One of the first jobs for the newly appointed Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, David Gauke MP, is to publish a report on the outcome of his department’s review of State Pension age. We know that a draft report to Parliament had been prepared when the general election was called. It is…Read more…
What plans for HSE?
Today (June 22) Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail spoke out on HSE inspection cuts in the construction industry. “Sadly there remain far too many employers who are all too…Read more…
Tragic crane deaths
Unite is seeking urgent answers after a crane collapse in Crewe killed two workers and injured several other people. The accident happened yesterday (Wednesday June 21) at Dunwoody Way in…Read more…
Bin strike over jobs slash
Refuse workers at Birmingham city council are set to strike as the council swings the axe on 122 waste collection jobs amid claims of ‘a bullying culture’ and financial incompetence. The…Read more…
A ‘bad deal’ Brexit?
Despite being forced to exclude most of her manifesto policies from the Queen’s Speech, beleaguered Theresa May made sure her plans for a hard Brexit that will take the UK out of the EU’s single…Read more…
Report on pay outlook published as wages squeeze continues to bite
Britain’s getting a pay cut There is a real and present danger that inflation will continue to increase faster than earnings this year. The latest figures show average weekly earnings growing at a modest 2.1%, whilst CPI inflation has increased to 2.9% and RPI to 3.7%. In short, Britain is getting…Read more…
Constantly on call: Life in insecure work
To their advocates, zero hours contracts offer flexibility for both the employer and employee. But such a simple summary strips away the human aspects and power dynamics that make insecure work so stressful for the employee. Hundreds of people employed…Read more…
Grenfell exposes the true face of deregulation
I think it is important that we do not rush to conclusions over the catastrophic fire at Grenfell Tower that has killed so many people in West London. The priority must be supporting residents who…Read more…
Grenfell exposes the true face of deregulation
I think it is important that we do not rush to conclusions over the catastrophic fire at Grenfell Tower that has killed so many people in West London. The priority must be supporting residents who…Read more…
Saving Coventry City
Unite Community Coventry and Warwickshire branch members have thrown their weight behind a campaign to rescue the beleaguered Coventry City Football Club (FC). The branch has organised the…Read more…
‘Sooner the better’
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey on the Queen’s speech: “The Tories had a chance today to show that they understand the issues of this country – growing poverty, insecurity,…Read more…
‘Proper’ pay rise call
Unite members employed by the private contractor Serco, working at Barts Health NHS Trust, have overwhelmingly voted to strike for a proper pay rise. A massive 99 nine per cent of workers that…Read more…
Stripped down plans
Shambolic Theresa May was forced to ditch huge chucks of her manifesto from the Queen’s Speech today. The blundering Prime Minister had to present a stripped-down plan for the next two…Read more…
Where’s the hope, Theresa?
It was an opportunity for Theresa May and her discredited government to heed the voice of millions who voted for a change of direction by ditching failing austerity for a brighter future. …Read more…
Failed again
Since the General Election, June 8, 2017, it has become increasingly evident that the Prime Minister, Theresa May, not only lost her majority she lost her authority to govern. She believed her…Read more…
How can you budget when you don’t know if you’ll be working?
We often assume that a job will provide us with financial stability. Work is supposed to give us a stable income, a dependable budget, and the relief of not having to stress about the next month’s rent. However, for those in insecure work, jobs don’t necessarily guarantee this peace of mind. In a…Read more…
Job threat questions raised
Serious questions need to be asked over why more than 500 jobs at the profitable Delphi Diesel Systems in Suffolk are under threat, Unite has said today (Tuesday June 20). Last week, the…Read more…
Radical recruitment
In positive news for workers and communities, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) will create 5,000 new high-tech jobs. Unite welcomed the news, saying that investment in the skills necessary to manufacture the…Read more…
Turning up to be sent home without pay: life in insecure work
Imagine turning up to work only to be sent home without pay. It would be frustrating, wouldn’t it? It would be more frustrating still if you had already paid for childcare that day; or if you’d cancelled other plans so you could work; or if not receiving that day’s pay would make it difficult…Read more…
Stay cool outdoors
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are serious if not treated quickly, so watch out for these symptoms in your co-workers. You should give first aid and call 999 if you think there are signs of…Read more…