Unalloyed goodness is a rarity in politics, especially when it comes to labour movement politics. But the decision handed down by the Supreme Court this morning ruling that employment tribunal fees are unlawful is some of the best industrial news seen in years. Implemented by the Tories with Liberal Democrat support in 2013, it was […]
Posts under ‘Rights at Work’
How we adapt to the new Trade Union Act
Jan 30th, 2017 by Andy Newman.The Trade Union Act 2016 comes into effect for all industrial disputes where the ballot is to commence after 1st March 2017. Due to a well coordinated campaign by trade unions and the Labour Party, much of it lobbying behind the scenes, many of the more draconian aspects that had originally been proposed by the Conservative Government […]
Share:
Corbyn is right: Migrants don’t drive down wages
Oct 18th, 2016 by Tom O Leary.In his recent speech to Labour Party conference Jeremy Corbyn said, “It isn’t migrants that drive down wages, it’s exploitative employers and the politicians who deregulate the labour market and rip up trade union rights.” This is excellent and entirely correct. It is probably the best statement ever made by a Labour leader on this […]
Share:
Let’s hear it for the “right to own”
Jan 22nd, 2016 by Phil Burton-Cartledge.This is more like it. From the BBC: “The Tories have offered a Right to Buy, Labour would seek to better this. We’d be creating a new Right to Own,” he [John McDonnell] said in a speech in Manchester. He said the “biggest hurdle” facing co-ops and other small businesses was getting initial funding from high […]
Share:
Cameron’s Trade Union Bill is part of the government’s privatisation agenda
Jul 15th, 2015 by Patrick Smith.The Conservative’s Trade Union Bill will have its first reading in parliament today. It has been described in today’s Daily Mail as “Cameron’s War on the strike bullies” and has been justified by the Business Secretary as “protecting working people” from the trade unions. The bill would impose a minimum 50% turnout, public sector strikes […]
Share:
TTIP will be a licence for multinationals to profit at all costs
Jul 3rd, 2015 by Keith Ewing and John Hendy.A small victory for democracy was recorded at the European Parliament recently when it was announced that a long-awaited debate about the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) was to be postponed. TTIP is the trade deal being negotiated between the EU and the USA. Its text is secret, known only by the negotiators (including […]
Share:
Orgreave – the IPPC and DPP are not fit for purpose
Jun 12th, 2015 by Michael Meacher.Accountability in Britain has reached a new nadir today. The report that the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPPC) refuses to investigate claims of police criminality at the mass picket at Orgreave during the 1984-5 miners’ strike really stinks. They have already found evidence that police officers assaulted miners and then perverted the course of justice, […]
Share:
Labour & social democrat MEPs back a shabby compromise on TTIP
Jun 6th, 2015 by Keith Ewing.The Socialist and Democratic group of MEPs (which includes UK Labour) have agreed to a “shabby compromise” supporting TTIP, leaving all the most unjust elements of the deal intact say Professor Keith Ewing and John Hendy QC The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is the secret trade deal currently being negotiated between the EU and the US. Its […]
Share:
Tory Trade Union bill is an attack on a fundamental human right
Jun 2nd, 2015 by Michael Meacher.Under the Tories’ proposed new law, strike ballots would need a 50% turnout for industrial action to be legal. But in the case of ‘essential’ public services – health, education, transport and fire services – 40% of those voting have to have voted in favour. In other words, 80% which is the combination of the […]
Share:
Osborne has as much chance of a budget surplus in 2018 as of the Titanic resurfacing
May 24th, 2015 by Michael Meacher.Osborne is telling another of his wheezing yarns which he’s much better at than solving real problems. His first yarn in 2010 was that he would eliminate the structural deficit by 2015; it turns out that it is currently £92bn. His next yarn today is that he will now eliminate it by 2017-8. Fat chance. […]
