Retail sales have seen their worst decline since 2010. But rising consumer credit figures suggest we’re not at the end of the consumer spending boom just yet. Retail sales volumes declined by -1.4% in the first quarter of 2017, the worse quarterly decline since the first quarter of 2010 (itself…Read more…
Rana Plaza: Unions can save lives as well as livelihoods
As we approach the 4th anniversary of terrible tragedy at Rana Plaza in Bangladesh, it’s important to hold on to the sense of shock we all had when we heard that over a thousand workers, full aware…Read more…
GS ballot announcement
Len McCluskey has been re-elected general secretary of Unite, the union announced today (April 21). Votes cast in the election were as follows: Len McCluskey 59, 067 Gerard Coyne 53, 544…Read more…
Urgent meeting call
Unite has called for an urgent meeting with the management of Icelandic Seachill in Grimsby, following today’s (April 21) announcement that one of the town’s largest employers had been put up for…Read more…
‘Immoral’
Just a day after BMW justified its pension scheme closure plans by calling the scheme “unsustainable and unaffordable” in a statement on Wednesday (April 19), the car firm posted skyrocketing…Read more…
Protect public health call
Health visitors and school nurses are holding a campaign meeting in the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday (April 26) to hammer out a checklist for prospective parliamentary candidates (PPCs), which…Read more…
Where do you stand?
A new film by Unite is highlighting the need to protect the United Kingdom’s crucial automotive sector from the uncertainty of a hard Brexit during the run up to the general election on June…Read more…
Making health and safety an issue for everyone
Men are almost twice as likely to suffer a serious injury at work as women, and for decades health and safety practice has reflected what has been seen traditionally as a problem most affecting men….Read more…
Hidden power
As the shock subsides, the reality sets in – little more than two years after having had a general election, Britons brace themselves for yet another one on June 8. Election fatigue may make…Read more…
‘Excellent turnout’
Japan’s ambassador to the UK has been asked to intervene in the current dispute involving the IT giant Fujitsu which could see 1,800 job losses. Unite today (April 21) handed in a letter to…Read more…
Open skies?
The UK aviation industry’s chance of a successful post-Brexit takeoff could be hindered because of Theresa May’s shock announcement of a general election on June 8, Unite has warned. Even…Read more…
Election fever or fatigue? Why the mayoral elections on 4 May really matter
The rubber has hardly hit the road on the June General Election. But important elections are also happening closer to home. Local and metro mayoral elections are happening on 4 May, and there are some big opportunities for parts of the country to make …Read more…
Stop pensions robbery
Watch Unite plant convenor Norman Gough explain why workers have been driven to hold the first ever strikes yesterday (April 19) by BMW’s UK workforce in our exclusive video below. There were also…Read more…
Ferry strike called off
Tomorrow’s strike (April 21) that would have hit travellers using the Woolwich Ferry has been suspended, as ‘positive progress’ has been made in talks today (April 20) in the dispute over a bullying…Read more…
Hinkley Point delay risk
Delays to the construction of the Hinkley Point nuclear power station could be on the cards, if a dispute over bonus payments flares up into industrial action, the unions have warned. Unite…Read more…
Lives uprooted
Hundreds of homeless families from London are being forced to uproot their lives and move to private rented accommodation miles outside the capital or else face having their support cut off, new…Read more…
Fighting for respect
For hundreds of workers at the BMW Mini plant in Cowley, just outside of Oxford, today (April 19) was their first ever day of strike action after working loyally for the same company for decades….Read more…
Solid support
A 24 hour strike by BMW workers making car engines and the Mini was being solidly supported today (April 19), as workers mounted picket lines and production lines lay idle over the luxury carmaker’s…Read more…
Weetabix takeover
Unite has asked for an urgent meeting with the new American owner of Weetabix to seek assurances about job security. Unite represents more than 110 members, including engineering and technical…Read more…
Choice for positive change
Responding to today’s (April 18) announcement by prime minister Theresa May of a general election on June 8, Unite acting general secretary Gail Cartmail said, “The prime minister has gone back on…Read more…