We’re often told that Governments are committed to ‘evidence-based policy making’, although it often seems that it’s the other way round. Now we see, starkly revealed, how far the UK government’s trade policy is based far more on ideology than evidence. A Freedom of…Read more…
A UK without manufacturing
Economics professor Patrick Minford came out yesterday (April 28) to say that “if we left the EU, it seems that we would mostly eliminate manufacturing.” But, Minford – who was a major…Read more…
Stagecoach asked to ‘think again’
Unite, Britain’s biggest union, will express concern at a meeting next week about the proposed closure of the Stagecoach bus depot in Dundee. Bosses at the bus company have advised union…Read more…
Campaigning for LGBT equality in the workplace
On the face of it acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people has never been greater. The passing of legislation ensuring legal parity in marriage for lesbian and gay couples is an…Read more…
Free Ӧcalan
At the launch of the UK-based campaign to free imprisoned Kurdish leader, Abdullah Ӧcalan, on Monday night (April 25), a standing-room only crowd in the House of Commons heard international speakers…Read more…
As relevant today as ever
The first ever Bob Tressell Festival was held on Merseyside yesterday (April 28). The date chosen to celebrate the life of the man who wrote the classic labour movement book The Ragged…Read more…
Trade Union Bill: Stand up for union rights
This week saw the latest skirmish in the battle against the Trade Union Bill. Through cross-party working in Parliament and campaigning hard across the country, we have forced the Government into…Read more…
Safe workers, safe products
The chemical and pharmaceutical industry is the pride of UK manufacturing – it adds £15bn of value to the UK economy every year and is the largest manufacturing exporter with annual exports close to…Read more…
Health and safety: Another reason for staying in
Yesterday tens of thousands of trade unionists took part in activities to commemorate those who died through work. The theme of Workers Memorial Day was “strong laws, strong enforcement , strong…Read more…
NIESR report shows need to end race to the bottom on jobs
A report released this week by NIESR identifies low pay and precarious contracts as one of the key reason more local workers do not take up jobs in the hospitality, food processing and construction sectors leading employers in these sectors to draw on migrant workers from other EU countries, who…Read more…
‘Fight, fight, fight’
Short film with extracts from Unite general secretary Len McCluskey, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady and shadow chancellor John McDonnell.
The post ‘Fight, fight, fight’ appeared first…Read more…
Work death probe call
Unite has called for the Health and Safety Executive to conduct a full and prompt investigation into the tragic death today (April 28) of a construction worker on the Queensferry Crossing over the…Read more…
Fish firm’s workers face the sack
The row over Grimsby-based Icelandic Seachill, accused of paying for the new ‘national living wage’ by slashing overtime rates, has been taken to the European Commission, as the workforce faces the…Read more…
Passionate speeches
Merseyside today (April 28) remembered its loved ones that have been killed and died as a result of work. International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD) began in the USA in 1970 and its success…Read more…
Across boundaries and oceans
In 1916 two seminal events that would shape the future of both Northern Ireland and the Republic took place. It was the year not only of the Easter Rising but also of the Battle of the Somme – one of…Read more…
Resist safety erosion
Unite today, April 28, said attempts by Conservative ministers and unscrupulous bosses to dilute or circumvent health and safety legislation across the UK must be resisted when at least two people a…Read more…
Workers’ lives at risk
Attempts by Tory ministers and unscrupulous bosses to dilute or circumvent health and safety legislation along the south coast must be resisted. This is the core message that was the theme of…Read more…
Mahdi Free! Bahraini teachers’ union leader released
Mahdi Abu Dheeb, the leader of the Bahrain Teachers Association (BTA) was freed on 5th April 2016 from a Bahraini jail after serving five years. He was jailed by a military court in 2011, accused of…Read more…
Justice for Alison
Today, Workers’ Memorial Day, as we remember those who have lost their lives at work, Unite officers and members are fighting to have a health and safety rep reinstated after she was sacked for…Read more…
Union campaign scores a win with big changes made to #TUbill
It’s been a difficult 10 months since the Government introduced the Trade Union Bill. The co-ordinated campaign against these damaging proposals has taken a huge effort from across the union movement. But the bill that passed the Commons today was hugely reduced from what the government had…Read more…