As part of Carers Week, UNITElive is publishing a series of stories featuring Unite members who care for their relatives or work in the care sector. In today’s final instalment, Emma explains…Read more…
Disabled people pulling down barriers across the EU
This week Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson warned of the risks of leaving the EU for disability rights. The response from a Vote Leave spokesman was that the UK outlawed disability discrimination long before the EU did and that “EU governments have a terrible track record in protecting the disabled,…Read more…
‘Keep Clyde drumbeat going’
Last November, chancellor George Osborne announced in his spending review details of the defence budget – he pledged that the MoD would deliver £9.2bn in savings, much of which would come from both…Read more…
OECD tell policymakers to ‘ACT NOW’ or risk lying to future generations
I missed the severity of the warnings from the OECD last week. And am struck how their policy recommendations appear almost explicitly directed to the Chancellor. Here is George Osborne in his Budget speech : The British economy is resilient because wh…Read more…
Striking is a potent weapon – but one of last resort
I think it is safe to say that teachers and school leaders are very cross with the Government at the moment. It takes a lot to get the profession in such an agitated state, but relentless workload,…Read more…
Government drops law letting police spy on unions
There was a major climbdown from the government in last night’s parliamentary debate on the Investigatory Powers Bill, in response to an opposition amendment. The minister conceded changes that will protect unions from police warrants to seize phone records or emails. The Bill, which more people…Read more…
‘We allow the world to carry on’
As part of Carers Week, UNITElive is publishing a series of stories featuring Unite members who care for their relatives or work in the care sector. It would be wrong to say that Unite member…Read more…
‘Can’t be responsible for everything’
MPs grilled Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley at a select committee hearing today (June 7) following a campaign spearheaded by Unite which blew the lid off the retail giant’s shocking work practices….Read more…
After the hearing
Pictured is Sports Direct chief Mike Ashley, flanked by police and the press after today’s (June 6) select committee hearing where he was grilled by MPs. Pic by Mark Thomas
The post…Read more…
UK government isolated at ILO on Trade Union Act
Not a single government spoke up in the UK government’s defence when the ILO Committee on the Application of Standards considered whether the Trade Union Act was out of line with ILO core…Read more…
Before the hearing
Pictured is Sports Direct chief Mike Ashley, smiling outside the Red Lion pub on his way to the parliamentary BIS select committee hearing on workplace practices at the sports clothing firm. …Read more…
Fair tips fighter fired
The fight against unfair tripping practices continues, after Unite staged a protest outside the STK restaurant at the Melia Hotel last night (June 6) in support of a sacked worker. Robert…Read more…
Layer upon layer
As part of Carers Week, UNITElive is publishing a series of stories featuring Unite members who care for their relatives or work in the care sector. Today UNITElive speaks to Unite national…Read more…
Rights ‘under great threat’
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey joined nine other trade union leaders in urging union members to vote to remain in the EU. In a letter published in the Guardian today (June 6),…Read more…
Leaving Europe can only be bad news for energy bills, consumers and the battle to keep the lights on
In a referendum campaign marked by claim and counter claim with each seeking to outdo the other, I believe the recent statements from the Brexit camp that leaving Europe would lead to lower fuel bills have been some of the most brazen. In fact looking at the industry and the many challenges it…Read more…
Sharing economy should be fair for all, not free for all
The European Commission’s statement on Thursday about what they call the ‘collaborative economy’, but which is better known as the ‘sharing economy’ or, more prosaically, ‘stuff like Uber and AirBnB’, was widely reported as telling governments and…Read more…
Spirit of ‘81
Though more than three decades apart, the problems facing working people in 1981 were not dissimilar to those we face today in 2016. A Conservative government then had its grip on power as it…Read more…
‘Disgusting’ publicity stunt
Unite has today (June 3) condemned the actions of four senior offshore helicopter safety and aviation chiefs as “offensive and dangerous”. Energy Voice reported yesterday (June 2) that –…Read more…
Taxi!
In Nottingham, as with many cities and towns throughout the UK, Hackney cab taxis are a vital part of the community’s transport system. They quickly get passengers from point A to point B, and most…Read more…
‘Grounding the debate’
Brexit will cause average weekly wages to be £38 lower by 2030, a TUC report has found. The Better Off In report also showed that leaving the EU would hit the manufacturing sector hardest,…Read more…