Shift Happens‏

Roger McKenzie, UNISON regional secretary West Midlands, blogs real time from a UNISON regional managers event in Croyde Bay. http://rogermckenzie.blogspot.com/2009/10/shift-happens.html

TUC condemns IOD push for raising of state pension to 70

Brendan Barber TUC General Secretary has condemned proposals by bosses organisation IOD for the state pension age to be raised by five years to 70.

SFoP welcomes Goldstone Report

SFoP Press Release: Scottish Friends of Palestine welcomes the decision by the UN Human Rights Council to endorse the Goldstone Report on the savage Israeli onslaught on Gaza. While the endorsement could and should have been stronger, it is none the less welcome. Most unwelcome is the contribution from Britain which did not even exercise her vote.

Essex: union facility time under attack‏.

The Tories and the Taxdodgers' sorry Taxpayers' Alliance have signalled an attack on trade union rights in Essex following UNISONActive's exclusive on the Telegraph sending out FoI requests on time-off to all English Councils. Branches need to assert their rights under the ACAS codes and make their views known to councils about their right to be consulted.

UNISON Political Fund Review – Enabling informed choice (Q13 – Q14)

The consultation for the review of the political fund effectiveness is underway. Branches and other union bodies are being asked to feed in views by Friday 13 November. Here we introduce a section of the consultation document and invite UNISONActive readers' views for publication.

Support the Post Workers

Yet again public sector workers are being put in a position where a ruthless management culture is trying to force through changes without consultation and without any willingness to negotiate. The union members are left with no option but to ballot for strike action and then management and the media accuse them of being militant and being unwilling to recognize the need for ‘modernisation’.

AFGHANISTAN – Bring the troops home‏

All roads lead to London on Saturday for a national protest called by STWC, CND & BMI.
The march will be lead by anti-war military families & soldiers
http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1542/1/

Regional Council meets in far flung Penrith‏

With no respect for UNISON's green agenda Regional Council met yesterday (Saturday 17 October) in the Rheged Centre near Penrith.

Mass mobilisation against closure of state electricity company in Mexico

More than 350,000 people flooded the streets of Mexico City on Thursday to protest against the closure of the state electricity company Luz y Fuerza. http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/world/Power-firm-axe-sparks-protests

Leeds bin strikers show the way forward, says Mirror‏

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/10/16/binmen-show-how-to-take-out-the-tory-trash-115875-21750993/ Binmen show how to take out the Tory trash By Paul Routledge 16/10/2009 In one city, in one council, in one department, workers have halted thepolitical juggernaut mowing down wages and jobs. And if they can do it... After six weeks of strike, the binmen of Leeds areon the brink of historic success in their fight to maintain terms and conditions of employment.