Blogs
Economics history tells us austerity doesn’t work
By Sue Konzelmann and Frank Wilkinson
Osborne argues that the economy is on the road to recovery. Cameron claims that the government is well on the way to reducing the national debt. So how come most people still feel under-paid, over-charged and living on the edge? In the second of a series of blog pieces, Frank Wilkinson and Sue Konzelman expose the fiction behind the government’s financial arguments. Analysing the UK’s history of economic performance, they conclude that austerity doesn’t work. It hasn’t in the past and it won’t in the future.
Read the full blog here…
News
Working Time Directive (Limitation) Bill 2015
The Bill began its second reading debate (23 January) but was adjourned. The second reading debate will recommence on 27 February. The insidious bill aims to impose “Limitations on definition of working time”, as stipulated in the EU Working Time Directive.
The directive would not apply to “any employee who with the agreement of the employer has chosen to opt out of the provisions of the Directive and the Regulations” or “doctors and other health professionals”. It would also not apply to calculation of entitlements to holiday and holiday pay, bonuses and overtime, or travel time.
Read More…
Owner of City Link questioned by BIS committee
Jon Moulton, the founder of City Link’s parent company Better Capital, has been questioned by the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee (BIS) over why the company failed, and what the impact is likely to be. Staff were told that the company had been placed into administration on Christmas Day, and on New Year’s Eve, 2,356 of City Link’s 2,727 employees were officially made redundant by administrators Ernst & Young. The timing of the news was described as “disgraceful” by RMT general secretary Mick Cash.
Read More…
“Slowest recovery in modern history”
The latest GDP figures were published this Tuesday (27 Jan) by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Annual growth has finally picked up pace, and was the fastest since the financial crisis of 2007, however the recovery slowed in the final quarter. The services sector was once again responsible for most of the recovery, whereas contraction has occurred in the construction, mining and energy industries. This indicates that the recovery is one highly reliant on consumer spending. It is the IER’s position that the best way to increase wages and therefore create stable economic growth is through collective bargaining; “the only sensible road to recovery for British workers, British trade unions, and the British economy”.
Read More…
Employment Tribunal fees remissions
Ian Murray, Labour MP for Edinburgh South, asked:
“To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2014 to Question 206019, how many awards of remission of fees for employment tribunal proceedings were made in each month between 1 July 2014 and 30 September 2014; and how many such awards were to (i) single claimants, (ii) claimants in multiple claimant cases and (iii) applicants to the Employment Appeal Tribunal.”
Read the response…
More in the news this week…
Amended Acas Code of Practice on Discipline and Grievance
Conservatives target human rights
The Tories have drafted a replacement for the Human Rights Act, the Bill of Rights which plans to enable British judges to ignore rulings by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. The Bill of Rights drawn up by their lawyers would mean that suspects and criminals would not be able to use their human right to family life to fight against deportation unless it was deemed an “exceptional” circumstance. The Conservatives claim that this would prevent criminals using Human Rights as a ‘get out of jail free card’.
Read More…
The IER has published experts’ analysis on what withdrawal from particular articles of the EHCR would mean for employment rights. Read them here:
Article 4: Prohibition of slavery, servitude, forced and compulsory labour
Article 8: Right to respect for private and family life
Article 10: Right to freedom of expression
Article 14: Prohibition of discrimination
|
Forthcoming Events
Employment law after the election: what kind of laws do we want?, Unison Center, London
Wednesday 11th February 2014
As we rapidly approach the next general election, Britain’s working population and, in particular, its 61⁄2 million trade unionists need to know how their economic wellbeing is going to improve under a new government. It has been said that the next general election will be won or lost on the issue of employment rights. The conference will be a key event in the run-up to the general election for trade unionists, academics, lawyers and anyone with an interest in workers’ rights and trade union freedoms.
What laws do you want after the election? Let us know on Twitter: #ierwhatwewant
Publications
By David Renton and Anna Macey
This publication offers a chilling reminder of the extent to which access to justice is being systematically shut down by the Coalition government.
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.
IER Manifesto for Collective Bargaining
The Morning Star is seeking a Campaigns Manager to join the business team at their London office. If you are interested in the role, email jobs@peoples-press.com for an application pack.
|
