Category Archives: Blogs

Frances O’Grady: “We need a national council of reconstruction to rebuild the country”

Posted on April 21, 2020 by Tony Burke

This article first appeared in The Times Red Box, April 20th. By Frances O’Grady, TUC General Secretary Last week we watched one of our Second World War heroes, Captain Tom Moore, complete laps of his garden on a walking frame, … Continue reading →

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25 million jobs could be lost worldwide as a result of COVID-19, says ILO

Posted on March 23, 2020 by Tony Burke

The economic and labour crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic could increase global unemployment by almost 25 million, according to a new assessment by the International Labour Organization (ILO). However, if we see an internationally coordinated policy response, as happened … Continue reading →

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Government Should Tell The Truth Over NHS

Posted on March 22, 2020 by Tony Burke

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady appearing on BBC’s Question Time on Thursday told Tory health Minister Matt Hancock to “tell the truth” about the problems in the NHS in dealing with the Coronavirus. She said: “There is a worry over … Continue reading →

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Len McCluskey: “We need measures equal to the economic and public health emergencies upon us”

Posted on March 17, 2020 by Tony Burke

Responding to chancellor Rishi Sunak’s package of support for businesses announced this evening (Tuesday, 17th March) and the prime minister’s pledge to do `whatever it takes’ to support people and jobs through the corona virus crisis, the head of the UK’s leading union, Unite, … Continue reading →

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Heading For No Deal As Johnson Blocks Level Playing Field

Posted on February 27, 2020 by Tony Burke

From Stephen Bush – the New Statesman. February 27th Boris Johnson will formally abandon his commitment to a level playing field with the European Union after Brexit, the Telegraph reports.  The only real genuine victory that Boris Johnson enjoyed in the withdrawal … Continue reading →

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Automation And Closures Are Challenges – But Failure Does Not Have To Be Inevitable

Posted on February 1, 2020 by Tony Burke

  By Sharon Graham,  Executive Officer of Unite the Union. Morning Star, July 18th 2019 Sharon Graham explains how rebuilding the shop stewards’ movement will help develop meaningful industrial power in an age of growing  jobs uncertainty Today as trade unionists … Continue reading →

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Assessing UK Trade Policy Readiness By David Henig

Posted on January 26, 2020 by Tony Burke

This is an excellent research/article by David Henig (@davidhenigUK) UK director of the European Centre For International Political Economy an independent policy think tank dedicated to trade and international economic policy issues (@ecipe) sets out the difficulties ahead for the … Continue reading →

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

UK auto makers prepare to shut down again fearing No Deal Brexit disruption

Posted on October 5, 2019 by Tony Burke

By Professor David Bailey, Professor of Business Economics at Birmingham Business School at University of Birmingham, Visiting Professor at Centre for Brexit Studies and Senior Fellow at UK in a Changing Europe. Republished with permission from Centre For Brexit Studies … Continue reading →

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IndustriALL Europe makes the case for collective bargaining in new campaign

Posted on September 27, 2019 by Tony Burke

The giant European trade union federation IndustriAll Europe, which covers 7m manufacturing, mining and energy workers has launched a campaign which aims to demonstrate the positive impact of collective bargaining in delivering a better life for working people. The campaign … Continue reading →

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UK Unions Warn: ‘This Is A No Deal Coup’

Posted on August 29, 2019 by Tony Burke

”The claim that the government is considering proroguing parliament in September in order to stop MPs debating Brexit is entirely false.’’ Government statement to the Observer newspaper.’ British trade unions reacted furiously and condemned the Johnson government’s actions in suspending parliament yesterday … Continue reading →

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