Unions

By August 2016 government funding for trade union education via the TUC will be slashed by half. By August 2017 all the funding will probably have gone. It is time for unions to grasp the nettle.

Valentine's stunt put up against Trade Union Bill

13 January 2016

Workers January/February 2016

The Trade Union Bill passed its second reading in the Lords on 11 January. In the face of a seemingly inexorable journey towards the Bill becoming an Act, the TUC’s response is a tepid Valentine’s stunt.

How to defeat the Bill

Workers January/February 2016

With the fascistic Trade Union Bill – attacking membership and finances – shortly to become law, we need organisation and clarity of thinking.

1: Caught in the check off trap

Workers January/February 2016

Rail unions learned just how vulnerable their finances were many years ago when British Rail summarily ended the check-off facility to RMT during a dispute in 1993.

2: Half a century of attack

Workers November/December 2015

“Kill the Bill!” was the slogan adopted by trade unions more than forty years ago, in opposition to the Industrial Relations Bill – which came perilously close to being accepted in toto by British trade unions.

Taking on the union myth-makers

Feature box

Just about every union in Britain has policy opposing privatisation. Many are committed to fighting TTIP. It is the EU that is spearheading these attacks on workers.

Desperate Conservatives try to relaunch union front

5 October 2015

Workers September/October 2015

The announcement that the Conservative trade unionists organisation, disbanded over 25 years ago, is to be reconstituted should show everyone in the trade union movement just how weak and desperate government really is.

A young person’s place is in their union

Workers September/October

Young people are not enthused by traditional politics – but that doesn’t mean they are apathetic. Harnessing and directing interest where young workers have economic power is not easy.

What’s in the bill?

Workers September/October 2015

New restrictions on the right to strike, including a 50 per cent voting threshold for union ballot turnouts, plus in some “essential public services” 40 per cent of those entitled to vote must vote for industrial action.

They want us to disarm and surrender

The Trade Union Bill announced in the Queen’s Speech has resurrected every wish-list governments ever had of smashing the working class. It embodies every anti-worker measure they’ve previously tried to implement and every shred of vindictive class hatred they have had in their ranks reaching back to day one of modern capitalism.

First they come for the unions

Editorial

We have said that the main danger of fascism in Britain comes from the heart of the establishment, parliament. If you doubt this, take a look at the Trade Union Bill announced in the Queen’s Speech.

A waste of a dispute?

News Analysis

The short dispute among waste collection vehicle drivers in Barking and Dagenham ended with a return to work. One lesson of the setback is that unions must work together.

UCU ready to fight on pay

As Workers goes to press, the Higher Education Committee of the University and College Union will be meeting to discuss the results of its consultative pay ballot.

Unison: anyone voting?

The most significant result of Unison's national executive council elections was the turnout – down 25 per centy on the previous elections, and an average turnout of just 5.6 per cent.

Justice ministry moves to halt union subs collection

6 March 2015

In a further extension of goverment attacks on trade unionism in the Civil Service, the Ministry of Justice says it will no longer collect members’ subscriptions as part of the payroll function.

TTIP and the unions

Workers October 2014

News Analysis

Many unions are opposing the proposed transatlantic trade and investment treaty – while supporting the EU and endorsing its exclusive right to negotiate TTIP on our behalf.

Pay: a step in the right direction

Workers September 2014

Editorial

This October’s TUC national demo will have a single concrete demand: Britain Needs a Pay Rise. It's a welcome change from vague calls such as the March for the Alternative.

Carr Inquiry: Throwing in the towel

Workers September 2014

The Bruce Carr investigation into trade unions following the 2013 Grangemouth refinery dispute has flopped. Unable to provide an evidence-based argument, Carr has thrown the towel in.

Unity at Scottish TUC

Workers May 2014