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Workplace Report May 2013
Facility time - Reps are trying to stem employer attacks on facility time so they are able to carry out their union work properly; Inflation - Unions have taken a dim view of the official downgrading of the Retail Prices Index; Latest case law on dismissal, transfers and redundancy
Pay and prices
Pay and prices gap narrows (259 words)
With inflation under the Retail Prices Index (RPI) falling to 2.9% for the year to April and settlements running at 2.8%, the gap between pay ...
Subscribers only
Labour Research Department three-monthly pay figures (223 words)
Percentage increases on lowest basic rates (by agreements covered). ...
Open access
Full-time weekly average earnings (41 words)
Source: ASHE 2012 uprated by AWE. ... Open access
Average weekly earnings (AWE) (151 words)
Total pay including bonuses. Percentage annual ... Open access
Other pay analysts (25 words)
... Open access
Prices (75 words)
1 Retail prices index, Jan ... Open access
Inflation forecasts (33 words)
Fourth quarter 2013 ... Open access
Bargaining news
Education employers beat Osborne in race to bottom (796 words)
Employers’ associations representing universities and colleges have been trying to put an even tighter squeeze on pay than George Osborneȁ ... Subscribers only
Deals beat inflation and boost terms and conditions (407 words)
With retail price inflation (RPI) falling to 2.9% in the year to April, deals worth 3% or more and so protecting workers’ living standards ... Subscribers only
Clothes chain imposes cut in hours and new rosters (312 words)
Long-serving staff at the NEXT retail group have been told that they must accept reductions in hours and new working times. ... Subscribers only
Appraisal in the NHS (251 words)
Appraisal has become a more important issue in the NHS as a result of the link to progression. From April 2013 Agenda for Change was modified to ... Subscribers only
Sick workers are dragging themselves in to work (392 words)
Nine out of 10 employees have gone into work despite being ill, a new survey by risk insurance group Canada Life shows. ... Subscribers only
Local government employers warn over national negotiations (337 words)
The employers’ side in the local government services NJC agreement for England, Wales and Northern Ireland (the LGA) agreed last month to ... Subscribers only
Living Wage pay target set for schools (296 words)
The Living Wage has become the target as the minimum rate of pay for all workers in UK schools for public services union UNISON. ... Subscribers only
Equality news
Mismatch in expectations contributes to youth unemployment (383 words)
A gulf in expectations between young people and employers is contributing to high levels of youth unemployment, according to a report. ... Subscribers only
Federation campaign on bullying and harassment in the arts (312 words)
A campaign to root out bullying in creative sector workplaces has been launched by the Federation of Entertainment Unions (FEU). The initiative ... Subscribers only
TUC pregnancy guide (46 words)
The TUC has released a new guide explaining how being a new or expectant mother can affect the mother and others at work. It explains the employer ... Open access
Disabled travellers (105 words)
One in four disabled rail passengers has suffered a hate crime or abuse, according to the TUC’s Action for Rail campaign. The findings come ... Open access
Mental health guide (110 words)
A new guide, Mental Health at work, from the Business Disability Forum (BDF) is aimed at line managers, but will be of use to union reps. ... Open access
Learning and training news
Unions hold key to job opportunities for young workers (359 words)
A new TUC report, Skills for sustainable employment: strategies to tackle youth unemployment, highlights the key role that unions can play in ... Subscribers only
Recruitment and organisation news
UNISON’s spring offensive gets union ‘growing again’ (249 words)
Public services union UNISON says its two-week spring recruitment campaign was a big success and that the union is growing again. ... Open access
Recognition success at news agency (103 words)
The NUJ journalists’ union has achieved recognition at global news agency Associated Press (AP). ... Open access
Protest over union-busting at National Express (135 words)
Representatives from the Unite and RMT transport unions joined counterparts from the American Teamsters union in protest against union-busting by ... Open access
European news
German metalworkers forge above inflation deal (363 words)
The IG Metall union and the metalworking employers in Germany have reached agreement on a pay rise which is more than double the current rate of ... Subscribers only
Swedish local government deals aim to close gender pay gap (394 words)
Settlements have recently been reached for employees in local government in Sweden and, although there are significant differences between the deals ... Subscribers only
Irish deal rejected (133 words)
A majority of members of public sector unions in Ireland have rejected the draft agreement reached in February between the government and the unions. ... Open access
New chemical formula (96 words)
Unions and employers have agreed a 3.2% to 3.8% increase from 1 May for the 50,000 workers in the Austria’s chemical industry. ... Open access
French café deal (72 words)
After three years without a satisfactory agreement, unions and employers in France have agreed a new pay structure for those employed in café ... Open access
Law - Dismissal
Dismissal - the law (423 words)
f Employees dismissed unfairly can go to a tribunal if they have been working for at least two years. Some specific types of dismissal do not ... Subscribers only
Rep wins interim relief over union-related dismissal (527 words)
Mr Chacko was employed by London City Airport Limited, where he was also a trade union representative involved in trying to organise a ballot for ... Subscribers only
Employer failed over dismissal at request of third party (604 words)
Mr Bancroft was a chef employed by Interserve, a catering business that had a Home Office contract to supply the catering at a bail hostel operated ... Subscribers only
Dismissal of manager with no prior warning was unfair (219 words)
Mr Kefil worked for 14 years for a large distributor in the food industry. His last role was stock control manager. ... Open access
Law - TUPE
Transfers - the law (253 words)
The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) are intended to protect the rights of employees on the transfer of ... Subscribers only
Limited obligation to consult staff left behind after transfer (815 words)
The 10 claimants worked for a company that provided services to the film and TV industry. There were two parts to the business. ... Subscribers only
Law - Redundancy
Redundancy - the law (229 words)
A redundancy situation exists where an employer closes or intends to close the workplace or reduce the number of employees doing a particular kind ... Open access
Non-union staff body had no authority to represent workers (720 words)
The Hesley Group provides residential care and education services for people with learning difficulties. ... Subscribers only
Past performance is relevant to selection for redundancy (494 words)
Redundancies were needed because of a ward closure at Plas Coch hospital, run by Mental Health Care (UK) Limited, part of the Castlebeck Group. The ... Subscribers only
Health & safety news
Proof of negligence shifts from employer to worker (367 words)
The coalition government has once again put employers ahead of workers in a last-minute legal change. ... Subscribers only
An everyday story of stress (244 words)
Workers across Europe say work-related stress is all too common, a survey from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work found. ... Open access
More safety rep guides from TUC (66 words)
The TUC has added to its range of guides for union and safety reps. ... Open access
Hazards Conference (125 words)
The 24th National Hazards Conference is to held on 19-21 July at the University of Keele, Stoke-on-Trent. ... Open access
Dangerous dogs (135 words)
Much to the disappointment of the CWU communications workers’ union, the Welsh Assembly has announced it is to “suspend further work ... Open access
Health & safety - HSE Monitor
Revised code of practice out for consultation (241 words)
A consultation document has been issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on changes to Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) for the Workplace ... Open access
Government plan to weaken the GLA (298 words)
Not content with attacking the HSE’s regulatory role under its Red Tape challenge, the coalition government also plans weaken the Gangmasters ... Subscribers only
Rider-operated lift trucks (77 words)
Revised guidance on the safe operation of lift trucks has been issued by the HSE. It provides an outline of the main legal requirements relating to ... Open access
Union nominee for HSE ignored (317 words)
The coalition government seems to have decided that the HSE board is not a tripartite, independent board, as it has ignored the TUC’s ... Subscribers only
Features
Reps’ time off to do their union work is under attack (3,436 words)
Union reps need to have reasonable paid time off from their normal job to carry out their role effectively. A Workplace Report survey has found that ... Open access
No ‘RIP’ for the RPI inflation measure in pay negotiations (1,970 words)
The National Statistican has deemed the Retail Prices Index (RPI) as not fit for purpose as a measure of inflation and has introduced two new ... Subscribers only