Despite the Sex Discrimination Act being on the statute book for over 30 years, inequality remains a feature of the modern workplace. The pay gap between men and women remains wide, with part-time women earning nearly 40% less than men.

In an attempt to progress the long awaited call for equality, the Gender Equality Duty (GED) will come into force in April 2007. This legislation requires public authorities to take action to eliminate unlawful sex discrimination and harassment, and promote equality of opportunity between women and men.

about the seminar

In October 2004 a new statutory 3-step grievance and disciplinary procedure was introduced, with the stated objective of reducing the number of cases pursued to an Employment Tribunal. Then in 2005, new Employment Tribunal Rules and Procedures were introduced, increasing the time limits for submitting applications to Employment Tribunals in the hope that more grievances would be settled at workplace level.

John Hendy QC, Chairman of the Institute of Employment Rights, will be updating delegates on the latest developments on the Trade Union Rights and Freedoms Bill at this one day conference organised by the Morning Star.

Brian Caton, General Secretary of the Prison Officers Association will also address this session of the conference and Carolyn Jones, Director of IER will Chair.

Other speakers in this session will be announced shortly.

John Hendy QC and Michael Ford were both involved in the ASLEF v UK case, a case which ended in victory for the union. In an effort to inform the discussion around the Government’s current Consultation Document (responses due in by 8th August 2007), both barristers will present an IER Briefing on the implications of the case.

John Hendy and Michael Ford will be joined by Professor Keith Ewing, President of the Institute, who will Chair the event.

Joint Fringe Meeting with the United Campaign for the Repeal of the Anti-Trade Union Laws

Meeting Room 1 (Hall B West) Brighton Conference Centre 5.30pm (or end of TUC session)

Speakers so far include:
Brian Caton, General Secretary, Prison Officers’ Association (POA)
Bob Crow, General Secretary, National Union of Rail Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT)
Jon Cruddas MP for Dagenham
Prof Keith Ewing, President, IER
Sally Hunt, General Secretary, University and College Union (UCU)

A conference
Thursday 4 October 2007
9.30am-4.15pm
at the UCU Conference Centre,
Britannia Street, London WC1
organised by
The Institute of Employment Rights in association with
TUC and Old Square Chambers

This is the third IER annual conference organised in association with the TUC and Old Square Chambers. The conference is timed to coincide with the introduction of new legislation, due to come in to force on 1st October. The aim is to ensure trade union

Following the Trade Union Rights and Freedom Bill failing to be alloted time for discussion at its first reading on 2nd March (see Hansard), John McDonnell MP has now tabled the Bill for a second reading on 19th October 2007.

To support the 2nd reading, the United Campaign has organised a demonstration and rally for 18th October at Westminster and are asking supporters to join the postcard campaign asking MPs to remain in the House of Commons on 19th October to show their support for the Bill.

Speakers at the Rally

• John Hendy QC – IER Chairman
• John McDonnell MP

about the seminar

Climate change is most definitely a union issue. Workplaces burn energy, consume resources and generate waste. Industry alone is responsible for over half of carbon dioxide emissions increasing the greenhouse effect every year.

Among trade unionists, the strength of support for unions and government to take action on environmental issues in the workplace is “overwhelming”, according to a national online trade union survey. And unions are now pressing for environmental audits in the workplace including a central role for unions.

a conference
Wednesday 5 December 2007
9.30am-4.30pm
at the UCU Conference Centre,
Britannia Street,
London WC1
organised by
The Institute of Employment Rights

While we have traveled a long way in terms of equalities legislation in recent years, the complexity of discrimination legislation still makes it very difficult to tackle the deep-set
issues of inequality in the workplace.

In the past 10 years alone, we have upgraded maternity and paternity leave, introduced regulations on sexual orientation, age and religion and belief and focused on gender equality, disability and race equality duties. Yet women are still paid less than men,
disabled people are twice as likely to be unemployed and a ‘sticky floor’ exists for ethnic minorities in terms of advancement in the workplace.

European Employment Law at a Crossroads
A Top Level Briefing
Thursday 10th January 2008
11.00am- 4.15pm
at the UCU Conference Centre,
Britannia Street, London WC1
organised by
The Institute of Employment Rights
PLEASE NOTE THE STARTING TIME OF THE BRIEFING

About the Briefing
Once again Europe is at the centre of political debate, a debate that could have profound effects on employment rights and trade union freedoms.

Central to the debate are three issues:

What Future for Occupational Pensions?
seminar
Thursday 17th January 2008
1.30pm-4.15pm
at the UCU Conference Centre,
Britannia Street, London WC1
organised by
The Institute of Employment Rights

An analysis of the annual reports of the top 100 UK companies and their boardroom pensions shows that while the average executive retires aged 60 on a final salary pension worth over £3 million a year, Britain’s workers are expected to work till they drop.

Conference
6th February 2008
9.30am-4.30pm
at the UCU Conference Centre,
Britannia Street, London WC1
Organised by
The Institute of Employment Rights

About the conference
In August 2007, following an explosion which killed nine people, ICL Plastics were fined a mere £400,000 for health and safety breaches. Such a penalty graphically demonstrates how negligent companies can cut costs at the expense of workers’ lives without fear of
adequate financial and other legal consequences.

TUPE regulations 2006: Clarification or Confusion?
A seminar
Wednesday 12th March 2008
1.30pm-4.15pm
at the UCU Conference Centre,
Britannia Street, London WC1
organised by
The Institute of Employment Rights

About the seminar
The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations, known as TUPE, govern how workers are treated following the transfer of a business or a change in service

Delegates and visitors to the Women’s TUC conference in Eastbourne are invited to attend a fringe meeting organised by The Morning Star and UNITE the union, to take place in the T&G Centre, Grand Parade, Eastbourne BN21 4DN.

The fringe wiill call for a campaign for:

• End to child poverty
• Equal pay
• Protection for agency and temporary workers

Speakers

• Siobhan Endean, Unite (AMICUS)
• Lorene Fabian, Chair Women’s TUC
• Anita Halpin, NUJ
• Dianna Holland, Unite (T&G)
• Carolyn Jones, IER

Globalisation: The Fightback

Following the success of last year’s June event, the Morning Star is to host a major labour movement delegate Conference, at the Mander Hall, Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9BD

There will be morning and afternoon plenary sessions. There will also be afternoon workshops, one of which will be hosted by the Institute and other guest organisations, as follows:

Agency Workers: Social Justice Long Overdue
A Seminar
Monday 21st April 2008
1:30- 4:15pm
at the UCU Conference Centre,
Britannia Street, London WC1
organised by
The Institute of Employment Rights

About the seminar

When Andrew Miller’s Temporary and Agency Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) passed its second reading in the House of Commons on 22nd February the long promised and much needed statutory protection for agency workers came a step closer.