All the union news that's fit to blog...
Labour’s recent reshuffle has sent a clear message. They want to take us back to the 90s. The trouble is, times have changed. Tinkering around the edges is not enough. To fix our broken economy we need intervention. Not politicians who are scared stiff of doing anything other than stand on the sidelines as profiteers […]
The post Five ways Labour can win appeared first on Unite Live.
Today (August 23), Unite marks what has been designated by UNESCO as the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. Unite Equalities urges everyone to commemorate the day and fight the racist legacy of the transatlantic slave trade in their statement below: In 1555, John Lok became the first recorded […]
The post ‘We must all stand up and be counted’ appeared first on Unite Live.
Last week, iconic independent cinema Glasgow Film Theatre (GFT) signed an historic voluntary recognition agreement with Unite. Earlier this week, we highlighted this key victory in the hospitality sector. Today, we hear from Unite rep and GFT worker Katie Mack who explains how she and her colleagues changed their workplace for the better – and […]
The post ‘Only the beginning for us’ appeared first on Unite Live.
For thirteen years they weakened us.Cut doctors and nurses who treated us.Devalued social workers who cared for us. Bosses mocked and taunted us.Self-employment became bogus.Secure jobs – precarious. Cyclists were turned into modern day pack horses.Eight hours to zero they texted us.In warehouses they tagged us. For ten years we’ve had austeritypushing us into poverty.China […]
The post Value appeared first on Unite Live.
Commenting on Labour’s energy plan, which includes proposals to halt new oil and gas production in the North Sea, Unite general Secretary Sharon Graham said, “Grabbing the headlines is easy, developing a serious plan for more renewable energy is not. “When Keir Starmer decided to let the world know that he would halt new oil […]
The post Unite will not accept ‘jam tomorrow’ appeared first on Unite Live.
Every day over the Christmas period, UniteLive is running a different story from our top stories of 2023. Today, we look back at Unite general secretary Sharon Graham’s inspiring May Day message. – May 1st is an important date for trade unions. For us it marks International Workers Day. It is time to reflect on […]
The post UniteLive stories of the year – ‘Change starts in the workplace’ appeared first on Unite Live.
Every day over the Christmas period, UniteLive is running a different story from our top stories of 2023. Today we look back at a comment piece from Claire Peden, Unite organiser and team leader of Unite for a Workers’ Economy about their Feed the Weans campaign wins. — In September last year, hundreds of trade unionists […]
The post UniteLive stories of the year – ‘From the ground up’ appeared first on Unite Live.
The British Veterinary Union in Unite are disappointed but not surprised that 4 out of 10 companies in the recently published BBC survey on the top ten UK companies with the worst gender pay gap, are companies providing veterinary services in the United Kingdom. These four companies employ over half of the veterinary workforce in […]
The post Veterinary services among worst offenders for gender pay gap appeared first on Unite Live.
As Irish trade unions, including Unite, step up to challenge the false narratives of the far right today, we draw inspiration from events nearly 40 years ago, when Dunnes Stores workers took strike action after a colleague was suspended for refusing to handle goods from apartheid South Africa. The suspended worker, Mary Manning, had refused […]
The post The Dunnes Stores Strike – lessons in solidarity appeared first on Unite Live.
Dear Chancellor: We’re told it’s the ‘Budget for Growth’. That is – apparently – what everyone is talking about. Well yes Chancellor. You’re right. Our members are indeed talking about growth. Because as you release your Budget and spout on about your GDP and your business incentive drives, my members are talking about the sickeningly high growth in their weekly […]
The post A letter to the Chancellor appeared first on Unite Live.
Although spiders’ webs froze on treesand overflows’ constant drip became shafts of iciclesLidia still bedded down in Kentish Townon cardboard under polystyrene Born in Bolivia her face lit upwhen someone spoke to her in SpanishHer heart gave out on TuesdayOn the railings a bouquet of red tulips For Lidia we gathered. We walked behind the […]
The post A Cold Spell appeared first on Unite Live.
On Wednesday (February 1) more than half a million workers from unions across sectors took strike action, including Unite members employed as bus workers for Abellio and many others. As Unite ramps up strike action in many disputes, UniteLive will bring you a selection of quotes straight from the picket line. Below are quotes from […]
The post Quotes from the picket line appeared first on Unite Live.
Although spiders’ webs were frozen on treesAlthough the leaves had been dipped in iceAlthough waters’ constant drip turned into shafts of iciclesShe hunkered down on a pavement in Kentish TownOn cardboard ready to sleep under polystyrene Her name was Lidia or perhaps MariaHer birthplace BoliviaHer heart gave out on TuesdayShe lit up when someone spoke […]
The post A cold spell appeared first on Unite Live.
Recently the government made two major policy interventions. One was a proposed attack on workers: “new tough laws” against the right to strike, while refusing to negotiate with NHS workers. The other was a gift to the City: uncapping bankers’ bonuses and looking to remove safeguards brought in to tame markets after the 2008 crash.
The post ‘Who do politicians’ choices serve?’ appeared first on Unite Live.
Dramatic headlines in the newspapers and reports on the radio tell stories about forthcoming egg shortages and price rises, and the impact on farmers and consumers. But they fail to mention how the workers looking after poultry will be affected. Unite the Union is naturally concerned about the way in which our members are being […]
The post Workers overlooked in egg industry crisis appeared first on Unite Live.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham spoke out after last week’s Autumn Statement, in which chancellor Jeremy Hunt sent out a clear message that he was not on the side of working people or their communities. In the video below, Sharon explains: Sharon also commented: The Chancellor has made choices which put him on the side […]
The post Chancellor ‘not on the side of workers’ appeared first on Unite Live.
Last Friday, hundreds of trade unionists and campaigners staged a protest at the headquarters of Scottish Power in Glasgow. The protest is part of a new grassroots movement being spearheaded by Unite. It is clear our economy isn’t working for anyone but the wealthiest people and biggest corporations. In the first six months of this […]
The post Let’s fight for a workers’ economy appeared first on UNITElive.org.
I’m proud to be a local government worker, and I was proud to deliver a service during the very challenging period of lockdown. But being proud doesn’t feed my family, heat my home or put fuel in my car. For those things I need decent pay, in line with the rate of inflation. But the […]
The post ‘We must fight back’ appeared first on UNITElive.org.
I work for Toyota. And as a union we are seeing how my automotive sector and many others, such as steel, road haulage, food and many others are being badly affected by the current trading arrangements we have with Europe. This desperately needs to be improved if we are serious about supporting our industries. We […]
The post ‘We need a real ethical foreign policy’ appeared first on UNITElive.org.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham writes for the forthcoming Unite Landworker magazine*. She says: As I write this column, we are in the midst of a cycle of crisis. And once again the rich and…Read more…