Unite teams up with cable channel to launch Union TV

30 April 2008

As trade unions emerge from media obscurity with a series of high profile strikes, Unite, Britain’s biggest union, and the cable television channel Red TV will begin to broadcast a weekly programme for and about trade unions.

The first episode of the show fronted by labour lawyer Rob Bhol and Richard O’Brien the Director of Communications for Unite will go out on 3 May. The show will be repeated a number of times on Red TV each week.

The show will feature studio discussion on topical trade union issues and video packages showing trade unions at work.

Episode one feature a discussion about Northern Rock, an interview with Derek Simpson an agency and temporary workers and a feature on pension schemes and the strike at Grangemouth.

Richard O’Brien said, "There are nearly 7 million trade unionists in Britain but their lives and experiences are rarely covered by the main stream media. Our aim with this programme is to provide a trade union perspective on all the major industrial and political issues and uncensored view from working people on what’s happening to them and their families today."

Union TV commences on Red TV, channel 186 on Sky digital at 11.00am 3 May. 2008.