News Brief 26 September

Submitted by claudiaobrien on Fri, 26/09/2014 - 17:45

By Claudia O’Brian

In the news this week

Dominating the headlines this week was the Labour party conference. Big stories at conference included Milliband pledging an £8 minimum wage by 2020, and increased NHS funding, and Ed Balls announcing a planned freeze on child benefit.

Len McCluskey said that the Scottish referendum had to be ‘the tombstone on 20 years of our party’s indifference to the interests of the working class’. He said that Labour must change to win, and do this by “Strengthening the collective rights of workers. Using trade union strength and collective bargaining to tackle inequality. Recognising that strong trade unions are not just a necessity to balance the power of the employer in the workplace, but to balance the power of the moneyed elite in society”. The speech is available in full here.

The IER and Campaign for Trade Union Freedom’s joint Fringe at conference was packed. The fringe called for a more radical Labour manifesto to ensure voter turnout like that of the referendum. John Hendy QC warned of the dangers of international trade agreements currently being negotiated behind closed doors and the impact they would have on collective and individual rights at work, leading to a massive shift in the balance of power towards transnational corporations. Keith Ewing called on labour to implement the 3 Cs: Collective bargaining, Collective action and Consultation. Continue reading to find out more about our fringe event, and the week’s news

The IER’s Employment Law Update conferences are coming up soon – in London (7/10) and Liverpool (22/10). Click here for more information, and to book your place online.

New on the Coalition Timeline

Click here to see the Coalition Timeline

Health and Safety

Low pay and long hours increase risk of diabetes (25/9/2014)

HSE considers closing down a number of committees (26/9/2014)

Public Sector

Enquiry launched into Royal Mail universal delivery obligations(25/9/2014)

Economy

London house prices likely to cause “brain-drain” (26/9/2014)

Welfare

Universal Credit is “Undeliverable” says former head of civil service (25/9/2014)

Labour Party Conference: Joint fringe by IER and Campaign for Trade Union Freedom

Tony Burke, Assistant General Secretary of UNITE and Chair of the Campaign for Trade Unions Freedom

Speaking at the joint fringe by IER and Campaign for Trade Union Freedom at the Labour Party conference, Tony Burke outlined his fears about TTIP, the abandoned Carr report and what unions want to see from a Labour Government.

Passport Office back under Home Office control 

The Passport Office will be stripped of its agency status and be brought back under direct control of ministers, Home Secretary Theresa May announced today. The decision comes in response to a disastrous summer, where there was a backlog of 537,663 applications, and follows a recommendation by the Home Affairs Committee last week (September 16).     The Passport Office had previously closed 22 passport centres, and axed 550 jobs.

NHS workers set to strike hits 500,000

Up to nine different unions are set to participate in the strike, including Unison which represents 300,000 health care workers in the UK. Those striking in the NHS include nurses, midwives, occupational therapists and paramedics. The walk-out will take place from 7 to 11am on October 13. Industrial action short of a strike, including not working unpaid overtime, and insisting on taking resting breaks, will take place for the following four days. The strike comes in response to staff being denied a 1% pay rise, and will be the first time in 32 years that the NHS is hit by industrial action.

Milliband’s £8 Minimum wage pledge

Ed Milliband has announced that Labour would increase the minimum wage to £8 an hour, by 2020.   The rise would be implemented in annual stages by the Low Pay Commission, in consultation with business. The increase constitutes a £1.50 rise over 6 years, up from £6.50 an hour (as of October 1 this year). The proposed deal will see the Low Pay Commission given power to advise the secretary of state for business, innovation and skills if the goals cannot be met without risking jobs and growth. £8 an hour will exceed the current living wage of £7.65 (for 2014), but will remain well below the London living wage of £8.80 an hour.

Publications

Re-regulating Zero Hours Contracts

By Zoe Adams and Simon Deakin

ZHCs are highly profitable for employers, but lead to insecurity of income and low pay for workers. The authors point to rigidities in employment law and the operation of the tax-benefit system as being responsible for the rise in zero hours contracting. Order your copy here

Trade Unions and Economic Inequality

By Dr Lydia Hayes and Professor Tonia Novitz

What is the point of trade unions? What do they deliver? Are trade unions relevant in 21st century modern society? These and many other questions are answered by the authors of this timely and well presented report. Order your copy here

TUPE 2014

By Richard Arthur

A collection of papers by the UK’s leading experts on labour migration on the exploitation of migrant workers and the need for labour law reform.

Help us to celebrate 25 years of the Institute

Donations are coming in daily to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Institute. If you make a donation, don’t forget to send us a supporting statement about why you support the institute. So, whether you’re an individual or a branch, whether it’s £25 or £250 join in and you’ll be included in out monthly draw to win a free place at an IER event!
The latest draw winners are:
Mandy Berger, UNISON
David Hope, GMB
Fred Brown, NASUWT/BELFAST

Equality and Human Right Commission calls for evidence on religion or belief issues

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has launched a major call for evidence from individuals and organisations about how their religion or belief, or that of other people, may have affected their experiences in the workplace and in using the services and facilities they need in everyday life. The Commission wants to gather as much information as possible from members of the public, employers, providers of services, legal advisors and religion or belief organisations. So if you have a relevant experience to share, you are urged to respond. To do this, or to find out more, go to the Commission’s website at:

www.equalityhumanrights.com/religion

Forthcoming Events

Employment Law Update 2014, Unite the Union, London

Tuesday 7 October 2014

This 10th annual IER conference is designed to ensure trade union representatives are kept up to date and well-informed about developments in employment law. It is a must go to event for anyone with an interest in employment law and the protection of collective and individual workers’ rights.

Employment Law Update 2014, Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool

Wednesday 22 October 2014
This 7th annual IER conference in the North West is designed to ensure trade union representatives are kept up to date and well-informed about developments in employment law. It is a must go to event for anyone with an interest in employment law and the protection of collective and individual workers’ rights.

Equality and Discrimination: What Next For Equal Rights? , Unite the Union, London

Wednesday 19 November 2014
Four years after the introduction of the Equality Act and where are we now? Leading equality experts from the law, trade unions and academia will come together to critically assess the latest case law, precedents and evidence and anticipate where they will lead us in terms of ensuring fairness at work for all.

TUPE Update: the new Regulations, Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool

Wednesday 3rd December 2014
The government published new TUPE Regulations in November 2013, revealing service provision rules will not be repealed, but several changes will be made that could hinder trade union activity. There are many uncertainties about the new regulations and the conference will aim to provide answers to many questions plus any additional questions from delegates on the day.

The Institute of Employment Rights