Unite will ballot more than 200 North Sea oil rig workers for strike action in a dispute with the Wood Group over a swingeing 30 per cent pay cut. The ballot, in conjunction with the GMB and…Read more…
‘Zombie’ companies threaten millions of jobs
‘Zombie’ companies in China are selling goods lower than it costs to produce them are a threat to jobs in the UK and the rest of Europe, warned Unite assistant general secretary Tony Burke as he…Read more…
Learning with Unite
Union-organised learning is a great way to recruit new members and highlight the benefits of being in a union – that was the message that came out of Community Learning Day in Bristol this week….Read more…
Don’t risk the NHS
Today, I and a group of members who all work in the NHS ‘unveiled’ UNISON’s official remain banner, ahead of the EU referendum the week after next. Well I say unveil, but I’m not…Read more…
Sands of time – and patience – running out for agreement on global supply chains
As the ILO debates how to improve working conditions in Global Supply Chains, Employers are resisting responsibility for malpractice in those chains and some governments are time wasting The efforts of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to pre…Read more…
‘Privatised care equals greed’
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…