In our latest coronavirus news round-up, we begin with the story that Unite members in manufacturing will play a key role in the national effort to tackle the coronavirus epidemic after a new…Read more…
‘Rising to the challenge’
Unite members in manufacturing are joining in the national effort to tackle the coronavirus epidemic as a consortium of the UK’s biggest firms in the sector prepare to rapidly build tens of thousands…Read more…
Heroes and zeroes
Each and every day as the coronavirus epidemic rages on, heroes from across British society have emerged to help others. But so too have ‘zeroes’ – employers who have taken advantage of the crisis –…Read more…
Heroes of the year – taxi drivers
Every day over the festive period here on UniteLive, we will highlight a different ‘hero of the year’. Today, we pay tribute to taxi drivers, who were among the first to help their…Read more…
Values
For ten years they starved us cut doctors and nurses who treated us devalued social workers who cared for us bosses mocked and taunted us you work with us not for us self employment became…Read more…
End bogus self-employment now call
The government could bring economic security to millions of precarious workers by ending ‘bogus self-employment’ and declaring their employee status, Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said…Read more…
Coronavirus news round-up
As the coronavirus epidemic intensifies, Unite continues to fight for its members both on the wider political stage and in individual workplaces across the UK and Ireland. On Thursday (March…Read more…
‘Open the door’ for self-employed to get help
Unite has called on the government to change the status of self-employed and precarious workers to employees so that they can immediately benefit from the chancellor’s wage protection scheme, where…Read more…
‘Heartfelt thanks’
To our Unite shop stewards and reps, I want to place on record my heartfelt thanks to you for everything that you are doing to support our members during these incredible and testing times. I…Read more…
Profits before safety
Two metres apart – this is the cornerstone of the government’s latest social distancing guidance that scientists have said will literally save lives. While groups of people spotted at parks…Read more…
Forced to choose between health and hunger
Construction workers are still being forced to go to work and put their and their families’ health at risk, or else stay home and comply with social distancing measures — and face losing their…Read more…
End NHS staff car parking charges
Unite has welcomed the news that York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has announced that it will be suspending car parking charges for NHS staff from Tuesday (March 24) until further notice….Read more…
Ask Alys: Will I be paid?
Q: Will I be paid if my workplace closes? Now the government has advised people not to leave home for work unless they absolutely have to, we reply to the question of what happens to your…Read more…
Norse Medway Covid19 approach ‘dangerous’
Unite has said it is ‘dismayed’ at council services outsourcer Norse Medway’s approach to social distancing for key workers as well as staff who need to self-isolate because of the coronavirus.
The…Read more…
Clarity call
Following on from an earlier statement responding to the news that the UK would be put on lockdown amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Unite general secretary Len McCluskey on Tuesday (March 23) appealed to…Read more…
Our Emily’s ready
Absolutely huge shout out to all our fantastic, inspirational and courageous NHS teams working mega hours right now both frontline and behind the scenes, throughout the UK.
The post Our…Read more…
‘Stand behind workers’
Prime minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday (March 23) night far stricter measures that have effectively placed the UK on a ‘lockdown’ similar to other countries such as in Italy and…Read more…
Coronavirus – the self-employed need urgent support too
We’re glad the government has agreed to help fund wages for employees, but what about the millions of self-employed who also face collapsing earnings?Read more…
Coronavirus news round-up
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to claim lives and put an ever-growing number of people in hospital, further stretching resources for an NHS already at breaking point, Unite presses on fighting…Read more…
Help the five million now call
Unite is ramping up the pressure on the chancellor to throw a lifeline to the 5m self-employed and other gig and freelance workers whom the government has so far failed to support amid the Covid-19…Read more…