TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady was in Brussels last week for the European Trade Union Confederation executive committee. The executive dealt with many issues of concern to British trade unionists, but none more serious than the concerted effort to restrict and reduce regulatory…Read more…
Unhappy Birthday: 5 years on, Osborne’s austerity Budget has failed as public debt still heads for 90 % of GDP (Maastricht definition)
Five years ago today, George Osborne published his austerity budget. His philosophy of action was set out a few months ahead of the election in the Mais Lecture (25th February 2010). Deploying the (now somewhat discredited) work by Reinhart and Rogoff (issued in January 2010), he argued “So while…Read more…
Amber axes most cost effective wind projects
The government has effectively cancelled 250 onshore wind projects already in development by cutting the subsidies which would aid their completion. Today’s decision is likely to mean that 2,500 turbines which were due to be built are scrapped. The Energy Secretary argued that consumer bills would…Read more…
Dark day for Britain
Today, Monday June 22, David Cameron has shown how tough he is with further attacks on working people and their families. In a speech he made in Runcorn further cuts of £1,400 from the incomes…Read more…
Spreading the learning bug
In June Unite Community members from across the South West attended the first ever ULR (union learning reps) course specifically designed for non-working Trade Union Members. The course is broadly…Read more…
Defining battle
A quarter of a million people turned out to protest the government’s austerity measures on Saturday (June 20) in central London, police figures estimated, with thousands more attending demonstrations…Read more…
‘We will not be silenced’
It’s so heartening to see so many people here. I’m not going to take up much of your time. But I do want to talk to two specific groups today. The first is those economists, academics, journalists,…Read more…
Swaziland: one of the terrible ten worst countries for workers’ rights
Swaziland makes the top ten worst places for workers because of its repressive regime of intimidation, police violence and imprisonment. Trade unions are also banned and authorities have used…Read more…
Saudi Arabia: one of the terrible ten worst countries for workers’ rights
Saudi Arabia employs a staggering 8.3 million migrants. Migrants make up 90 to 95 per cent of the private sector workforce but are excluded from labour law and endure forced labour akin to slavery….Read more…
Qatar: one of the terrible ten worst countries for workers’ rights
As a Gulf State with its infamous kafala system, Qatar can be a living hell for migrant labourers, excluded from labour law and under a forced labour system akin to a modern slavery. Once in Qatar,…Read more…
Breaking: Tata Steel strike suspended
A planned strike by workers at Tata Steel, including 6,000 from Unite has been suspended after a new offer was made over pensions today (June 19). Members of Unite, Community, the GMB and…Read more…
Joined-up energy strategy vital
The closure of the E.ON gas-fired power station at Killingholme in north Lincolnshire in September is a ‘wake up’ call for the government to talk to industry leaders and trade unions about a…Read more…
Only the beginning
“Conditionality” in the benefits system – the idea that claimants must meet certain conditions in order to receive their benefits, or face the consequences—has been taken to absurd levels by the…Read more…
Public sector net debt reaches £1½ trillion, nearly £200bn more than planned, and stuck for years at over 75% of GDP
In May 2015 public sector net debt (excluding public sector banks) rose above £1,500 billion or £1½ trillion for the first time. Over the past four years, government borrowing has moved further and further above the original plans (see). Spending cuts have harmed the economy more than expected,…Read more…
Cridland’s comprehensive demolition job on Tory education policy
And another thing… A weekly blog by ATL general secretary Mary Bousted John Cridland, director general of the CBI, cannot remotely be named or shamed as a member of the education ‘blob’. And yet his…Read more…
Pakistan: one of the terrible ten worst countries for workers’ rights
Pakistani workers face large-scale exclusions from labour law, arrests and violence. Last year protests were held condemning the murder of eight labourers in Balochistan. Earlier this year, trainee…Read more…
Call for justice
In response to the disappointing decision of the Independent Police Complaint’s Commission (IPCC) not to fully investigate criminal wrongdoings by police at Orgreave during the miners’ strike, Louise…Read more…
Balanced energy policy call
The announcement that new subsidies for onshore wind farms will end from April next year is ‘misguided’, Unite warned today (June 18) “The UK faces a serious energy supply problem in…Read more…
‘Fresh attack’
Cutting child tax credits to axe £5 billion from the welfare bill would hit far more people in work than out of work, according to a new briefing from the Resolution Foundation. The Tories…Read more…
Have your say
You’ll have no doubt heard by now that there’s election on the horizon. An election you can take part in. An election where your voice really matters. From August 14 you…Read more…