All the union news that's fit to blog...
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…
When both the Governor of the Bank of England and the Prime Minister called for ‘pay restraint’ it was clear that workers were being set up for a fall. Once again we were being asked to pay the price…Read more…
I couldn’t go into John Lewis. Not from that door. The door fromthe Square, Cavendish Square. It was the menswear that did it.Scarves. Hankies. That sweater you liked and the blue shirt. No matterthe…Read more…
When my great uncle died at work in the mines in 1933, he left behind three children and a family to feed. The employer paid out a paltry sum and that was that. But for those left behind, the failure…Read more…
On behalf of the Waterford Branch of Unite in the Community we offer our sincere condolences to family, friends and comrades on the sad passing of Jimmy Nolan. Jimmy was a docker, an internationalist…Read more…
This week Unite, alongside Your NHS Needs You and Diem 25, has unveiled billboards, ad vans and bus stops across the so-called ‘red wall’ that will carry direct messages to voters in constituencies…Read more…
Energy bills are rising, and the cost of basic goods and services are increasing at a rate not seen in many years. In response, another wealthy individual felt the need to lecture working people….Read more…
Unite has joined with Your NHS Needs You to force a debate in parliament, after over 135,000 people signed a petition calling for the health service to be renationalised. It also demands that…Read more…
Read and hear Davy Kettle’s moving tribute to Holocaust victims
The post Never again appeared first on UNITElive.org.Read more…
It’s only been a couple of months since I was elected to be general secretary of Unite. In that time, I have begun the change that I promised. Unite is involved in more industrial disputes than at…Read more…
Unite has just published the report of its first ever all members’ survey and, although produced before the recent discovery of the Omicron variant, its findings reveal the reality of a sharpening…Read more…
As Unite Hospitality reps and front line workers in the hospitality, tourism and events industries, we are facing yet another unnecessary period of uncertainty that mirrors the start of the pandemic…Read more…