Unions in the community

  • Fern McCaffrey Fern McCaffrey

    A New Forum for Young Workers

    TUC Young Workers Conference 2013It’s an exciting time for the Young Workers Forum. The Forum met last week, for the first time under its new name, and chose the issues that it will address in its three priority campaigns for 2013/14: pay and employment, housing and promoting unions.

    Our campaign focus on Pay and Employment will see the Young Workers Forum play its part in the national TUC campaign to spread the Living Wage and expose pay exploitation of young workers.  We’ll also be stepping up the youth unemployment campaign and in particular increasing support for the Charter for a Future That Works.

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    Posted on April 30th, 2013 by Fern McCaffrey filed under: Unions in the community

  • StrongerUnions StrongerUnions

    Together: more thoughts for UK unions

    This is a guest posting by Mike Smith, Head of Secretariat for the TUC

    It was fascinating to hear from Helen Kelly, President of the NZCTU, about what unions in New Zealand are doing to tackle problems that are both similar to those we face in the UK, but significantly different, both in terms of the size of country and areas of organisational strength.

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    Posted on November 7th, 2012 by StrongerUnions filed under: Union organising, Unions in the community

  • Becky Wright Becky Wright

    Blog Action Day: What the Power of We means for unions

    Blog Action Day logoAs part of Blog Action Day, Owen blogged earlier today on the ‘Power of We’ and that trade unions are the manifestation of the ‘we’ at work.   What does the ‘we’ at work actually mean and how do unions think about this to make us stronger?

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    Posted on October 15th, 2012 by Becky Wright filed under: Union campaigns, Union organising, Unions in the community

  • Anna Burton Anna Burton

    London Labour Film Festival winning short film

    Gloria

    Still from winning short film Gloria.

    The London Labour Film Festival starts today at the prince Charles in Leicester Square 13-15th September. As well as the 18 feature films we’re showing, we’ve also been very excited to run a special competition for labour related short films.

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    Posted on September 13th, 2012 by Anna Burton filed under: Unions in the community

  • Anna Burton Anna Burton

    London Labour film Festival: One week to go

    London Labour Film Festival

    It’s just one week before the inaugural London Labour Film Festival, when we will officially join the global movement of labour film festivals from the USA and Turkey to Canada and Australia. It’s an important cultural event for the UK labour movement and one not to be missed.

    Many people think of documentary films when they think of labour as a genre, but I hope that this festival will broaden people’s minds to the vast array of films that are out there. The event will screen 18 phenomenal films, carefully chosen by experts in the field to cover a range of genres from drama, social realism and science fiction, as well as documentaries. Bringing such films together is a great way for the labour movement to reach out to the public, the media and our own members, with a union message in way that is entertaining and accessible.

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    Posted on September 6th, 2012 by Anna Burton filed under: Unions in the community

  • Anna Burton Anna Burton

    Welcome to the London Labour Film Festival!

    London Labour Film FestivalA celebration of social commitment through cinema, the first ever London Labour Film Festival this September will bring eighteen phenomenal films touching on the issues of labour to the heart of London. Across three days, we’ll be presenting a fascinating and varied take on issues of work, labour struggle and the emotional and societal importance of labour issues, welcoming special guests and inviting discussion.

    We’re delighted we were able to get the Prince Charles Cinema for the hub of the festival. It’s just off London’s cinemaland of Leicester Square, and it’s one of our truly independent cinemas. And we’re even more excited that two of Britain’s most acclaimed directors will be joining us in person. Ken Loach will introduce his classic film The Navigators, and Mike Leigh will be on hand to answer audience questions on his film High Hopes.

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    Posted on August 21st, 2012 by Anna Burton filed under: Unions in the community

  • Kevin Rowan Kevin Rowan

    The ‘Big Meeting’ this weekend

    Durham Miners' Gala

    Durham Miners’ Gala procession coming over Old Elvet Bridge, 2008. Photo Paul Simpson, paul-simpson.org

    This weekend sees the 128th Durham Miners Gala, or the ‘big meeting’ as it’s known. The popularity of the Gala has grown and grown in recent years, it is literally the biggest trade union gathering in Europe with over 100,000 trade unionists descending on the Cathedral and University City so closely associated with the heart of the labour movement in the north east. Anyone who attends Durham this weekend won’t fail to be inspired and motivate by the whole event – I am always enthused and feel a sense of rejuvenation following the Big Meeting.

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    Posted on July 13th, 2012 by Kevin Rowan filed under: Unions in the community