In part III of a serialisation of his new book, JOHN McINALLY tells the extraordinary story of the attempts by ‘moderates’ to prevent leftwinger Mark Serwotka from taking the leadership of the then-newly formed PCS union
THE first industrial revolution gave birth to modern trade unionism, spawned in the factories and communities made by vast, revolutionary change.
A new global order was taking root putting an end to feudalism. In its place stood new rulers. The industrialists with their mass production and the financiers with their borderless banks. All with almost unimaginable power to determine the lives of others.
But with the advance of modern trade unionism came safeguards hard won by ordinary people. From growing wages to improved health and safety, ordinary workers created their own protection.
Labour’s watered-down legislation won’t protect us from unfair dismissal or ban some zero-hours contracts until 2027 — leaving millions of young people vulnerable to the populist right’s appeal, warns TUC young workers chair FRASER MCGUIRE
As bus builder Alexander Dennis threatens Falkirk closure and Grangemouth faces ruthless shutdown by tax exile Jim Ratcliffe, RICHARD LEONARD MSP warns that global corporations must be resisted by a bold industrial strategy based on public ownership



