Labour’s biggest union backer eyes party split Politics Labour’s biggest union backer is considering a significant vote to split from the party in another blow to Starmer’s leadership. Senior officials at the UK’s largest trade union Unite are in talks about whether to call an emergency conference to vote on formal disaffiliation from the Labour party, according to reports from The Telegraph. Sources [...]
Frasers Group chairman urges Unite to avoid ‘reckless’ strike Retail The chairman of retail giant Frasers Group has urged Unite the Union to avoid “reckless and irresponsible” strike action as retail firms across the UK feel the crunch of rising cost pressures. Sir Jonathan Thompson, who took the role of Chair in September, has asked the Union’s General Secretary Sharon Graham to reconsider plans to [...]
‘Furlough’ scheme calls grow after Jaguar Land Rover cyberattack Transport and infrastructure Calls for a furlough-style scheme to support workers affected by the crippling cyberattack on Jaguar Land Rover grew on Wednesday, after the carmaker revealed its production would remain at a standstill for at least another week. Thousands of workers at firms in the Range Rover maker’s supply chain have spent weeks in limbo, with some [...]
Downing Street flirts with wealth tax despite exodus fears July 7, 2025 The UK’s unprecedented exodus of wealthy people could be set to accelerate after the government opened the door to introducing a wealth tax, following calls for such a move by former Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock and a host of union leaders. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has all but conceded that taxes will have to rise [...]
The government is facing a wave of summer strikes – how will it respond? April 17, 2025 Public sector strike action is always tricky territory for Labour politicians to navigate, particularly when the party is in opposition. When strikes plagued the previous Tory government (teachers and junior doctors in particular) Labour MPs – including Keir Starmer – were quick to condemn the government while trying hard not to criticise the unions, with [...]
Unite’s sales boom as student housing demand shows no sign of slowing February 25, 2025 Unite Students has reported double-digit growth as demand for student housing continues to far outpace supply. The FTSE 100 firm, which owns and manages university housing, reported earnings of £213.8m for 2024 – up 16 per cent year on year. Rents grew by 8.2 per cent, the company said, with occupancy at 97.5 per cent. [...]
Royal supplier Bidfood ‘the new P&O’ as unions claim thousands face being fired January 20, 2025 Bidfood, which delivers food for the likes of Manchester United, Five Guys and Subway, has been compared to P&O ferries after two unions claimed thousands of workers could be fired and rehired on ‘worse terms and conditions’. The GMB and Unite unions have said the company, which also delivers food for the army, prisons and [...]
Lloyds to replace senior staff’s union negotiations with ‘people forums’ November 13, 2024 Lloyds Banking Group is to stop recognising the trade union membership of some senior employees by replacing union negotiations with so-called “people forums”.
Unite Students: Record demand for beds amid university housing shortages October 8, 2024 Unite Students has reported strong growth and nearly-full student accommodation blocks amid record demand from students and still-constrained supply. Unite told markets this morning that like-for-like rental growth was 8.2 per cent and occupancy was 97.5 per cent for the 2024/25 academic year. The firm retained its guidance and said it expected rental growth to [...]
Unions vote to condemn government’s winter fuel payments cuts September 25, 2024 Unions have voted to condemn the government’s decision to means test pensioners’ winter fuel payments, in a blow to No10 as the Labour conference came to a close. A non-binding motion brought by Unite and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) was backed by delegates in a vote on Wednesday morning in the main hall in [...]