STRONGER UNIONS

The TUC is celebrating union communications and campaigns with the annual Trade Union Communications Awards in London today. When times are tough, members look to their unions for guidance and support. It is absolutely vital that unions communicate what they are doing for their members – and on the evidence of this year’s award winners, [...]

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The TUC has highlighted the risks to the UK’s 1.2 million temporary workers, including 226,000 agency employees, and to migrant workers and workers in the informal sector.
Studies have shown insecure workers face a substantially increased health and safety risk at work (TUC’s Risks 260). Unions have been active on behalf of vulnerable workers. Examples [...]

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TUC General Secretary, Brendan Barber, speaking on what trade unions want from a Copenhagen deal, and how the transition to a low carbon economy would benefit British workers. From the Government’s ACT ON COPENHAGEN website.

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Can you think of a better word to describe the £5,000 fine handed out to Ian Kerr for running an illegal blacklisting service?
 
I never believe everything I read in the tabloid press but apparently this is the same fine you could expect for leaving your wheelie bin out to long…time for Government to act on [...]

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As people may know Rich Trumka, the current secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO has announced that he will be standing for the ‘presidency’ of the organisation.
Reading this article about his candidacy, I was struck by this line,
“Here’s the deal – For employers who want to work with us and want to work with workers, we’ll be [...]

Filed under: International unions, Unions | | 3 Comments »

Good article in the Guardian today summarising “CARITAS IN VERITATE”, the latest Papal Encyclical. Some of this will be very controversial for trade unionists and the left more generally - but while the encyclical contains much on issues around abortion and contraception that I disagree with, I have more sympathy with its analysis that a belief in [...]

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Around this time of year, the Nowak family trailer-tent gets its Annual airing, and for the second year on the trot we are off down to Dorset for the brilliant Tolpuddle Festival.
As well as the usual music, speeches and and all round Festival-stuff, Tolpuddle is a great place for swapping ideas and experience with fellow trade unionists. [...]

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As you’ll have seen from previous posts (including the posts regarding the course ‘Lights, Camera, Action’ ) video sharing has become one of the most exciting parts of Internet culture. Trade unions have been quick to get involved. Sending out videos through YouTube, social networking sites, virals and blogs, unions have been able to get [...]

Filed under: Events | | 1 Comment »

I had a moan a few months ago about the lack of politics in the ‘hit parade’ – and a few people threw in comments to effect that I really didn’t know what I was talking about (true), and pointed me in the direction of some some decent tunes with a dose of political content.
In [...]

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Last night brought the sad news of the death of Jack Jones at the age of 96. 
Jack lived an incredible and inspiring life: fighting fascism in Spain; leading the T & G at the height of its membership and influence; and a staunch voice for pensioners through his work with the NPC.

Many people who knew [...]

Filed under: Uncategorized, Unions | | 2 Comments »