Unions

What’s the answer to grim strike stats?

The strike figures for 2017, released last week, make depressing reading.

Tens of thousands join TUC march. Now build for strikes

It was important to take to the streets, but more will be needed to beat the Tories

Workers gear up for massive pay fight in Denmark

Around 10,000 shop stewards met last week in Denmark as a major confrontation looms.

Rail strikes bring lines to a standstill in a battle to defend safe, accessible travel

Train workers brought networks to a standstill this week as they resisted bosses’ plans to take guards off trains.

Tens of thousands join metal workers’ strikes in Germany over pay and hours

A series of strikes by tens of thousands of metal workers are showing the potential power of the German working class.

Fat Cat Thursday is an indictment of a system that enriches a few at our expense

4 January 2018 was Fat Cat Thursday. The amount already grabbed by the average top executives passed the median annual salary of £28,758 for workers.

‘This is no time to retreat’ - an interview with Kim Moody

12 December 2017
Do workers still have power to fight the bosses—and if so, how can they use it? Author Kim Moody spoke to Charlie Kimber about his new book on the potential for resistance

Unions should fight for Japan’s workers

12 December 2017
Economic difficulties and political discontent lies behind a row over workers’ wages in Japan.

Defiant mood on the streets of Manchester as marchers pledge to drive the Tories out

01 October 2017
Chants of, “Tories out—Corbyn in” rang out in Manchester today, Sunday. Tens of thousands of protesters joined the People’s Assembly demonstration and festival outside the Tory party conference.

Strikes can bust public sector pay cap

05 September 2017
The Tories are rumoured to be preparing to lift the 1 percent public sector pay cap—at least for some workers.

Trade unions’ Brexit mistake

29 August 2017
The leader of Britain’s biggest union has praised Labour’s call for Britain to stay in the European single market (see page 3).

Are bosses allowed to ship in agency workers to replace strikers?

22 August 2017
The issue of bosses using agency workers in an effort to replace strikers has come to the fore in recent disputes.

Wages down, prices up—time to fight the Tories' squeeze on our living standards

15 August 2017
The Tories and bosses tried to spin new inflation figures released on Tuesday as good news for workers.

Low paid workers would take 316 years to earn the average fat cat's annual salary

03 August 2017
A worker earning the average wage in Britain of £28,000 a year would take 160 years to earn what the average company chief executive earns in one year.

Big care firms grab a subsidy from the Tories while workers get paid peanuts

01 August 2017
The Tory government confirmed it will “temporarily suspend” enforcement of minimum wage rules for big care firms last week, following corporate lobbying. And it has potentially handed them a huge subsidy.

United national action can derail Tory assault on train unions and safety

18 July 2017
Workers have announced fresh strikes that will shut down the Southern rail network.

Reports round-up

18 July 2017
Shorts reports from the week including industrial action, refugee solidarity, opposing Ukip and resisting council cuts

The Tory crisis creates an unmissable chance to end the public sector pay cap

11 July 2017
Anger at the public sector pay cap has opened up rifts at the top of the Tory party.

Optimism over Corbyn and a mood to fight the Tories at the Durham Miners’ Gala

08 July 2017
Thousands cheered Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn this afternoon, Saturday, as he encouraged the crowds at the Durham Miners' Gala to campaign to force the Tories out.

Unions will need to fight to beat the pay cap

20 June 2017
Unions representing more than 1.6 million local government workers are demanding a 5 percent pay rise to break the Tory public sector pay cap.