Giulio Regeni was researching independent trade unions operating in a climate of repression. He disappeared on the anniversary of the Egyptian revolution. His tortured body was discovered nine days…Read more…
A second life for independent trade unions in Egypt; another life snuffed out
… the simple fact that there are popular and spontaneous initiatives that break the wall of fear is itself a major spur for change …Read more…
UK goods exports fall for the second year in a row
Today’s trade figures indicated the difficulties faced by the UK’s hard pressed manufacturing industry. In cash terms, exports of goods have now declined for two consecutive years, by £20 billion in total or 7%. The left chart shows the coalition enjoyed the advantage of a trade revival when they…Read more…
Tory fears exposed
The government’s controversial trade union Bill is starting to unravel, as a recently leaked letter exposed Tory ministers fearing a defeat of the legislation as it passes through the House of Lords….Read more…
Talking unions with Eddie Izzard at the #heartunions Big Workplace Meeting
A little known fact about Eddie Izzard: He was elected leader of a newly formed street performers’ association in Covent Garden early in his career, citing this as when he first learned about…Read more…
Using procurement to tackle the tax dodgers
The tax dodging activities of companies has come under a lot of scrutiny, but we could do more to tackle this abuse in Scotland with existing powers. Companies who want to bid for taxpayer funded…Read more…
‘Guilty as sin’ site firms try to buy silence
Victims of a construction industry blacklist which targeted union safety activists have been awarded up to £200,000 compensation for having their working lives blighted. The Mirror reports that so…Read more…
Tougher economic conditions, but the IFS suggests the Chancellor’s rules are holding back growth
Yesterday the IFS set out a bleaker view for the economy and public finances in its Green Budget, which is published every year in the run-up to the Chancellor’s Budget Statement. Given the gloomy projections, let’s hope the government takes note, especially with regard to the fiscal mandate….Read more…
UNISON and the big workplace meeting
Across the country, members join together to celebrate trade unions
The article UNISON and the big workplace meeting first appeared on the UNISON site.Read more…
Support the Junior Doctors
Anyone who saw the Health Secretary speaking over the weekend will understand why the junior doctors’ strike is going ahead from 8am on Wednesday 10 February.You can show your support online or support picket lines across England.
The junior doctors are not the only group of public servants under…Read more…
English National Opera: Keep the chorus full time on full pay
The ENO chorus, who many see as the heart of the company, are threatened with job cuts and having their pay reduced to 75%. Join their petition.Read more…
Breastfeeding crisis
The UK has the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world at one year, according to a recent review of all the evidence on breastfeeding. Rates of starting breastfeeding have been increasing over…Read more…
Never mind the ballots. Daily Mail fail over Government #TUbill eVoting leak
Several papers have picked up on yesterday’s leaked ministerial letter, outlining concessions the Government think they may have to make to head off a trade union bill defeat in the Lords. The Daily Mail have joined the pack, though they have as you might expect a slightly different take from…Read more…
‘You can’t afford not to be in a union’
In Part 2 of our series for Heart Unions week, in which we feature one trade union member each day, we speak to Kieran Duffy, a waiter who’s struggled against bad employers, and through the…Read more…
End black cab ‘race to the bottom’
London taxi drivers fed up with the government’s ‘race to the bottom’ in deregulating the trade, with an adverse impact on passenger safety, will be protesting in central London tomorrow (February…Read more…
Raza Sadiq, UNISON activist, wins prestigious award for encouraging young people into sport
UNISON
Scotland activist Raza Sadiq won the Jaguar Unsung Hero Award at the Lycamobile British
Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards (BEDSA) for his work in developing Active Life
Clubs which encourage young people to enjoy sports.
Raza Sadiq, with BEDSA judges
The Awards took place on 6 February 2016 in London and were attended by sportstars from across the country.
The BritishRead more…
When will the public sector exit payment cap come into force?
A reader recently asked the question above.The draft Regulations to implement the public sector exit payment cap don’t (yet) help us to know when the cap will come into force (they currently say it will come into force on XXX…)They do reveal that, for those local government workers whose total…Read more…
Frances O’Grady: #HeartUnions Week
Great video by the TUC General Secretary, Frances O’Grady on “Love Unions” week. Read more…
Global union welcomes European move to exclude public services from trade agreement
EI is concerned that education does not become liberalised through TiSA, a bigger threat than TTIPRead more…
We won’t let up
Pressure has mounted against Sports Direct, as Unite community and young members again escalated their campaign in Scotland at the weekend. They took their message to thousands of football…Read more…