News Brief August 1 2015

Submitted by claudiaobrien on Sat, 01/08/2015 - 12:37

By Claudia O’Brian

This week’s #killthebill meeting was packed – if you missed the event you can read about it here.

We’ll be taking a break from news briefs over the parliamentary recess. In the meantime, take a look at our upcoming events.

Blogs

How can we resist the Trade Union Bill?

By Professor Keith Ewing and John Hendy QC

Trade unionists met at the NUT’s Mander Hall in central London on Wednesday evening, united in their fury about Tory attacks on their civil liberties. What is at stake is an attempt to silence the trade union political voice and to emasculate its industrial power. Neither will succeed — trade unions are too important and their support too strong. A bloody battle of wills is about to unfold….

Read the full blog here…

This article first appeared in the Morning Star.

Don’t believe the (business) hype

By David Whyte, Professor of socio-legal studies, University of Liverpool.

If there is one thing that business organisations are particular good at, it is deceiving us into thinking that they are indispensible to a healthy and developed society. But the social contributions that businesses make are always surrounded by propaganda claims and myths that are swallowed too easily by politicians and repeated ad nauseum in the press.

Read the blog here…

News

#killthebill on social media

Social media reactions to our extremely well attended #killthebill event in London on 29 July 2015.

Sacked union rep is reinstated

A victory for a union rep, after he is reinstated by his employer. Unite shop steward Graeme Boxall, a subcontracted construction worker, was immediately dismissed after requesting direct employment for the electricians he represents at Morgan Stanley HQ in Canary Wharf. However, after a successful protest, his employers caved to pressure to reinstate him.

1.7 million missing out on paid holidays

A staggering 6.4 percent of UK employees are missing out on their holiday entitlement. In Northern Ireland and Wales the figures are as high as 9.5 percent and 7.6 percent respectively.

300,000 more unemployed women than men

TUC analysis of Labour Force Survey (LFS) data from the ONS had found that the official figures used by government vastly underestimate the number of women seeking work. The TUC points out that the headline unemployment count is misleading, because it only counts those who have recently applied for a job and are available to start immediately. The “want work” category is more indicative, it adds to the unemployment count those who say they want work, but who have not recently applied for a job, or whose circumstances do not allow an immediate job start.

Transgender equality inquiry launched

The Women and Equalities Committee launches an inquiry considering “how far and in what ways, trans people still have yet to achieve full equality; and how the outstanding issues can most effectively be addressed”.

Cameron describes migrants as a “swarm”

David Cameron has come under heavy criticism for likening migrants wanting to enter Britain to a swarm. Speaking on migrants in Calais attempting to cross the border, Cameron said; “you have got a swarm of people coming across the Mediterranean, seeking a better life, wanting to come to Britain because Britain has got jobs, it’s got a growing economy, it’s an incredible place to live. But we need to protect our borders by working hand in glove with our neighbours, the French, and that is exactly what we are doing.”

IER Manifesto for Collective Bargaining

Read the ten-point manifesto

Buy the book

VIDEOS: Watch the experts

PODCASTS: Listen to the experts

What is collective bargaining? Why do we need it? What will be the consequences of its restoration? Keith Ewing and John Hendy explain all in a new collective bargaining video.

Jobs

The Morning Star is recruiting a business manager. More information here.

Events

Equality and Discrimination: Post Election Priorities

Wednesday 7 October 2015

Diskus Room, Unite the Union, London

The Institute of Employment Right’s 10th Equalities conference will take place under the UK’s first Conservative majority government in almost two decades. It will be an event not to miss for those concerned about how the UK’s equality and anti-discriminatory laws will fair over the next five years.

Human Rights: Possibilities and Problems for Labour Law

Wednesday 21 October 2015

The Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool

At the Tory party conference in 2014, Cameron announced that he was ready to remove the UK from the European Convention on Human Rights. And now it seems fairly certain that the Tories will replace the Human Rights Act 1998 with a British Bill of Rights. So what would be the impact of such a change on workers?

Employment Law Update

Wednesday 11 November 2015

Diskus Room, Unite the Union, London

This is the ninth annual Employment Law Update Conference, organised by the Institute of Employment Rights held in association with Old Square Chambers and the TUC, and the first to take place under an all Conservative Government. It is a must-go-to event for anyone with an interest in employment law and the protection of collective and individual workers’ rights.

More events…

Human Rights: What we’re set to lose

The Tories plan on replacing the Human Act with a British Bill of Rights.

The IER has published experts’ analysis on articles of the European Convention on Human Rights, and what they mean for employment law. 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

Publications

Reconstruction after the crisis: a manifesto for collective bargaining

By Professor Keith Ewing and John Hendy QC

Collective bargaining is under more threat than ever. 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.

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

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