TUC | STRONGER UNIONS

Building our Grassroots

It might not be controversial to hear that as an organiser I’m passionate about building grassroots activism. Enabling and empowering people to have a say it what affects them and how they would like to shape the world is a really important part of what we do here at the Organising Academy.

This is why I’m really pleased to be a part of a new venture called Grassroots.

On 26 May in London, trade unions and progressive organisations, who are committed to tackling the big challenges we face right now, will meet to share and hear the most exciting and practical ideas on campaigning, organising and mobilisation.

Posted on March 19th, 2012 by Becky Wright filed under: Union organising

Carl Roper

#N30 saw a movement find a voice that spoke for all workers

I’m writing this post having just returned from the Liverpool TUC March and Rally for Pensions Justice so you may have to excuse some post march euphoria. However it’s clear that in terms of the support the Day of Action has received from public sector workers, it has been an enormous success.

My Twitter feed is filled with reports about attendance at afternoon marches and rallies all over the country. We might have expected the huge turnouts at rallies in Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol, London and Glasgow, but we also saw 5000 in Chester, 2000 in Cambridge, 2000 in Gloucester, 1200 in Lancaster.

As well as a reflection of the genuine anger felt by public sector workers about the almost daily attacks on their pay and conditions by the Coalition government, this is also a sign of a movement regaining its confidence and finding a voice to speak on behalf of all workers regardless of which sector they work in.

Posted on November 30th, 2011 by Carl Roper filed under: Union campaigns

Becky Wright

What is the Diploma in Organising?

Group work from the Diploma session on research

If I was to ask you to do a Spectrum of Allies analysis would you know where to start?

For the Organising Academy, the last few weeks have been all about ends and beginnings. As our new programme for 2011-12 begins, students from last year have begun to submit portfolios of learning and graduate to continue their union journey.

Posted on October 24th, 2011 by Becky Wright filed under: Union organising

StrongerUnions

VIDEO: Join the online vigil for the NHS

As the government’s controversial Health and Social Care Bill receives its third reading in the House of Commons, we’re standing vigil to show Parliamentarians the level of concern around the country about the threats to our National Health Service.

Please join the vigil online by uploading a photograph of yourself to this site. We’ll be combining the pictures into a powerful mosaic image, to use in lobbying Parliament. It only takes a minute from each of us, but will build into something much bigger.

Upload your own photo now.

And thanks to Le Emu Tavern for the use of the song “All Things Being Equal” in this video!

Posted on September 1st, 2011 by StrongerUnions filed under: Union campaigns

StrongerUnions

VIDEO: London Egyptian Embassy protest

TUC and Amnesty supporters assembled at the Egyptian Embassy in London today, to hand over a letter to the Ambassador as part of the ITUC’s Day of Action in solidarity with Egyptian workers and protestors.

This action is also part of the build up to an Amnesty / TUC / ITUC demonstration in Trafalgar Square this coming Saturday (12 Feb). You can find out more about the demo at the TUC website.

Posted on February 8th, 2011 by StrongerUnions filed under: Global solidarity

StrongerUnions

VIDEO: World Aids Day – Nigerian unions tackling HIV/Aids in the workplace

Esther Ogunfowora, Co-ordinator for the TUC / NLC (Nigeria Labour Congress) HIV/Aids in the workplace intiative was in London for World Aids Day (1 Dec 2010), speaking at a TUC seminar on this year’s ILO Recommendation on HIV/Aids in the workplace.

We caught up with her, and she told us about the project, which seeks to link up workplaces to help improve HIV testing rates and reduce discrimination (in a country in which you can often by fired for being HIV positive).

Esther discusses the opportunities offered in June by the ILO, with a recommendation that puts a obligation on governments to address the issues around HIV/Aids and work, and she sees a strong role for unions in this important work.

Posted on December 1st, 2010 by StrongerUnions filed under: Global solidarity

StrongerUnions

A TUC message for Copenhagen

TUC General Secretary, Brendan Barber, speaking on what trade unions want from a Copenhagen deal, and how the transition to a low carbon economy would benefit British workers. From the Government’s ACT ON COPENHAGEN website.

Posted on November 24th, 2009 by StrongerUnions filed under: Union news