Labour and the unions attacked the Tories’ economic record after new figures showed that workers have been hit with a renewed wage squeeze. Pay growth in early 2017 fell below inflation for…
Three approaches to social care: what are the parties’ plans?
The Conservative party published their manifesto this morning. This means we are now in a position to look at the approach of each major party to funding social care in England. Conservatives The Conservative policy is abandon the Dilnot reforms the pa…
Pensions and the price of milk
For a while there was a fad among political journalists for asking politicians the price of every day items, to test their understanding of voter’s lives. When it comes to changes to pensions policy, aspiring political leaders should have to prove their understanding of the financial position…
Pensioners’ ‘worst deal’
Despite long being targeted by the Tories for votes, older people were today (May 18) arguably given the worst deal as prime minister Theresa May launched the party’s manifesto. The triple…
‘Slapped in the Face’
An overwhelming nine out of 10 Unite members working at GKN Aerospace Services Ltd near Bristol, have voted for strike action beginning next week (May 22) in a protest over pay. Hard-working…
Alternative Facts
There’s a reason we don’t trust Qatar when they tell us we’re wrong about the prediction of 4,000 deaths before the 2022 World Cup. It’s because they can’t stop themselves hiding, misrepresenting or…
Workers at BMW’s Cowley struck work
Workers at BMW’s Cowley Mini Plant strike for fourth time Michael Race Oxford Mail BMW workers have again taken to the picket line to protest over proposals to scrap their final salary pension…
Who’s really to blame?
It is a truism that we always think our present is the best or the worse depending on the circumstances – it usually isn’t. This time however I really do think that the hostility metered out to…
One Team week of action to celebrate the NHS’s unsung workers
Without support staff, ‘our NHS simply wouldn’t work’
The article One Team week of action to celebrate the NHS’s unsung workers first appeared on the UNISON National site.
UNISON comment on Conservative social care plans
Commenting on the social care announcement that is part of the wider Conservative manifesto launch, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “Today’s social care announcement reveals…
Fight the Tory Attack on Schools
Dear Colleagues,
The education unions are heading a campaign to fight back against cuts in school funding. Please use the interactive website below to identify an event near you that you can support.
You can also organise your own event by orde…
In praise of conflict (not just the band)
I don’t read much political theory, but am very interested in Chantal Mouffe so recently bought this. Just started reading it last night and great to find that someone has properly theorised some issues where I’ve had my own half-baked thoughts. This s…
3 weeks to the General Election
Dear John
Labour has set out it’s manifesto for the many; now we have 3 weeks left to tell people about it. Join us and Lyn Brown talking to voters here in West Ham and in two key marginals: Ilford North and Westminster North.
FUN…
Mind the gap: the impact of mental health problems on employment
Today is the opening day of the TUC’s two day Disabled Worker’s Conference. And last week was the Mental Health Awareness Week, with the theme of Surviving or Thriving? While the employment rate of disabled people has increased in the last few years there is still a large disability employment gap…
Re-electing Lyn Brown in Custom House & Forest Gate
A great collage of photos from recent campaigning. Custom House canvass on Sunday morning with Lyn Brown (and Cara) as well as local Newham Councillors, Rokhsana Fiaz and Pat Holland. Lyn had also been that morning to Ilford North with West Ham a…
Huge demonstration against merger of Sandown Bay Academy.
Parents, school children and teachers along with various political leaders have waged a large demonstration outside of Sandown Bay Academy. Many of the placards denounced Academies and in particular,…
BMW strikes suspended:
Unite suspends planned BMW strikes after new offer BBC Image copyrightGETTY IMAGESImage captionWorkers at the Cowley plant, where BMW makes Minis, took part in the strike Planned strikes at BMW car…
Japan begins to take on the killing culture of work
Steel pension plans
Tata Steel announced yesterday (May 16) an outline agreement on how it would restructure its pension scheme. It pledged to pump £550m into the British Steel pension scheme and would also give…
Grangemouth ‘vulnerable’
Controversial energy firm INEOS refused to pay for terrorism prevention measures at its Grangemouth plants because they were too expensive, according to reports. An investigation by the Sunday…