News Brief 14 November

Submitted by claudiaobrien on Fri, 14/11/2014 - 14:35

By Claudia O’Brian

In the news this week

UK companies are at their most profitable in 16 years – so why isn’t there wage growth to match? A study published this week revealed that only one in four low-paid workers has managed to escape low-pay in the last decade. The majority of those affected are women.

There are still some places left at the IER’s Equality and Discrimination conference in London next week (19/11/14). 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. Book your place here.

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

Public Sector

Lamb: NHS needs emergency funding (11/11/2014)

Increasing vulnerability in the workplace

GLA prosecutions fall to 4-year low (14/11/2014)

Trade union rights

HMRC plot to undermine PCS (14/11/2014)

Equality

Government response to overseas job advertising is published (11/11/2014)

Pensions dispute: Bullying tactics violate workers’ human rights

By Professor Alan Bogg, University of Oxford and Professor K D Ewing, King’s College London.

How should workers respond to bullying and intimidation tactics used by employers during industrial action disputes? Two leading academics consider the current dispute in the university sector.

Unpaid internships “a serious and pressing problem for social mobility”

Almost a third of recent university graduates are working as unpaid interns. This works out at 22,000 at any one time – far higher than the previous government estimate of 15,000. The average cost of an internship to the intern is £926 in London (excl. transport), which works out at £5,556 for a six month internship. The cost of a six month internship in Manchester is £4,728. An analysis of government statistics shows that graduates, now numbering 38% of young people, who cannot afford to work for free are struggling to find employment. Those who can to foot the bill are able to kick-start careers in highly competitive proffessions, while their equally talented but less well heeled contemporaries are left behind.

TUC: only 1 in 40 new jobs are full-time

The TUC has released research showing that only one in forty jobs created since the recession is full-time. Much has been made of growth and unemployment in the news recently, with official figures showing unemployment having fallen below 2m. However, stagnant wage growth has posed a challenge to the spin around the figures. Now, the TUC has revealed that only one in forty new jobs created since the recession is a full-time post. The number of full-time jobs has fallen by 669,000 since 2008 and part-time workers now make up 38% of the workforce. Underemployment – part-time workers who desire a full-time job to maintain a decent standard of living – now stands at 1.3m, double what it was pre-recession.

G20 governments are “not tackling the inequality of wages and rising unemployment”

As the G20 leaders assemble in Brisbane today (November 13), a survey of Labour 20 (L20) members has found that 56% of G20 policies are ineffective at improving outcomes for working people. “More than half of G20 policies have failed to have a positive impact on working people with weak action on issues that could have had an impact on workers lives such as jobs, decent wages and social protection,” said Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). “Governments are prioritising policies which support the interests of big business and not tackling the inequality of wages and rising unemployment”, she continued. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) more than 200 million were unemployed in 2013, up by 5 million on the year before

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!

Publications

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

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

Labour migration in hard times: Reforming labour market regulation?

Edited by Bernard Ryan

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.

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.

Forthcoming Events

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