Jack Jones speaks

Jack Jones explains his role in the Labour movement in the 1970s, and how the battle to bring in Industrial Democracy was fought and lost, making something like Thatcherism almost inevitable.  An interview with Jack Jones, conducted by Labour and Trade Union Review magazine L&TUR We’d like to begin with the experience of the seventies. As … Continue reading Jack Jones speaks

Trade Union Diary

Industrial Democracy A new book has just been published:  "Our trade unions, what comes next after the summer of 2022?" By Nigel Flanagan, Manifesto Press. The book is vigorously written and addresses the question of the immense weakness of the trade union movement today without flinching.  It rightly addresses the question of how it came about as … Continue reading Trade Union Diary

The Minimum Service Bill : ‘a ludicrous bill’

https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2023-04-26/debates/61E83113-0B2D-40D2-9CD1-ED34E7C7CC17/Strikes(MinimumServiceLevels)Bill 26 April 2023, Debate in the Lords on amendment 3.  This amendment would prevent an employee being sacked for refusing to cross a picket line.  This is in the event of an employee being issued with a work notice, forcing them to work during a strike. A Conservative argument in favour of the amendment: Lord Balfe … Continue reading The Minimum Service Bill : ‘a ludicrous bill’

ASLEF REJECTS RISIBLE PAY OFFER AND SETS MORE STRIKE DATES

ASLEF REJECTS RISIBLE PAY OFFER AND SETS MORE STRIKE DATES https://aslef.org.uk/publications/aslef-rejects-risible-pay-offer-and-sets-more-strike-dates ASLEF, the train drivers’ union, has rejected a ‘risible’ pay offer from the 16 train companies with whom we are in dispute – our drivers not having had an increase in salary at these companies since 2019. ‘Our executive committee met this morning [Thursday] … Continue reading ASLEF REJECTS RISIBLE PAY OFFER AND SETS MORE STRIKE DATES

Strikes (Minimum Service) Bill

Strikes (Minimum Service) Bill, discussed in the Lords 21 February 2023 Parliament Notes https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2023-02-21/debates/14076655-2C38-4D27-8875-CEE79DE5BF74/Strikes(MinimumServiceLevels)Bill?highlight=strikes%20minimum%20service#contribution-654EA241-DA24-4405-8A05-0D52F05FEFED [Extracts, starting with the speech of Frances O’Grady and ending with the speech of a Conservative Peer against the proposed government bill.] Frances O’Grady (now Baroness of Upper Holloway) Could workers who are required to work during a strike but who … Continue reading Strikes (Minimum Service) Bill

Working Conditions: the Case of the Müller Drivers

Working Conditions: the case of the Müller drivers Eamon Dyas Members of the Unite Trade Union are currently picketing supermarkets in London to highlight an industrial dispute that has received little coverage in the media although it touches on a subject that is becoming a growing concern for workers generally – the erosion of working … Continue reading Working Conditions: the Case of the Müller Drivers

Blue Labour

BLUE LABOUR - STRONG ON THEORY, WEAK IN PRACTICE REVIEW: Maurice Glasman: Blue Labour - the Politics of the Common Good, Cambridge, Polity Press, 2022. Peter Brooke HOPEFUL BEGINNINGS Back in 2011 it looked as if Maurice Glasman could become highly influential in the Labour Party. Ed Miliband had become leader in 2010 and, casting around … Continue reading Blue Labour

Mick Lynch In His Own Words

(The image above is by water colour artist Inga Bystram) Transport Committee meetings 11/1/23 https://committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/12513/pdf/ The three witnesses are Mick Lynch (RMT), Mick Whelan (ASLEF) and Frank Ward (TSSA).  One of the Committee members is the SNP Gavin Newlands, whose later intervention in the House of Commons we quote below. Extracts.   Question. [There have been three … Continue reading Mick Lynch In His Own Words

Pay Increases

Meanwhile, in the Private Sector: Tanker drivers gain huge rise after walkout threat  LOGISTICS workers were celebrating yesterday after their threat to go on strike led to them winning a “huge pay victory” worth close to 40 per cent for some staff.  About 150 Unite members employed by Wincanton to deliver fuel to Valero petrol … Continue reading Pay Increases