John Hannett Articles

Trade union decline is not inevitable, argues Usdaw general secretary John Hannett The latest figures on trade union membership in the United Kingdom showed that it fell to 6.2 million, down 4.6 per cent on last year. Times are certainly tough for unions. We are...

Two-thirds of Usdaw members are covered by agreements which improve the rights of parents and carers, argues Usdaw general secretary John Hannett Work-life balance issues have traditionally been regarded by many in the trade union movement as peripheral – a matter for...

Every year Usdaw, the shopworkers’ union, organises a campaign to raise awareness of the pressures members are under when they are juggling work with looking after someone. This year’s campaign day is being held today, Wednesday 18 May, and it is all about carers,...

Recently we have seen reports of a French man on trial for assaulting shopworkers with camembert in Chelsea. It is easy to understand why this story was reported, journalists must have rubbed their hands in glee when this landed on their desks. However, this case is a...