Union news

Grassroots – building for the long term

Grassroots logo The local elections are over, France and Greece have seen people vote for an alternative and as pundits scramble to analyse and say what it all means, I want to take a step back and consider the role that organising and campaigning plays in building for change.

Campaigning can be tricky. You have a position and you want someone else to agree with you. You try all manner of tactics to press your positions. Send out press releases and hope that there’s space in your local newspaper. The trudge can be relentless and sometimes no end in sight. Sometimes we win, sometimes we don’t. But what happens when the dust has settled and the campaigning is over? What does it really mean to win or lose?

Posted on May 8th, 2012 by Becky Wright filed under: Union news

Sue Ferns

Widening the debate on Trade Union membership

Thanks to Becky for her analysis of the 2011 trade union membership figures released by BIS last week.

Given the huge labour market turmoil we’ve experienced in 2011, I’m immediately struck by the remarkable stability in the key indicators relating to total union membership and density compared with 2010. Of course, there’s no denying the current Government policies have created a more challenging environment. But they have also created opportunities for us to make our case for fair treatment and, perhaps for some, the first realisation of why they need a union.

Posted on April 30th, 2012 by Sue Ferns filed under: Union news

Becky Wright

2011 trade union membership figures released

Yesterday, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) released their annual report on trade union membership which is taken from the annual Labour Force Survey (LFS) in the final quarter of 2011. Carl blogged about the 2010 release here.

So, what were the figures and what do they mean for trade unions?

Posted on April 26th, 2012 by Becky Wright filed under: Union news

Brendan Barber

Jack Jones: Three lessons for our times

Jack Jones watching TGWU marchers on the annual London May Day march.

I’m honoured to have been asked to give the annual Jack Jones lecture in Liverpool tonight, and wanted to use it to show three of the key lessons for today that we can find from Jack’s life. Here’s some of what I’ll be saying this evening:

Jack Jones was a true colossus of the labour movement. He was an ordinary working-class man who through the strength of his convictions and the courage of his actions changed the course of history – and in the process improved the lives of millions of working people.

Posted on April 12th, 2012 by Brendan Barber filed under: Union news

Sharon Sukhram

Olympics: Building a better world through sport – but without respect for workers’ rights

Workers in China paint souvenier badges for the upcoming London Olympics

The Olympic Movement says that is aims to “build a better world through sport” and the Olympic Charter states “Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on…respect for universal fundamental ethical principles”.

For the Playfair 2012 campaign this should mean respecting people’s fundamental rights at work, including the right to join/form a trade union and bargain collectively. And contracts will all licensees and companies providing goods and services to the Games should require respect for internationally recognised labour standards.

But that’s not quite how the International Olympic Committee sees it.

Posted on March 30th, 2012 by Sharon Sukhram filed under: Union news

Owen Tudor

Change at the top of Australia’s unions

Follow Brendan Barber, Paul Kenny and Owen Tudor on their delegation to Australia @TUCGlobal using #TUCdownunder

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), the peak body and sister organisation of the TUC, is about to change its Secretary, with Dave Oliver taking over from Jeff Lawrence (former nurses’ union leader Ged Kearney stays as President.) He was profiled in Melbourne-based The Age newspaper today.

Posted on March 26th, 2012 by Owen Tudor filed under: Union news

John Wood

The numbers behind Workers’ Memorial Day

Workers’ Memorial Day is held on 28 April every year, all over the world workers and unions organise demonstrations, vigils and other events to mark the day. The day serves as a rallying cry to “Remember the dead, but fight like hell for the living”.

We’ve made this infographic to explain why workplace safety is still a huge issue in the UK, and why we still need the focus of Workers’ Memorial Day. Please help share it with your contacts online and spread the word. Click on the graphic below to view the full chart.