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In the news this week

According to a new Guardian/ICM poll, 70% of people have not felt the benefit of the economic recovery the Coalition is so eager to boast about. Indeed, new data from the Office for National Statistics has shown that wage rises have fallen short of the pace of inflation for five years running and British workers have seen their wages slashed by £5,000 during that time.

But despite the fact most of us are not feeling better off, Boris Johnson is making the cost of living even higher in London, and as fares rise, workers in some areas of the country will be forced to shell out 23% of their wage to use the railway network.

The government may also be failing to engender support from young people, as the retirement age for those born in the 1990s is set to rise to 70 years old.

We’ve gone into more depth on a wide range of stories this week. Click through on the stories below to read more.

New on the Coalition Timeline

Click here to see the Coalition Timeline

Pay and Benefits

• Boris under fire for exploiting workers
  (12/12/2013)
• Osborne denies pay stagnation
  (2/12/2013)

Health and Safety

• Tory ‘edged out’ for supporting higher asbestos compensation
  (14/12/2013)

Increasing vulnerability in the workplace

• Businesses given power to regulate the regulators
  (17/12/2013)

Equality

• Tories would consider scrapping Human Rights Act (11/12/2013)

Equality Liverpool-Early January: Book now!

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Organised by the Institute of Employment Rights and sponsored by NUT North West Region.

This 4th Equalities Conference in the North West brings together an expert panel of speakers to look at the latest issues affecting equality and discrimination at work. A similar programme to the London conference, this event will be accessible to people who don’t want to travel to London.

Christmas special packages: Order before Friday!

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Support Justice for Hillsborough

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Sean Taylor’s special edition of You’ll Never Walk Alone plus a festive Silent Night now available on iTunes with all proceeds to the Justice for Hillsborough Campaign. The perfect Christmas gift!

Access to Justice

Legal aid cuts proposals may break human rights laws

The Joint Committee on human rights has criticised proposals for cuts to legal aid, saying they may breach human rights laws.

Dr Hywel Francis, Chair of the Committee, explained: “Access to justice is a human right of citizens in this country, regardless of the state of the economy. We would urge the Government not to fall into the trap of knowing the price of everything but the value of nothing. We are particularly worried about the impact of the residence test on vulnerable groups such as children or victims of domestic violence.”
Read more…

Labour Migration

Migrant test to be made tougher for those seeking benefits

The government is continuing to make the question of immigration seem like one of so-called ‘benefit tourism’ despite several statistical reports showing the welfare state is not likely to be a draw to immigrants.

There are now proposals to introduce a new test for EU migrants of 100 questions before they can claim benefits, including asking why they could not find work in their home country, and evaluating their ability to speak English.

The IER has long demonstrated that the issue of migration is not one of cost to the Treasury (indeed, migrants provide a net benefit to the public purse), but one of worker exploitation. Find out more in our latest publication on Labour Migration.

Read more…

Immigration Bill will lead to increased homelessness and discrimination, says human rights committee

The Joint Committee for Human Rights has also told the government they are in danger of breaching human rights with the new Immigration Bill, which the IER believes is founded on myths regarding the problems associated with immigration rather than the facts.

Buy our labour migration publication to find out more about the alternative argument on immigration.

Read more…

Equality

Gender Pay gap rises despite average salary increases

The average salary of a UK worker has increased to £27,000 per year, but new research has found women are being left behind.

A study by XpertHR revealed that the gender pay gap among full-time workers increased to 10% by April 2013 from 9.5% in April 2012 – the first widening for five years.

Read more…

Over two-thirds of private sector firms do not conduct equal pay reviews

New research has shown that over two-thirds of private sector firms do not perform equal pay reviews, putting them far behind the public sector when it comes to action on equal wages.
Read more…

Launch of Women’s Assembly Against Austerity

Over 40 female leaders signed a letter to the Guardian this week calling for a Women’s Assembly Against Austerity to be launched on 22 February 2014 at London’s Conway Hall. The signatories included Carolyn Jones, Director of the Institute of Employment Rights (IER) and Vice-Chair of the Morning Star; and member of the IER’s Executive Committee Barbara Switzer.Read more…

Maternity pay ‘could be cut’ in 2015

Prime Minister David Cameron has admitted that he will not protect parental pay from overall budget cuts in 2015. Read more…

Equality experts: Coalition cuts could be the death of equality

By Nerys Owen

Equality experts at the latest IER Equality and Discrimination conference criticised the Coalition’s actions in the domain, suggesting the government is dragging its feet in some important areas, and actively killing equality law through multiple cuts in others. Read more…

Pay and benefits

MPs should enter parliament for their principles, not for a pay rise

By Roger Jeary

Earlier this year I blogged on this site some views on what was then speculation as to the level of MPs’ pay rise that the independent pay review body would come up with. The speculation has turned to reality and this week the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) recommended that MPs’ salaries should increase by 11% to £74,000 per annum. IPSA also advised that this increase be countered by reductions in some expenses, reducing pension costs and cutting the resettlement amount that retiring or deselected politicians receive. Read more…

Trade Union Rights

Scotland’s Future: strengthening workers’ rights north of the border?

By Ruth Dukes

Ruth Dukes analyses the proposals made in the Scottish Government’s white paper for independence, including employment law policies that mark a different approach to workers’ rights and the economy to Westminster..

Read more…

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IER Manifesto for Collective Bargaining

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New publications

Justice Deferred: a critical guide to the Coalition’s employment tribunal reforms

By David Renton and Anna Macey

Justice Deferred maps out in a concise, easy to read, accessible style and language, the ideologically driven path being pursued by the Coalition Government. It provides a critical guide to changes in employment tribunal rules and procedures.

Reconstruction after the crisis: a manifesto for collective bargaining

By Professor Keith Ewing and John Hendy QC

This publication presents an evidence-based policy proposal for the state encouragement of collective bargaining, and particularly sectoral bargaining, as a tried-and-tested means of reducing income inequality and stimulating the sustainable recovery of a strong and resilient economy.

Labour Law Highlights 1013

By Rebecca Tuck, Betsan Criddle & Stuart Brittenden

SPECIAL OFFER – 4 for the price of 1! Buy Labour Law Highlights 2013 and get Labour Law Highlights 2012, 2011, and 2010 for free! Already got past copies of Labour Law Highlights? You can still buy this year’s copy on its own for the usual price of £8.

Forthcoming events

Equality and Discrimination: What next for equal rights?

Wednesday 22 January 2014
A one-day conference

Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool

Pensions: Changes and challenges

Wednesday 12 February 2014
A one-day conference

Unite the Union, London

Wednesday 26 February 2014
A one-day conference
Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool

Wednesday 05 March 2014
A one-day conference
Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool

Wednesday 19 March 2014
A one-day conference
Unison, Euston Road, London