The TUC has been fighting attempts to scrap the workers’ rights we have won from the European Union for nearly a year. First we had to fight off the Prime Minister’s plan to use his renegotiation strategy to reduce worker protections; secure a further UK opt out from them; or…Read more…
Privatisation: one of the greatest scourges of our NHS
Our union has always fought to defend our publicly-funded health service, free at the point of delivery. As long as that is under threat, we have to make sure the government hear our voices loudly…Read more…
Scottish Parliament elections: it’s public services stupid!
Public services are Scottish voters highest priority in the May elections. Good news for UNISON Scotland as we publish our manifesto for the elections, ‘Public Services and the Good Society’.
The…Read more…
Economists who just can’t give up & learn to love workers’ rights
We are gradually winning the argument that workers’ rights (known in the academic literature as Employment Protection Legislation, or EPL) are not only good for the workers concerned, but also beneficial – or at the very least not harmful – to the economy as a whole. See this OECD…Read more…
Live reports from delegation to Palestine – unions, working conditions and learning
Third report from a delegation to Palestine and Israel by Sam Macartney, UNISON Scotland International Chair: Early start this morning to beat the traffic and the check points, yes there is wall to wall check points – makes a few people feel safe but many others living under occupation.
Sam Macartney at the Yasser Arafat memorial
Reached Ramallah, and it felt good to be in a Palestinian cityRead more…
After Wisconsin, can Sanders still win?
This article appears in today’s edition of the Morning Star. Bernie Sanders’ victory in the Wisconsin Democratic Primary this week is being spun by the mainstream media as “too little, too…Read more…
Forty years of progress on workplace rights at risk for workers if Britain Brexits
The TUC has published today a legal opinion from prominent legal expert Michael Ford QC – Employment Silk of 2015 – which warns of years of chaos as a post-Brexit government re-regulates British employment law. The advice he has given the TUC lists the workplace rights which are most…Read more…
“Government to respond to petition challenging LGPS investment reforms”
From Professional Pensions website. (I must send them a new picture to use!)
“More than 10,000 people have signed a parliamentary petition launched by Unison to examine proposed changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) investment regula…Read more…
‘On the same page’
Business secretary Savid Javid has met with unions, ministers as well as potential buyers of Tata Steel’s UK operations in a bid to save an industry that may be weeks away from collapse if urgent…Read more…
ONS data confirms rents in London are a high-rise nightmare
The latest monthly ONS economic review includes a focus on housing tenure. There are a number of takeaways from this latest release but the prospects for those in rented accommodation appear gloomy, and Londoners, especially younger Londoners are beari…Read more…
Don’t let others speak for us
Polls have shown that young people are most likely to back the UK staying in the European Union – however they are also the least likely to turn out to vote. It is also young people who would…Read more…
We must fight this Conservative assault on neighbourhood policing – Sadiq Khan
Labour’s candidate for mayor of London on the important role UNISON members have to play in the forthcoming elections
The article We must fight this Conservative assault on neighbourhood policing –…Read more…
Your Literature Review: Basic Steps
Dear Colleagues,
I’m working hard on the draft literature review chapter of my doctoral thesis, and pleased to say that I am finding it particularly difficult to shape my writing into a coherent body of knowledge.
A community of practice: Students of…Read more…
What future for the HSE?
The HSE have recently launched a new strategy called “Helping Great Britain work well”. It has six themes – Acting together; tackling ill health; managing risk well; supporting small employers;…Read more…
Live reports from delegation to Palestine – UN and Kavla Oved
Second report from a delegation to Palestine and Israel by Sam Macartney, UNISON Scotland International Chair: Day 3: Met with the UN representative this morning, (Rodger Dalton) also at the meeting was Lord Warner Labour peer, and two forgettable Tory MPs. They were getting to travel to Gaza while groups with a real interest an agenda are barerd.
Meeting with Kavla Oved workers’ rightsRead more…
UNISON Housing Association branch votes in favour of staying in EU and campaigning to do so
The picture is from tonight’s meeting of the new Executive Committee (and our regional officer Colin Inniss) of Greater London UNISON branch meeting in Kings Cross which decided to respond to a consultation by the national union over Europe, by voting …Read more…
UK steel industry under threat as Tata seeks to sell-up
The unity of voices to say that temporary nationalization is the way forward must not be ignored…Read more…
Bottling line sale welcomed
The future of Somerset cider is still under threat, despite welcome news yesterday that Brothers Drinks will be taking over a bottling line at the Shepton Mallet cider mill. The high-speed…Read more…
Act now! Still places on branch officer courses 22-24 April
There are still places on the courses for new branch officers being held in Glasgow from Friday 22 to Sunday 24 April.
The courses are aimed at newly elected officers or those who want to understand more about a particular role.
It may also be useful for those who have not done training for a while as most of the material has been revised and updated and they can share their experience withRead more…
I wish I could be shocked by the “Panama Papers”
Tax avoidance on this scale is simply the poorest paying the price for the grubby venality of the rich. Governments around the world now need to develop concrete and workable solutions to root out…Read more…