If major employers like Unifrax in Widnes and Sheffield Forgemasters are hurting, as the evidence shows, as a result of government policies introduced during this Parliament, then the government has some way to go to preserve the international competit…Read more…
The Assault on Turkish Democracy continues
It has been a year since I blogged on the arrest of a staggering 502 people in Turkey, many of whom are trade unionists, for basically voicing their dissent. More like a year and a half since my blog…Read more…
Value what is valuable – not just what is measurable.
Nansi Ellis is ATL’s assistant general secretary with responsibility for policy. ATL wants a broad, balanced curriculum which prepares young people for life. Here are three principles that…Read more…
Let’s make the most of the choices we have
David Crossley is the Executive Director of Whole Education Network. The Whole Education Network champions and shares innovative practice in education and supports the development of a curriculum…Read more…
Engineers and teachers are uncomfortable bedfellows, it seems.
Scott Young is responsible for delivery of skills and employment objectives on the Thames Tideway Tunnel. Question: Which two-word answer, according to the UK press, threatens the success of UK…Read more…
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists
TODAY marks the 104th anniversary of the death of Robert Tressell, writer of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists. Everyone knows about corruption in national and local Government. Those swinging…Read more…
General Election 2015:
There Is an Alternative to the Corrupt Cartel Party System! Break with the Old, Usher In the New! In the May General Election, the voters have a choice: they can elect a candidate who does not belong…Read more…
Register the missing voters – mobilise our members to vote
http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/page/content/democracy-in-crisis/
This morning’s meeting of the UNISON Greater London Regional Council has just agreed a worthy motion on mobilising for the General Election.
The first step must be to encourage voter re…Read more…
Plans denounced to allow ship named after a Nazi war criminal
“We will never forget” – union anger at plans to allow ship named after SS officer to dock in UK February 2, 2015 Tim Lezard Europe, UK, Sea / Dockers, Transport (ITF), UK unions, Unite, Anti-fascism…Read more…
Extract from Len McCluskey’s Speech To Unite Officers and Organisers, Birmingham, February 2nd.
80 Richest Own Same Wealth As Half The World
How on earth did we allow this to happen? Read more…
Qatar asks for patience – to perfect its PR strategy
Qatar seems to be confused about what message to put out to its critics, simultaneously accusing them of a conspiracy whilst also meekly asking for more time to put an end to the abuse of migrant…Read more…
Qatar asks for patience – to perfect its PR strategy
Qatar seems to be confused about what message to put out to its critics, simultaneously accusing them of a conspiracy whilst also meekly asking for more time to put an end to the abuse of migrant…Read more…
Voter registration: every vote really does count
This Thursday (5 February) is National Voter Registration Day: every missing vote could have an impact on who gets the keys to Downing StreetRead more…
Rounding up the Festival – bar one!
The Morning Star have today rounded up a few of my reviews (and one by FairPley’s Stephen Wright) into a compilations piece, here. The review for Canzionere Grecanico Salentino/Complete has…Read more…
Probation contracts handed to the private sector despite falls in reoffending
On 1 February, 70 per cent of the probation service was handed to the private sector, yet only last week, the government’s own statistics revealed that the probation service was working relatively well prior to the government’s disastrous reforms in 2014. These recent MoJ figures…Read more…
The perils of blogging…
http://www.grayee.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/london-unison-regional-council-agm-2015.html?m=1
In the eight and a half years in which I have been interrupting your blameless surfing of the internet with my meanderings I have sometimes been made aware of the…Read more…
Keir Hardie Centenary Year – Monday 9 Feb 2015 at Westminster Hall
I cannot believe it but I have a clash on the 9th and will not be able to make this celebration of Keir Hardie, the first ever independent Labour MP at Westminster Hall.
Keir become the MP for West Ham South on 4 July in 1892
Hopefully, someon…Read more…
The case for fully devolving Housing Benefit
UNISON’s case for the full devolution of Housing Benefit has been supported by the respected think tank IPPR. Scotland needs all the policy levers to effectively address our housing crisis.
The…Read more…
The Greek election result demands our solidarity
Syriza’s spectacularly successful election campaign was described as being about hope. The Greek people have shown faith in that campaign. Their courage, their defiance and their optimism have given us a true lesson in democracy in the country that invented the system so many centuries ago. They…Read more…