Build new economy: next general secretary

'We have the best opportunity in a generation to help build a fair, productive and green economy that works for ordinary people,' said Frances O'Grady, the next general secretary of the TUC, in her first comments after being elected to succeed Brendan Barber when he retires at the end of the year.

After receiving nominations from 32 unions representing 96 per cent of total TUC membership, Frances will become general secretary designate at Congress in Brighton in September, working alongside Brendan until the New Year when she becomes general secretary in her own right.
Read profile of Frances @
http://www.tuc.org.uk/the_tuc/tuc-21198-f0.cfm

Olympics 2012. Triumph of diversity

If nothing else critics of the 2012 Olympics should be celebrating the coming together of the world and the show casing of London the most diverse city in the world. A city which is capable of producing winners and world champions that are from different communities and different cultures. Lets celebrate that achievement!

London Olympics 2012. Celebration of Diversity

British athletes are winning medal after medal and this could perhaps be the most successful Olympics of all times for team GB.

To many of us the 2012 Olympics are about the power and energy released by the diversity of our great city of London and Britain as a whole. It shows the world how modern Britain can produce worthy winners, winners that come from all walks of life and backgrounds.

There is a tremendous amount of energy and enthusiasm on and off the Olympic park and the games have been managed quite well on the whole. I am still critical of the overt commercialisation that so prominently dominates the site with MacDonalds so called restaurant buildings stuck in the middle of the park but apart from that the games should be celebrated by all of us, even those on the left of the left who appear to remain silent on blogosphere?

A day at the 2012 London Olympics

Went to the Olympic park yesterday to watch the Spain vs South Africa hockey match. Arrived early and spend the day walking around with friends. The atmosphere was excellent and critics of the games should, if they can, turn up and see what's it all about.

On the other hand I strongly objected to the over commercialisation of the event. I do not accept that McDonald's should have two massive and prominent buildings right in the middle of the park. In addition I do not see why Visa should be allowed to have stands telling the world that the Olympics organisers are proud to have them there? Absolute disgrace and the wrong picture and message to send out to the whole world. Is Britain the land of MacDonalds? I find that wrong.

But apart from that the day was great and the atmosphere fantastic the place to meet people you would never meet before and make new friends.

Drilling in the Arctic

There is a reason that polar bears are the silent spokespeople for stopping climate change. They are the unfortunate result of decades of environmental destruction. And now, drilling in the Arctic threatens them even further.

Enough is enough. It's time to declare the Arctic off-limits to drilling and industrial fishing!

Big oil companies -- who have played a major part in causing climate change -- are now ready to take advantage of the retreating sea ice. They want to start drilling in the Arctic for oil, putting the polar bears' fragile habitat at even greater risk.

LGPS 2014 Ballot and confusing messages

There are confusing messages being communicated to ordinary members by two different strands on opposite sides of the debate.

Unison, through the anonymous Unison Active blog, is telling members to vote yes and explains why the negotiators have done the best they could under the circumstances. The key to their message is that 90% of members will not see an increase in their contributions and the important point to someone like myself is that any outfit that is transferred out of local government will be protected under the TUPE regulations.
Then there are a number of branches, like Lambeth Unison, with policies that were voted on at branch meetings to reject the deal. Jon Rogers leads the way on this with a number of explanations on his blog about why the deal is a bad one and why massive resistance and strike action can force the government to give in to our demands within 3 weeks.

The most confusing part of this entire affair is whether local branches have the right to ignore national policy which is to support a yes vote? Those supporting the national line are saying that a branch is acting outside the rules by allowing its officers to actively campaign against the proposal supported by the NEC? Is that right?

Your rights at work - TUC

 

The TUC has just published the fourth edition of its popular handbook on the law in the workplace, Your Rights at Work.

The new edition contains revised sections on maternity rights, equality law, flexible working, agency working, time-off for training and grievance procedures. All the original material has been updated.

While the book is pitched at everyone at work, it is particularly useful for union reps and officers and can be used as a recruitment tool or general introduction to workplace rights. Unions can purchase the book in bulk at discount rates.

Further information and ordering details @

https://www.tuc.org.uk/publications/viewPub.cfm?frmPubID=633