Why Regional Pay Doesn't Add Up

The TUC has published useful materials for use in the campaign against regional pay, including key arguments and campaigning resources:
http://www.tuc.org.uk/
industrial/index.cfm?mins=447&minors=371&majorsubjectID=8

Brooks arrest brings justice for Daniel Morgan closer

Private investigator Daniel Morgan was murdered with an axe in a pub car park in south London in 1987.
Recent investigations by journalists into the hacking scandal have revealed close links between News of the World, corrupt police officers and suspects in the Daniel Morgan murder investigation.

On-the-Job Training by Jodi Barnes

It used to be good here, Myrna says,
time-and-a-half, double holidays.

It's my first week, so I nod my head,
hoping to make rent, see my kids again.

Police Privatisation - Public say No Thanks!

Today’s FT reports that political and public opposition has forced the West Midlands and Surrey Police Forces to delay plans for a £1.5bn ‘partnership’ with private companies to provide police services. Surrey Chief Constable is reported to have said in an internal force message of a ‘need to calm the horses’. This is very welcome news for UNISON’s police membership and a fillip for the union’s newly launched campaign to stop police privatisation: http://www.unison.org.uk/stopPolicePrivatisation/

The money illusion is in a Greek crisis

There aren't many words in economics that provoke as much fear and unease as a bank run. That spectre looms in Europe, as we learned yesterday that depositors in Greece withdrew almost $900 million from the country's banks on Monday.

That giant pile of withdrawn cash comes from regular Greek citizens, as well as buys orders from Greek banks for German bunds, according to Greek President Karolos Papoulias. Papoulias also warned of "a great fear that could develop into a panic".

97% owned - a must see new film

A brilliant new Positive Money documentary explains how our money system works. Watched 65,000 times in the first 14 days, this is the first UK-based documentary to explain the fundamental flaws in our monetary system. You can watch the film online here or attend a screening, so far planned in Sheffield, London and Richmond (North Yorkshire)

UK is ripe for infrastructure investment - if its own pension funds don’t step up to the plate - others will

The head of one of Canada's largest pension funds, and prolific investor in infrastructure, has called on funds in the United Kingdom to consolidate and take advantage of the opportunities their home nation offers in that asset class

Raise the minimum wage for under 21's!

UNISON Northern Region Young Members have launched an e-petition to raise the minimum wage for under 21 year olds, which the government unfairly froze at £4.98 in the recent budget, whilst at the same time giving tax cuts to those earning over £150,000. Please sign and circulate it to everyone you know! The target is 100,000 signatures so that the demand will be debated in parliament...
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/33865

The 2 Billion Dollar Loss By JP Morgan - The Coming Collapse of the Derivative Market?

When news broke of a $2 billion dollar trading loss by JP Morgan, much of the financial world was absolutely stunned. But the truth maybe something far more dangerous. JP Morgan is just a very small preview of what is going to happen when we see the collapse of the worldwide derivatives market.

Take action today on High Pay

From FairPensions: FairPensions and our supporters are attending company AGMs in 2012 and will be going face-to-face with directors to challenge them on high pay. What a fortnight it's been for shareholder action. Three companies have already been defeated over high pay at their AGMs as the pressure over spiralling executive bonuses mounts.

More UNISON strike action in Cheshire West & Chester Council

UNISON members in West Cheshire & Chester Council are staging a 48 hour stoppage this weekend in a third wave of industrial action in protest at cuts to weekend working and other pay allowances.  Regional Organiser Maria Moss condemned the strikebreaking tactics of the Tory-led employer: "Using agency workers and others who were not familiar with clients needs, and paying non-striking staff double-pay has really rubbed salt in the wound for UNISON members who are already very angry." http://www.itv.com/news/granada/2012-05-12/council-workers-walk-out-in-chester/

Feast by Victoria Bean

Stand up please.

We can’t send you to jail
just because you’re hungry
and it’s cold outside,
however, you will stay in custody
until you’ve had your lunch.
http://victoriabean.blogspot.co.uk/