Liverpool, 2nd February 2017 Let me start by welcoming you all here today – What a fantastic turn out. We have over 200 people here today, shop stewards from across our manufacturing sector,…Read more…
MPs debate Brexit: we want to know what will happen to our rights at work
Today, the second reading debate for the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill 2016-17 begins. Or in shorthand, MPs will finally start debating Article 50, or the start of the Brexit negotiations. It has taken a long time to get something substantive debated – something more than…Read more…
Building our technical skills – the Industrial Strategy Green Paper
This week the Government has made a great deal of its proposals on skills in the Industrial Strategy Green Paper. A BEIS press release came out last weekend entitled Technical education at heart of modern industrial strategy and this echoed the longstanding refrain that the UK has world…Read more…
Alborada: Latin America Uncovered Article
Finland: Four Industrial Unions Set To Merge
In a move which commenced earlier this year four of Finland’s main industrial unions are planning to merge to create one powerful 260,00 strong union whose focus will be on Finland’s exporting…Read more…
Len McCluskey: Why I Am Standing For General Secretary
Trade unionism matters more than ever. With the economy still in a slump, the Tories in power and the shadow of Brexit hanging over millions of jobs, unions are the only line of defence for working…Read more…
German Trade Union’s Reject CETA
In a surprise turn around the German trade union umbrella organisation the DGB have come out against the EU-Canada Trade agreement known as CETA. A document available to download here spells out why…Read more…
Brexit campaigners push for a bonfire of regulations (and rights)
MPs from the cross-party Exiting the EU Select Committee today heard evidence on how Brexit could affect the world of work, from the TUC’s Frances O’Grady, CBI’s Carolyn Fairbairn and former BCC Chair turned Brexit campaigner, John Longworth. We’ve heard a lot of promises in…Read more…
Brexit means Brexit. Workers on boards means workers on boards
We’re looking forward to the Prime Ministers speech this morning to the CBI, and any detail on the pledge she made in her conference speech to build ‘a country that works for everyone’. Theresa May’s signature policy to date has been her plan to include workers on company boards. In her pitch to…Read more…
Russian Revolution Centenary Celebrations
7th November 2016 (25th October in the old-style Julian calendar) marks the 99th anniversary of the Russian Revolution, famously dubbed by US journalist John Reed as “ten days that shook the world.”…Read more…
Len McCluskey On Brexit & Immigration
Britain’s exit from the European Union must deliver a migration policy that changes the UK from a ‘race-to-the bottom to a rate-for the-job country’, Len McCluskey of Unite will say today….Read more…
The independent review of online voting for trade unions is finally happening
As someone working in digital services in trade unions, the legal ban on using online voting for union statutory ballots has always wound me up. So I’m very pleased at the news that the government are finally starting their promised independent review into online voting for unions. Sir Ken Knight,…Read more…
Great News For Construction Workers As UCATT Vote To Join Unite
Construction workers in the UK will now have one powerful union voice on their side fighting for them from 1 January 2017, as members of the construction union Ucatt voted by 85.5 per cent to merge…Read more…
Unite seeks Brexit assurances for UK car industry and manufacturing
Britain’s largest union, Unite said it would be seeking similar government assurances for the UK’s car industry and manufacturing sector which may have been made to Nissan to cover the potential…Read more…
‘Monumental Victory’ In Uber Case
This is the official GMB press release: Similar contracts masquerading as bogus self employment will all be reviewed says GMB GMB, the union for professional drivers, has won their case against Uber…Read more…
Unite will not stand by and see good jobs scrapped amid Brexit
This week Unite will set out its strategy on manufacturing and Brexit. Called Brexit On Our Terms, Unite has consulted and listened to our shop stewards and reps in manufacturing, the Trades Union…Read more…
Workers’ rights and Brexit: holding the PM to her pledges
Last Friday, I reiterated our key demand of the Government over Brexit: workers must not pay the price for the decision to leave. TUC opinion polling after the referendum showed that whatever people voted for on 23 June, it wasn’t to lose precious rights at work. The TUC and unions – as…Read more…
Early Reflections on Labour Conference 2016
The portents were not good a few weeks ago – the conference was expected to expose a giant chasm and split the party; Ian McNichol was for the chop; they were struggling to find a new security…Read more…
#MayMonitor: A new campaign to track progress of Theresa May’s government
Theresa May became Prime Minister promising ‘a country that works for everyone’. She committed to fight the ‘burning injustice of inequality’, to support those who are ‘just managing’ but find life hard and to prioritise ‘ordinary working class families’ over the wealthy few. As Parliament returns…Read more…
Article 50: so much for Parliamentary sovereignty!
This week, Theresa May ruled out giving Parliament a vote before Article 50 is triggered. She’s explained her position in terms of respecting the will of the people as expressed in June’s referendum – and the TUC accepts that decision too. But we are still disappointed at her…Read more…