Pay and prices

Slowdown in inflation and pay continues (227 words)

The latest figures from LRD’s Payline database show a 3.2% median increase in pay across the whole economy for settlements starting in the three ...

Labour Research Department three-monthly pay figures (218 words)

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

Other pay analysts (23 words)

Industrial Relations Services (median, three months to end January 2006) 2.9% ...

Full-time weekly average earnings (28 words)

All workers £531.10 ...

Average earnings indices (including bonuses) (158 words)

Oct 04 (r) 118.6 4.6% 3.3% 4.8% 4.5% 4.9% ...

Prices (63 words)

December 04 189.9 3.5% 2.5% ...

Inflation forecasts (27 words)

Fourth quarter 2005 ...

Bargaining news

Civil servants protest at imposed settlements (513 words)

Two Civil service employers have resorted to imposing pay settlements after failing to reach agreement with unions. ...

Strike's terminal effect (122 words)

Workers building Heathrow’s Terminal 5 have settled a dispute over bonus pay, following strike action in January. ...

Helicopter trainers' pay takes off (263 words)

Members of skilled and professional union Amicus at RAF Shawbury near Shrewsbury have secured a two-year agreement delivering significant pay rises. ...

Cleaners make a tidy sum in "living wage" victory (465 words)

A long-running campaign to secure a living wage for cleaners at the Houses of Parliament has ended in success. ...

Bank staff cash in with 4.15% average pay rises (254 words)

A two-year pay agreement has been reached at Alliance & Leicester bank, ending a long dispute with the CWU communication workers’ union. ...

Operatic pay agreement is music to BECTU's ears (187 words)

Overwhelming support among entertainment union BECTU’s members at English National Opera (ENO) has resulted a new three-year pay deal. ...

Bentley workers agree one-year deal worth 3% (284 words)

Bentley Motors in Crewe has bucked the trend for two-year settlements in the car industry by negotiating its first single-year deal for more than ...

Steely determination protects final-salary pensions at Corus (197 words)

The final-salary pension scheme for staff at steel manufacturer Corus has been preserved following negotiations with unions. ...

New deal for ambulances in Midlands (186 words)

Ambulance staff in the Midlands have secured a pay settlement after government intervention scuppered a previous offer. ...

Equality news

TUC advises unions on disability duty (248 words)

The TUC has published advice for unions on the new “disability equality duty” that will be applied to public sector organisations from December. ...

Lesbians and gay men stay in the closet at work (306 words)

Although anti-gay discrimination in the workplace is now illegal, almost half of lesbians and gay men still feel unable to be open about their ...

UK "will miss 2008 target for equal pay reviews" (423 words)

Only one-third of large organisations have reviewed their pay structure from an equality perspective, the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has revealed. ...

Recruitment and organisation news

USDAW celebrates its super-reps (413 words)

Union reps who give up thousands of hours of their time unpaid in organising and other union activities have been honoured in an “Oscars-style” ...

GMB achieves "landmark" deal (276 words)

A number of important recognition successes were achieved last month, including the signing of an agreement between the GMB general union and G4S Security ...

Learning and training news

Funding learning in the North East (217 words)

More workplace learning projects in the north-east of England will be able to receive financial backing, as the TUC Northern region has secured funding ...

European news

Unions hit their €100 target in Italian metalworking agreement (543 words)

After a year of negotiations and conflict, Italy’s metalworkers last month have finally reached an agreement on pay increases which should have come into ...

Car firm encourages early retirees (466 words)

German car-maker Volkswagen has agreed new rules which will allow thousands more of its employees to stop work in their late 50s – an ...

Health & safety news

TUC backs campaign to tackle fatal lung disease (330 words)

Unions are supporting a national day of action to tackle the causes of a deadly lung disease. ...

New legal requirements for light goods vehicles (159 words)

The CWU communication workers’ union has alerted its members who drive light goods vehicles (LGVs) at work to legal changes affecting speed limits and ...

Threats against teachers (93 words)

Teachers face a daily torrent of abuse and threats, according to a new survey carried out in the south-west of England by the NASUWT ...

Tube hero's job is at risk (128 words)

A London Underground driver commended for bravery after helping passengers during the July 2005 bombings has been told that he may be sacked unless ...

Call for safer casinos (76 words)

The GMB general union is calling on casino operators to impose lifetime bans on anyone who harasses or attacks casino staff, following an incident ...

Maintaining awareness of RSI (201 words)

Repetitive strain injury (RSI) is still widespread and must not be forgotten, campaigners are warning in the run-up to RSI Awareness Day at the ...

Features

Employment contract law (566 words)

A number of decisions reported this month focus on the distinction between workers and employees. ...

Holiday pay (585 words)

Police sergeant Hugh Lavery went on sick leave after being injured at work. Under his employer’s sick pay provisions, after a period of sick ...

Identity of employer (116 words)

A tribunal awarded Derek Knox over £1,000 in unpaid wages, notice and holiday pay. The company, which did not attend the tribunal hearing, appealed ...

Employment status (919 words)

Driver Mr Khan worked for a company which had a contract to provide a taxi service at Gatwick Airport. He was responsible for his ...

Sick pay (226 words)

Mrs Benjamin brought a constructive dismissal claim, arguing that her employer had breached her contract by refusing to pay her sick pay, failing to ...

Union reps' rights (161 words)

GMB union rep Ms Doherty twice brought successful claims against her employer over deterrents and penalties relating to her union activities. The conciliation service ...

Continuity of employment (204 words)

Mrs Bunker worked for her employer for 20 years in a variety of roles. When she handed in her notice because she was moving ...

Offer of employment (163 words)

William Wright entered into discussions with a college about taking a position as part-time lecturer. He claimed to have been offered and accepted a ...

Transfer law (239 words)

This month’s cases include decisions on the factors determining whether there has been a TUPE transfer. ...

Economic entity (151 words)

Wilma Mackie’s employer, Smartex, had a contract with a local council to develop a smart card system called the “Accord card”. Towards the end ...

Failure to consult (161 words)

When her employment transferred under TUPE, Ms Sweetin expected to be given the job of deputy manager but instead remained a clerk. She brought ...

Relevant transfer (285 words)

Contractor CCD dismissed Mr Oates and three colleagues after GEFCO took its operation back in-house. A tribunal held that there had been a TUPE ...

Unlawful deduction (188 words)

* An employee on sick leave who is fit to return to an alternative job rather than his/her own job has no statutory right ...

Whistleblowing (349 words)

* A dismissal is automatically unfair if the reason or principal reason for dismissal is that the employee made a protected disclosure (case 1). ...

Nine out of ten farming injuries are not reported (246 words)

The vast majority of accidents suffered by workers on farms are never reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), according to a survey ...

MPs echo unions' fears over asbestos proposals (444 words)

Cancer-related deaths among electricians, carpenters, joiners, builders, plumbers and other construction workers will increase if the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) relaxes standards in ...

Health and safety is small firms' "lowest priority" (117 words)

A survey by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has revealed that small businesses are failing to prioritise improvements in workplace health and safety. ...

Annual cost of absence is £12 billion (69 words)

Sickness absence costs the UK economy £12 billion a year, according to new Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates. ...

Nuclear sale must pass safety test, says Prospect (89 words)

Professional union Prospect is insisting that any sale of the British Nuclear Group (BNG) must pass stringent safety tests. ...

Calling time on unpaid overtime (3452 words)

Friday 24 February is this year’s “Work Your Proper Hours Day” – the date when employees would start working for themselves if all their ...

Only a change in legislation can end union reps' victimisation (2201 words)

The victimisation of union reps and other members by employers is, unfortunately, a frequent occurrence – but at least employment tribunals offer redress against ...