PCS has supported proportional representation (PR) since 2008 on the basis that these electoral systems open up a space for anti-austerity policies and parties and enable trade unions to better stand up for the interests of our members. The call for PR…Read more…
Another view on the referendum results: Unity – not division – against the metropolitan economy
The Resolution Foundation (RF) has led the way in interpreting referendum results according to economic and other factors. However their latest contribution “The importance of place“, seems to me to underplay the importance of place. Outside London and other metropolitan centres, the…Read more…
The trade union case for electoral reform
Trade unions and workers’ movements have a proud history championing democratic reform. From the Chartists pushing for universal suffrage to the Scottish TUC’s role in the campaign for the Scottish Parliament, unions have been at the forefront of demands for a better democracy that puts people at…Read more…
Orgreave: Inquiry news by year’s end
The new home secretary Amber Rudd today (July 20) announced she will meet with the Orgreave Truth and Justice Camping (OTJC) after the summer recess following calls for a public inquiry into the…Read more…
Getting it in proportion? Unions and electoral reform
At the last TUC Congress a motion on electoral reform was passed. It began by noting that the Conservative ‘majority’ government elected in 2015 in fact secured the support of just 24% of the British electorate. Since that election, we have had to campaign hard in defence of jobs, services, and…Read more…
What should we make of today’s employment figures?
Today’s employment figures tell us a story we’ve grown used to – employment is still growing, unemployment is coming down at a slower rate, wage growth is still slow and there are other signs that the labour market isn’t as strong as we’d ideally like. As Damian Green was quick to point out, the…Read more…
Turkish democracy’s nightmare
The deficiencies in Turkey’s democracy cannot be remedied by armed force. The fact that the attempted coup by a section of Turkey’s armed forces failed is to be welcomed; what is not is the death of…Read more…
March for public services
This Saturday (July 23) people will be taking to the streets of Bromley to call on the Tory-led council to stop the cuts and privatisation of services. Unite has organised the march to show council…Read more…
Pushed to the limit
North Sea oil and gas workers are to strike for the first time in a generation. Almost 400 members of Unite and RMT unions who work for multinational oil and gas services company, Wood Group across…Read more…
Fighting for good of humanity
Growing up James Bentley never really heard much about his great-grandfather, Jim Bentley. Neither did anyone else in the Bentley family. That won’t be the case for future generations, says James,…Read more…
Last resort
More than 110 drivers from First Hampshire and Dorset Ltd in Weymouth and Bridport are to strike for five days next week in an ongoing dispute on pay. This will be the sixth week of the…Read more…
What should Theresa May’s new Industrial Strategy look like?
Last week, the new Prime Minister, Theresa May, expressed her support for a modern industrial strategy. As she created her first Cabinet, Mrs May pushed this agenda further forward by recasting the former BIS as a new Department for Business, Energy an…Read more…
Rank hypocrisy
Staff at Dorset county council will be protesting on Thursday (July 21) over ‘them and us’ pay inequality at the council’s headquarters. Employees’ are angry at large pay rises planned for council…Read more…
Pouring petrol on the fire
Thousands of Unite First Bus members across the country are considering industrial action against the company’s attacks on pay and working conditions. First Bus is facing pending industrial…Read more…
As Altmann exits, where is Workie?
Pensions Minister Baroness Altmann is to leave government, we learned over the weekend. The reshuffle fortunes of her sidekick Workie, the much lampooned multi-coloured monster she launched to promote workplace pensions, have yet to be confirmed. Altma…Read more…
Courage and solidarity
Speaking at Unite’s policy conference today (July 14), shadow chancellor John McDonnell laid out the Labour party’s radical plan to transform society under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn…Read more…
Radical transformation
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell laid out the Labour party’s single-minded “ambition to radically transform society” in a speech at Unite’s policy conference today (July 14), in which he also took…Read more…
Labour – fight Tories call
Unite members expressed frustration in a vote at conference today (July 14) in which they debated the policy of reselection of Labour MPs. Examining the conduct of some within the party and the…Read more…
Support Corbyn call
Uniting behind Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn, Unite delegates voted in favour of a motion today (July 14) to call on Constituency Labour Parties (CLPs) to urge their MPs to support the party’s…Read more…
United for steel – 2
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell discussing the latest steel situation with Unite steel workers. Pic by Mark Thomas
The post United for steel – 2 appeared first on UNITElive.org.Read more…