There’s much to discuss in the 82 pages of the Scottish Government’s new/updated/refreshed economic strategy published today. I’ll try to return to other stuff over the next few days but confine this…Read more…
Pay deal victory
Workers maintaining tens of thousands of miles of UK motorways secured a much improved pay deal today (March 3). The Unite members, working for Amey in four different depots in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Buckinghamshire, accepted the two-year pay deal following the first day of an unprecedented week-long strike action. Amey’s workers, who grit […]
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The value of voting
The NoVoteNoVoice whistle stop bus tour is off to Brighton and Hove tomorrow (March 4) and then onwards to Southampton the following day (March 5), in an unprecedented voter registration drive that’s hoping to reverse the millions of people missing from the electoral roll. The bus tour, organised by a coalition of groups including […]
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Viral voting: What’s good for politics is surely good for unions too
It’s good to see WebRoots Democracy’s new report into online voting “Viral voting” incorporating an important recommendation for online voting to be introduced for union balloting as well as for parliamentary votes. It’s no surprise that so many people are turned off voting…Read more…
Voting – more vital than ever
As the NoVoteNoVoice tour bus kicked off its whistle stop tour last weekend, it rolled into Rayleigh, Essex, with the cast of hit reality TV show TOWIE (The Only Way is Essex) lending a hand to encourage the nation to register to vote. As the Daily Mirror reported today (March 3), TOWIE’s stars, including […]
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Pensions tax: the questions that need to be answered
Amid all the uncertainties about post-election pensions policy, thanks to the unknown impact of fringe parties, the vagaries of coalition negotiations and the uncertain fates of individual party spokespersons, one subject looks likely to be near the top of any administration’s agenda: reform of…Read more…
Fighting a ‘broken system’
Hundreds gathered outside US-based health service firm Maximus’ headquarters in London today (March 2) to protest the tick-box regime that robs disabled people of their rightful benefits entitlements. Unite community joined the Disabled People against Cuts (DPAC) demonstration in criticism against Work Capability Assessments (WCA), degrading tests carried out by profit-hungry firms on behalf […]
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Workers treated with contempt
Milk distribution to supermarkets could be disrupted in the north of England over the Easter holiday, if the pay and conditions of a group of drivers is not protected by their new employer. The 100 drivers are on the brink of taking strike action and/or industrial action short of strike, after Arla Foods, a […]
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The East Coast Mainline: Why was the government so quiet about one of its great successes?
Organisations generally want to celebrate their successes. A bit of boasting burnishes an organisation’s public image, as well as boosting the reputations of its staff, management, and promoters. Some organisations even celebrate their failures. The Royal Bank of Scotland, majority owned by the UK…Read more…
Stop playing a numbers game with net migration
Yesterday the Office for National Statistics reported that net migration has risen to 298,000 meaning the government has missed its target of reducing net migration to ‘the tens of thousands’. This is not surprising news – but that’s part of the problem. Voters already feel politicians can’t be…Read more…
Housing inequality and soaring rent costs
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) released the 2013-14 English Housing Survey data yesterday, containing some remarkable news on the English housing market. The press focused mainly on the news that outright owners of homes now…Read more…
Last chance to keep safety protection for self-employed workers
On Wednesday 4th March the House of Lords will give the Deregulation Bill its Third Reading. The TUC believes that Clause 1 of the Bill is one of the most dangerous pieces of deregulation on health…Read more…
Too much unpaid overtime is bad medicine
Today mark’s the TUC’s 11th Work Your Proper Hours Day, which is a campaign against excessive unpaid overtime. This is the first day of the year when the average person who does unpaid overtime would start getting paid if they were to work all their free hours at the start of the year….Read more…
Saving Our Safety Net Fact of the Week: Child poverty is rising by 900,000 under this government
There are 300,000 fewer children living in poverty than there were when I became Prime Minister Last June the Prime Minister claimed success on child poverty, a line that is repeated from time to time by the usual suspects. To any listener who had been…Read more…
Green Economy Council – out in the cold?
The Green Economy Council hasn’t met for two years. According to a committee of MPs, “this speaks volumes” about the government’s approach to sustainable development. The TUC backed the launch of the Green Economy Council in 2011 as a vital and much-needed initiative. But it hasn’t met since…Read more…
A culture of excess – the pay of the people who set FTSE directors’ pay
The TUC has published a new report on the pay of FTSE 100 remuneration committees members, who are responsible for setting company directors’ pay. Looking at total earnings from their different board positions, it finds that on average FTSE remuneration committee members are paid £441,383 per year…Read more…
GDP growth is down in cash terms, showing how disinflation threatens the public finances
In cash terms GDP annual growth slowed to 3.8% in the fourth quarter of 2014, down -0.7 percentage points from 4.5% in quarter three. This follows ongoing reductions in the annual GDP deflator growth, to 1.1% in quarter four from 1.9% in quarter three….Read more…
Earning below the living wage: bad for men – worse for women
We know that women and men don’t get equal wages for equal work. We also know that women are more likely to be trapped in zero-hour contracts. As Fair Pay Fortnight rolls on, we’re reminded once again of just what a raw deal working women get in Britain. Over one in five workers in the…Read more…
TUC-DGB statement on PEGIDA-UK March this Saturday
In the light of Saturday’s planned March in Newcastle-on-Tyne by the alleged British branch of the far right, anti-Islamic German organisation PEGIDA, I have agreed the following statement with…Read more…
Solidarity with Greece
The TUC General Council yesterday agreed a statement of solidarity with the Greek people and their unions in supporting the actions of the Syriza-led government elected last month. Our support for its programme and attempt to escape austerity adds to t…Read more…