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Blogs
If only we could return to the 1930s…
By Sue Konzelmann, a Reader in Management at Birkbeck, University of London and Frank Wilkinson, a founder member of the Institute for Employment Rights and Emeritus Reader, University of Cambridge.
Both Government and Opposition spokespersons offer the same dire warning. They claim that anything other than persistent austerity will “return the country to the 1930s”. Such claims demonstrate their complete ignorance of what was actually achieved in the 1930s. In the economic recovery of 1932 to 1938, real GDP increased by 24%, employment grew by 14%, unemployment fell by 36%, the current accounts balance of payment improved by £48 million and real wages increased by more than 4%. Over the same period, national debt as a % of GDP, fell from a peak of 178 in 1932 to 146 in 1938, indicating the advantage of increasing prosperity over austerity for settling debts…
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The Road to Serfdom
A short blog by John Foster on a presentation given by Keith Ewing
“As Delors had the wisdom to realise, without enforceable rights workers in some countries may rightly feel that they have no reason to support continuing membership of the EU. If Draghi is right that Social Europe is dead, then so is the EU. The latter message is one we have a duty to express loudly and clearly”. This was the conclusion of a paper that Professor Keith Ewing gave to a conference of progressive lawyers in Paris on 15 November this year…
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News
Decent Jobs Week: How to solve the decent jobs deficit?
This week was Decent Jobs Week, a TUC campaign drawing attention to the millions of people in the UK who are trapped in low-paid, insecure jobs, with diminished employment rights. The number of workers on zero hours contracts is 1.4 million, and growing. The media is saturated with stories of economic recovery and falling unemployment. What’s being talked about less, however, is that the jobs being created are of poor quality, with a massive boom in self-employment and only one in forty new jobs being full time. This transformation in the employment market is ensuring that the economic recovery remains exclusively for the rich.
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Equal pay (Transparency) Bill passed
The Equal Pay Bill was overwhelmingly backed in parliament, passed by 258 to eight. The proposed legislation would make it compulsory for companies with more than 250 employees to publish the average pay differences between their male and female staff. At present publishing is voluntary, and only five of 7,000 big companies have done so. Government ministers abstained from voting. The bill, tabled by Sarah Champion, Labour MP for Rotherham, would bring into effect measures in the 2010 Equality Act that which were not implemented by the coalition. As it is a 10 minute rule bill, it is unlikely to progress further before the next general election without government backing.
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UNISON will appeal high court ruling
The High Court ruled to turn down Unison’s second judicial review request over the government’s decision to introduce employment tribunal fees. However the union has been granted permission to appeal. Dave Prentis, Unison general secretary said; “The High Court’s decision is disappointing but we will fight on and do everything possible to ensure that these punitive fees introduced by the government are abolished. “Today’s ruling is a real missed opportunity to ensure that all workers can afford to bring an employment tribunal claim. Since the introduction of fees last year, thousands of workers have been priced out of justice and we must not let this continue to happen.”
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Blacklisting cases back in court
The cases of the blacklisted construction workers seeking compensation will resume in court today. Blacklisting came to light when the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) seized a consulting association database of 3,213 construction workers and environmental activists during its investigation into blacklisting in the construction industry. The database was used by 44 companies to vet new recruits for trade unionism and activism. The 571 blacklisted workers are represented by a Lead Counsel including Chair of the Institute of Employment Rights John Hendy QC.
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ECJ: Obesity can be a disability
The European Court of Justice has ruled that obesity can be a disability, in FOA v Billund – a landmark case that could affect employment rights across Europe. The case concerned a Danish child minder who was dismissed due to redundancy by his local city council employer in 2010. Karsten Kaltof weighed over 25st (160kg) when he lost his job. His lawyers claimed that his weight was one of the principle reasons for his dismissal, and it therefore constituted unfair discrimination. It should be noted that the ruling falls short of classifying obesity as a protected characteristic against which all discrimination is prohibited.
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New on the Coalition Timeline
Economy
- It will take ten years for wages to return to pre-recession levels (15/12/2014)
Redundancy and Grievances
- Blacklisted construction workers return to court (16/12/2014)
Public Sector
- Royal Mail sell off undervalues by £180m (19/12/2014)
- Spending cuts will ‘will push councils to breaking point’ (19/12/2014)
- NHS England refuses to publish list of bidders (18/12/2014)
Other
- Osborne gives his friend 18% pay rise (19/12/2014)
- Bid to scrap bedroom tax fails (18/12/2014)
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!
Congratulations to this month’s winners: Frank Cammock, UNITE Belfast Shorts Branch and Mark Walsh, CWU Merseyside Amalgamated Branch
Publications
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
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
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.
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.
IER Manifesto for Collective Bargaining
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