I participated in a European foundation workshop last week, which examined the impact of a Trump presidency on Europe. While European leaders politely congratulated Trump and emphasised long-standing links, the policy community is less sanguine.As you …Read more…
Ukraine and the ‘Johnson thwarted peace’ myth
I was involved in a panel discussion about defence expenditure this week. A trade union activist I greatly respect justified his argument against providing military aid to Ukraine by invoking a Putin-propagated myth. The essence of this conspiracy theo…Read more…
Post-pandemic social care – Hopes and Disappointments
I was speaking at the launch of the report ‘Post-pandemic Hopes and Disappointments’, which looks at post-pandemic social care across Europe. Written by the brilliant Lisa Pelling from the progressive Swedish think tank Arena Idé. This is a follo…Read more…
European driver fatigue at ‘epidemic levels’
A new study published today (June 3) reveals that levels of professional driver fatigue throughout Europe are at epidemic levels, mirroring previous survey’s conducted by Unite. The survey, received…Read more…
We need to revalue our public services
One year ago today, the World Health Organisation declared COVID-19 global pandemic. The last year has magnified the strengths and weaknesses of our societies. In Europe, it has exposed the fragility…Read more…
UK govt ‘not doing enough’
Unite has commented on business secretary Alok Sharma’s new announcement today (July 20) of £200m worth of grants for the aerospace industry – saying that despite these grants bringing some support –…Read more…
Stop the far right call
A major advertising campaign aimed at boosting voter turnout to stop the far right in this Thursday’s (May 23) European elections is being launched today (May 20) across towns and cities in the North…Read more…
Vote in the European elections on 23 May
“Vote for candidates who will stand up for public services and defend our welfare state.”
The article Vote in the European elections on 23 May first appeared on the UNISON National site.Read more…
‘Progressive forces unite’ call
A victory for Spanish socialists – who won the most seats in the country’s snap general election yesterday (April 29) – has been tempered because for the first time since the Franco era a number of…Read more…
‘Not a cure all’
Finland has scrapped Europe’s only government sponsored Universal Basic Income (UBC) trial. The two year trial, introduced in January last year by the Finnish Social Insurance Institute, known…Read more…
Labour and exiting the EU
I often start a conference presentation by saying I am not going to talk about Brexit, but usually do. The subject is unavoidable as it impacts on so many aspects of public policy. As we approach the…Read more…
‘Brexatom’ threat
When British voters were asked in the EU referendum whether the UK should stay or leave, most didn’t know that they’d be voting on the future of the nuclear industry as well. But last…Read more…
Brexit repeal bill enters next round of Commons debate
UNISON backs a raft of amendments aimed at protecting the rights of its members
The article Brexit repeal bill enters next round of Commons debate first appeared on the UNISON National site.Read more…
No ‘certainty’ for EU workers in Brexit plan
The claimed ‘certainty’ in the UK government’s ‘cut and paste’ job on EU law clearly doesn’t apply to EU nationals working in Scotland and the rest of the UK. Last month the UK government…Read more…
EU citizens: UNISON returns to Parliament to defend members
Union backing new lobby for the ‘right to remain’ for EU citizens in the UK
The article EU citizens: UNISON returns to Parliament to defend members first appeared on the UNISON National site.Read more…
Employment rights should be centre stage as Great Repeal Bill launched, says UNISON
Commenting on the publication of the Bill today (Thursday) that will see the transfer of European laws onto the the UK statute book, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “The clock is ticking…Read more…
Blog: These negotiations will define the future of our country for generations
There is a great deal on the line, and these negotiations will define the future of our country for generations. Yet we still know far too little about what the government’s red lines are – and…Read more…
Blog: I dream in English – a German member’s thoughts on Brexit
By Christina Egan When I read Anke Plummer’s account of feeling like a Briton, I wondered why, as another German living here for over 20 years, I do not seem to feel British at all? Well, I…Read more…
European citizens to lobby MPs over right to remain in UK post-Brexit
Nurses, social workers and teaching assistants will be among EU citizens who will today (Monday) lobby MPs over their right to remain in the UK. The lobby is aimed at urging the government to…Read more…
No mention of equality in Brexit white paper is “shocking and shameful”
UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis has described the government’s failure to mention equalities in the Brexit white paper as shocking and shameful at its annual women’s conference today…Read more…