Pay and prices

Slowdown in inflation and pay continues (224 words)

The latest settlement figures from LRD Payline show a median increase of 3.3% for the three months to December 2005 - the highest level ...

Labour Research Department three-monthly pay figures (216 words)

Percentage increases on lowest basic rates (by agreements covered) ...

Other pay analysts (23 words)

Industrial Relations Services (median, three months to end December 2005) 3.0% ...

Average earnings indices (including bonuses) (157 words)

Sep 04 (r) 117.7 4.0% 3.0% 4.1% 3.8% 4.5% ...

Full-time weekly average earnings (28 words)

All workers £526.40 ...

Prices (61 words)

November 04 189.0 3.4% 2.2% ...

Inflation forecasts (28 words)

Fourth quarter 2005 ...

Bargaining news

Engineers' strike leads to partial pensions win (461 words)

Engineers at British Gas Services have achieved some success in their fight to protect pension arrangements for themselves and new employees. ...

Capita staff get a pre-Christmas lump sum (119 words)

Staff at Royal Mail Capita received a lump sum last month in what the CWU communication workers' union called a "creative" agreement to get ...

Papermakers and packagers agree deals (260 words)

Members of manufacturing union Amicus in the corrugated packaging industry have approved a pay offer worth 3.4% for the lowest-paid workers. ...

Train companies settle, but DLR deal is derailed (472 words)

While the London Underground disputes involving the RMT and now ASLEF continue (see last month's Workplace Report), both rail unions have recently managed to ...

Unions feel the width of narrow fabrics agreement (221 words)

Across-the-board pay rises of 2.7% and extended sick pay arrangements are the features of a new deal negotiated by the Community, GMB and T&G ...

ITV agrees to regular talks and above-inflation rise (499 words)

Members of the broadcasting unions BECTU, Amicus and the NUJ have ended their dispute at ITV following an improved pay offer of 3%. ...

Community improves sick pay in shoe industry deal (205 words)

Pay rates for around 6,000 workers manufacturing 20 million pairs of shoes a year have increased by 2.5% this month under a new agreement ...

PCS seeks end to DCA pay dispute (256 words)

Civil service union PCS is balloting most of its members at the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) over a contentious pay offer. ...

Equality news

Passport check leads to grievance (256 words)

A botched attempt by supermarket chain Asda to comply with immigration laws has led to allegations of racial discrimination, after Muslim workers at its ...

Public sector is not ready for disability equality duty (405 words)

Chief executives and senior managers in the public sector have shown a "marked complacency" towards new disability legislation being introduced this year, the government's ...

Scots councils face claims for retrospective equal pay (255 words)

Local government unions in Scotland are stepping up their campaigns to secure compensation for past pay inequalities. ...

Recruitment and organisation news

TUC and Methodists sing from same hymn sheet (166 words)

The TUC is taking a radical step in its strategy of improving union organisation by running a two-day residential training session with the Methodist ...

Formal union recognition fits The Bill (87 words)

Production staff and crew on ITV drama series The Bill have voted for recognition of broadcasting union BECTU. ...

Learning and training news

Union Academy appoints head (241 words)

Liz Smith, the TUC's current head of learning services, is to become chief executive of the new "Union Academy" which will bring together all ...

TUC aims to bring workers to book (239 words)

Union members are being urged to take part in a TUC online poll investigating workers' reading habits in advance of World Book Day on ...

European news

Unions renew their pay pact in Spain (197 words)

Spain's two main union confederations, the CCOO and the UGT, have renewed their 2005 pay pact with the employers' body CEOE for a further ...

"Inadequate" retail pay rise is accepted in Berlin (210 words)

After more than six months of negotiations, the first regional settlement has been reached in the German retail sector. ...

France witnesses revival in industry-level deals (277 words)

The French government has breathed new life into the country's system of negotiations at industry level, which had been moribund in many industries for ...

Italian metalworkers plan new strikes after talks collapse (153 words)

Negotiations on a settlement for Italy's 1.3 million metalworkers broke down earlier this month, after the unions judged the employers' latest offer to be ...

Law - Dismissal

Dismissal law (377 words)

This month's cases include key decisions on the fairness of disciplinary proceedings. ...

Capability dismissal (145 words)

Airline pilot Stephen Mathews lost his medical licence while on sick leave. He refused an offer to return to work on ground duties, and ...

Disciplinary process (330 words)

Mr Neary, a school's head of maths, was suspended following allegations that he had intimidated and frightened children and bullied and intimidated members of ...

Anonymous complaints (147 words)

Mr Crisp, a care assistant in a nursing home, was suspended and later dismissed following an anonymous complaint that he had physically and verbally ...

Disciplinary hearings (192 words)

Solicitor Miss Nadal was dismissed following allegations that included bullying of staff and passing information to outside parties. A disciplinary hearing was arranged, but ...

Date of termination (181 words)

Mrs Kelly's request for part-time working was referred to a senior manager who rejected it and issued her with a P45, believing that she ...

Law - Redundancy

Redundancy law (318 words)

Rulings this month look at both individual and collective consultation. ...

Procedural unfairness (147 words)

A tribunal found that Mr Dockerty had been unfairly dismissed, since his employer had failed to follow a fair procedure when selecting him for ...

Consultation in good time (280 words)

When a company decided to consolidate its two production sites, almost half its 178 staff were made redundant, but union consultation over the redundancies ...

Protective award (179 words)

After losing its two main customers, a company went into administration but continued to trade for a time in the hope that it would ...

Compensation (195 words)

Ms Bowyer was dismissed, ostensibly by reason of redundancy. A tribunal found that she had been unfairly dismissed, and that her dismissal had been ...

Consultation with individuals (182 words)

John Lewis was one of four welders made redundant when work at their employer dried up. He was dismissed on a Friday and the ...

Health & safety news

Asbestos plans will relax licensing requirements (325 words)

Proposals to weaken asbestos regulations have been condemned by unions, safety campaigners and asbestos contractors. ...

Royal Mail first aid faces threat of outsourcing (130 words)

Unions are fighting plans, announced by some managers without consultation last month, to outsource first aid training at Royal Mail. ...

USDAW slams retail self-regulation (241 words)

Government proposals for self-regulation in the retail sector are "misguided", according to USDAW shopworkers' union. ...

Union backs sacked Nissan worker (115 words)

Skilled and professional union Amicus is supporting a member who was sacked by car firm Nissan while off sick with stress and anxiety. ...

Firefighters banned from running after legal win (80 words)

Merseyside firefighters have been banned from circuit training or using running machines during their shifts after a firefighter who slipped on dust while training ...

Features

Disability discrimination (220 words)

This month a number of cases consider the employer's duty to make reasonable adjustments. ...

Long-term impairment (140 words)

Checkout operator Ms Ginn suffered from vertigo and rhinitis, episodic but unpredictable conditions that affected her mobility and vision. ...

Reduced motivation (131 words)

Following a long period of sick leave caused by depression, administrative officer Miss Springer was dismissed under her employer's absence procedure. A tribunal dismissed ...

Duty to make adjustments (907 words)

Mr Smith was offered a job selling radiator cabinets if he completed a training course. He was told that he would have to carry ...

New guidance on workplace transport (114 words)

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published revised guidance on the correct and safe use of vehicles at work. ...

MPs' recommendations "would hurt claimants" (146 words)

Unions have warned that they will campaign to retain existing workplace compensation rules, despite a parliamentary committee's recommendations. ...

HSC supports explicit safety duties on directors (286 words)

Company directors may soon be subject to legal duties on safety, following successful lobbying of the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) by unions and ...

TUC gives mixed response to alternative penalty plan (414 words)

The TUC has given a guarded welcome to proposals by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to introduce alternative penalties for health and safety ...

Two-speed pay increases leave the Germans and Dutch behind (2046 words)

After four years in which Workplace Report's annual survey of pay settlements in Europe has shown a constant decline, this year there is a ...

Final-salary schemes are pensioned off (2949 words)

Pensions are at the top of the bargaining agenda again. Major companies such as Rentokil Initial and National Australia Bank are closing or planning ...