Crisis: Causes, prospects and alternatives

The new issue of the International Journal of Labour Research entitled "Crisis: Causes, prospects and alternatives" is available on line at: http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_dialogue/---actrav/documents/publication/wcms_158927.pdf

For the people by Tony Walsh, aka Longfella

I was asked to write a poem on behalf of public services And I’m proud to be allowed to and I want to get the hurt in this

UNISON branches strike back

Thousands of UNISON members took strike action yesterday in Doncaster, Birmingham and Southampton against pay cuts & imposed contracts: http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=6999

What do people in the North think about the pensions dispute?

If you only listened to what the media are telling us about the public’s views on public sector workers, and their defence of jobs, pensions, pay and in the services they deliver you would believe that everyone agrees with the Coalition Government’s view. This is clearly not the case as a recent YouGov poll carried out in the North East shows.

Privileged MPs exempt themselves from pension reforms

As civil servants today strike in defence of their pensions, the Westminster political elite continue to benefit from pensions obscene in their generosity. Tom Clark in yesterday’s Guardian brilliantly exposed the lavish MP’s scheme which includes a breathtaking one-fortieth accrual rate: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jun/29/mps-pensions-reform-cuts

Jowell and Miliband a disgrace

The spectacular avoidance by Francis Maude to answer legitimate questions on this morning's BBC news about MPs' pensions was only matched by the equally appalling spectacle of Tessa Jowell following close on the heels of Ed Miliband to condemn today's strikers in the absence of facts.

The Shock of Debt

Countries all over the world continue to real from the banking crisis of 2008 in Greece the government faced with a total meltdown of its public services and its economy without further loans was forced into agreeing to more austerity measures.

RMT victimisation cases prove that union stewards need better protection

‘One of the first duties of any trade union is to protect its lay officials from perceived victimisation, dismissal and the loss of their livelihood’ writes Professor Keith Ewing, as he assesses the importance of the RMT’s success in securing the reinstatement of two victimised shop stewards employed on the London Underground: http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/content/view/full/106401

UNISON exposes Edinburgh privatisation stitch-up

A packed public consultation organised by UNISON last night (27 June) heard calls for Edinburgh's Lib Dem/ SNP council to delay its £1 billion privatisation plans until the public is properly consulted.

48 hour General Strike in Greece against austerity programme

As the Greek Parliament debates another £25bn cuts package at the behest of the EU and IMF, trade unions are staging a 48 hour General Strike which will affect all public services: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13935400

Labour must re-connect with its core support

Steve Warwick takes stock of Labour's prospects following UNISON NDC and Saturday's Labour Party National Policy Forum.

Pensions, public opinion & polling distortions

As talks on public sector pensions between the Con Dem's and a TUC negotiating team resume today, a wider battle for public support is underway: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c73c24ba-a013-11e0-a115-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1QSQw4Zmm

Unions strike back - Podcast

A very interesting Guardian Focus Podcaston the worsening industrial
relations climate in the public sector - 'Unions strike back'
interviews UNISON members and officials at last week's NDC including
extracts from the conference speech of General Secretary Dave Prentis
- http://t.co/3AK3TLP

Trade Unions and the future

At yesterday's Compass Conference Professor Huw Benyon of Cardiff University made the following contribution to a seminar on 'How can trade unions be agents of the social change we need today?':

Kicking Sand in the Face of Indolence by Jason Sturner

It sits, like a wet cotton ball.
Covered with dust, hair,
and false starts.