Responding to Danny Alexander's comments on public sector pensions today (Friday), TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
“At such a critical time in complex negotiations this is a deeply inflammatory public intervention with a clumsy mix of announcements apparently designed to pre-empt the talks, coupled with crude threats that even worse terms might be imposed if unions refuse to acquiesce to this assault on their pensions.
Yorkshire risks missing out on the recent labour market recovery, with spending cuts likely to cause more job losses and weaken demand in local economies, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber will warn today (17 June) as he visits the region as part as TUC's nationwide campaign to promote an economic alternative to the government's programme of deep and rapid spending cuts.
The TUC has today (Thursday) condemned the government's failure to award the Thameslink train production contract to Bombardier as a missed opportunity to boost British-based manufacturing and jobs.
The TUC fears the promised new jobs in train maintenance will be dwarfed by the potential job losses at the Bombadier plant and in its supply chain.
Commenting on the adoption of a convention on the rights of domestic workers at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conference in Geneva today (Thursday), TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
“The international community – governments, employers and unions – have united to support this convention to give dignity and respect to 50 million domestic workers around the world. Justice for domestic workers is long overdue in the UK, as well as in developing countries.
Commenting on the latest unemployment figures published today (Wednesday) by the Office for National Statistics, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
It could take over five years for the UK to return to its pre-recession employment rate, and far longer in the north of England, according to a TUC analysis ahead of the latest labour market figures published later this morning (Wednesday).
Commenting on the latest inflation figures published today (Tuesday), TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
Moving May Day could hit retailers, break established holiday patterns and disrupt domestic tourism, the TUC warns today (Thursday) in its submission to the government's pre-consultation on moving the May Day bank holiday as part of the domestic tourism strategy.
A new agreement signed in Indonesia between major sportswear brands and textile, clothing and footwear unions in the country has raised hopes that merchandise produced for the London 2012 Games can be produced in factories free from exploitation, says the TUC today (Wednesday).
Commenting on new official statistics on longevity published today (Wednesday) that show the gap between the life expectancies of people living in deprived and prosperous areas has increased sharply, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: