Labour must be embedded in communities, leading the campaign and protecting most vulnerable

London delegation including Rae Voller
who is standing down as National Vice Chair

Report on the Second day of Forum held this year at the Liverpool Marriot hotel. “A good time was had by all” the previous night at the traditional Labour Link Social. For some reason a number of delegates were a little quiet and subdued. Forum kicked off with more motions on future Labour Link policy and campaign priorities.

Public sector unions unite in Northern Ireland

Yesterday, public sector trade unions representing thousands of public service workers across Northern Ireland issued a joint statement of cooperation in opposition to a reduction in public services, job cuts, pay freezes, attacks on welfare benefits and pensions: http://www.unison.org.uk/northernireland/pages_view.asp?did=13054

Labour Link Forum: Labour has to offer an alternative economic policy

The UNISON Labour Link (APF) National Forum started yesterday in Liverpool. This is the annual meeting of the UNISON affiliated political fund. UNISON members have a choice whether to pay a voluntary levy to the Labour Party or to a non-aligned General fund (or none). Elected union lay representatives from all over the UK met to debate policies and campaigns, take part in workshops and meet Councillors, MPs and MEPs.

ROTC Kills by John Koethe

for Fabrizio Mondadori
I’m retired, I’m sitting in a house I made
In my imagination years ago, that now is real.

Let's break down the wall - buy the single today!

On 9 July 2004, the International Court of Justice ruled that the Wall being built by Israel in the West Bank is illegal and should be torn down. Yet 7 years on, the Wall continues to destroy lives - cutting children off from schools, farmers from their land and family members from each other.

The Section 188 Chainsaw Massacre

This week’s announcement by Shropshire County Council of plans to dismiss its entire workforce make it the latest in a growing list of public sector employers to use Section 188 (of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992) notices in order to unilaterally impose cuts in pay and conditions: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jul/07/council-pay-cuts-unions

Pensions: 'Name the Day' posturing or getting our action right

The sinister fringes of our union are again crawling out from under the various stones where they have been resting, like Lord Voldemorte and the Death Eaters. As always they remain shadowy, unwilling to reveal themselves for who they are (“a number of UNISON activists” quote, unquote).

Con Dem NHS 'U-Turn' is a fake

Jacqueline Davies has written an excellent article on the Guardian which exposes the duplicity of Con Dem Ministers and spin doctors who are presenting cosmetic concessions as substantial reforms to the proposed NHS legislation which is ‘still on course to achieve its underlying intention, accelerating the privatisation of the health service, turning the NHS into a kitemark attached to a ragbag of competing and largely private providers’: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jul/06/andrew-lansley-health-bill

An enclave of sobriety and solidarity

Building Design magazine has given the new UNISON centre an aesthetic once over:  http://m.bdonline.co.uk/5021052.article?mobilesite=enabled 'Unison’s new headquarters is an enclave of sobriety that draws on the imagery of corporate rebranding to reflect the changing language of the union movement.

Southampton action continues as council cancels talks

Unions have rected angrily to Southampton council's last minute cancellation yesterday of talks at ACAS which were aimed at resolving the six week old strike against cuts in pay and conditions. The UNISON and Unite strike action from 11 June - the day the council plans to sack staff - will go ahead as planned. http://www.soton-unison-office.org.uk/latestnews.htm