Sharon Graham, Unite’s new leader, plots a radical overhaul
British workplaces are likely to see more strikes
AGED 17 AND working as a silver-service waitress in London, Sharon Graham led an unofficial walkout in support of colleagues on casual contracts, which won them equal pay. It gave her a taste for facing off against employers. Now 52, she will soon have plenty of opportunity to satisfy it. On August 25th Unite, Britain’s second-largest—and by far its loudest—trade union, elected her as its new general secretary. She is expected to move the union away from Westminster and back into workplaces. The impact will be felt not just on the political left, but in boardrooms.
This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Bosses beware”
Britain August 28th 2021
- The Afghanistan debacle has weakened ties between Britain and America
- OnlyFans U-turns on its porn ban
- Britain has an enormous number of pheasants
- Sharon Graham, Unite’s new leader, plots a radical overhaul
- How German bombs shape London’s gangs
- Big British companies are entering the rental market
- Crossrail, London’s new train line, is almost finished
- What Tony taught Boris
From the August 28th 2021 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from Britain
The rise of the Net-Zero Dad
Middle-aged men care less about the problem. But they love the solution
Backing Heathrow expansion suggests Labour is serious about growth
It is the surest sign yet that the government is up for the fight
What the rise of bubble tea says about British high streets
A sugar rush from foreign students
Why Britain has fallen behind on road safety
More than 1,600 people still die each year in road collisions
Britain’s brokers are diversifying and becoming less British
London’s depleted stockmarket is forcing them to change