Unite has backed the findings of the select committee’s report on the failure of the government to react to warning signs that the steel industry was facing increasing problems. Unite has…Read more…
Holding back the tears
Britain’s last deep pit coal miners held back their tears, as they emerged from their historic final shift underground to face the glare of the media at Yorkshire’s Kellingley Colliery on Friday….Read more…
‘Our members support our communities every day of the year’
Many UNISON members will be keeping the country going over Christmas and the new year
The article ‘Our members support our communities every day of the year’ first appeared on the UNISON…Read more…
Diggers Unite and win?
Unite Archaeology members Dr Nora Bermingham and Caitriona Moore MA have been nominated for a prestigious award sponsored by Current Archaeology magazine. The nomination – for ‘Rescue Dig of…Read more…
#COP21: How does education and research figure?
The Paris Agreement that was finalised on 12 December (pdf) has had a mixed reception. For some, it is an historic document that will keep global warming in check. For others, it will deliver too little too late. Without repeating all of the arguments …Read more…
Failure of hospitals to meet safe staffing targets is no great surprise, says UNISON
An analysis published today (Monday) by the Health Service Journal, which found that nine in ten hospitals in England are failing to meet their own safe staffing targets for the number of nurses on…Read more…
Only God and the bed manager
The consultant was clear – you need to be on an IV drip getting antibiotics in your local A and E within the hour because of complications with chemotherapy treatment. The patient, my partner,…Read more…
Beyond a crisis
GP surgeries are bursting at the seams, ambulance staff are leaving in their droves, NHS waiting times continue to rise drastically, junior doctors were set to walk out in a series of strikes and…Read more…
Government ‘not alert to UK steel industry crisis warnings’, says Business Committee
The Government was not ‘alert enough’ to the warning bells sounded by UK steel industry, says the Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Committee in a report published today. The BIS Committee found…Read more…
My Sunday News
Some random bits and pieces I found interesting this Sunday morning.
Corbyn against illegal budget settingSome Labour-led councils are reportedly considering drawing up budgets based on people’s needs, as opposed to council finances. In a letter to councillors, sent jointly with John McDonnell, the…Read more…
Venezuela to defend the Revolution
Patriotic Forces Pledge to Defend the Revolutionary Gains People in Caracas participate in street assemblies to discuss how to defend their revolutionary gains, December 9, 2015. Following the…Read more…
A Merry Christmas for the Very Rich
Check out this seasonal message from the ONS wealth data via TUC TouchStone
ONS wealth data: The rich just got considerably richer
18 Dec 2015, by Geoff Tilyin Economics In cash terms the top 10% now own £5.0 trillion of UK total household wealth, according to the latest ONS wealth and…Read more…
Reflecting on Education for Movement Activism
Colleagues, I have found it incredibly difficult since the start of the new academic year to find the time to sit, reflect and write material for this blog. On the positive side this is largely because the volume and range of trade union education…Read more…
NLRB to Issue Complaint Alleging Four-Month ATI Lockout is Illegal
The United Steelworkers (USW) union was informed today by Region 6 of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in Pittsburgh that the regional director will issue a complaint in the four-month-long…Read more…
Labour List “Dave Prentis re-elected as UNISON General Secretary”
“Yesterday also saw the re-election of Dave Prentis as Unison general secretary. Prentis won 49% of the vote against three further left candidates, and the scale of his victory will be welcomed by Labour moderates. While the trade union backed Co…Read more…
New ITUC Report “Qatar: Profit and Loss” Workers Paying with Lives as Companies Extract Billions in Profit
A new report from the International Trade Union Confederation estimates that $15 billion profit will be made by companies working in Qatar on infrastructure for the controversial 2022 FIFA World Cup…Read more…
Government from the dark side? Transparency is not strong with this one…
Labour Deputy Leader Tom Watson made an interesting speech today, raising concerns about the erosion of transparency and accountability under our current government, and the threats this poses to our civil liberties. He accuses the Prime Minister in particular of “governing from the…Read more…
Too little, too late
The UK steel industry has received much needed support, as the UK was given EU state aid approval to give green tax rebates for energy-intensive industries. The aid package will be worth…Read more…
Simple Minds called to campaign for world cup workers in Qatar
Date: Friday 18 December 2015
UNISON, Scotland’s biggest trade union, has written to the Scottish band Simple Minds asking they speak out for migrant workers rights in Qatar.UNISON supports the TUC Fair Play for Qatar campaign which is highlighting the poor working conditions of migrant workers who are building football stadiums and infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup.Simple Minds areRead more…
Sports Direct faces Christmas under pressure
The good news is we may be seeing the first signs of movement at Sports Direct. The bad news is that it is still not enough.Read more…