As a UNISON Branch Secretary in London local government I get all manner of excitement. This Thursday that will include a meeting of the Greater London Employers Forum, the remnant of the provincial bargaining machinery which the employers’ sabotaged during the London Weighting dispute early this…Read more…
UNISON says junior doctors have its full support
Commenting on the second day of strike action by junior doctors over threatened cuts to the pay they get for working at weekends and at nights, UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis said: “Jeremy…Read more…
The Ideal London Pub “The Moon Under Water”
Off message but there was a marvellous report this morning on the Radio 4 “Today” programme about 9 February being the anniversary of the article “The Moon Under Water” written by George Orwell in 1946 on his “Ideal Pub”.
They got different members of…Read more…
Solidarity with Junior Doctors and NHS Students
Among the many meetings held to meet with and express solidarity with the junior doctors in their struggle and defend the student nurse bursaries was one on Saturday, January 23, called by Waltham…Read more…
GP’s Conference:
Special LMC Conference 2016 Opening session of the conference A special LMC conference was called in response to the urgent pressures currently facing the General Practice profession. It was held at…Read more…
Fraudulent and Hypocritical Devolution
The Government’s Fraudulent and Hypocritical Devolution Must be Opposed The Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill became an Act of Parliament on January 28. This fraudulent and…Read more…
Meet the two Elaines speaking up for libraries
Elaine Brooks has worked in libraries all her life, and so has her friend and fellow UNISON member Elaine Cotterell. Today they travelled to London to speak up for libraries.
The article Meet the…Read more…
Our Services Our Say – and UNISON members at the sharp end
UNISON has always argued that public services must stay public unless there is an evidenced ‘public interest case’ to prove otherwise. So we welcome the Our Services Our Say campaign which puts the…Read more…
UNISON must get anti-austerity, workers’ rights and anti-TTIP message into EU vote debate
UNISON’s Jane Carolan, speaking at today’s Institute of Employment Rights Conference outlined the history of the union’s position on the EU and the referendum debate ahead. This is the full text…Read more…
Trade union researcher murdered in Egypt
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…