The European Commission have just published an information sheet on their new better regulation agenda. A lot of that is just saying that they will concentrate on the big things and not the small…Read more…
Tax credit cuts: hunger rise
Tax credit cuts – which will see millions of the nation’s poorest families lose more than £1000 each year – have not yet even kicked in, and food bank use continues to soar each year. Figures…Read more…
2nd Delegate Report LGBT Conference 13-15 November 2015
And here is the report from the second delegate. Highlights include discussions on “the Nordic Model” and the implication of the withdrawal of unison subscription payments via salary – LGBT Conference 2015 Dominic GrattyRead more…
Explosion at steel plant leaves two workers dead
Luke James TWO workers were killed yesterday in an explosion at a steel plant in Cardiff in which four more were injured. The unnamed workers were initially pronounced missing after a “deafening”…Read more…
Vote for the Labour Party Candidate, Gordon Miller, in Aylesford Green Ward By-Election Thursday November 19 2015
Good luck to Gordon and the Labour team in Ashford for tomorrow. Read more…
We are all migrants
Yesterday the first official refugees from Syria arrived in the UK at Glasgow airport. Some random thoughts.
Firstly, I am reminded of this fascinating research about the generic make up of many Brits. The Romans, Vikings and Normans had apparently l…Read more…
2016 Tax credit cuts will worsen regional inequality
A new TUC analysis of the tax credit cuts the Chancellor plans for next April shows that the worst impact will be felt in the regions and nations of the UK that already have the lowest average incomes. In his summer Budget Mr Osborne announced that the…Read more…
Galvanising a generation
With only 10 per cent of Unite’s 1.4m membership aged under 30 the race is on to recruit young workers and get them active in the union. Anthony Curley will be key to developments. Aged…Read more…
Saluting our community nurses
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey spoke at the Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association (CPHVA) conference this morning (November 18). In his address, he hailed members who…Read more…
“Energy security and affordability” bump climate change into third place
When respected commentator Prof Paul Ekins describes the government’s energy “reset” as, “Lose-lose, for the consumer and for the climate. What a shambles!” we had better listen. Phasing out unabated coal maybe the right thing to do, as the TUC said today. But an untested “dash for gas”…Read more…
Episode 23: Picnic against poverty
Sounds familiar? If you work in the hospitality industry you can join www.unitetheunion.org – if you earn less than the Living Wage (£9.15ph in London, £7.85 outside) for just £2.10 per week. …Read more…
Pay and house prices
New figures show that house prices have been going up more than twice as fast as earnings since the recession. The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings came out today. ASHE is the most important source of information about earnings and hours worked and we’re always interested in what it shows about…Read more…
Fiscal framework has the potential to make or break the new devolution settlement.
Deputy First Minister should refuse to sign up to Fiscal Framework unless the right block grant adjustment can be agreed.
STUC General Secretary Grahame Smith today warned that key new powers…Read more…
‘Draconian assault’
The battle against the Tory trade union Bill will shift to the House of Lords in the next two weeks after the Commons voted it through with some minor amendments. The Bill remains a draconian…Read more…
The Reading Race
As part of ATL’s Union Learning Fund project, ATL Midlands have organized their first English and maths week. This week we’ll feature three blogs from Joanne Miles about embedding…Read more…
Delegate Report of LGBT Conference 13-15 November 2015
One of the delegates has produced a most interesting report. Topics include caucus meetings, Motion 38 – Unison’s position on sex work with particular interest on LGBT and international sex workers and the mental health of young LGBT people. It’s … Continue reading →Read more…
How teachers can use learners’ errors to develop their accuracy with language through a classroom activity
As part of ATL’s Union Learning Fund project, ATL Midlands have organized their first English and maths week. This week we’ll feature three blogs from Joanne Miles about embedding…Read more…
Boleyn by-election – on the knocker on a windy tuesday
This evening I was with the Labour candidate for the Newham Boleyn ward by election, Veronica Oakeshott and comrades from East and West Ham Labour Party. We met outside Upton Park station in East Ham.
It was windy (#StormBarney) but only a little wet….Read more…
UNISON has been failing for the past five years – it is time for a change
Much is made, by supporters of incumbent UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, of his experience and track record as reasons he should be supported. Their arguments are generally fairly light on evidence however.How should we judge the effectiveness …Read more…
Scotland welcomes refugees – message from International chair and secretary
As a plane of Syrian refugees is about to land in Glasgow today Sam Macartney, Chair of the International Committee and I wanted to tell you about what members of the International Committee heard from Robina Qureshi, Director of Positive Action in Housing on Saturday.
Robina advised us of the links her organisation had made with the Kempson family who live on the island of Lesvos in GreeceRead more…