Slumped in the back of the cab, exhausted. Another day in the life of the union! “I’ve picked you up before,” the driver said. “How’s life in the CWU?” Taken by surprise, I replied:…Read more…
16 years is too long. Justice for the Miami 5 Now!
Tonight many UNISON members and other trade unionists will attend the annual Candlelight Vigil for the Miami Five outside the US Embassy starting at 6pm. Speakers include a special guest from Cuba…Read more…
The UNISON General Secretary election 2015
I have today been assured that budget provision is available to resource an election in 2015 for the election of a General Secretary for UNISON, should such an election be necessary.It will be.
I don’t intend, in this post, to comment on the lamentable succession planning of the full-time…Read more…
What next?
After a long day at work, and ahead of a lengthy, (if less long) meeting of the Left Caucus of the UNISON National Executive Council (NEC) I had the opportunity today to pop by the annual seasonal social event for UNISON staff and NEC members.
Whilst I missed the opportunity to purchase raffle…Read more…
Neo-liberalism
This is a few months old, but well worth a read – an interview with Will Davies (parts 1 and 2). Some choice quotes below that I particularly like/ agree with.
Ultimately what neoliberalism is doing is paradoxical. It is asserting the political l…Read more…
“…And you complain that your neighbour is an immigrant?”
Your car is German.
Your vodka is Russian.
Your pizza is Italian.
Your kebab is Turkish.
Your democracy is Greek.
Your coffee is Brazilian.
Your movies are American.
Your tea is Tamil.
Your shirt is Indian.
Your oil is Saudi Arabian.
Your electronics…Read more…
Little faith in autumn statement
I have very little faith that the chancellor’s autumn statement will bring any relief for workersRead more…
Why Scotland and the UK should oppose TTIP
Politicians can be so fixated by the benefits of free trade that they are missing the real dangers of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).
TTIP is a series of trade negotiations…Read more…
London Labour Conference 2014 – Question Time Panel
Yesterday was the London Labour Conference 2014 which took place at Hammersmith Town Hall. I will post in more detail on the conference later this week but the picture is of me addressing the “Question Time with London’s MPs, MEPs, AMs and Cllrs”…Read more…
Giving Scotland a reason to back Labour for social justice
As the dust still swirls after the referendum, the challenge is to bring the focus back to the Scotland we want to see now. Of course the ‘neverendum’ campaign will continue but at some point we will…Read more…
Abbey Gardens Winter Fair – Saturday 6 December 2014
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Failure of ‘austerity’
Interesting to see that David Renard has signed a joint letter to the Observer with other Council leaders from all three main parties. It’s a shot across the bows of George Osborne in the run up to the autumn statement. It says that “further reductions (in local government funding) without…Read more…
Modern Slavery: Traditional Remedies
Colleagues,
We are approaching the last wretched gasps of the Coalition government, so it is no wonder then that much of the most urgent legislative reform is tabled at the end of a Parliamentary period, only after the ConDems have placed own prioriti…Read more…
The Labour movement and the future of local government
http://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2014/nov/30/letters-council-leaders-across-spectrum-plead-no-more-cuts
After a very relaxing week away I return to prophecies of doom from the political leaders of English local government.
Having made savings of 40% in this Parliament, our leaders say that…Read more…
Recovery bypassing workers in low-paid Britain
The LRD’s annual earnings survey finds that average earnings growth is on the floor with little improvement in pay settlements over the past 12 months: ‘Since the 2008-09 recession, the UK has…Read more…
Plight of a migrant worker by Khalid Hameed
wake up in the morning
head out to look
for work
stand in the corner of
the street
waiting for cars passing by
to pick you up
and take you to veg
gardens
as a day labor,
I am that forgiven…Read more…
Osborne’s “pointless machismo”
With the Chancellor’s autumn statement due next week, advance notice has been given of yet another political trick designed to put Labour on the spot. Osborne is proposing to introduce a law which will make it an obligation of the next government to end the ‘structural deficit’ by…Read more…
Join the Pension Scheme Revolt against Executive Greed at BG Group
I have just contacted my own pension schemes and asked them to ensure that our fund managers
are instructed to vote against BG Group paying its CEO up to £25 million.
If you agree then Click on the ShareAction links below to contact your own funds. It takes two minutes and all you need is the…Read more…
These Czechs “worked” in the UK for less than four years. No benefits for them?
Great tweet by Tomas Prouza the Czech State Secretary for European Affairs in response to our Tory Prime Minster latest pandering to racists
The vast majority of EU citizens who come to this country come to work and are not interested in claiming bene…Read more…
A Living wage for all Newham Council workers?
At the last meeting earlier this month of the Regeneration and Employment Scrutiny Commission, Councillors considered a “Living Wage” for all Newham Council workers.
We had a presentation by Emmanuel Gotora and Paul Regan from Newham citizens on behal…Read more…