Beyond Crisis: Dave Prentis to address major TUC/Guardian conference‏

Beyond Crisis: A Progressive Future for the UK Economy: A free one-day TUC conference to be held on 16th November 2009, other speakers include The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Dr Rowan Williams, Pat McFadden, Business Minister and TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber. More information and register online at www.tuc.org.uk/beyondcrisis

The IMF says privatise health and erode pensions – cheered on by the Tories‏

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) http://www.imf.org/external/about.htm is once again serving notice on the UK to ‘reform’ healthcare and pensions - to repair the long-term damage to public finances caused by the global recession.

Climate change: the ETUC launches a campaign for new low-carbon industrial policies‏

Looking ahead to the Copenhagen Summit on climate change this coming December, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and its federations are launching a campaign calling for policies that take account of protecting the climate, from both an environmental point of view and a social point of view. http://www.etuc.org/a/6547

UNISON Northern Ireland on health service crisis - time to tell the truth‏

"All the rumours of wholesale bed closures are true. They impact not only on the Belfast Health Trust but right across Northern Ireland", says UNISON Northern Ireland Secretary Patricia McKeown, as she pledges UNISON action against cuts.

Leeds refuse collectors dispute - 4 weeks of solid strike action forces talks‏

Official talks are to take place on Monday 5 October between unions and the council to try to resolve the Leeds bin strike. Meanwhile, the GMB and Unison have announced that a benefit concert is to be held in Leeds on 18 October to raise money for the striking workers, reports the BBC news website

Wirral libraries saved after Council u-turn‏

A major victory for Wirral UNISON branch. Wirral Council is to revoke its decision to close 11 libraries, a move that has been welcomed by library campaigners reports 'bookseller.com'

More tributes to Bill Speirs - 'STUC giant'

Many more tributes have appeared online to STUC ex-general secretary Bill Speirs whose funeral was held in Renfrew on 1 October. Read on for links to over a dozen articles...

No-win no-fee lawyers 'exploited' women workers

As measures to allow councils to borrow from the Treasury for equal pay settlements was extended to Scotland, one MSP has branded no-win no-fee lawyers as having "exploited these (low paid) women just as much as the councils or anybody else".

Cuts in home carers' pay will end up as profit for private directors

Speaking in a debate on the Equal Pay in Local Government Debate in the Scottish Parliament on today, Labour MSP Sarah Boyack warned that some of our lowest paid women care workers are losing out badly.

World Day for Decent Work, 7 October‏

The World Day for Decent Work will be held on 7 October. This is an unparalleled opportunity for trade unions and organisations interested in Decent Work all around the world to join a broad global mobilisation involving a large number of people and a wide range of activities.