This article appears in the next issue of International Union Rights, the publication of the International Centre for Trade Union Rights. In early August 2014, the Workers Advice Center (WAC MAAN)…Read more…
Kicking the trade agreements can down the road
Trade deals are stalled due to popular pressure In both the European Parliament and Congress. What’s going on? When the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations were launched in 2013, veteran Tory politician Ken Clarke MP was at his most avuncular when he said that…Read more…
If we shy away no one can help us but if we decide to fight, no one can stop us
#uNDC15 A thumping speech from Dave Prentis, UNISON general secretary, hit all the right buttons with Conference with support for the Glasgow strikers and a pledge that ‘an injury to one is an injury…Read more…
Triumph in solidarity
Following a two-day strike in April, Unite bus drivers in Bradford prepared for further strike action against their employer First Group last week over jobs losses and attacks to terms and…Read more…
Great British sell-off
Axing £12bn from the welfare bill was a prime Tory election pledge – one that’s proving so impossible that even senior officials within the party’s ranks itself are now pressuring chancellor George…Read more…
Wages growth mirage
Wages are expected to grow at the fastest rate since before the crash, many newspapers reported earlier this week. It’s good news on the surface, but read further down their columns and the reason…Read more…
“They want to finish what Thatcher started” – chilling warning on Tory union-busting
UNISON says it’s “make or break” over facility time attacksRead more…
Facility time is vital for unions but also for employers
#ulgc15 Delegates slammed attacks on the trade union facility time and called on the union to support our members with training, finance and other resources to fight these attacks but also to organise to increase our activist base.
Moving the motion for the Service Group Executive, Western Isles Alison MacCorquodale delivered an excellent maiden speech and told delegates that securing andRead more…
Tory ballot-rigging threatens democratic right to strike
“Today’s Queen’s Speech is a speech for working people, from a One Nation government that will bring our country together.” David Cameron The government’s ‘reform’ of trade union law constitutes an anti-democratic ballot rigging proposal designed to…Read more…
Zero tolerance, training and involving staff are key to dealing with violence in schools
#ulgc15 Local Government Conference heard the problems of challenging behaviour in schools from the front line as two Scotland delegates brought their experience to the debate.
Glasgow City’s Sylvia Haughney, a support for learning instructor for 34 years, told delegates: “Staff in mainstream school may find it hard to understand that when an ASN colleague has been slapped six times during theRead more…
CPI inflation: no surprises, not out of woods.
When the inflation numbers are moving from positive to negative territory it is difficult to avoid excitement about ultimately small changes, driven to some extent by erratic and exceptional factors. Today Britain moved out of deflation, alternatively …Read more…
#uNEC15 UNISON LGPS Reform Campaign fringe
Picture of UNISON Capital Stewardship officer, Colin Meech, at last nights fringe “Why Governance and Economics Are Now Critical for Members”. This took place at the end of Local Government Conference and the eve of National delegate conference.
…Read more…
UNISON National Delegate Conference 2015 – opens
UNISON President Lucia McKeever has just opened our National Delegate Conference which this year takes place in Glasgow.
This is our Union’s AGM and “Parliament” which decides rules, finances and policy for the forthcoming year.
There are around 2,00…Read more…
BREAKING: Tube workers begin strike ballot
RMT members unhappy over a series of issues including pay and night workingRead more…
High levels of underemployment still remain
Our recent analysis shows that underemployment (people who have fewer hours of work than they want) remains nearly a million higher than before the recession. The findings come ahead of new unemployment data to be published this week, which are expecte…Read more…
Where next for unions in Palestine?
Palestine Solidarity Campaign hosts special trade union conferenceRead more…
Colombia: one of the terrible ten worst countries for workers’ rights
Colombia is the world’s capital for murders of unionists. Despite fitful progress in the ongoing peace process between the government and the FARC guerrillas, Colombia’s trade unionists are…Read more…
UNISON members back strike action in local government
Delegates at union’s annual conference get tough on low payRead more…
Shirkers? Er, no … 3.4 million people want MORE work, says TUC
Analysis shows underemployment remains nearly a million higher than before the financial crisisRead more…
Gunstones bakers begin second day of strike action
BFAWU members walk out after bosses impose pay freezeRead more…