A man was waiting in the pouring rain outside the Jobcentre in the town of Shirebrook, Derbyshire. He was 15 minutes late for his appointment at 9.45 am, although he’d arrived on time. His…Read more…
Stop cruel sanctions plea
Today (March 9), across the country, thousands of campaigners protested against the government’s inhuman benefits sanction regime, which can stop Jobseekers Allowance for up to three years for often…Read more…
North east fights back
Unite Community members in the north east of England today mobilised in good numbers as part of the union’s biggest ever day of action against benefit sanctions. Protest rallies…Read more…
Under attack
Public sector workers are the backbone of society and keep essential services we often take for granted ticking over. Even though they’re invaluable to the smooth running of our country…Read more…
ONS pronounce on the future of inflation measurement, with RPI “not a good measure”
Today the National Statistician John Pullinger published advice on the ‘future of consumer inflation statistics in the UK’ (here). The trade union movement has taken a close interest in these issues and has contributed to the debate at various points. The purpose of this blog is to…Read more…
Reporting on modern slavery risks: the union factor
Modern slavery is an international phenomenon and comes in many forms ranging from East European migrants in the UK food industry in debt to trafficking gangs, to Nepalese workers on Middle Eastern construction sites with no access to their ID documents. The UK’s Modern Slavery Act 2015 not only…Read more…
South Africa: the long campaign for justice for silicosis sufferers
The announcement of a settlement for 4,365 former gold miners in South Africa suffering from silicosis is welcome news. Anglo American South Africa and AngloGold Ashanti have agreed to put up to 464m…Read more…
The zero-hours nightmare is spreading: 800,000 now on zero-hours contracts.
Zero-hour contracts may be a dream for cost-cutting employers. But they are all too often a nightmare for workers. And despite widespread condemnation from politicians, they’re growing, with this year’s official statistics showing a 15% rise. 104,000 more people are now employed on zero…Read more…
NHS cash crisis reaching a turning point for the worse
We are at a turning point in the growing cash crisis of the NHS. In many areas the threat of cuts and closures could soon be a reality. The NHS cash freeze has barely increased spending in real terms since 2010 while the population has grown and costs …Read more…
Children’s charity strike off
The strike over pay due to take place tomorrow (March 9) at the charity Action for Children, by members of Unite and UNISON, has been suspended. This is to allow talks to continue with…Read more…
The inequality challenge
First written in 1980, this book now covers the period from the 1830s to 2010. Sarah Burton reveals that at the advent of industrialisation much of the workforce, particularly in…Read more…
Keep the lights on
Confirmation that Npower is cutting a total of 2,400 jobs is a ‘bitter blow’ for workers and the energy sector Britain’s largest union, Unite said today (Tuesday 8 March) as it vowed to protect…Read more…
The young mother penalty
Women who have children at a younger age suffer a significant pay penalty throughout their careers compared to older mothers, a new TUC analysis published today (March 8) has revealed. The TUC…Read more…
A beacon of shining light
If black pioneering nurse Mary Seacole was alive today she would probably be in action on the Greek-Macedonian border or helping those trapped in the twilight hell that is the so-called ‘jungle’ in…Read more…
Stop the cruelty
Tomorrow (March 9) hundreds of thousands of people will protest at the Tories’ cruel benefit sanctions. Vulnerable people up and down the country are being punished for the ‘crime’ of being victims…Read more…
The impact of motherhood on pay
On Sunday we celebrated mothers’ day, a day when we show our appreciation for the often unsung and uncelebrated hard work of mothers. Today, on International Women’s Day, the TUC has published research that finds mothers are not so valued in the workplace. In fact, the research confirms the…Read more…
‘Grotesquely cruel’
The coalition government’s benefits sanctions regime has ravaged the nation, punishing vulnerable people up and down the country for the ‘crime’ of being the victims of a failing economy….Read more…
Primary school teachers go above and beyond to give their children the best
If the recent media coverage of the new primary school assessment and testing arrangements are anything to go by you would think that primary schools are pretty horrible places to be right now….Read more…
92 pages but one clear message: what today’s employers’ pensions survey tells us
The Department for Work and Pensions’ employers’ pension survey published today stretches across 92 pages but there is one clear message apparent to readers: little is going to change regarding the level of UK pension saving without action on automatic enrolment minimum contribution rates….Read more…
Seven tests for fairer pensions tax
The hitherto obscure subject of pensions tax relief is likely to be in the foreground when George Osborne reveals the content of his latest Budget later this month. On the table is a potential move to flat-rate tax relief, an approach favoured by the TUC. But, if given the nod, key decisions about…Read more…