Bristol Trades Union Council (BTUC) are holding two events which they are encouraging people to support if you can. On Saturday 28th April, International Workers Memorial Day will be observed with a…Read more…
IEA report on GKN/Melrose / old Takeover Panel comments
The Institute of Economic Affairs has stuck a report out today on the Melrose bid for GKN. Very broadly it says that there is nothing to get worked up about. Most importantly, a headline message is “leave it to the shareholders”
Interestingly, the rep…Read more…
Don’t get too excited about the latest productivity figures, we’re in the worst decade of growth for two centuries
The latest productivity figures – showing a small uptick on some measures, have been getting a lot of attention. But a closer looks suggests they don’t tell us anything about what’s happening to our…Read more…
Protest: Trump & May – No More Bombs on Syria
On Friday April 13, Stop the War Coalition will be handing in a letter signed by MP’s, trade unionists, celebrities and academics to No.10 to urge Theresa May to refrain from joining Donald…Read more…
Wolfgang Streeck
Belated realised that I never blogged about How Will Capitalism End by Wolfgang Streeck, which I read some time last year. There are loads of interesting ideas in there, even if don’t agree with some of it. Anyway, here’s a little excerpt from the intr…Read more…
Airbus’ fears over Melrose plans
Unite members are not the only ones anxious about Melrose’s takeover of engineering firm GKN. Reiterating its worries yesterday (April 11), GKN’s biggest customer Airbus told investors that the firm…Read more…
Blog: Rodney will always be our giant
UNISON was Rodney’s union – the house he helped build, and whose values he championed. Today we remembered his work, his incredible achievements, but most of all – his humanity, decency and…Read more…
UNISON: 25 years strong
Our union is strong as we approach our 25th anniversary, general secretary Dave Prentis told UNISON’s national executive council at its meeting in London.
The article UNISON: 25 years strong first…Read more…
Immigration is not to blame for unaffordable housing
While some have pointed the finger at immigration as the cause of housing price increases, even a passing look at the issue shows this argument doesn’t hold water. Read more…
UNISON to honour former general secretary Rodney Bickerstaffe at memorial service
The life of Rodney Bickerstaffe – former general secretary of both UNISON and NUPE – will be celebrated at a memorial service today (Thursday) at Central Hall, Westminster. Speakers who are expected…Read more…
“This is what the Tory housing crisis looks like”
This is a really powerful Labour Party political broadcast from last night. As a housing officer I have had to issue eviction notices (and evict) desperate and vulnerable people. You never forgot this.
I agree with the final person speaking in the v…Read more…
‘The courage to fight back’
The first strikes in a UK casual dining chain in decades have moved a step closer today (April 11), after Unite notified TGI Fridays that it will be balloting workers in two branches for strike…Read more…
‘Unacceptable face of capitalism’
Melrose executives – who are on the verge of cashing in after shareholders approved a hostile takeover of GKN last month – earned £170m last year, amounting to more than £40m each. Their…Read more…
‘It cannot be right’
Thousands of people on Universal Credit (UC) – who are already struggling on low incomes – face having their entitlements slashed because of the government’s own errors. The Department of Work…Read more…
International Gathering in Solidarity with Venezuela
Declaration of Caracas – March 7, 2018 – President Maduro addresses International gathering “We Are All Venezuela,” in Caracas, March 6, 2018. From March 5-7, an international…Read more…
TUC national demonstration: Step Up for Public Services – 12 May 2018
“The TUC has called a national demonstration on Saturday 12 May in London. This is going to be a key moment in the fight for public services.We’ll show decision=makers we’re scared for the public services we love – and the public are on our side. We wo…Read more…
‘Pension snatchers’
Bentley Motor workers at the luxury car maker’s Crewe headquarters have massively backed industrial action in a consultative ballot over plans to close the defined benefit pension scheme, Unite…Read more…
Water firm pensions probe
Serious concerns have been expressed over why two highly profitable water companies – Anglian Water and United Utilities – are proposing to close their defined benefit (DB) pension schemes, thereby…Read more…
Violent crime rise from austerity cuts
An alarming rise in violent crime both in London and throughout the UK has sparked calls for an end to austerity-driven police and youth services cuts. Since March there have been 22 fatal…Read more…
“Bloody foreigners, coming over here, saving our lives!”
Hat tip my UNISON NEC colleague @Mr_Tony_Green.
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