Gail Cartmail blog

Reasons to mobilise for A Future That Works #oct 20

A quick recap on August as summer draws to a close tells us a lot about the economy and the ethos of the coalition government.

We saw a slight reduction in the number of people claiming job seekers allowance. Yet there is a rising problem of people unwillingly working part-time and in precarious self-employment. Unemployment among young people remains at an all time high.

Standing proud on anti-sexist soap box

I admit an extreme bias against the Daily Mail. The newspaper that in pre-war Britain encouraged Oswald Mosely’s British Union of Fascists with the banner headline “Hurrah for the Blackshirts”.

These Black Shirt admirers of the Third Reich and Hitler’s fanatical anti-semitism were vigorously opposed in the UK and most famously in London’s Cable Street where trade unionists, communists and tenants pushed them back in a celebrated defeat.

Employee Rights – stop employment wrongs

The TUC have set up a campaign to defend employment rights www.stopemploymentwrongs.org.uk

This is because hard fought for employment rights are under attack.

I got a flat tyre and while at the garage, mechanics told me about how to cover for staff shortages they were required to work regular overtime. Fair enough but suddenly overtime pay has ceased with no prior warning.

Vive la difference!

French socialist Francois Hollande was elected on a commitment to create economic growth. France’s electorate were invited to back a bold economic vision that seeks to tackle economic and social inequality and realign the massive differential in wealth and wellbeing in the country. 

Among the range of economic stimuli Hollande has set out is a massive home building project which would boost construction, creating jobs and training opportunities.