Greater Manchester vendors of Big Issue North talk about their hopes, health, family, friends and dogs.
‘Justice gap’ is widening due to legal aid cuts and Covid induced deprivation
The ‘justice gap’ is the increasing divide between people who can and cannot afford to pay for legal representation, due to legal aid cuts. With deprivation increasing due to Covid more people face losing their jobs and homes, due to lack of legal counsel.
Greater Manchester Law Centre campaign volunteer Hoejong Jeong explains the legal barriers raised by the state and the pandemic.
Undressing centuries of exploitation within Manchester’s fashion industry
The dark satanic mills of Manchester may have been transformed into chic apartments and office space, but the exploitation and abuse that went on in those mills hasn’t disappeared.
Our addiction to fast fashion means we import the majority of clothes made from global south countries, who have built there own satanic mills to replace our own. Fast fashion brands based in Manchester are making a killing from this trade.
‘Stay strong, stay determined and stay out on strike’ – activists turn out for Manchester’s bus drivers
Activists attended the picket lines at Queens Road Depot in north Manchester to show solidarity with Go North West bus drivers, as Unite the Union announced new leverage campaign aimed at increasing pressure on Go Ahead Group to return to the negotiating table.
Deliveroo is paying less than minimum wage on nearly half its courier deliveries
Data collected by an innovative online tool, from invoices uploaded by Deliveroo couriers, shows that nearly half of Deliveroo couriers were paid less than the minimum wage. Deliveroo claims it pays its couriers above the minimum wage.
Meteor reporters reflect on a year dominated by Covid-19
Today is the anniversary of a very strange Covid-19 lockdown year. Six Meteor reporters reflect on working through the pandemic and the challenges faced.
Burnham brands ‘fire and rehire’ practices ‘industrial blackmail’
Andy Burnham met Go North West bosses last week to discuss service disruption.
While careful to distinguish the industrial dispute between GNW and its drivers from other instances of ‘fire and rehire’ practices, the mayor says issuing Section 188 notices to renegotiate workers’ employment contracts is tantamount to ‘industrial blackmail’.
‘Fire and rehire’ plans by Go North West force bus drivers into strike action
Bus drivers in Manchester employed by Go North West voted 82% in favour of taking industrial action against the bus company for its ‘fire and rehire’ practices, on a 77% turnout.
Unite, represents the drivers, stressed there was still time for Go North West bosses to return to the negotiating table.
Manchester bus drivers poised to ballot on strike action as Unite and Go North West talks collapse
Unite will ballot 485 bus drivers on strike action if Go North West does not return to the negotiating table. The decision to consider balloting was made in response to the bus company announcing it will no longer negotiate with the union and will instead consult drivers individually.
Rail workers strike in Longsight over Alstom Christmas pay-freeze
Maintenance staff at Manchester’s Longsight train depot have walked out and are set for multiple 24 hour strikes across December over an international pay freeze imposed by train manufacturer Alstom.