Category Archives: Politics

Pay the Rate: how the EU is closing the loopholes used to exploit migrant workers – but is it too late for us?

Posted on April 17, 2018 by Tony Burke

By Jude Kirton-Darling Labour MEP – North East England Concerns about free movement and EU migration were amongst the top reasons why many voted to leave in June 2016. Periodically, a dispute has erupted whether wildcat strikes at the Lindsey … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs, Employment Rights, European Trade Unions, Labour Party, Media, Politics, Trade Unions | Leave a comment

Unite Women’s Letter Takes Observer To Task Over Sexist Cohen Article

Posted on March 18, 2018 by Tony Burke

Last weekend, the Observer’s dreary Nick Cohen varied his usual anti-Corbyn bile by launching a misogynist attack against the Unite union’s Jennie Formby, who is one of two women on the final shortlist for the position of Labour Party General … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour Party, Media, Politics, Unite The Union, Workers Uniting | Leave a comment

Betty Tebbs: 84 years of activism

Posted on March 9, 2018 by Tony Burke

Published on the TUC 150 website celebrating great women trade unionists – Betty was one of the best. She was a teenage activist In 1932, 14-year-old Betty turned up on the first day of her job at the East Lancashire … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs, International Trade Unions, Politics, Trade Unions, Trades Union Congress, Unite The Union | Leave a comment

Tech companies should stop pretending AI won’t destroy jobs

Posted on February 23, 2018 by Tony Burke

The following blog is from MIT Technology Review and puts an alternative view on the current trend by some politicians and techies who argue that automation will  create more and new jobs. Of course there will be ‘new’ jobs – … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs, Economics, Employment Rights, Politics, The Digital Economy and Unions, Unite The Union, Workers Uniting | Leave a comment

Corbyn To Slam Tories On Short Termism, GKN Takeover Bid and Brexit

Posted on February 20, 2018 by Tony Burke

Speaking at the EEF – The Manufacturers’ Organisation Conference today, 20th February Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party, will pledge to stand up to bankers to rebalance the economy in favour of jobs and industry. He will declare that … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Labour Party, Politics, Trade Unions | Leave a comment

Ivan Beavis – A Legend & A Hero

Posted on January 19, 2018 by Tony Burke

Yesterday I was privilaged to attend the funeral of a friend and comrade, the legendary Ivan Beavis, former circulation manager at the Morning Star, trade unionist, music collector, Man United fan, gig goer, and socialist. The ninety minute ‘event’ (Yes … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs, European Trade Unions, International Trade Unions, Labour Party, Media, Politics, Solidarity, Trade Unions, Trades Union Congress, Unite The Union | 1 Comment

Factory Gate Meetings At Bombardier Belfast – Thursday January 18th

Posted on January 16, 2018 by Tony Burke

Workers to gather for union meetings between noon and 1.00pm on Thursday [January 18th] at gates of all five Bombardier sites Decision by US International Trade Commission on proposed 292% C Series tariffs due to be made public within next … Continue reading →

Posted in European Trade Unions, International Trade Unions, Media, Politics, Solidarity, Trade Unions, Trades Union Congress, Unite The Union, Workers Uniting | Leave a comment

A Union Voice From Europe

Posted on January 2, 2018 by Tony Burke

By Martin Mayer, UK TUC delegate to EU Economic and Social Committee December 2017  “BREXIT means BREXIT?” Reality check on current status of the BREXIT negotiations On Friday 8th December, Theresa May and Jean-Claude Juncker finally signed the piece of … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs, Economics, Employment Rights, European Trade Unions, Labour Party, Media, Politics, Trade Unions, Trades Union Congress, Unite The Union | Leave a comment

Barnier’s Slide Shows How The UK Brexit Team Are Running Out Of Trade Deal Options

Posted on December 22, 2017 by Tony Burke

This is a slide presented by Michel Barnier, European Commission Chief Negotiator, to the Heads of State and Government at the European Council (Article 50) on 15th December 2017. Or how the Brexit team and Mrs. May painted themselves into … Continue reading →

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Oppose Tory Plans To Scrap Your Woking Time Rights

Posted on December 17, 2017 by Tony Burke

Well, it finally happened. After promising to protect workers rights, the Prime Minister is now under pressure to begin disamantling basic workers rights once we leave the EU with Boris Johnson and Micheal Gove cheered on by the right wing … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment Rights, European Trade Unions, Labour Party, Media, Politics, Solidarity, Trade Unions, Trades Union Congress, Unite The Union, Workers Uniting | Leave a comment