Payday lender QuickQuid is the latest loan shark to shut down after a wave of compensation claims from victims of predatory practices. US-based Enova, which owns QuickQuid, announced on…Read more…
Where the blame lies
Syed Nahid Uddin a Unite delegate works for a council so knows first-hand what austerity has meant for local government. For Syed this isn’t a rhetorical argument this is real life day in and day…Read more…
Defend local services call
Unite delegate Jessie Jacobs, who is also running to be the UK’s first female directly elected metro mayor in the Tees Valley, gave an inspiring speech at the Labour Party Conference on defending…Read more…
‘Unite, fight and win’
Mary Callaghan, Unite delegate, moved a motion on Universal Credit. She said she was “proud and honoured to be moving this motion on behalf of all of those women at Labour Women’s Conference…Read more…
‘I’ve thought about killing myself’
When Unite Community member Pat’s* husband Peter* died, she refused to leave his side for 17 hours as she held his hand for the last time. As his full-time carer for over four years – she was…Read more…
When hungry children cry themselves to sleep
When a Unite Community holiday hunger project in Norwich also started a pop-up food bank this summer, branch secretary Brian Green said the desperation was unmistakeable. “They simply charged…Read more…
Universal Discredit
On one day in May, the free paper, Metro, gave readers a surprise. ‘Universal Credit Uncovered’ announced the headline in all caps, the ‘o’ in ‘Uncovered’ designed as detective’s spy glass. …Read more…
‘You have to fight back’
Susan Kemlo was still mourning her daughter, Victoria, when benefits assessment firm Capita decided to drag her through the courts over supposed “reputational damage” – sustained because a judge…Read more…
Austerity and access to justice
Unite delegate Ruth Hayes (pictured with raised hand) spoke out about the dreadful effects of austerity. Speaking from first hand experience, she said, “I worked in a Law Centre for 18…Read more…
Benefit assessors’ challenge withdrawn after tragic death
The climbdown by Capita, which tried to reverse the ‘reputational damage’ it claimed to have suffered after a benefits’ claimant died, should herald a new and more sympathetic way for assessing…Read more…
Why I’m voting yes
Unite members at homeless charity St Mungo’s are having to consider taking strike action. In the first of a series, we meet the members having to make this tough choice as they tell us their…Read more…
Come rain or shine, UNISON’s on the case
July might have meant the start of the summer holidays proper, but UNISON and our members are still on the case
The article Come rain or shine, UNISON’s on the case first appeared on the…Read more…
MPs call for multi-billion pound education cash boost
Union welcomes Commons select committee report revealing ‘the true scale of the funding cuts to schools and colleges’
The article MPs call for multi-billion pound education cash boost first appeared…Read more…
‘Your days are numbered,’ Dave Prentis tells Tories in Durham speech
‘There is an alternative‘ says general secretary as he lambasts austerity and calls for properly funded public services
The article ‘Your days are numbered,’ Dave Prentis tells Tories in Durham…Read more…
‘People feel insecure’
Social justice will do more to improve people’s mental health than medication and therapy, the UN’s chief health envoy has said. Dr Dainius Pūras, the UN’s special rapporteur on health, spoke…Read more…
Rebuild our communities and end violence
UNISON conference hears stories of violence and aggression including teaching assistants having to wear stab vests
The article Rebuild our communities and end violence first appeared on the UNISON…Read more…
The government needs to ‘sling their hook’
Local government delegates agree it’s essential to get rid of the Conservative government in order to save our services
The article The government needs to ‘sling their hook’ first appeared on the…Read more…
Love your library? Tell us about it
UNISON survey of library workers will look at the effects of austerity cuts on the service
The article Love your library? Tell us about it first appeared on the UNISON National site.Read more…
‘Setting a living standard nobody should fall below’
Workers must be protected if a universal basic income (UBI) is implemented in the future Unite has warned, following a report welcomed by Labour that recommends every UK adult be paid an…Read more…
Cuts increase risk to public in England and Wales
UNISON report shows how austerity is damaging the environmental health service provided by councils
The article Cuts increase risk to public in England and Wales first appeared on the UNISON…Read more…