Report by the Institute of Employment Rights (IER) An IER briefing that analyses the Government’s Fair Work Agency. It warns that the Government’s new workplace watchdog risks failing to deliver meaningful protections for workers unless urgent changes are made. The briefing, authored by Prof David Whyte, Queen Mary University of London and Prof Ruth Dukes, University of … Continue reading How Employment Law is enforced in the UK
Workers rights
Bevin, MMT and the Class Struggle
Catherine Dunlop “People want to be governed.” This is what Burke said and it’s a fundamental truth. People want to get on with their lives and they rely on a government to maintain an environment where they can get on with their lives. The instrument of the government is the state; a modern state has a police … Continue reading Bevin, MMT and the Class Struggle
Why the Workers’ Struggle is a Class Struggle
Dave Gardner [The photo above is of Ernest Bevin] “There’s class warfare, all right, but it’s my class, the rich class, that’s making war, and we’re winning.” (Warren Buffett, investor and capitalist, 2006). The quote above blurts out a truth which the political establishment and media of this country would like to keep from us. We … Continue reading Why the Workers’ Struggle is a Class Struggle
The New Deal for Workers—A View from the IER
The New Deal for Workers – a focus on ‘rights’ but what about power? Labour’s long-awaited Employment Rights Bill does not do nearly enough to remove the restraints on trade unions or to give them the powers they need to make a significant difference to the lives of the millions of workers, write KEITH EWING … Continue reading The New Deal for Workers—A View from the IER
UNIONS MUST BE THE OPPOSITION
More from the Labour Party Conference SOCIALIST CAMPAIGN GROUP FRINGE UNIONS MUST BE THE OPPOSITION WARNS NEU LEADER Daniel Kebede comments come after Labour leadership’s targeting of dissent from its MPs TRADE unions must become the most effective opposition if Labour keeps attacking the poorest, National Education Union leader Daniel Kebede said on Tuesday night. … Continue reading UNIONS MUST BE THE OPPOSITION
Sharon Graham on Net Zero
No Ban without a Plan Sharon Graham: We can’t sit back and allow oil and gas workers to become the miners of net zero https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/opinion/5902396/sharon-graham-oil-gas-unite-opinion/ Put simply: the transition to net zero will only work if we put jobs at its very heart. The current plan is too vague, writes Unite's general secretary. When Margaret … Continue reading Sharon Graham on Net Zero
Starmer Against Workers Rights
Unite the Union protests at Labour not pledging to reinstate Workers Rights if elected Labour’s draft New Deal for Workers now “unrecognisable” Wednesday 8 May 2024 Responding to the recent New Deal documents sent to the trade unions by the Labour Party, the leader of Unite Sharon Graham said: “It looks like all the warnings … Continue reading Starmer Against Workers Rights
Workers Party Victory in Rochdale
Workers Party Victory in Rochdale—Thursday 29 February 2024 Labour Affairs congratulates George Galloway on his victory. George Galloway has won a landslide victory in the Rochdale by-election, saying his victory showed Keir Starmer has paid a “high price” for his stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict as Labour’s suspended candidate slumped to fourth in its former … Continue reading Workers Party Victory in Rochdale
Apprenticeships—by a Former Apprentice
John Clayden Government Training Centres were I think set up during the war or just after and were nationwide and were set up with trade union cooperation but were later destroyed by Thatcher. The one in Perivale West London I attended covered the various building trades and engineering trades, sheet metal work as well … Continue reading Apprenticeships—by a Former Apprentice
The Mixed Economy and Dogmatic Individualism
Ordinary Britons have been victims of a fraud that began in the 1980s. Started before many of today’s voters were even born. Thanks to tight control of the popular media by the very rich, a reversion to 19th century capitalism was sold as the only option. Liberal critics speak vaguely of a Western failure after the … Continue reading The Mixed Economy and Dogmatic Individualism
Sahra Wagenknecht Newsletter
Sahra Wagenknecht’s Newsletter December 2023 No to wars and armament madness Many people are worried about a policy that will soon be deciding on billions in arms deliveries every week, but at the same time is no longer in a position to provide adequate funding for our infrastructure, affordable housing and sufficient teaching and care … Continue reading Sahra Wagenknecht Newsletter
Unite—The Union: A workers Plan for Steel
Workers Plan for Steel A union with a vision for the steel industry and the country. As part of Unite’s campaign to fight for the steel industry, open letters have been written by 130 businesses, associations and clubs in Port Talbot, 150 in Scunthorpe, 130 in Teesside, 150 in Sheffield. We reproduce the Teesside letter and comments, underneath … Continue reading Unite—The Union: A workers Plan for Steel
Sharon Graham BBC Interview
BBC Interview with Sharon Graham BBC 14/7/23 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-66203880 Labour needs to be "bolder" and "more ambitious", rather than "tinkering around the edges", the head of the UK's second largest union has told the BBC. Unite leader Sharon Graham warned that otherwise "apathy" would be the winner at the next general election. The union gives more … Continue reading Sharon Graham BBC Interview
Mick Lynch in his Own Words
[Since Mick Lynch made this speech, the government have announced the closure of all ticket offices.] RMT Press Office: In his annual address to RMT AGM, general secretary Mick Lynch said: "The RMT is sound, robust and in good shape to meet the challenges ahead. "However, we cannot be complacent because the challenges are significant. … Continue reading Mick Lynch in his Own Words
Minimum Service: a “Ludicrous Bill’ (3)
Minimum Service Bill (3) 21 June 2023 House of Commons—Hansard The Minimum Service Bill is not just ludicrous, it is also authoritarian. Having no opposition to speak of, the government acts as if it can do what it likes. Justin Madders (Ellesmere Port and Neston) (Lab) He currently undertakes the roles of Shadow Minister (Business and … Continue reading Minimum Service: a “Ludicrous Bill’ (3)
ILO and the Minimum Service Bill
The International Labour Organisation and the Minimum Service Bill From Morning Star June 20 2023 UN watchdog condemns anti-union Strikes Bill by Matt Trinder Industrial reporter The United Nations launched an “embarrassing” attack on the Tory government’s latest assault on unions and the right to strike yesterday. In a rare but damning intervention, the International … Continue reading ILO and the Minimum Service Bill
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
Labour Affairs 