Union campaigns

  • Frances O'Grady Frances O'Grady

    A new campaign plan for Britain’s unions

    TUC Campaign Plan

    Since the birth of the coalition in the Downing Street Rose Garden back in May 2010, it has been the TUC and Britain’s unions that have been at the forefront arguing against austerity. We have organised the two biggest demonstrations against austerity since the election, coordinated action to defend our pensions, held off attacks on our workplace rights and fought against the privatisation of the NHS. At every turn we have mobilised and energised people to take action against the sustained dismantling of the fabric of our society and the tearing up of the safety net that exists to help the most vulnerable.

    But as our stagnant economy bumps along with little sign of recovery and the public express their pain and anger, still the Chancellor stays the course. 

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    Posted on May 1st, 2013 by Frances O'Grady filed under: Union campaigns

  • Rob Holdsworth Rob Holdsworth

    The Cost of Austerity

    Infographic showing how much middle income families will stand to lose by 2015 due to current government policies

    With just over a week until the Budget, the pressure is rising on the Chancellor to announce a plan that lifts the country out of its current economic malaise.

    The Prime Minister attempted to put a brave face on the government’s track record last week, brazenly claiming that austerity was somehow good for families. But the reality is very different as new TUC research published later this week will show.

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    Posted on March 11th, 2013 by Rob Holdsworth filed under: Union campaigns

  • Rachael Maskell Rachael Maskell

    The NHS descends into more chaos

    Mosaic made by NHS supporters to protest 2012's Health and Social Care Bill

    Just weeks before the new ConDem NHS is due to be launched (1 April, when the new system from last year’s Health and Social Care Act comes into force), the government has been caught trying to drive NHS privatisation through back door. David Cameron’s vision is of an enormous and complex private health care market operating under the logo of our beloved NHS.

    Having managed to ignore patients and health professionals for 3 years, following their promise not to re-organise the NHS, the government have now been forced to backtrack over regulations designed to complete the privatisation project. We’re still waiting to see what they want to put in its place. Campaigners’ worst fears have come true as the biggest reorganisation in the NHS’ 65 year history is leaving the health service in a shambolic state of disarray.

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    Posted on March 9th, 2013 by Rachael Maskell filed under: Union campaigns

  • StrongerUnions StrongerUnions

    Help send a message to George Osborne ahead of the budget

    George Osborne's Budget matters to Britain's families

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    Posted on March 5th, 2013 by StrongerUnions filed under: Union campaigns

  • Rob Holdsworth Rob Holdsworth

    WYPHD 2013: The false economy of unpaid overtime

    Long hours and overwork

    Britain is often written off as a nation of shirkers. If you believe everything you read in the tabloids workers in the UK are tardy, pull sickies the whole time and spend all day on Facebook.

    But we know that the reality is very different. Brits work among the longest hours in Europe – often too long – and what’s more a lot of those extra hours at work aren’t even paid.

    TUC research published today shows that around one in five workers regularly do around seven hours of unpaid overtime every week. If everyone did all their unpaid hours at the start of the year their first paid day at work would be Friday 1 March. We’ve named today Work Your Proper Hours Day in their honour!

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    Posted on March 1st, 2013 by Rob Holdsworth filed under: Union campaigns

  • StrongerUnions StrongerUnions

    INFOGRAPHIC: Work Your Proper Hours Day is on 1 March 2013

    Preview of an infographic containing various statistics about unpaid overtime for Work Your Proper Hours Day 2013

    Work Your Proper Hours Day is on Friday 1 March. Make sure you take a proper lunch break and leave on time so you can enjoy your Friday evening…

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    Posted on February 28th, 2013 by StrongerUnions filed under: Union campaigns

  • Ricky Tomlinson Ricky Tomlinson

    National security, my arse! A new blow to justice for the Shrewsbury 24

    Des Warren, Ricky Tomlinson and supporters

    The fight for redress for the 24 pickets who were prosecuted five months after the first national building workers strike in 1972 has hit a ridiculous new setback.

    I was one of those building workers, and was given a two year prison sentence,for my part in the dispute. I, and the others who were prosecuted, believe that government files about our case are still being held secret as they’ll show there was senior government interference involved in getting charges against us that should never have been brought.

    In the latest development, the Justice Secretary, Chris Grayling, has told the campaign that we’re going to have to wait longer to see the crucial evidence that we need – A lot longer. Apparently his predecessor Kenneth Clark gave approval back in December for the records of the cases against us to stay secret, under the exemptions in section 23 of the Freedom of Information Act.

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    Posted on February 14th, 2013 by Ricky Tomlinson filed under: Union campaigns