Adios Audit Commission‏

Pickles has made no secret of his distaste for the Audit Commission. Even before the ink was dry on the Con Dem coalition Pickles had made great play of the Audit Commission being found to have used their public funds on lobbyists to argue for their own preservation. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/7945123/Eric-Pickles-interview-slimming-down-the-public-sector.html

Love Song for Fidel Castro by Jackie Wills‏

They’ve started a tight salsa
when Elisa strolls on, hips round as a drum.

Labour Force Survey confirms adverse trends - unions must organise to survive‏

The annual Labour Force Survey has produced the latest figures for 2009. Whilst density has stayed the same as in 2008 (approximately 28%) the number of union members has declined by a further 163,000, following a 20 year trend. The report highlights density amongst the young as a particular issue - currently about 9% - a clear worry for any efforts made to recruit for the future.

UNISON challenges North Somerset privatisation‏

North Somerset UNISON has hit out at a decision to hand council services worth £100million to the private sector. Branch secretary Helen Thornton also criticised the secrecy surrounding the contract approval by councillors. See report in Weston, Worle and Somerset Mercury

UNISON highlights threat to South Wales services‏

As UNISON took its meaaage to Swansea and Aberavon to campaign against ConDem cuts, local organiser Gemma Hurse said: "We are not going to sit back and accept these unnecessary and brutal attacks on our frontline services - our public services cannot afford to take an indefinite holiday at the expense of the most vulnerable in our society." http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/news/Cuts-hurt-8211-union/article-2518198-detail/article.html

A rat race is for rats. We are not rats. We are human beings

A rat race is for rats. We're not rats. We're human beings. Reject the insidious pressures in society that would blunt your critical faculties to all that is happening around you, that would caution silence in the face of injustice, lest you jeopardise your chances of self-promotion and self-advancement. This is how it starts. And before you know where you are, you're a fully paid-up member of the rat pack. The price is too high. It entails the loss of your dignity and human spirit. The words of Jimmy Reid 39 years ago when he addressed Glasgow University. Today, several newspapers will print the speech in full - almost 40 years after the New York Times spotted its significance and reportedly printed it in full.

UNISONActive analysis - Maude's muddled thinking‏

There has always been an eighteen carat love affair between the Tories and big business. Maude’s latest muddled thinking proves that even though the Tories know the relationship is no good for public services they want to hang on in there anyway. They are most definitely the mistress in this sorry saga, taking the riches from the big business in the form of party bungs in exchange for a quick fondle to sign off another public service contract.

Southampton libraries to be closed by two day strike 13 and 16 August

UNISON members working in Southampton libraries are to strike on Friday 13 August and Monday 16 August over the introduction of new style volunteers and the closure of the Thornhill and Millbrook libraries.

IER Briefing - a dangerous time for workplace safety‏

An IER briefing explodes the claims that businesses are over-regulated. Instead the evidence points to the opposite: "in fact, the previous government’s desire to reduce the 'burdens' on businesses has emasculated the regulatory system designed to prevent death and injury at work". Steve Tombs and David Whyte show how a "collapse in inspection, investigation and enforcement has dramatically reduced the chances of businesses being detected and prosecuted for committing safety offences".

Maude reassures private sector lobby "we expect public services not to be delivered in-house"‏

Investors Chronicle reports on the comments of Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude that “it’s the stated coalition policy that we expect public services not to be delivered in-house”. http://www.investorschronicle.co.uk/MarketsAndSectors/Sectors/article/20100804/4b2f945e-9f08-11df-ac15-00144f2af8e8/Maude-for-it.jsp