Despite the UK having one of the biggest economies in the world, wealth inequality between the rich and poor is rapidly growing. If you’re part of the 99% not in the UK’s rich club then…Read more…
Tip of the iceberg
The newly elected Tory government has wasted no time in implementing its latest dose of austerity, with chancellor George Osborne putting forward £3bn in spending cuts yesterday (June 4), which are…Read more…
Bonn blog #1: UN hooks Just Transition at #SB42
In Bonn this week, where the UN is labouring through an 86-page draft climate treaty, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has welcomed the return of three clear commitments in the draft text to just transition and decent work. Labour’s three “hooks” re-appeared in the UN draft treaty as…Read more…
Fighting back
Unite hosted a press conference for the People’s Assembly to highlight the anti austerity demonstration being held on June 20. You can watch the full press conference below: Unite…Read more…
The most unequal rich country in Northern Europe
Last month the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (the rich countries’ club) published In it Together: Why Less Inequality Benefits All. It develops the argument the OECD has been making for some time about the malign economic consequences of inequality, and presents evidence to…Read more…
Revulsion over poverty pay
Unite is set to ballot more than 3,000 members across Northern Ireland working in factories owned by poultry giant Moy Park. Management’s refusal to offer any pay increase has caused revulsion…Read more…
No to Royal Mail ‘fire sale’
Unite today (June 4) has warned against another Royal Mail ‘fire sale’ which would short-change taxpayers and deprive the Treasury of a steady stream of income over the long-term. The warning…Read more…
8 honest challenges for trade unions
Yesterday I put together 8 surprising facts about trade union membership. It’s been a really popular post, and it was based on the latest Office of National Statistics trade union report. I…Read more…
“I support my dad”
“I Support My Dad” explores how the 1984-85 miners’ strike affected the lives of children who were involved in the protest in North Staffordshire. Produced by Stoke-on-Trent based film company…Read more…
Investment better than paying off debt
A group of International Monetary Fund economists say some governments should spend more investing in public infrastructure and spend less time obsessing about running up higher levels of public…Read more…
Common cause
Ahead of what’s set to be the largest grassroots protest in a generation, Unite today (June 4) hosted a press conference for the People’s Assembly anti-austerity march to be held on June 20. …Read more…
New ORR figures reveal stealth fare increases amid soaring costs of privatisation
New figures released by the Office for Rail and Road (ORR) last week revealed that since privatisation took effect, ticket prices have skyrocketed, with much of the rise happening in unregulated fares – so-called ‘stealth increases’. Between 1995 and 2015 fares rose across all…Read more…
The OECD, the ‘B-minus economy’, the case for infrastructure spending and the UK
Yesterday the OECD set out their view of the global economy. They make a constructive and very strong case for borrowing to finance infrastructure spending. B-minus performance OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría awarded the OECD economic performance a B-minus “The global economy is projected to…Read more…
‘Markit’ concede increasing concerns on recovery following services PMI
Just ahead of the election the weakness in the GDP figures was greeted with some scepticism (see here). Earlier this week there were disappointing manufacturing figures from Markit, who compile ‘purchasing managers’ index’ measures of activity. Yesterday Markit issued service…Read more…
Theft on a global scale
Corporate tax dodging was front and centre in the most recent election campaign, with leaders on both sides of the political spectrum pledging to take action against tax dodgers. Many of us…Read more…
8 surprising facts about trade union membership
The Office of National Statistics collects data on trade union membership every year and they’ve just released their report. You can read it yourself here, but for those who don’t have…Read more…
Why so tight-lipped? What Nicky Morgan wouldn’t say
Following her announcement that 1000 ‘failing’ schools would be converted into academies, Nicky Morgan was questioned repeatedly this morning about how many of those ‘failing’ schools are, in fact,…Read more…
Update: strike suspended
Unite negotiators have suspended strike action after the management of a Northern Ireland news distribution firm offering a significantly improved pay offer to its workers, many of whom are paid…Read more…
Down a dark path
Politics is a battle of ideas and if the voters don’t agree with yours they can let you know in no uncertain terms. We should all be thankful for that, even if as a Labour MP that message hurts right…Read more…
Work un-fair
New government threats to force another 50,000 unemployed 18-21 year olds onto Workfare placements with charities and voluntary groups is facing a fresh storm of protest. Volunteers Week,…Read more…