Unhappy Birthday: 5 years on, Osborne’s austerity Budget has failed as public debt still heads for 90 % of GDP (Maastricht definition)

Five years ago today, George Osborne published his austerity budget. His philosophy of action was set out a few months ahead of the election in the Mais Lecture (25th February 2010).  Deploying the (now somewhat discredited) work by Reinhart and Rogoff (issued in January 2010), he argued “So while…Read more…

We don’t have the luxury of resting. Deep Breath, Heads Down, UNISON, charge!

#undc15 UNISON vowed to defend quality public services and the public sector workers, to defend trade union rights and to encourage a fair, inclusive and tolerant society, drawing together a cohesive political strategy in response to the Tories’ immediate onslaught and escalation of attacks on public services and society itself.

Moving an emergency motion on Friday, Jane Carolan, NEC, saidRead more…

Equality reps key to fairness at work and must have facility time

UNISON will put equalities at the heart of its bargaining agenda and will campaign with the TUC and through Labour Link for facility time for equality reps. Conference recognised that austerity has rolled back equality successes and significantly increased workplace inequality.

Supporting the motion on Friday on behalf of the NEC, Scotland’s Davena Rankin said, “Maya Angelou once said: ‘It isRead more…