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Labour Research February 2013
Share and share alike? - Shared services and elaborate commissioning schemes mean the shape of local government is changing; Unions' legal services - Every year, unions win millions of pounds in compensation for members who have been unfairly treated at work; Apps for unions - Unions and the TUC are now developing their own apps for use on smartphones and tablets; Renewable energy - Energy reform is needed in the UK. Is the coalition government delivering?
News
Government under fire over construction industry’s woes (323 words)
Construction union UCATT has slammed government policy as a report reveals that the industry faces “a decade of pain” with 60,000 ...
Subscribers only
Probation privatisation attacked (338 words)
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has come under attack from unions over its plan to privatise probation services and shut down jails and commission new ... Subscribers only
Strike statistics (241 words)
The latest strike statistics, covering the year to October 2012, show education as the sector with the most disputes. ...
Open access
Performance pay proposals slated by teaching unions (377 words)
Teaching unions have accused education secretary Michael Gove of showing “an arrogant disregard for the workforce” following his ... Subscribers only
Civil service faces strike action (251 words)
The PCS civil service union is to ballot 250,000 members for strike action after the government refused to negotiate over cuts to pay, pensions and ... Subscribers only
Work-related expenses (121 words)
The average employee spends one pound in every eight earned on costs relating to their job, adding up to £1,843 a year. ... Open access
Agricultural Wages Board reprieve (125 words)
Peers have put a brake on government plans to abolish the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) which would hit the incomes of 150,000 agricultural workers. ... Open access
Unemployment rate shows fall (187 words)
Unemployment was down on both counts, according to official figures. ... Open access
Retail price inflation edges up (65 words)
Retail price inflation was up at the end of 2012, the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show. ... Open access
Key economic indicators
Key economic indicators (398 words)
Inflation +3.1%, Average earnings +1.3% ... Subscribers only
Union news
Blacklisted workers’ fight for justice moves a step closer (276 words)
The quest for justice for some of the victims of the construction industry blacklisting scandal moved a step closer last month when a claim against ... Subscribers only
Transport union’s membership grows (107 words)
Membership of the RMT transport union grew by 2% in 2012, the union has announced. Total membership is now 77,549 — a net gain of 1,456 over ... Open access
UNISON sees big rise in welfare assistance (249 words)
Public services union UNISON saw a massive rise in the number of applications from members for welfare help for basic essentials last year. ... Open access
Unite leadership election underway (218 words)
Nominations will close on 15 February in the snap election for general secretary called by the country’s largest union, Unite (see Labour ... Open access
European news
‘New divide’ is emerging in a Europe wracked by crisis (439 words)
A new report from the European Commission highlights the growing social problems facing large parts of Europe, but has much less to offer in terms ... Subscribers only
Irish workers face fresh austerity (231 words)
Negotiations have started on an extension to the agreement on public service pay and employment in Ireland — and it already seems as if the ... Open access
Union says IMF plans are ‘social terrorism’ (86 words)
Portugal’s largest union confederation, the CGTP, has described the latest proposals from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as ... Open access
Union leaves Dutch confederation (43 words)
The pensioners’ union ANBO has confirmed that it is leaving the FNV, the main union confederation in the Netherlands. ... Open access
Slovenian public sector workers strike (102 words)
Slovenian public sector unions came out on strike on 23 January in protest against a government decision to cut public sector wages by 5% in this ... Open access
Features
Is the ‘easyCouncil’ model set to take off? (2,147 words)
How are councils adjusting to a landscape involving shared services and increased outsourcing? ... Subscribers only
Providing vital legal support (2,031 words)
Union members benefit from the legal services their unions provide. But these services face huge challenges, not least from the introduction of fees ... Subscribers only
Getting smart with union apps (1,635 words)
Apps for today’s smartphones and tablet devices are now being developed and used by unions and the TUC, as Simon Parry reveals. ... Subscribers only
Renewables make headway (1,617 words)
While the renewable energy sector may be coming of age, unions and others feel the government could act more decisively to secure its status. ... Subscribers only
Law Matters
Redundancy changes set to be implemented (325 words)
Significant changes regarding redundancy come into effect on 6 April. ... Subscribers only
Fixed-term contracts (262 words)
On 6 April, the same day as the reduction in the redundancy consultation period, some fixed-term contract workers may potentially be excluded from ... Subscribers only
New Acas guidance in the offing (218 words)
The Acas employment advisory and conciliation service is to produce new guidance on collective redundancy consultations. ... Open access
Law Queries
Health questionnaires (280 words)
Q. We recently discovered that, as part of its recruitment process, our employer has re-introduced the practice of asking job applicants to complete ... Subscribers only
Sexual harassment (178 words)
Q. Our member went to a colleagues’ leaving drinks. At this event, her male line manger made inappropriate comments of a sexual nature to her. ... Open access
Bonus payment (238 words)
Q. Our employer is meant to pay us a bonus at Christmas. But it said it was not going to do so this year. We challenged this and the response was ... Open access
Law Back-up
Little enthusiasm for new work contract (838 words)
The government has now issued a response to its consultation on how to implement its proposed new “employee shareholder” contract. ... Subscribers only
Health & Safety Matters
Workers with MSDs face many barriers (281 words)
Having a musculoskeletal disorder is linked to reduced job satisfaction, job mobility and access to training, according to a recent survey. ... Subscribers only
Policy reversal for HSE (231 words)
In a major policy reversal, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has decided to bring back pro-active inspections of cooling towers following last ... Open access
Revised Carcinogens Directive possible (226 words)
A revised Carcinogens Directive could be on the horizon if the European Commission follows through on a proposal by the European Advisory Committee ... Open access
Health & Safety Back-up
Cameron dredges up safety myths again (865 words)
The stereotype of “health and safety” getting in the way of jobs and growth has reared its head yet again — this time in ... Subscribers only
Equality news
Equality strategies have positive effects (366 words)
Research shows there is a direct correlation between organisations carrying out regular equal pay audits and having a greater number of women in ... Subscribers only
Monitoring is necessary for redundancy fairness (219 words)
There should be mandatory monitoring by all employers to make sure ethnic minority women workers are not unfairly treated during the redundancy ... Open access
Living Wage (118 words)
A poll of people in full and part-time work found that nearly three-quarters (74%) would be more likely to buy products or services from a company ... Open access
Paralympics effect (149 words)
Three-quarters of Britons feel more positive about the role of disabled people in the UK following the Paralympics, according to a BBC survey ... Open access
Workplace Back-up
Cap on benefit rises is a big risk for coalition (945 words)
The government’s “skivers versus strivers” rhetoric recently found new force in the 1% cap being introduced from April on ... Subscribers only
Reviews
The black count (242 words)
Glory, revolution, betrayal and the real Count of Monte ... Open access
Marikana (205 words)
A view from the mountain and a case to ... Open access
E-views
e-views (407 words)
This year is going to be the year of the tablet. ... Subscribers only
News from LRD
LRD executive committee and AGM (104 words)
The LRD’s AGM will be on Monday 20 May from 2.00pm at Jerwood Space, Union Street, London SE1 0LN. ... Open access