Our Creative and Cultural Forum has written a new open letter to the incoming Mayor of North East Combined Authority, calling for a renewed focus on arts and culture funding across the region:

83% of schools don't have enough money to maintain their buildings.

Meanwhile, this is the £42 million, luxury plane David Cameron chose to hire with taxpayers' money.

Four health care assistants handed in 100s of grievances today on behalf of HCA colleagues based in County Durham and Darlington Trust.

They are asking for the right banding with fair backpay that gives them the respect, recognition and reward they deserve. ✊

Today, we commemorate Workers' Memorial Day. Since 2008, we've honoured this day, reflecting on the significant sacrifices made by workers. This year marks 20 years since the Morecambe Bay Cockle Picker tragedy. Join us as we remember and pay our respects.
#WMD2024 #HCFERespect

'North Tyneside must look for a way to ensure these children continue to get the hot school dinners they need.' 👇 GMB Campaigns North East, Yorkshire & Humber

gmb.org.uk/news/hundreds-…

Fantastic to hear Durham Miners' Association are to lead Durham Pride this year 🏳️‍🌈

Join them and the rest of the march at Palace Green on Sunday 26 May ✊

🌈 Heading to Northern Pride this year?

Join us for a pre-march brunch 👇

mailchi.mp/tuc.org.uk/pri…

There are 2 related stories in The Mirror today:

Our public buildings are falling apart. It is only sheer luck that there hasn’t yet been a deadly crush, killing hundreds.

The government is refusing to act.

That’s why unions are now taking action in hundreds of workplaces.

Rail in public ownership…

Good for passengers, taxpayers, UK economy, rail staff, the environment.

Not so good for the shareholders who’ve extracted profit from our railways for decades but can’t run trains on time.

Works for me.👏👏 ⁦Louise Haigh⁩
theguardian.com/politics/2024/…

Hundreds of union reps are carrying out building safety inspections this week:

'when some people step through the door of their workplace, they step into danger. We are calling on government to speed up the removal of Raac and asbestos' - Paul Nowak
morningstaronline.co.uk/article/hundre…

🔥Workers who can't strike can't bargain. And if you're not bargaining, you're begging.

❌But now the Tories are trying to ban effective strike action in sectors like fire and rescue, health, education and rail.

💪Workers themselves must defeat the anti-union laws. And we can.

Carlisle International Workers Memorial Day event

Sunday, 28 April 2024
11:30am
Old Town Hall, Carlisle

megaphone.org.uk/events/carlisl…

Barrow Trades Union Council's International Workers Memorial Day Commemoration

Sunday 28 April 2024
11am
Cavendish Street, Barrow-in-Furness

megaphone.org.uk/events/barrow-…

📢 Let’s talk arts and culture in the North East!

This Thursday join the NTUC Creative and Culture Forum to discuss what the new NE Mayor's priorities should be.

If you’re interested in arts and culture in the North East, we’d love you to join us 👇

mailchi.mp/tuc.org.uk/let…

GMB Members continue the fight for equal pay in Sunderland Council, this predominantly female workforce care for the most vulnerable in society, Is it right they should be paid less for equal work? Support your Sunderland Sisters, Please ✍️& share our petition (link in Comments)

This week, our UCU members at Northumbria University voted to end the dispute over the threat to make compulsory redundancies. Members have had a mixture of reactions to this, including 'Brilliant!', and 'That's a relief'.

Every year on the 28 April, the trade union movement unites to mark International Workers’ Memorial Day.

Across the North East and Cumbria events are taking place in:

📍 Hartlepool
📍 Gateshead
📍 Sunderland
📍 Carlisle
📍 Barrow

Find out more 👇

megaphone.org.uk/calendars/work…

Happy National Voter Registration Day!

Rain or shine by post or in person, voting is POWER

Secure your vote for 2 May elections in England & Wales today: unitetheunion.org/myvote

The deadline to register is midnight tonight, or tomorrow to sort a postal vote

#DontLoseYourVoice

📢 The North East Child Poverty Commission is recruiting for a new, independent Chair - and we want to hear from you, if you feel you could help lead our work

More details of the role & how to apply are here - with a closing date of 5pm, Friday 10 May 👇

tinyurl.com/c2k448xn

Listen to Peter Gartside, ex-Managing Director of Cape, confirm that Cape's product was amongst the most dangerous in causing life-threatening #asbestos disease, in particular #mesothelioma . Asbestolux remains in UK infrastructure and its buildings today