The annual attempt by organisations like the misleadingly named ‘Taxpayers’ Alliance to provoke outrage about the ‘cost’ of paid release for union reps is a bit like hearing there’s going to be yet…Read more…
Blog: MPs must guarantee EU citizens the right to remain
Last week I wrote to all MPs backing EU citizens right to remain in the UK. I told them about the 67,000 UNISON members who are EU citizens working in public services, strongly urrged them to support…Read more…
WASPI Workers Lobby Parliament on International Women’s Day
Waspi women at Parliament WASPI, the Women Against State Pension Inequality, held a national demonstration at Westminster opposite the Houses of Parliament on March 8, International Women’s…Read more…
International Women’s Day 2017
Women at the Forefront of the Fight for the Rights of All and to Safeguard the Future of Society International Women’s Day 2017 was marked by women throughout the world fighting to safeguard…Read more…
#Brexit bad news hidden in #Budget2017
Last week’s Budget speech by the Chancellor had very little to say about Brexit. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a Brexit angle – you just have to look at what wasn’t there, rather than what was. First, there was very little in the Budget to prepare for the…Read more…
UNISON Community Conference 2017: Day 2 (& many thanks to Kevin)
Collage from last week’s day 2 National UNISON Community Conference in Bournemouth. Check out first 24 hours here.
Steve Reed MP gave the keynote speech for the seminar and took no prisoners from those who said in the Q&A that it was possible for …Read more…
The Even Stronger UNISON Pledge to be launched!
Sources close to the author of the “Stronger UNISON” pledge have revealed exclusively to your blogger the next stage of their campaign – the “Even Stronger UNISON” pledge. This pledge reportedly reflects the importance of honesty and transparency to the signatories of the original pledge.
The Even…Read more…
International Workers Memorial Day 28 April 2017
Need to sort out and organise our Branch event for this year. Read more…
Red Funnel for Sale
Red Funnel is for sale for a reported £250 million, nine years after it was sold for £200 million. The current ferry company’s owner is an infrastructure investment arm of the Prudential….Read more…
Newham Radical SwimBikeRun Triathlon Club – a start
Off message but back from gentle jog around Wanstead Flats & Park, Epping Forest. I restarted cycling into work last week. A group of West Ham Councillors and Party members have been “volunteered” into a FaceBook “Radical SwimBikeRun Triathlon club…Read more…
Putting all our eggs in Empire 2.0 – risking rights & living standards
Ahead of Commonwealth Day tomorrow, Commonwealth trade ministers were in London last week, hosted by the UK international trade minister and leading Leave supporter Liam Fox. The media claimed that several Commonwealth countries were ‘first in the queue’ to do a trade deal with the UK…Read more…
Government risking ‘leap in the dark’ with no deal
The Government’s much-touted negotiating threat that ‘no deal would be better than a bad deal’ risks doing huge damage to the UK economy, our jobs, rights at work and living standards. Last week the all-party Commons Select Committee on International Trade made clear that…Read more…
Len McCluskey ‘Viewpont’ in Tribune March 10th – 23rd.
The final Regional Local Government Executive…
If the title of this blog post does not signal to you that this is a “niche” blog then you really are not paying attention.
As I slowly disentangle myself from my various UNISON responsibilities I find myself more and more at final meetings. This week …Read more…
Labour campaigning for socialism in Brighton
Following the regrettable suspension of local Labour Party organisation in Brighton and Hove between July and February, it was good today to Chair the first meeting of the General Committee of Brighton Pavilion Constituency Labour Party since we electe…Read more…
UNISON South East members join the march for our NHS
Brexit Fundraising Dinner – Keir Starmer MP 30 March 2017
Canvassing this Saturday 11 March:
1) Join Lyn Brown 11am Stubbs Point, New Barn Rd, E13 8JL (contact Rohit)
2) 11.30am, Custom House Library, Prince Regents Ln, E16 3JJ (contact Rokhsana)
Our Brexit Fundraising Dinner ~ Thursday 30th March (early bird price £20 till Sunday midnight)
Join Lyn…Read more…
UNISON wins payout for unfairly dismissed North West drug treatment staff
A group of workers supporting adults with addiction issues has won a six-figure settlement after their new employer left them jobless and without redundancy pay. The seven were recently awarded…Read more…
‘Bitterly disappointed’
On the surface things are looking up for Britain’s future apprentices, who will keep the skills and knowledge needed for a productive and secure economy alive in the years to come. At…Read more…
Blog: The WASPI campaign is a struggle for fairness
Some women have already waited years for an answer from the government – some as many as six years. That’s not fair or just, and it’s created real financial hardship, especially for those who’ve…Read more…