A new report from the University of Sheffield, published last Thursday and brilliantly summarised by Tansy Hoskins for the Guardian, provides yet more evidence for something trade unionists have known for years. Expensive audits of the impact of supply chains on workers’ rights and…Read more…
The Soul of the Estuary – Celtic Connections 2
— and this is the second – a tour-de-force by Chris Wood
Chris Wood – ***** – Glasgow Art ClubChris Wood – stepping up to the markIt is a common misconception that the tradition of ‘folk music’…Read more…
The Carrying Stream – Celtic Connections 1
This is the first of a series of reviews of Celtic Connections concerts. I’m doing a couple of summary reviews for the Morning Star (and indeed did a preview piece here.) but I thought some of these…Read more…
Thai worker rights activist Andy Hall faces prosecution again
Today, British-born workers’ and migrants’ rights activist Andy Hall is back in court facing further charges arising from his work for a Finnish NGO on the abuse of migrant workers in a…Read more…
Trade Unions And The Coming Digital Revolution
Phrases such as ‘Industry 4.0’, ‘Big Data’ and ‘The Internet Of Things’ are now common currency as the predictions of a new digital world and a new world of work. The…Read more…
The modern day snowman
I couldn’t resist sharing this brilliant photo. Hat Tip Franz BeeRead more…
Sadiq Khan for London Mayor “SuperSaturday” in Canning Town & Forest Gate
Picture collage from today’s “Super Saturday” campaign in support of Sadiq Khan as London Mayor. Around 20 activists turned up to work with West Ham MP, Lyn Brown, in Canning Town in the morning and a similar number in the afternoon in Forest Gate.
Gr…Read more…
CTUF – IER Spring Rally – February 11th
Monitoring Employees’ Use of the Internet
Be warned!!!! I have made a number of urgent messages to union members over the years asking them to remove a post on social media about their employer or work colleagues.
“Is the right to respect for private life and correspondence breached if emplo…Read more…
Paul Robeson 40th Anniversary
Paul Leroy Robeson April 9, 1898 – January 23, 1976) was an American singer and actor and Civil Rights activist. Paul was an internationalist and international singer with a distinctive, powerful,…Read more…
If “we are the builders”, why is construction now in recession?
It has not been a good start to 2016. While markets thrash around, the hard economic news so far for the UK has not been encouraging. Earlier in the week figures showed manufacturing in resumed decline, and likely having spent most of 2015 in recession…Read more…
Lords call for Immigration Bill to give asylum seekers right to work and protect domestic workers
On Monday the Immigration Bill will start to be debated by the House of Lords select committee. As I have blogged previously, the Bill contains a number of threats for workers. It will introduce measures to criminalise undocumented workers that will make it easier for bad bosses to exploit migrants…Read more…
Libraries proposal could impact on health outcomes and crime
“Binge reading & Under-age reading!”
read moreRead more…
Big Boss becomes Big Brother
Bosses can now spy on their workers’ electronic communications, following a landmark decision by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Wednesday (January 13). Any form of communication…Read more…
Plans to rebalance the economy a ‘pipedream’ warns Unite as industrial output falls
12 January 2016 George Osborne’s promise to rebalance the economy is fast becoming a pipe dream warned Britain’s largest union Unite as it called on the government to adopt an active industrial…Read more…
A levy too far?
Unite is hoping that government plans to create three million apprenticeships in the coming years will lead to a new generation of youngsters being told: You’re hired. But the Chancellor’s…Read more…
Greatest bar to building is…?
Housebuilding in the UK will be severely hampered by skills shortages in the construction industry, according to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Construction professionals…Read more…
Plans for reform of the courts could deny workers justice, says UNISON
Possible government plans to make employment tribunals part of the civil courts system, and for online courts to hear claims up to £25,000, would make it extremely difficult for workers wronged by…Read more…
Privacy in the Workplace – the Bărbulescu decision
Paul Scholey: Head of Employment Rights Team, Morrish Solicitors
15 January 2016
By Paul Scholey, Head of Employment Rights Team, Morrish Solicitors
In Bărbulescu v Romania, the European Court of…Read more…
Bulldozing homes, bulldozing lives
The Tory war on council and social housing has taken a sinister twist this week with Prime Minister David Cameron backing proposals to bulldoze entire council estates. Those evicted will not be…Read more…