We’re often told we shouldn’t worry about Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) in the new generation of so-called ‘free’ trade agreements, because the UK Government doesn’t lose cases. In practice that’s because most UK agreements containing ISDS have been…Read more…
5 lessons trade unions can teach the WTO
Trade talks at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) closed in Nairobi on Saturday and the biggest news is what they did not manage to agree. After 14 years of stalled talks, rich countries continued to refuse to address longstanding injustices in agriculture, such as food stockholding – a…Read more…
Simple Minds called to campaign for world cup workers in Qatar
Date: Friday 18 December 2015
UNISON, Scotland’s biggest trade union, has written to the Scottish band Simple Minds asking they speak out for migrant workers rights in Qatar.UNISON supports the TUC Fair Play for Qatar campaign which is highlighting the poor working conditions of migrant workers who are building football stadiums and infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup.Simple Minds areRead more…
International migrants day 2015: European unions call for refugee employment rights
The TUC has joined other unions around Europe to mark International Migrants Day (18 Dec) by calling for measures to get refugees integrated into the workplace, rather than left in limbo in camps or on benefits – or worse. The TUC made this call ahead of an international conference in Zagreb,…Read more…
Cameron should concentrate on European pay, not benefits
Today and tomorrow, the December European Council, where EU leaders meet, will take place in Brussels. The big story for Britain is David Cameron’s EU renegotiation agenda. The TUC has called on him to concentrate on low pay rather than benefit curbs, and especially urged him not to let young…Read more…
Refugee Christmas appeals
Branches and activists have asked for union advice on how they might offer practical solidarity and support
The article Refugee Christmas appeals first appeared on the UNISON site.Read more…
“Robin’s alive!” European Financial Transactions Tax almost complete
On Tuesday, Finance Ministers from 10 countries around Europe negotiating the introduction of a Robin Hood Tax reached a landmark decision. It’s not the end of the process, but it is at least the end of the beginning or the beginning of the end: agreement to implement a broad-based tax, using…Read more…
UNISON takes the ‘route of shame’ in defence of workers’ rights
The union marks Human Rights Day by targeting countries that are the ‘worst’ abusers of trade union rights
The article UNISON takes the ‘route of shame’ in defence of workers’ rights first…Read more…
UNISON calls for Robert Gordon University to remove Donald Trump’s honorary degree
Date: Wednesday 9 December 2015
UNISON members working at Robert Gordon University have written to the Principal, Professor Prondzynski, calling on him to remove Donald Trump’s honorary degree because he is reported to have called for "a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States" UNISON believes this to be unacceptable. Colin Jones, Robert Gordon UNISON steward said: “Read more…
Defending manufacturing from Chinese dumping: #SaveOurSteel
Today, Trade Ministers from across the EU will gather in Brussels to discuss the threat posed to manufacturing by the dumping of products like steel and tyres on Europe by the Chinese. As part of the #SaveOurSteel campaign, the TUC has urged UK Trade Minister Lord Maude to reverse the…Read more…
Report from UNITE sector conference, November 2015
The conferences were organised over three days, with services sectors on Monday, manufacturing sectors on Tuesday, and transport sectors on Wednesday. The Graphical, Paper, Media & IT (GPM&IT) conference was on Tuesday. This report covers the p…Read more…
Defending the European Social Model in the Netherlands
Today, British Minister for Europe David Lidington MP is in the Netherlands to meet Foreign Minister Bert Koenders. The Dutch take over the Presidency of the EU on 1 January, so they will play a crucial role in orchestrating the EU’s response to David Cameron’s pre-referendum…Read more…
Trade unions campaign to eliminate violence against women
Today (25 November) is the United Nation’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the start of the #16DaysofActivism (to 10 December’s Human Rights Day) of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. According to the World Health Organisation, 1 in 3 women around the world…Read more…
Help Ian Allinson & Nilüfer Erdem go to the Labor Notes conference in Chicago
I’d very much like to go to the Labor Notes conference next year, but the cost would be prohibitive. Me and a young member from the Hotel Workers’ branch in London who also wants to go have set up an appeal to raise money to make it possible.
If you f…Read more…
UN climate talks and cancellation of demonstrations in Paris – Support #ScotClimateMarch #COP21
UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis today urged the highest possible turnout for marches in Edinburgh, London, Cardiff and Belfast next weekend, in solidarity with climate campaigners in Paris and around the world.
The International Trade Union Confederation made the same call. Both were responding to the decision by the French authorities, following the terrorist attacks in Paris, to cancelRead more…
Paris climate demos cancelled – join the marches in the UK
Demonstrations and marches cancelled after Paris attacks
The article Paris climate demos cancelled – join the marches in the UK first appeared on the UNISON site.Read more…
Scotland welcomes refugees – message from International chair and secretary
As a plane of Syrian refugees is about to land in Glasgow today Sam Macartney, Chair of the International Committee and I wanted to tell you about what members of the International Committee heard from Robina Qureshi, Director of Positive Action in Housing on Saturday.
Robina advised us of the links her organisation had made with the Kempson family who live on the island of Lesvos in GreeceRead more…
We know what would solve global inequality: so why isn’t anyone doing it?
I wrote yesterday about the outcome of the Turkish G20 summit, which got close to addressing the gathering economic storms of global recession, but fell short of the action needed. But one area where the G20 did indeed get things right was identifying inequality as one of the main things holding…Read more…
G20 almost rises to the challenge of the next global recession
The G20 summit in Antalya, on Turkey’s southern, Mediterranean coast, ended today with a communique that almost rises to the challenge facing the global economy. The main headlines are about terrorism and the refugee crisis, hardly surprising given the events in Paris and Antalya’s…Read more…
‘Our hearts go out to Paris’
“We stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers,” says message to French unions
The article ‘Our hearts go out to Paris’ first appeared on the UNISON site.Read more…