In May I wrote a blog about a new fund that the world’s main industrialised countries (The G7) were setting up to help prevent workplace deaths and injuries. The catalyst for this was the large…Read more…
Defining moment
The crisis in the UK steel industry is a defining moment for the Conservative government. Having talked up the ‘March of the makers’ and the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ the past few…Read more…
Last plea to Tories
The government is sticking to its guns over cuts to tax credits. To persuade the public (and their own MPs) of a plan that the electorate didn’t vote for, they’ve released figures that claim these…Read more…
Episode 7: ‘I would like to go to the union meeting’
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…
STUC General Secretary at SNP conference
On the morning of Saturday 17th October, Grahame Smith our General Secretary got to his feet, delivered a speech to SNP conference and received a standing ovation. It was described as an ‘historic’…Read more…
Steel in the blood
On January 14 this year the future of steel, according to David Cameron was as follows: “We are working as hard as we can to make sure we keep steel production growing in our country….Under…Read more…
Deadly asbestos ignored
More than 20 workers have been exposed to asbestos after the Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester failed to deal with the cancer causing substance – putting staff, patients and…Read more…
Domino effect
Steel firm Caparo Industries has today (Monday October 19) announced it is going into administration putting 1,700 jobs at risk. Unite described the news as ‘yet another hammer blow’ to jobs and…Read more…
No, Prime Minister
On Wednesday (October 14), David Cameron told the House of Commons that he and I agreed. No, prime minister, we most certainly do not. For the avoidance of doubt, let me spell it out. The…Read more…
Broken promises and tax credit cuts
They’ve been described as plans based on “political and class dogma, and not economic necessity” by Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey; part of an economic package that will worsen inequality, by…Read more…
Green Collar Nation – or industrial omnishambles?
The government must stop cutting renewable energy funding, and instead get behind the UK’s transition to a low-carbon economy, say a new TUC/Greenpeace report. Green Collar Nation calls for “active support from government so the UK can become a world centre for low-carbon manufacturing, from solar…Read more…
Don’t tell me I have low expectations
By Mary Bousted (first published in Schools Week) Teachers care passionately about their pupils and strive to close the education achievement gap, but their job becomes more difficult as inequality…Read more…
Episode 6: ’18 rooms?! This is impossible to do!’
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…
European Parliament latest to slam Thailand for harassing Andy Hall
Andy Hall, the British-born, Thailand-based migrant and trade union rights advocate, is back in court on Monday, 19 October. The latest court hearing is to decide whether to indict him for criminal…Read more…
Time ticking on UK steel
Time is ticking on the UK’s steel industry and urgent action from the government is needed, not platitudes, warned Unite following today’s (October 16) steel summit in Rotherham. Commenting on…Read more…
Threat to democracy
Some of the country’s top trade union leaders gave evidence to MPs at a committee hearing over the trade union Bill yesterday (October 15). The general secretaries of Unite, GMB, Unison and…Read more…
Steel summit: united front for action
The UK steel industry presented a united front to government ministers at the steel summit in Rotherham today (October 16). And as the coke ovens were shutting down in Redcar on Teesside the…Read more…
OBR wrong to continue absolving Osborne’s polices for a deficit now 3x larger than planned
TUC has argued that the economy and public finances were derailed over the coalition years because government spending cuts had a larger-than-expected impact on the wider economy (see e.g. blog, paper). Earlier this week the Office for Budget Responsib…Read more…
‘Steel heart’ strategy plea
As the business secretary Sajid Javid opens today’s steel industry summit (October 16), Unite has demanded the government “pursues an industrial strategy with a ‘steel heart’.” …Read more…
Episode 5: ‘I don’t need any help’
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…