Saudi Arabia employs a staggering 8.3 million migrants. Migrants make up 90 to 95 per cent of the private sector workforce but are excluded from labour law and endure forced labour akin to slavery….Read more…
Why Nationwide Building Society has some pretty rubbish governance
I spent today recovering from UNISON conference and trying to catch up on my post and emails.
I was completely ticked off when I responded to the ballot papers I had received while away for the Nationwide AGM next month. This is the biggest mutually o…Read more…
All about “Ratchet, Ratchet & Bingo’” HIgh Pay Event on Remuneration Consultancy
This looks really interesting but I have a clash this Wednesday
“Event: Is Remuneration Consultancy Really Independent?
Wednesday 24th June
12:30 – 14:00
High Pay Centre, 32-36 Loman Street, London SE1 0EH
Remuneration consultants are at the heart of the executive pay setting process. According…Read more…
#uNDC15 – Branch support for composite on Pensions
More stuff from UNISON conference. I moved the Pensions Composite on Wednesday and then Doreen was one of the supportive speakers. Our original branch motion on pensions was one of those composited. It is all a bit confusing to those outside the u…Read more…
On the Action in the Isle of Wight against Austerity;
It is good that actions are taking place throughout the country in order to develop the Anti-Austerity movement. The scope and depth of the movement must also develop as well as its momentum….Read more…
Europe – the dog that didn’t bark at #uNDC15
As the clock ticked down on a bail out deal between the Greek Government and the Troika – the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the IMF – UNISON conference was debating emergency…Read more…
Qatar: one of the terrible ten worst countries for workers’ rights
As a Gulf State with its infamous kafala system, Qatar can be a living hell for migrant labourers, excluded from labour law and under a forced labour system akin to a modern slavery. Once in Qatar,…Read more…
Greek crisis: crunch time
Paul Mason We’re at a critical point in the Greek crisis, which is really the 2010-11 Euro crisis being unfrozen after five years of make believe solutions. Money is leaving the banking system at…Read more…
On unity and the left in UNISON in the run up to the General Secretary election
As much as delegates at UNISON Conferences may express disappointment at perceived shortcomings of the Union leadership, delegates on the left can be equally critical (if not despairing) of the “left” in the Union (and – in particular – for the difficulty we have in being united). There is a…Read more…
#uNDC15 “Composite D Pensions”
“Chair, Conference, John Gray, National Executive Member, moving Composite D on Pensions on behalf of the NEC
Conference, A decent and safe pension in retirement is vital to ensure people are able to live with dignity into their old age.
This moti…Read more…
Where next for the UNISON NEC?
As delegates stream away from the Conference Centre after the close of Conference on a Friday afternoon, the National Executive Council are – in the years when there has been an NEC election – led away to a darkened room.
This is not for a lie down, but to hold the inaugural meeting of the new…Read more…
Breaking: Tata Steel strike suspended
A planned strike by workers at Tata Steel, including 6,000 from Unite has been suspended after a new offer was made over pensions today (June 19). Members of Unite, Community, the GMB and…Read more…
Organizing the unorganized
No one has any time. We all have too much to do. This is true for businessmen; it’s true for students; it’s true for activists like myself. Is your email inbox overflowing? Do you have…Read more…
Joined-up energy strategy vital
The closure of the E.ON gas-fired power station at Killingholme in north Lincolnshire in September is a ‘wake up’ call for the government to talk to industry leaders and trade unions about a…Read more…
Homes for people not profit
#unDC15 There is a massive housing crisis across the UK as a result of Government policies. Too little social housing is being built and apart from Scotland, those that are built are being sold off. In many places rents are unaffordable and the bedroom tax has created more poverty and homelessness.
Delegates backed a call for government and Labour councils to stop implementing the bedroom tax;Read more…
Conference Stands With Rab
#uNDC15 Conference rose to applaud sacked SECC UNISON rep Robert O’Donnell as he was invited to address Conference. Another emotional standing ovation followed.
Conference then unanimously passed a motion calling for Glasgow City Council leadership to urgently meet with UNISON Glasgow City Branch officials to pro-actively discuss the situation at the SECC with a view to granting SECC fullRead more…
Only the beginning
“Conditionality” in the benefits system – the idea that claimants must meet certain conditions in order to receive their benefits, or face the consequences—has been taken to absurd levels by the…Read more…
Thanks for donating to Kobane health services
#uNDC15 Thanks to Scotland delegates who have raised £391 towards rebuilding health services in KobaneRead more…
Public sector net debt reaches £1½ trillion, nearly £200bn more than planned, and stuck for years at over 75% of GDP
In May 2015 public sector net debt (excluding public sector banks) rose above £1,500 billion or £1½ trillion for the first time. Over the past four years, government borrowing has moved further and further above the original plans (see). Spending cuts have harmed the economy more than expected,…Read more…
Cridland’s comprehensive demolition job on Tory education policy
And another thing… A weekly blog by ATL general secretary Mary Bousted John Cridland, director general of the CBI, cannot remotely be named or shamed as a member of the education ‘blob’. And yet his…Read more…