The rise and decline of union membership and power in my time (since the 1960s), has been the defining characteristic of a long career in the trade union and labour movement. From being ‘the wave of…Read more…
Unfair and discriminatory pay set to continue with this government
Another damning indictment of this government came last month when the High Pay Centre released its report on the pay of CEOs in FTSE firms. The figures clearly show that those at the top are…Read more…
Angela Eagle writes for Unions21 on Fair Work
The right to be treated fairly at work is the essential right of every worker in Britain today. It means being paid properly, respected by your employer and having rights to sick pay holidays…Read more…
Tom Watson writes for Unions21 on Fair Work
The next Deputy leader of the Labour Party must work to ensure the party speaks to a wider range of people in work and better demonstrate it genuinely understands their pressures, experiences and…Read more…
Ben Bradshaw writes for Unions21 on Fair Work
In the 115 years since the Trade Union Movement brought the Labour Party to life in collaboration with the Co-Operatives and the Fabian Society, Britain’s economy has changed beyond…Read more…
Stella Creasy writes for Unions21 on Fair Work
At twenty one you’re on top of the scrapheap At sixteen you were top of the class All they taught you at school Was how to be a good worker The system has failed you, don’t fail yourself In…Read more…
Caroline Flint writes for Unions21 on Fair Work
Work helps create a society in which people can be independent, raise a family and be part of a community. It also ensures that through those that work we can provide for schools, hospitals and other…Read more…
Jeremy Corbyn writes for Unions21 on Fair Work
The British labour market is in crisis. That may seem an odd thing to say with the Conservatives crowing about record levels of employment, but the crisis is not of quantity, it’s of…Read more…
Andy Burnham writes for Unions21 on Fair Work
In the months since our devastating Election defeat, Labour has been consumed by a round of painful soul-searching. I spent the early stages of my Leadership campaign focusing on the most…Read more…
Liz Kendall writes for Unions21 on Fair Work
Britain can be a country where everyone can get a fair wage for a fair day’s work; a high-skill, high pay country in which we train and invest in our workforce: improving people’s lives and enabling…Read more…
Yvette Cooper writes for Unions21 on Fair Work
I believe deeply in the Trade Union movement. When my mum went to work it was still legal to pay women less – our Trade Unions, working with the Labour Party, changed that. My dad was a trade…Read more…
Unions21 publishes collection of articles from Labour’s leadership candidates
The exam question Labour’s leadership candidates were posed for our new publication was set by the Unions21 steering committee: “Outline your views on fair work, particularly focusing on work…Read more…
Unions respond to check-off attack
The government has said it is scrapping the system under which public sector workers can have trade union subscriptions deducted straight from their salaries TUC Assistant General Secretary Paul…Read more…
Cameron’s token gesture on the gender pay gap is an act of weakness
David Cameron’s announcement that his government would end the gender pay gap “within a generation” by forcing companies to disclose their figures could have been a reason for tentative optimism…Read more…
Productivity should be an integral part of the progressive agenda
Throughout post war history but markedly since the election UK workers have been told they are not productive enough. In a return to the union bashing anti-worker approach of the 1970s and 1980s the…Read more…
Older workers – Can we afford to ignore them?
The workplace at present is full of uncertainties and insecurity. But one thing is certain. The workforce is getting older and workers, by choice or necessity, are working longer. So what are…Read more…
The Trade Union Bill: The Government should be careful what it wishes for
Let’s give credit where it is due. And the hype is true. The government’s new Trade Union Bill is the most significant piece of trade union legislation in a generation; perhaps even longer than…Read more…
Unions respond to the Government’s Trade Union Bill
The Government has published the Trade Union Bill and drawn criticism from across the movement, writing on the touchstone blog, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “The…Read more…
Is industrial action undemocratic? Let’s bust that myth
The government’s legislative plans for the year ahead include a Trade Unions Bill that would create a 50% voting threshold for union strike ballot turnouts, and a requirement that 40% of those…Read more…
The 2015 Election: Is this the end for Coalition Politics?
As we enter the last week of campaigning ahead of the election just about every opinion pollster and everyone following this election will be saying we are entering a new phase of coalition politics…Read more…