Next week will see the TUC congress hear calls for co-ordinated strike action by public sector workers to overturn the government's two per cent pay policy.

You don’t have to be raving loony left to get out of your tree at this recent report by the TUC “Pension Watch”.

They have found by examining the published accounts that the average top 100 directors of UK companies will look forward to a pension of £201,700 a year from pension pots that average £3 million each.

This is annual pensions, not salary.

The real issue is not just the size of these payments in itself (although many would disagree) to me the issue is that this is a stonking 25 times the average workplace pension that ordinary workers receive (£8,100 v. £201,700).

Brendan Barber gave a thoughtful and considered speech to Progress last night which is available here:

http://www.tuc.org.uk/the_tuc/tuc-14830-f0.cfm

Far from blasting the Government as some newspapers have suggested today, he provides a clear direction of how Labour can win.  I've often thought that the unions have kept the Labour Party 'sensible' throughout our history, and now is no different.

The Government, TUC and the CBI have reached agreement on improving the rights of agency workers.

...and so say all of us (quote about best crimbo present from TUC Brendan Barber).

A little late (as was the announcement by the government) but excellent news on Monday about the rescue plan for pensioners whose final salary pension schemes have collapsed. This £2.9 Billion package will help an estimated 140,000 people.

No Justice for agency workers I’m afraid. The European Union “Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council” (also known for some reason as Europe’s Social Affairs council) met yesterday. I posted on Wednesday about media reports that a deal had been struck.

Apparently enough member states had agreed to finally give agency workers in the EU employment rights and to put an end to a two tier “terms and conditions” workforce. Agency staff would be on broadly similar terms as permanent staff. There is majority voting on this issue.

Yesterday the TUC sent out a press release welcoming a “last minute” compromise between the House of Commons and the House of Lords over this bill. It seems that it will finally become law. Ironically the dispute in Parliament was over the (important) issue of deaths in police and prison custody rather than the main trade union (and Warwick Agreement?) issue that individual company or public sector directors should be held personally liable to prosecution for killing workers by their gross negligence.

Last night I went to the launch of the TUC online network of “Pension Champions” at Congress House. The aim is to train and support volunteers to deliver advice and information on pensions to their workplace colleagues. They will be supported by a new website and on-line “pension doctor”.

Post on the Trade Unions for Labour (TULO) Hustings held last night in the TUC Headquarters in Congress House last month. See picture is of UNISON Labour Link member Rachel Voller (local Nurse) and Alan Johnson. The main hall was packed. Extra chairs had to be bought in. Brown comes in, lots of clapping, he “works” the front row very well shaking hands and looking very relaxed and confident. He then knocks a microphone off the stage. Recovers well, and starts talking to the audience. A few bits and pieces about his performance.

On Thursday I spent an interesting few hours at the “Union Idea’s Network” (UIN) first ever conference, held in London Metropolitan University. About 100 people attended, seemed to be a mix of trade union representatives and academics. Quite a few young people and a very high proportion of women (unlike most trade union meetings I attend). The UIN is the “online website, supported by the TUC, bringing together trade unionists and academics to exchange ideas and information to stimulate debate and support action” (TUC).

Quick post on the email no doubt many of us received today from Peter Watt, the Labour Party General Secretary, urging us to encourage Labour Party supporters to join the Party by June 1 and still get a vote for the Labour Party Leadership and Deputy Leadership. By co-incidence, I spoke today to a GMB steward who lives in West Ham (my CLP). I asked him if he was a member of the Party. He said no, he gave some reasons why – including the cost! When I told him that trade union members can pay £1 per month he was astonished and said he would consider joining.

Please take a moment to send a message in protest at the crackdown in Zimbabwe, after Wellington Chibebe and pretty much the whole labour movement leadership were arrested and beaten.