High Court dances to anti-strike tune of employers‏

Today’s FT examines the ease at which employers are obtaining injunctions to overturn industrial action mandates by citing administrative errors in union ballots.

Solidarity Song by Bertolt Brecht‏

Peoples of the world, together
Join to serve the common cause!
So it feeds us all for ever
See to it that it's now yours.

Irish unions split over public sector pay accord‏

The protracted dispute between public service unions and the Irish Government has led to a proposed national agreement on pay and structural reform between the public service committee of the Irish Congress of the Trade Unions (ICTU) and Government.

RMT national strike blocked by a judicial abuse of the law‏

Few trade unionists will be surprised at the decision of the High Court to block a national rail strike planned for next week following a ballot of RMT maintenance members.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8598456.stm

Monopolies Commission backs UNISON’s Tory takeover

In a move likely to send shock waves through the political world, UNISON’s hostile bid to buy out the Tory party has been backed today by the monopolies commission.

ACAS predicts workplace war‏

Soothsayers at ACAS, the state industrial relations mediator, are predicting a post recession ‘workplace war’. http://www.hrreview.co.uk/articles/hrreview-articles/employment-law/acas-predicts-post-recession-workplace-war/7109

Derisory 0.25% pay offer rejected in HE‏

Higher education unions have rejected a 0.25% pay offer from the Universities and Colleges Employers Association. The derisory offer was made in response to a union claim of 4% in the 2010/11 negotiations.
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=411060&c=1

UNISON & CGT International Seminar in Paris - report‏

Last year UNISON and CGT Public Services Federation signed an historic agreement detailing their commitment to closer co-operation in defending Public Services and Public Service workers in France and the UK.

Market reforms have failed NHS, concludes key parliamentary committee‏

The House of Commons Health Committee has published a damning report on the waste of money and excessive transaction costs of the market system in the NHS. UNISON submitted detailed evidence to the Select Committee's inquiry into Commissioning and the final report supports the union's position in a numberof key areas:

Israeli settlement goods - help take them off the shelves!‏

In the 43rd year of Israel's occupation of Palestine, the repression of its people is worse than ever. To coincide with the call for a Global Day of Action on 30 March 2010, made by the Palestinian Boycott National Committee, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign has launched a campaign in partnership with the TUC which aims to end the sale of settlement produce in Britain. Click here and act now!

Breaking News....Northern Region backs Dave Prentis in UNISON GS election‏

A well attended AGM of the 86,000 strong Northern Regional Council of UNISON agreed to nominate Dave Prentis in the upcoming UNSON GS election.

Lobby of LGA - No to pay freeze in local government!‏

A joint union lobby took place today at the head office of the LGA – the local government employers. Over 100 mainly UNISON activists attended the lobby in London and made clear the strength of feeling about the imposition of a zero% pay offer and the refusal of the employers to negotiate on pay.

Social Care - funding White Paper out today‏

Today the Government will publish a White Paper on the funding of social care. The Times previewed the announcement yesterday with an analysis of the rising demand for personal care and the funding implications.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article7079475.ece

Privatisation: The Tories are at it again

Conservative-controlled Lincolnshire County Council is set to make a decision on the closure of eight Council homes for older people, in order to re-provide services through the private sector, Branch Secretary John Sharman tells UNISON's East Midlands Local Government Matters blog.

Notts County UNISON start industrial action to defend terms and conditions

Notts County UNISON members start action today against attacks on terms and conditions as the council makes £28million in 'unnecessary cuts'. Members delivered a 77% ballot vote for action after the council rejected the union's alternative proposals.

Britain’s anti union laws breach human rights‏

BA’s vindictive attacks on striking cabin crew have rightly been condemned by 95 leading industrial relations academics as an attempt to break their union and further erode worker rights.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/mar/25/ba-strike-letter-academics-walsh

Eyeless in Gaza by Paul Lewton‏

Devils are magical, infantile.
They can turn fear into fear
Dispossession into repossession
Amnesia into alibi