, academics, employer organisations, groups representing users of public services, and industry commentators across the UK have joined the TUC in voicing their opposition the government’s Trade Union Bill. A selection of their comments is provided…Read more…
The Importance of Proofreading: how Trade Union Bill equality analysis admits it lacks supporting data
Today the government has published its equality analysis of the Trade Union Bill. For busy readers who may not have time to read to the end of my blog, let alone the government’s 31 page document, I can reveal that the government’s analysis of its proposals to weaken workers’ rights is that there…Read more…
Relief for truck drivers?
It can be tough to spend a penny in an era of government cuts which have brought about the closure of so many public toilets. Toilet breaks are no laughing matter; rather they are a basic…Read more…
No one’s buying it
Days before the Trade Union Bill comes up for its second reading in the Commons on Monday (September 14), the government proposals have come under fire not only from trade unions, but from all sides,…Read more…
Democracy threatened
Unite is calling on the government to end what it calls a “shocking attack on democracy” because of Tory changes to voter registration. Rushed changes Figures suggest two million people…Read more…
Scrap the Trade Union bill
Unite, has today (September 10) urged the government to abandon its Trade Union bill, warning that the legislation heralds a new era of divisive industrial relations ill-befitting a modern economy….Read more…
Former BIS secretary Vince Cable attacks ‘vindictive’ trade union bill
Former Business Secretary Vince Cable has today branded the government’s Trade Union Bill as “vindictive” and a threat to “civil liberties”. Speaking to the BBC Vince Cable warned that the Trade Union Bill would worsen industrial relations and make disputes harder to resolve: “I think…Read more…
Twice as many €-millionaire bankers in UK as the rest of Europe put together. Doing what for the rest of us?
(I missed this data release on Monday, but today the FT remind us of the results with a chart on their front page.) In 2013 the UK has 2,086 high-earning bankers (defined as earning more than one million euros a year, £850,000), according to a new report published by the European Bankers…Read more…
Boost for building workers
Firms that want to build in Liverpool will have to sign-up to a six-point charter designed to ensure that workers receive the minimum employment conditions. Unite, Ucatt and the GMB drew up…Read more…
Shrinking the state
Unite has described the government’s spending cuts as “ideologically driven nonsense” after George Osborne’s plans were roundly criticised by a former head of the civil service. At a…Read more…
BA cabin crew heroes save the day
As a Gatwick-bound British Airways aircraft readying for take-off in Las Vegas burst into flames yesterday (September 8), BA cabin crew, Unite members, swung into action and evacuated the plane,…Read more…
Stopping the Job – collectively
There should be a health and safety law poster in every workplace in the country. This is produced by the HSE and tells workers what their legal rights are. It is simple and well-written. There is…Read more…
Sports Direct: pressure is on
Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley has often appeared invincible by using the massive profits he has generated from forcing his employees to endure low wages and zero-hours contracts to knock out his…Read more…
Get grip on manufacturing
Unite has made it clear ministers have still not ‘got to grips’ over formulating a coherent manufacturing strategy as figures showed a sharp dip in industrial output in July. The union said…Read more…
Tipping the balance
Unite’s fair tips campaign has roared on all summer and been hailed by the Guardian as ‘impressive’. There have been key victories, but the work’s not over yet. It’s rare for a union campaign to…Read more…