Pay and prices

Bonuses deliver big rise in earnings (223 words)

The latest figures from the LRD Payline database show a median pay increase of 3.0%, both for the three months to March and for ...

Labour Research Department three-monthly pay figures (215 words)

Increases on lowest basic rates (by agreements covered) ...

Other pay analysts (23 words)

Industrial Relations Services (median, three months to end March 2006) 3.0% ...

Average earnings indices (including bonuses) (158 words)

Dec 04 (r) 119.0 4.1% 3.6% 4.2% 4.0% 4.3% ...

Full-time weekly average earnings (28 words)

All workers £540.90 ...

Prices (82 words)

February 189.6 3.2% 2.1% ...

Bargaining news

Unions agree to talks over council pensions (373 words)

There was progress in the dispute over local-authority pensions this month, as unions agreed a framework for negotiations with employers’ body the Local Government ...

Bus drivers' pay deal arrives 12 months late (223 words)

Drivers at bus firm First Centrewest are finally to receive a pay rise for 2005-06, following the conclusion of negotiations at the end of ...

Theatre workers vote on 3.3% offer (240 words)

Broadcasting and stage union BECTU has negotiated an inflation-busting pay offer for its members working in theatres across the country. ...

Butlins fined for "live-in" minimum wage reductions (388 words)

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has ruled that employers cannot make deductions for heat and light from the pay of minimum-wage workers who stay ...

Is this end of tea breaks on Clyde's shipyards? (294 words)

Shipyard workers at BAE Systems Naval Ships on the Clyde have narrowly voted to give up their morning tea break in exchange for a ...

Pay review bodies deliver modest increases to public sector workers (992 words)

The pay review bodies for many public sector workers have now all published their reports for the coming year, with the government accepting their ...

Equality news

Attitudes to HIV are slow to change (178 words)

Two-thirds of people in Britain agree that most people with HIV “can work like anyone else”, with only 8% disagreeing, according to a recent ...

Unions must help BME women in the workplace (579 words)

The TUC has told unions that they must establish collective bargaining on race equality in order to overcome discrimination against women from black and ...

Positive police fall foul of the law (207 words)

A policy of “positive action” in recruitment has proved costly for Avon and Somerset Police. ...

Recruitment and organisation news

Women are leading the way in union membership (199 words)

Increasing union membership among women is keeping overall unionisation steady, according to the latest edition of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Labour Force ...

Sainsbury's staff take time out for the T&G (77 words)

The T&G general union has launched an unusual organising campaign at Sainsbury’s supermarkets. ...

TES finally recognises NUJ again (118 words)

Media union the NUJ has won back recognition for 112 journalists on the Times Educational Supplement and related titles, after losing it 15 years ...

Learning and training news

TUC demands fair pay and treatment for apprentices (293 words)

Young people on apprenticeships need more protection from unfair pay and treatment, the TUC has said. ...

Get involved with Learning at Work Day (82 words)

Learning at Work Day on Thursday 25 May is an annual event to promote and support workplace learning events across England. Last year an ...

European news

Italian oil firms take on a greener hue (280 words)

A four-year deal covering Italy’s oil and petrol industries, signed at the end of last month, will improve health and safety and environmental protection ...

Germany's dispute over working hours drags on (507 words)

After a strike lasting nearly nine weeks, the German union Verdi and the local-government employers in Baden-Württemberg have reached a settlement on working time. ...

Finns control subcontractors (208 words)

Finnish unions have reached an agreement with employers and the government on new measures to control subcontractors and employment agencies. ...

Law - Dismissal

Dismissal law (325 words)

This month’s focus is on the effects of procedural failures in cases of unfair dismissal. ...

Compensation (294 words)

A group of employees were dismissed after refusing to accept new terms and conditions, including a substantial cut in commission. ...

Ill-health dismissal (235 words)

After a fall, bus driver Elaine Weir went on long-term sick leave and was eventually told that she would be dismissed unless she could ...

Failure to follow procedures (182 words)

Following an allegation of assault, Mr Pudney was dismissed based on witness statements which he was not shown, meaning that he did not have ...

Law - Redundancy

Redundancy law (280 words)

This month’s rulings cover topics including the duty to consult in different redundancy situations. ...

Collective redundancies (524 words)

Mr Thomlinson was one of 80 staff in the head office of a chain store. The company went into administration, and within a week ...

Redundancy procedure (95 words)

Told at a meeting with management that his post was redundant, Richard Love claimed unfair dismissal, as there had not been a full hearing ...

Right to redundancy payment (139 words)

Shop assistant Elaine Rice was made redundant when the shop closed. Her employer offered her a job working shifts in another shop; she accepted ...

Health & safety news

Get involved in Workers' Memorial Day, say unions (257 words)

Unions are throwing their weight behind Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April, which this year has the theme of “Union workplaces – safer workplaces”. ...

Is stress the real cause of sick building syndrome? (227 words)

Workers who seem to have “sick building syndrome” – a cluster of symptoms that affect the eyes, head, upper respiratory tract and skin – ...

Stockline campaign seeks facts about blast (116 words)

Workers and campaigners from the ICL/Stockline factory in Glasgow are seeking a public inquiry into an explosion on the site two years ago. ...

Safety reps in schools (98 words)

Schools in Brent have benefited from the increasing role of safety reps, according to the London borough’s council leader. ...

Swedish research improves drivers' seats (78 words)

The Swedish National Institute for Working Life has developed a lorry driver’s seat which reduces vibrations by a third. ...

Features

Disability discrimination (310 words)

Rulings this month include the effect of an employee’s disability on the fairness of dismissal or redundancy. ...

Justification (208 words)

Nurse Mrs Dunsby had a disability based on gynaecological problems, migraines and depression. She was dismissed because of her high levels of sickness absence, ...

Past disability (193 words)

In 1977, Mr Slaney suffered a crush injury to his foot and was registered disabled. Over 30 years later he was dismissed on grounds ...

Compensation (160 words)

James Greig applied for a security job for which he had no relevant experience. He disclosed on his application that he suffered from depression, ...

Cumulative effect of disability (139 words)

Simon Sharp had hepatitis C and suffered from increasing, but not constant, muscle pain and fatigue. ...

Reasonable adjustments (866 words)

Leo Randall, a lecturer for 26 years at the same college, was diagnosed with dysphonia – a disability that caused his voice to break ...

Selection for redundancy (215 words)

Miss Difolco was left partially paralysed after an accident at work and started working part-time, some of it from home. She was later selected ...

Safer needles audit (85 words)

UNISON public services union is calling on its safety reps to take part in an online audit of needle safety practices. ...

Unions reject flawed HSE research on asbestos (566 words)

Unions have highlighted flaws in new research supporting the relaxation of asbestos regulations. ...

CWU backs HSE campaign on falls from height (139 words)

Communication workers’ union the CWU is backing a campaign by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on work at height. ...

HSE loses responsibility for regulating rail safety (59 words)

The responsibility for railway health and safety regulation transferred from the Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive to the Office ...

Scotland introduces workplace smoking ban (70 words)

The law banning smoking in public places in Scotland came into force on 26 March. ...

HSE tackles kitchen safety (102 words)

The Health and Safety Executive has produced practical guidance aimed at introducing good manual handling techniques and lifting aids in the catering and hospitality ...

Information and consultation regulations make their mark (3519 words)

Car manufacturer Peugeot’s announcement this month that it is to close its plant at Ryton has shown once again that many companies in the ...

Construction sector bucks the trend for lower pay increases (2086 words)

With inflation on the wane over the past year, it is hardly surprising that settlements in the first half of the current pay round ...