Today, the Chancellor is expected to announce plans to cut a scheduled raise in the minimum wage. This decision could cost low paid workers more than £640 a year and will disproportionately hurt…Read more…
The campaign to promote workers’ rights in trade deals must be global
Multinational business is lobbying for trade deals which will increase their profits at the expense of workers’ rights. But trade unions across the world are fighting back.Read more…
Congress 2020: Our first online Congress
This has been the first year that Congress couldn’t take place in its usual physical format. We have learned a lot as part of taking as much as we could of our flagship event into a new online…Read more…
Good Evans! Whatever is going on?
I have refrained from blogging much recently about goings on in the Labour Party, of which I have been a member for forty years (and which I shall leave only by reason of my death – hopefully still some time away – or my unjustified expulsion).I was a …Read more…
“Talking to the Fabians about committees”
On Saturday morning there was a virtual debate organised by Newham Fabians on “Participatory democracy”.
Local blogger Martin Warne spoke in favour of changing Newham’s governance from an Executive Mayor model to a “Committee model”. Next May th…Read more…
‘Dereliction of duty’
Responding to the latest Covid-19 tier restrictions, Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said, “There’s not just a health and economic crisis engulfing this country. Job insecurity and low…Read more…
‘Preparing to battle’
Workers at Heineken’s cider brewery in Hereford, Herefordshire, are ‘preparing to battle’ a ‘sack and sign’ (SAS) ultimatum by the company that will see staff lose thousands of pounds in pay and…Read more…
‘We won’t be treated this way any longer’
Residents of Doncaster are set to be severely affected by a series of bin strikes over Christmas and New Year, as a result of the constant bullying and harassment of the workforce by outsourcers Suez…Read more…
Care workers left high and dry by chancellor
Government money not enough to fix broken care system
The article Care workers left high and dry by chancellor first appeared on the UNISON National site.Read more…
Government’s ‘levelling up agenda in tatters’
Chancellor Rishi Sunak yet again failed to offer the level of ambition necessary to rebuild a shattered economy, while also targeting the lowest paid to bear the brunt of the crisis despite their…Read more…
Blog: This cynical, divisive kick in the teeth
Chancellor’s pay freeze for most public service workers mocks the government’s commitment to ‘levelling up’ with old-style Thatcherism
The article Blog: This cynical, divisive kick in the teeth…Read more…
Divide and rule won’t help the economic recovery
Chancellor’s plan is austerity plain and simple
The article Divide and rule won’t help the economic recovery first appeared on the UNISON National site.Read more…
‘Act of industrial self-mutilation’
Rolls Royce’s announcement that it will close its factory in Barnoldswick from this Friday (November 25) until after Christmas, while offshoring work around the globe, has been described as an act of…Read more…
Shockingly poor government planning left health and care staff vulnerable to the virus
Ministers reacted too slowly when buying protective kit
The article Shockingly poor government planning left health and care staff vulnerable to the virus first appeared on the UNISON National site.Read more…
Give Newham the dosh you promised us Chancellor!
Later today the Chancellor will announce the details of the Comprehensive Spending Review, which sets out the government’s departmental spending plans for the next financial year. Let us not forget the financial impact COVID-19 has had on local governm…Read more…
Election of officers, convenors and stewards 2021-2022
Nominations are now open for branch elections for 2021-2022. The deadline date for receipt of convenor nominations at the branch office is 10 am Monday 4 January 2021. The deadline date for receipt of officer nominations at the branch office … Co…Read more…
“A Space to Learn, Live & Play” (but can West Ham residents afford to live here?)
Today I joined a zoom presentation by the developers of the old Ford car dealer showrooms at 259 Plaistow Road, West Ham ward, Newham.
I was there as a local ward Councillor with my colleague Cllr McLean (Cllr Whitworth had a medical clash and w…Read more…
Universities call for urgent action on racial harassment in higher education
“Black staff and students must have the same opportunities to develop their studies and careers as their white counterparts.”
The article Universities call for urgent action on racial harassment in…Read more…
Procurement failures
The UK Government is mired in a series of procurement scandals that go way beyond poor practice. While not on the nearly on the same scale, all is not well in Scotland either. In recent months I have…Read more…
‘Festive crisp famine’ warning
A series of broken promises and a proposed pay freeze by management at haulier Eddie Stobart Ltd, could result in a festive crisp famine, Unite has warned. The dispute is a result of Eddie Stobart…Read more…