General Secretary, Michael J. Leahy said:

‘Tata Corus have walked away from Teesside. We know that there are a number of good faith offers on the table, yet Tata Corus are not interested.

Make no mistake; calling this mothballing is simply sugar coating a closure. A redundancy from a mothballed plant is the same as a redundancy from a closed plant. Community believes that this charade of mothballing is simply an attempt to profit from Teesside’ Carbon Credits. By selling on these Carbon Credits Tata Corus are picking the pockets of the Teesside workforce.

Community will be giving our members the opportunity to ballot for industrial action in support of Teesside. While the popular press may envisage a mass walkout, as a modern union we will be seeking to make surgical strikes that will cause maximum damage to Tata Corus and minimum damage to our members.

The message from Community is clear; we have not and will not give up on steel making on Teesside. The plant is a strategic resource and the foundation for a rejuvenated British manufacturing industry.

The Project is designed to help all vulnerable construction workers, not just UCATT members. Its initial key priorities are to help groups who are particularly vulnerable including: young workers/apprentices, agency workers, migrant workers and workers coming into contact with asbestos.

The project currently has two members of staff, based at the central Vulnerable Workers Unit. The staff members will be providing direct 1-2-1 advice to vulnerable workers, and providing advice, training and literature to affected groups. Information will be distributed via UCATT officials, other partner organisations and third sector organisations, which already have links with vulnerable workers.

Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of UCATT, said: “Construction is a highly casualised industry, its very nature means that many workers are vulnerable either to poor employment conditions, low pay or injury. The new Vulnerable Workers Project will be a unique resource in providing help and assistance to workers when they most need it.

While UCATT will be leading the project, a number of organisations have already pledged their support and will be providing active assistance to the project through membership of a steering committee. Organisations that have already agreed to become partners in the project include: The Health and Safety Executive, Citizens Advice, Jobcentre Plus, Manchester University Business School, Community Links, HMRC, Wigan & Leigh/Lewisham college and OH Parsons Solicitors.

The Vulnerable Workers Project has been functioning since early January 2010 and it will have its formal launch on Tuesday 23rd February at the Hallmark Hotel in Derby.

It comes as local Conservative party councillor Nigel Dawkins accuses Labour MPs of failing to back the workforce as they fought to keep their company independent during the recent Kraft takeover. Councillor Dawkins has distributed leaflets across the Selly Oak ward claiming that Labour MPs did not do enough to help fight for Cadbury's future.

John Flavin, who works at Cadbury's Bournville plant and is a Unite steward, condemned councillor Dawkins for his "naked opportunism. It is outrageous that the Tories are prepared to try to piggyback on this campaign for their own personal gain, when in fact they did nothing whatsoever to help.

"As the people of this community know full well, all the Labour MPs from the West Midlands group were tireless in their campaigning and their support, aided and abetted by many other Labour MPs around the UK, and this was very much appreciated by all our members. The workforce knows how to distinguish genuine support from a party clambering on the bandwagon."

Councillor Dawkins' attempts to use Cadbury's workers' plight to promote himself is the latest ill-judged Conservative party intervention in the takeover. As Unite and the workers were fighting to save Cadbury from takeover, one Tory MP Bill Wiggin had criticised them for being "whingers" for raising fears that debt-heavy Kraft would cut jobs.

Jack Dromey, Unite deputy general secretary, added: "This is a new low from the Midlands Tories. The workers at Cadbury are frightened for their future. They want to be supported and they want a government that will listen to and act on their fears - they do not want to be used as a political football.

"With Birmingham council, a Tory administration, set to wipe out 2,000 jobs and cut services to the needy, the people of the Midlands will view with great disdain a councillor and a party which is cynically using the plight of their friends at Cadbury for political advantage."

A yes vote in a series of strike and action short of strike ballots would see action begin from Sunday March 21 in the run up to the Easter getaway.

The ballots have been called in protest at Network Rail’s plan to axe 1500 maintenance jobs and impose working changes on remaining staff.

Gerry Doherty, union general secretary, said: "I hope that we can avoid any disruption over the Easter break and I am calling on Network Rail to start serious discussions with us now to prevent that happening.

"Not only are they insisting on going ahead with these job cuts but they are refusing to give us a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies when they keep claiming the jobs will go on a voluntary basis."

He refused to speculate on what form the strike action the supervisors and managers in the maintenance works and depots would take but even 24-hour walkouts would seriously hamper key maintenance tasks and quickly disrupt travel.

He accused NR of "macho management" in the run up to the General Election in a bid to impress the new Government, be it Labour or Tory.

He also warned another 1500 members in Network Rail would be balloted on strike action if NR did not improve on an 0.8% pay offer by next Tuesday.

"This offer comes at a time when inflation has risen to 3.7% so they are in effect asking our members to take a 2 per cent pay cut for next year.

"Iain Coucher is always very generous in awarding himself bumper bonuses every year - even last year when he gave up one third of his bonus in a PR stunt he still managed to walk away with over £350,000 on top of his £600,000 salary.

"We would like him to be more generous to the staff this year and less generous to himself and his richly rewarded fellow directors."

General Secretary, Michael J. Leahy said:

“I’ve met with the government several times and I know that they are ready to act, but Tata Corus need to show a clear commitment to the workforce and to the local community. The government needs to know that any support is an investment in building a bridge to the future and not a bridge to nowhere.

Tata Corus have a moral and social responsibility to the workforce and to Teesside, however by continually stonewalling potential buyers and offtakers Tata Corus are signing the death warrant for more than 100 year tradition of Steel making on Teesside.’

Lord Mandelson’s visit to Teesside comes in the wake of the Community Union’s National Executive Council endorsing plans to allow Tata Corus members to ballot for industrial action in support of Teesside. This action would exclude the at-risk workforce on Teesside but may include the Teesside Coke Ovens and Beam Mill and Tata Corus sites across the country depending on the will of the members.

Unite believes that the main motivation for these cuts is not to address the impact of competition or the current tough economic circumstances, but a desire to ‘hit its numbers’ at the end of the financial year which would trigger huge bonus payments for senior executives of Royal Mail Group.

The union believes that an internal mandate has gone to senior executives instructing them to cut 20-25 percent of jobs in its support and back-office functions. Despite numerous requests from Unite to discuss Royal Mail’s long term strategy, only piecemeal consultation has taken place.

Paul Reuter, Unite national officer, said: “It is becoming evident that Royal Mail has a hidden agenda. That agenda is to strip out jobs regardless of the effect this will have on the business in the longer term or the people affected by it only to ensure its senior management have bigger bonuses.

“This is a company that is potentially out of control and playing fast and loose with the future of this vital service to the public.”

Brian Scott, Unite assistant national secretary, said: “We are being confronted by a constant stream of notifications of possible redundancies across the whole organisation. These have previously been small numbers, but this is developing into an unwarranted attack on our members' jobs as the numbers increase.

“Our members have been subjected to constant restructuring exercises over the last few years - all of which were said to prepare the business for the future but with jobs still going, this exercise has clearly failed. The Royal Mail ship remains rudderless as its executives continue to let down this great public service.”

Unite has today written to the soon to depart chief executive, Adam Crozier seeking an urgent meeting to discuss the Royal Mail's longer-term strategy.

‘The Committee has got it spot on,’ said union general secretary Keith Norman. ‘The Department for Transport (DfT) needs to act on these points urgently – especially in the case of investment in freight. It’s no good the DfT simply saying it supports the expansion of the network – it needs to offer leadership, guidance and incentives.’

The main points in the TSC announcement are

· Investment priority over the coming decades should be wider electrification and addressing capacity problems across the north of the country, notably in Manchester

· This investment must not detract from investment in the ‘classic’ rail network

· The current £35 billion investment programme is welcome but much is to be spent on capacity in the capital through projects such as Thameslink and Crossrail

· A more pro-active policy position should be taken, encouraging bringing old lines back into service or opening new lines and station

· Rolling stock plans should be set out as soon as possible to allow planning

· Freight investment in the medium-term should at least be maintained at current levels and the government should continue to encourage the network’s expansion

· More attention should be paid to social, environmental and economic considerations for regional development when rail priorities are considered.

‘In view of a massive amount of agreement, it seems a bit churlish to pick up the Committee on one aspect,’ Keith says. ‘But it says that in addition to the national rail investment programme the government should ‘encourage private investment through the franchise system’. Frankly we’d prefer to see the back of the franchising system which we think only takes money out of the industry.’

Unite was responding to the report by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) which said that almost one in three public sector employers plan to shed jobs this quarter.

Unite said that the public sector was ‘integral’ to recovery, as the CIPD predicted that defence and administration in the public sector would be particularly hard hit.

Gail Cartmail, Unite assistant general secretary for the public sector said public sector unions, such as Unite, had a key role to play in supporting workers during these difficult times and to show the negative effect of losing skills and know-how which happens when staff are made redundant - and these skills are then very difficult to recover.

Gail Cartmail said: ”Public services and their staff are integral to the UK's recovery from the global recession caused by reckless banking practices.

”Organisations, such as Oxfam, and numerous leading economists caution against cutting public services, as they view recovery as being reliant on the stimulus and support public expenditure provides.

”According to TUC analysis, a 10 per cent cut in 2007 - 2008 public sector expenditure equates to 200,000 jobs.

“In cities, such as Newcastle where two thirds of the economically active are employed in the public sector, the impact of such cuts would be devastating to the local economy - reduced taxation, reduced spending and, ironically greater reliance, on public services such as Job Centres and increased government expenditure on supporting the unemployed and their families.“

The CIPD's survey of more than 700 employers found that firms in all sectors plan to cut 6.2 per cent of their workforce in the first three months of 2010, compared with 3.8 per cent in the previous quarter.

In an interview in this week's edition of the New Statesman, Mr Stiglitz commented: "Incredulous ... We [Keynesians] had a victory for a year and then back come the Hooverites."

In response to Tory claims that Britain could face a Greek-style crisis, he added: "I think it's fear-mongering," adding that "it seems outrageous ...that we should show deference to the judgement of good economic policy" of the agencies that were spreading such fear, but which had been highly involved in causing the economic crisis in the first place.

Mr Stiglitz went on to describe shadow chancellor George Osborne's suggestion that Britain is at risk of default as: "Crazy. Economically you clearly have the capacity to pay. The debt situation has been worse in other countries at other times.

"This is all scaremongering, perhaps linked to politics, perhaps rigged to an economic agenda, but it's out of touch with reality. One of the advantages that you have is that you have your own central bank that can buy some of these bonds to stabilise their price."

And if a Tory government were to expand monetary policy, he concluded: "I don't think there is much scope for monetary expansion ... without engaging in new risks for the economy ... So under the current framework it would almost certainly lead to higher unemployment."

Brian Strutton GMB National Secretary for Public Services said – “This is a real left-field idea that seems completely out of step with what’s going on and begs a number of questions. On the one hand the Tories are talking about swinging public sector spending cuts then on the other they want schools, community nurses, probation services, job centres and heaven knows what else to launch into huge bureaucratic processes to achieve nothing at all – surely the wrong idea at the wrong time. Who would decide whether to go for a co-operative? Would the public users of these services get a say? What would be the benefit? What if it should go wrong? Who would a co-operative be accountable to? There doesn’t seem to be any depth of thought behind such a radical sounding idea so I think the conclusion to be drawn is that this is just a political gimmick.”

The poll, released the week before the government consultation into post office banking closes, is the latest evidence that there is growing demand for a new model of banking based on the trusted post office network.

Given the strong results, the Post Bank Coalition is calling on government to use the consultation as an opportunity to establish a publicly owned Post Bank in the Post Office. Growing consensus among politicians and the public make this an easily achievable 'must' for government.

The key findings of the poll are:

78% agree that there is a need for a new model of bank run in the public interest and not solely for profit (only 4% disagree)

72% agree that all of the profits from post office banking should stay within the business and be used to sustain the network (only 6% disagree)

63% said they would be likely to use a publicly owned Post Bank run in the public interest (only 20% said they were unlikely to do so)

Only 13% agree with the statement that high street banks currently meet the needs of local businesses and communities

Birmingham city council is led by a Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition and employs around 50,000 people. Unite the union represents 1,500 workers at the council; the majority work in the highways, street lighting, fleet and waste management divisions.

The creation of ELIB would require all employer liability insurance policies to include a small premium, which would be paid into a central fund. If a worker developed a serious industrial disease and no insurer could be identified, the individual would be paid compensation by ELIB. Currently in such circumstances individuals do not receive any compensation.

Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of UCATT, said: “The Government’s announcement is excellent news and an important step forward. Far too often workers develop life-threatening illnesses because employers have failed to provide adequate protection from harmful substances. If a workers health is ruined, they deserve compensation, by establishing ELIB, the Government will ensure this occurs.”

UCATT has led the campaign for the establishment of ELIB and have regularly lobbied the Government on the matter. At the 2008 Labour Party Conference in Manchester, UCATT called for the creation of ELIB. The issue then became part of Labour’s internal policy-making process and ministers have since been investigating how such a body could be established.

The DWP are also investigating the creation of an Employers Liability Tracing Service, which would help people track down their employer’s liability insurance policies and help to speed up compensation payments.

It is envisaged that ELIB would operate in a similar manner to the existing Motor Insurance Bureau, which provides compensation to car owners who are involved in accidents with uninsured drivers.

GMB are very concerned that Birmingham City Council has now chose to do it’s negotiating through the media. There have been no discussions concerning pay freezes linked to the previously announced redundancies.

The proposed redundancies are affecting staff in frontline services, which will have a devastating affect on the people of Birmingham. Although the council has stated that no social workers or teachers will be affected, a senior source within the council has leaked a document to the GMB which states that social work staff over 64 years of age will be receiving a 3 months notice of enforced retirement. The GMB has serious concerns of the loss of the most experienced staff in this area and also the implications concerning age discrimination.

Birmingham City Council and GMB started its 90 day consultation period on all proposals which is expected to conclude around the end of March. The first of the consultation meetings was held on the 4 Feb 09. GMB will be consulting with its members and will be urging BCC to re-consider and find an alternative. We will do everything we can to reduce the number of employees that will be affected, to try and reduce the impact on these services.

We have concerns that this is purely a political decision by Birmingham City council, by culling their staff and destroying frontline services in order to keep council tax payment down in the run up to an election. The GMB will not stand by and watch our members suffer by being forced in to unemployment and having their pay frozen in order to keep their current administration in power.”

Addressing the retired members conference, Geraldine warned that whatever the negativity surrounding the Labour Party, the vista of a new Conservative government was worse.

The Labour MP for Morecambe and Lunsdale recalled there was more grass roots trade union representation in Parliament when she was elected in 1997. "That has changed, we need positive discrimination for the working class in Parliament," said Geraldine, who praised Prime Minister Gordon Brown for taking the right decisions, like part nationalising the banks at the time of the economic crash.

She warned that a Conservative Government committed to making cuts would land the country back in recession. "We need to grow our way out of recession, not make cuts which is what you will get with the Conservatives," said Geraldine, who warned a Tory government would bring a repeat of the 1980s with attacks on public spending and the public sector.

General Secretary Billy Hayes also picked up the theme of how much worse life would be for pensioners and trade unionists under the Tories.

Billy highlighted how those in the media set on delivering David Cameron to 10 Downing Street had sought to blame the Labour Government for the actions of the banks and the results of neo-liberal policies. "The banks were so deregulated no one knew what they were doing. The financial crash brought down the whole economy into recession," said Billy, who reiterated that although Gross Domestic Product had reduced by five per cent over the last 12 months and tax receipts had plummeted the actions of the government had avoided a much worse crisis. "Only renewed investment will take the economy out of recession," said Billy, who attacked the failure to make the bankers pay whilst freezing pensions.

The GS argued that if the government needed to find money for pensioners then it should scrap some of its wasteful projects like the renewal of the Trident nuclear programme and ID cards. "Make no mistake though the Tories will cut services and attack pensions," said Billy.

The GS welcomed the manifesto of the National Pensioners Convention, calling for the pension to be raised above poverty levels and for the winter fuel allowance to rise to £500.

During debate, there was an impassioned plea from Kathy Leech of Scotland Number 1 in defiance of government proposals to change the state pension to a means tested benefit.

Kathy argued the pension was not a benefit, it was something everyone contributed to through via national insurance. "The state pension in the UK is one of the lowest in Europe, £160 odd below the minimum wage," said Kathy, who warned that pensioners had votes and would remember such moves come the election.

Ernie Purkis for the Retired Members Advisory Committee (RMAC) declared "means testing is curse on our society."

"Means testing in health shouldn't be there - the NPC has fought against it for 30 years," said Ernie. The motion will now go forward to general conference.

There were calls for a minimum £165 a week level for the pension with currently two million pensioners living below the poverty line.

It was argued that the UK had the fourth highest level of pensioner poverty in the EU despite being one of the richest nations.

Women are hit particularly hard with 87 per cent not getting the full pension.

Jan Zablocki argued that the CWU could not keep giving money to the Labour Party and getting nothing back. He pointed out that the level of trade union membership at 6 million was the same as in 1910. "We have to start doing something about this, as we are on the slipper slope to death. Let's have something back for the money we put into politics," said Jan.

Care concerns for pensioners were raised in a motion that passed calling for all pensioners to have access to free homecare, for pensioners who are carers to receive the full carers allowance and that all UK pensioners have equal access to all treatments and benefits available on the NHS.

A further motion was passed calling for the setting up of a new body titled the Society for the Protection of Care of Older People with the power to enter hospitals, nursing and care homes unannounced to examine what is going on. This will also go forward to general conference.

Another motion passed clearly anticipating pressure to cut pensioner benefits, called for safeguarding of the introduction of the scheme providing concessionery bus fares for the over 60s.

Rod Daniels of South East Number 5 urged members to "go to council forums and get involved" to ensure that these type of benefits are safeguarded.

Debate followed urging CWU branches to affiliate to the NPC at regional and branch level. A motion aimed at imposing a 1p per week levy on CWU membership to raise funds for the NPC was defeated.

Another motion calling for the Link magazine to be sent to all members over 55 was also defeated after Tony Kearns, the senior deputy general secretary, made a forcible argument outlining the parlace state of union finances and the ineffectual nature of such an approach to recruiting retired members.

General Secretary of the NPC Dot Gibson retold the story serialised on Radio 4 of Dear Granny Smith. The book tells how the job of postal worker has changed for the worse over the years.

Dot called for everyone present to joining the demonstration, Defending the Welfare State and Public Services on April 10. "We'll lead the fight and together we can make this into a massive event," said Dot.

Tony Kearns spoke of his pride in working for the retired members. He outlined the problems that the CWU faces with more than 50 per cent of members over 45. Just 21,000 members are under 30. "To just standstill we need to recruit 32 to 33,000 members a year," said Tony. "We have to regenerate this union, if that means dismantling and rebuilding it that is what we must do. We accept the need to redesign the union at top and local level."

A Robin Hood Tax on banks' financial transactions could raise hundreds of billions of pounds to fight poverty, protect public services and tackle climate change, says the campaign coalition of domestic charities, aid agencies, unions, faith organisations and green groups.

The campaign is calling on the leaders of the UK's political parties to support a global tax on the banks to help repair the human damage caused by the global economic crisis, protect public services at home, fight poverty abroad and help foot the bill for climate change.

"This is a no-brainer", said Billy Hayes. "All politicians should be backing this. It's the least the banking sector can do given the massive bailouts it has received from taxpayers. This is a real opportunity to bring good from bad. It's not robbing the rich; it's a gesture to the public for what we've all paid out."

The campaign, supported by almost 50 organisations including Oxfam, the TUC, Barnardo's, The Salvation Army, ActionAid and Save the Children, is launched with a promotional film starring Bill Nighy, and written and directed by Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Comic Relief). It is backed by regional events, advertising and online promotions challenging politicians, banks and the public to Be Part of the World's Greatest Bank Job.

Watch the film here now: http://robinhoodtax.org.uk/

The Robin Hood Tax is backed by financiers and hundreds of economists who have signed a letter supporting the campaign.

Alastair Constance, City trader and founder of Ethical Currency, which already levies a voluntary rate of 0.005 per cent on all currency transactions, said: "Billions of pounds whizz round the global financial system every day. A tiny tax on each transaction is absolutely practical and will hardly be noticed by those paying it. But it could still raise billions to help make the world a better place."

The Robin Hood Tax would not be levied on banks' transactions with their high street customers, but only apply to transactions between financial institutions. While different rates of tax would apply to different types of transaction, they would start at just five pence for every thousand pounds traded - an average of 0.05 per cent.

But even such tiny taxes would raise hundreds of billions of dollars a year given the scale of transactions - equivalent to $10,000 a day for every one of the 1.2 billion inhabitants of the world's 30 richest countries in the OECD. Experts have estimated an international transaction tax system could eventually raise as much as £250bn ($400bn) every year.

While an internationally agreed tax system is the best way to proceed, the UK Government and European Union should start extending transaction taxes already in existence, such as the UK's 0.5 per cent stamp duty on shares, the campaign says.

This would both raise much needed money and encourage other countries to adopt the proposal, with modern foreign exchange markets an attractive and easy target for a unilateral tax on sterling and Euro transactions.

The market for financial transactions has exploded in the last decade, and is now worth 60 times global GDP. Before the financial crisis banking was the most profitable industry in the world, with profits five times that of the pharmaceutical industry, and three times bigger than the privatised utilities, according to consultants McKinsey & Company. At the same time the financial sector is not taxed as much as other sectors.

The campaign is calling for countries which levy the tax to keep half the proceeds domestically and for the rest to be split 50-50 between poverty reduction and tackling climate change. The UK's share of the tax would amount to tens of billions of pounds.

Money raised by a Robin Hood Tax could be used to avoid cuts to vital public services and for a range of good causes including:

Meeting the Government's target to halve child poverty (£4bn)

Ending the benefit trap that makes it too expensive for people to leave welfare and return to work (£2.7bn)

Protecting schools and hospitals at home and abroad under threat of cuts

Meeting the Millennium Development Goals to cut child deaths by two-thirds, maternal mortality by two-thirds and tackle malaria and HIV/AIDS, and

Providing resources to enable a deal to be done on tackling climate change.

The UK campaign is part of an international movement with similar calls being made in the USA, Europe and across the developing world. Gordon Brown, Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy, Nancy Pelosi, Jose Manuel Barroso and Meles Zenawi (Ethiopia) have all spoken out in recent months in support of some form of transaction tax.

Financial figures who have backed transaction taxes include Lord Turner (FSA), George Soros, Warren Buffet, Avinash Persaud (chairman of Intelligence Capital), Sir Philip Hampton (RBS chairman) and Terry Smith (chief executive of money brokers Tullett Prebon).

Banks are paying billions of pounds in bonuses this year, after being bailed out with billions of pounds of public money when they faced going bankrupt in the financial crisis their actions caused last year.

At the same time, public services are facing a future of cuts to pay for that bail-out.

UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis has already spoken out against the bonus culture, saying: “It is a disgrace that bankers are in line for billions in bonuses, whilst the taxpayers, who bailed them out, are paying the price again with job losses, pay freezes and public service cuts.

“Big bonuses and risky city moves are what got us into this mess in the first place, and leaving bankers to police their own bonuses is like leaving the fox in charge of the chickens.”

Mr Bragg, who performed at last night’s TUC/Cuba Solidarity Concert for Haiti agrees and notes that his protest comes as “the RBS remuneration committee is deciding how to slice up and estimated £1.5bn in bonuses while the rest of us are being softened up for massive cuts in public services.

“We must put public services before bankers’ bonuses,” says ‘the Bard of Barking’: “To that end, I will be at Speaker's Corner on Sunday 7 February at 1pm come rain or shine, addressing the crowd for no longer than 30 minutes.”

It will be the second weekend in a row that Mr Bragg has spoken out at Speakers’ Corner.

Dozens of placard waving staff protested that he had spent £4,800 on cabs last year and was now planning to axe their allowance which allows them to claim back 75% of the cost of their season tickets.

The Mayor’s team of senior advisers claimed £17,000 in travel expenses while Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy was paid over £450,000.

"It is frankly hypocritical for Boris and Peter Hendy to claim 100 per cent of their travel expenses while threatening to scrap the travel allowance of staff who are paid a pittance in relation to their vast salaries," said Manuel Cortes, deputy leader of the TSSA travel union.

"They should both get the brass neck of the year award for this brazen piece of bullying-telling staff that unless they accept a three year deal now they will lose the travel allowance."

The lobby took place outside City Hall as members of the TfL board met to consider the stand off with the white collar unions. Blue collar workers on London Underground have already accepted a two year inflation plus deal.

But Mr Cortes explained that by trying to impose a three year deal on the white collar staff, TfL would prevent them from financially benefiting in 2012 from the millions of Olympic vistors who will boost London’s transport finances.

"We want to be able to negotiate in 2012 and get recognition for the contribution our members will make to the success of the Games. Boris and Hendy are trying to lock us out from that."

All the main political parties are talking about spending cuts. Local government employers are trying to impose a pay freeze, and thousands of jobs are being cut.

But rather than falling prey to fears about the future, he said, it is time to show our vision for the future.

"Unions were created for difficult times and to deal with conflict," he declared. "I believe this is really our time. It is our time to be bold, to speak up for our people and for the public services they provide."

Whoever wins the general election, UNISON must have the strength and flexibility to be a powerful voice for our members, he said.

"We are up to the challenge," he concluded. "We have the vision. We have the people. We have the ideas. We will meet any challenge together."

The seminar brought together UNISON's senior lay leaders and officers to discuss the union’s agenda for the coming year.

They discussed how UNISON would work to meet the challenges faced around recruitment and organising, bargaining, the political landscape and the international agenda.

Community Union General Secretary Michael J. Leahy OBE said:

‘The Women of Steel were invaluable in keeping the steel mills producing the material needed to defeat Nazi Germany. WWII was won as much through the everyday determination shown on the home front as by the courage displayed by our soldiers.

While this tribute is long overdue, it is unfortunate that it comes at a time that Britain’s Steel industry facing its greatest threat since WWII. The loss of jobs in steel towns is devastating families and whole communities. Now is the time for Government to ensure that the steel industry has a future as well as a past.’

GMB National Secretary Brian Strutton said “It’s no surprise that children’s school packed lunches are full of sweets, crisps and fizzy drinks because GMB members who work in schools have been telling us this for some time. This is not only a long term health problem, it affects day-to-day behaviour and concentration at school. Poor lunch provision directly impacts on the ability to learn.

GMB has been campaigning for universal free school meal provision to provide hot, healthy, nutritious lunches for all primary children. The government has been running trials in Newham and Durham which have been really successful and parents have been very supportive – indeed the pre-budget report announced that these trials will be extended. But this report shows that we should do more. Rather than wring our hands over lunchboxes the right way forward is to extend free school meals to all primary children.”

Brian Strutton GMB National Secretary for Public Services said “It’s tremendous that despite the pressure on public finances the government has been able to prioritise the need to build council homes. With matched funding from 73 councils around the country there is now over £500m worth of public investment to build new homes for families and others who need them most, giving 8,000 people the chance to live in good homes.”

“Decent homes are an absolute necessity and the free market has not kept pace with the demand for housing. That’s when the public sector needs to step in and this initiative from the government is exactly what’s needed. Of course, there is still a housing shortage but Mr Healey has shown that the government is prepared to do something about it.”

This is a total disgrace. The public need to face up to the fact that in public services, you only get what you pay for.

Most of the councils responsible for this lack of gritting of suburban streets, rural roads and pavements in town centres are Tory-run. There was never enough salt stockpiled in the first place and they will not pay workers to go out to grit the roads and pavements. Orders were not placed with the salt mines and councils do not have enough facilities to store the mined salt. GMB salt miners working flat out are angry at this lack of proper planning.

This lack of service, which the public is entitled to, is indicative of the type of public services we will have if the Conservatives win the general election."

Jim Moohan, Senior Organiser for GMB Scotland and Chair of the Confederation of Shipbuilding & Engineering Unions said: “There can never be any justice for the tens of thousands of men and women who have tragically died after exposure to asbestos in one way or another either through occupational or non occupational exposure.”

This decision however gives some small comfort for those individuals affected to submit a claim for rightly deserved compensation.

Jim Moohan also stated: “It has been totally and morally unjust that this issue has been dragged through the Courts when the human life is in jeopardy because of an Industrial Disease.”

We now hope that this brings an end to the Insurers of the companies putting forward completely inhumane challenges of the right of individuals who presently and for a number of years forward will be affected by this tragic stain in the history of the Industrial Sector.

This Judgement will only prevail in Scotland, but will hopefully assist a superior challenge in other parts of the UK.

CWU welcomes this move from the Prime Minister which comes after the publication of the government's policy document Digital Britain and a long-running CWU campaign for broadband for all.

Thousands of CWU members work in industries delivering broadband infrastructure and services so on a practical level the ambition for an extensive rollout could create many new jobs in the sector. Gordon Brown believes they will be part of the 1.5 million new skilled jobs being created over the coming years.

Mr Brown outlines the economic benefits which super-fast broadband could bring, including opportunities in teleworking for business, leisure, education and public services, and explains the role for the private and public sectors in delivering super-fast broadband. He writes:

"The private sector is rightly leading the way, and investing significant sums in next-generation digital communications and technologies. But, left alone, they are likely to reach only the two-thirds of communities, mainly urban and highly populated, seen as commercially viable. And I am clear that this revolution must benefit all, and so here there is also a role for targeted, strategic action by government.

"We must complement and assist broadband providers to move farther and faster; to bring super-fast connections to households and businesses to every corner of the country. That is why we have set out plans for £1 billion of extra investment to ensure that all regions of Britain - including those with sparse populations - are covered by 2017. We are doing this, even in a recession, because the fastest and most modern broadband network will create and expand thousands of companies and mean thousands of new jobs."

Andy Kerr, CWU deputy general secretary, welcomed Gordon Brown's comments, saying "We welcome Gordon Brown's confirmation of public funding for super-fast broadband, however if the UK is to maximise the potential of the digital revolution, the CWU believes the Government's plans must go even further. We are calling for the universal broadband commitment to be strengthened under a legally binding universal service obligation and for the 90 per cent super-fast broadband coverage target to be extended to all homes and businesses by 2017.

"We also want to see the broadband levy supported by mobile telephone operators as they too will benefit from high speed networks created by public funding, and sharing the burden in this way will increase funds or spread the cost more fairly. Finally, we are calling for a requirement for the regulator to promote training and development in the telecommunications industry, because a properly skilled workforce will be critical to the successful delivery of a Digital Britain."

Gary Smith, GMB National Secretary said "The government has not paid enough attention to the gas industry, the problem is more deep rooted than simply about storage, though that remains a problem. You get the feeling that officials see the role of gas declining in the years to come with clean electricity coming to prominence.

The fact is this is nonsense. The majority of people in the UK heat their homes with gas. It will remain this way as it would be hugely expensive for householders to convert to electricity. Moreover the subsidies for renewables, the cost of building more electricity generating capacity and the massive investment that will go into the creation of the smart grid will mean that electricity prices are set to soar. OFGEM estimates energy prices could double by 2020 we think this is extremely conservative with electricity prices escalating hugely. At the moment electricity is the smallest part of most house holds energy bills and that is why there has not been an even greater public outcry.

We need a discussion on a strategic plan for gas taking into consideration the upkeep of our current infrastructure, massive development of storage, utilising technological developments to ensure we are get the maximum amount of gas out of the current gas fields and even the possibility of using UK indigenous coal to produce gas."

"I know what a burden it is having to work over the holidays," he says, "and I've got sacks full of respect for those who keep our vital public services going over the festivities and throughout the year. I want to wish them - and all of you - a jolly Christmas and a great new year: here's hoping 2010 delivers everything you want."

The long-running campaign to secure equal treatment for agency workers hit another bump in the long road to achieving legal status when Lord Mandelson announced the long awaited Bill would not be implemented until October 2011.

The Temporary and Agency Workers Directive (TAWD) was passed at the European Parliament after a long campaign from the TUC, CWU and other unions. The delay in implementing these rights until the latest possible moment means that UK agency workers will have to wait for these modest rights to come into UK law.

The Christmas card reminds MPs of the outstanding rights with a festive poem:

"Silent night, silent night

Equal rights, still out of sight

Toys and gifts we long to share

Pay rates we can't compare

It's justice now we long for

Help us we implore."

To find out more about the campaign for agency rights please visit the CWU campaign page at: www.cwu.org/temporary-agency-worker-directive-tawd.html

Write to your MP to encourage them to get behind these rights for agency workers at: http://www.writetothem.com/

David Arnold, UNISON's green officer, said "a political agreement by world leaders looks the most likely outcome. To make real progress towards preventing serious climate change we must have a legally binding treaty. So any agreement must set out the steps and the timetable to a full, legally binding treaty."

Barack Obama arrived at the talks today and spoke directly about what is at stake. "Our ability to take collective action is in doubt, right now the conference is in the balance. We come here not to talk but to act".

He acknowledged America's historic responsibility to address climate change, as the world's largest economy, and second largest emitter. "We are convinced that changing the way we produce and use energy will create millions of new jobs and power new industries."

UNISON has been actively supporting the international trade union confederation campaign for a legally binding deal and for a just transition clause that commits signatories to working with unions and business to negotiate a worker friendly shift to a greener economy. The clause remains in the draft text, but it's not clear whether this will be maintained in a short political agreement.

ITUC president Sharon Burrow told the UN plenary this afternoon "working people around the world and their families are watching. They are depending on you to commit to a binding agreement that delivers a habitable planet, decent work and financial support for the most vulnerable; an historic legacy, right here, today in Copenhagen."

Lord Mandelson's announcement is a major boost for British manufacturing and puts the UK on the road to becoming a global player in the engineering and manufacturing supply chain for nuclear power. This is good news for jobs, our economy and for Britain's energy security. It shows that Labour is on the side of investment and job creation while the Tories want to manage decline."

The Government's support to Sheffield Forgemasters, Rolls Royce and a centre of excellence for manufacturing is a fine example of an active government that supports industrial innovation and excellence."