The Fiddler by Karl Marx

The Fiddler saws the strings,
His light brown hair he tosses and flings.
   He carries a sabre at his side,
   He wears a pleated habit wide.

Election Analysis - Trapdoors and golden gateways

Many council election results in England are yet to declare but the emerging picture is that Labour can’t afford to be complacent. So far there have been some Liberal Democrat scalps claimed in places like Hull and Sheffield, with losses to knock the Liberal Democrats off overall control in places like Stockport and Bristol.

SNP victory: What now for Labour and public services?

With the SNP winning an overall majority in the Scottish Parliament - the thing no party was ever meant to be able to do - what will this mean for Scotland’s public services and for public sector unions trying to defend those jobs and services?

Slight fall in UK union density in 2010 but collective bargaining coverage plummets

'The best measure of union power is the union density figures... The level of density approximates the level of power because the higher the proportion of the workforce that is represented, the more influence we are seen to have’ writes Michael Crosby in his book ‘Power at Work’.

The right to strike - no let up from Raab-id Tory attack dog

Yesterday’s decision of the RMT to mount strike action on London Underground in defence of two victimised union members, has triggered another outpouring of anti union bile from Norman Tebbit wannabee Dominic Raab MP http://conservativehome.blogs.com/platform/2011/05/dominic-raab-mp-its-time-to-get-tough-with-bob-crow-and-the-rmt.html

We give you our consent to govern, don’t pocket it and ride away

Quoting poet Edwin Morgan, Mike Kirby urges UNISON members in Scotland to vote for public services in today's Scottish Parliament elections.

More toxic propaganda from the Tax Dodgers Alliance

Hardly a day goes by without the Tory party front organisation the Tax Dodgers Alliance having a go at the public sector and trade unions. Here is another hilarious example of the same toxic propaganda from self styled ‘policy analyst’ Chris Daniels: http://www.taxpayersalliance.com/waste/2011/04/unions-unrealistic-demands.html

The courage and tenacity of the emergency workers at the Fukushima nuclear plant

The heroism of workers at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has been honoured by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC): http://www.psac-afpc.org/news/2011/messages/20110502-e.shtml

Media wakes up to union austerity concerns

Amidst the flim-flam of the electoral reform debate and the play station triumphalism following the USA’s elimination of its self created nemesis, the UK newspapers appear to have woken up to the determination of public sector unions to resist the Con Dem onslaught against, jobs, pay and pensions:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/8488924/Unions-warn-of-massive-protests-over-government-cuts.html

BBC News - 'Living wage' campaign backed by investors worth £13bn‏

The BBC reports that a group of investors worth £13bn are holding a rally today to push major companies into paying a "living wage" http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13253547

London Citizens - a decade of tireless campaigning against poverty pay

Today London Citizens - a broad based community campaign for a living wage - will be holding a 10th anniversary rally in London.

New vibrancy on May Day around the world

May Day events took on a new significance yesterday as trade unionists around the world took to the streets in defence of working people and the right to organise.

Mayday rallies against cuts: Newcastle and Aberdeen

Reports are coming in of MayDay rallies across the country yesterday with more major rallies planned for today. In Newcastle 600 marched through the city against the cuts as 250 miles to the north trade unionists took the same message to Aberdeen city centre.

May Day greetings to UNISON Active readers!

'This year's May Day is picking up on intensified campaigning around the country. This will be reflected in London and at events across Britain, from Ipswich to Glasgow and from Oxford to Liverpool,' writes Roger Sutton in the Morning Star in a review of the continuing relevance of the 1st of May - International Workers' Day : http://morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/103986

Into the Streets May First by Alfred Hayes

Into the streets May First!
Into the roaring Square!
Shake the midtown towers!
Shatter the downtown air!