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Labour Research May 2014
UK Independence Party - UKIP’s policies on Europe and immigration are well known. But what of their approach to workers’ rights?
What’s behind the TTIP? - Unions fear a “race to the bottom” in social standards, thanks to the major TTIP trade deal
European elections - The increasingly extensive powers of the European Parliament mean this month’s Euro elections matter more than ever
Uncivil service? - Civil service pay and conditions continue to take a hammering
News
Rise in self-employment masks insecurity and declining pay (400 words)
While recent falls in the unemployment figures appear to spell good news for the UK economy, analysis of the new jobs created shows that many are ...
Subscribers only
Concern revealed over NHS staffing (261 words)
High levels of concern regarding staffing levels in the NHS have been revealed in the annual survey of health workers conducted by UNISON, the ... Subscribers only
Health unions move to action over pay (165 words)
Both the Unite general union and the UNISON public services union are moving closer to strike action in the NHS over pay. Between them, the two ...
Open access
Unite steps in to Co-op row (86 words)
The Unite general union, which represents 1,200 workers employed by the Co-operative Group — mainly in retail logistics — has written to the ... Open access
Public service workers take action over cuts and attacks on pay and conditions (487 words)
Public services in the justice sector, education, health, housing and rail have been the focus of industrial action as union members protested ... Subscribers only
Rail unions launch legal battle over franchises (272 words)
Arguments over the cheap sell-off of Royal Mail had barely begun to die down before the row over privatisation of the East Coast InterCity rail ... Subscribers only
Unemployment rate drops (216 words)
Unemployment, under the Labour Force Survey count, fell by 77,000 to 2.24 million in the three-month period ending February on the previous quarter. ... Open access
Inflation falls on both measures (68 words)
Inflation fell on both main measures in March. The annual rate of inflation — as measured by the Retail Prices Index (RPI) — was down to 2.5% ... Open access
Key economic indicators
Key economic indicators (402 words)
Inflation +2.5%, Average earnings +1.9% ... Subscribers only
Union news
Leadership change for Police Federation in wake of review (346 words)
The chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, Steve Williams, and its general secretary, Ian Rennie, are to retire later this month ... Subscribers only
RMT leadership election opens (139 words)
Nominations for the post of general secretary of the RMT transport union opened last month following the untimely death of former leader Bob Crow. ... Open access
Certification Officer schedules hearing on Unite's general secretary's election (67 words)
General union Unite may have to re-run its general secretary election — won by Len McCluskey last year — after a complaint was made to the ... Open access
Lobbying Act (75 words)
Unions and campaign groups have welcomed a promise from Labour leader Ed Miliband to repeal the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and ... Open access
Musicians’ Union (81 words)
Members of the Musicians’ Union have voted by three to one to retain the union’s political fund. The turnout was 17%. ... Open access
Polly Toynbee (74 words)
Columnist for The Guardian newspaper Polly Toynbee has become president of the Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association section of ... Open access
European news
Employment rights in Italy set for fundamental change (396 words)
The new Italian prime minister, Matteo Renzi, has made a new “Jobs Act”, making fundamental changes to the country’s system of employment ... Subscribers only
French employers must seek buyer (283 words)
New legislation has been introduced in France requiring companies who close down a plant to seek another business to employ the workforce. ... Subscribers only
German minimum wage exceptions (139 words)
The long-term unemployed, those aged under 18, those on placement, people delivering newspapers and seasonal workers are all groups of workers who ... Open access
Electrolux workers save jobs and wages (103 words)
The campaign by Electrolux workers in Italy against plans by the Swedish multinational to make major cuts in costs at the expense of the employees ... Open access
Features
Europe, immigration and bashing workers’ rights (2,126 words)
While its anti-immigration and anti-EU policies are well known, the UK Independence Party’s other policies, such as those on workers’ rights, are ... Open access
What’s behind this trade deal? (2,222 words)
UK unions are expressing fears over the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Patnership, a major bilateral trade deal involving Europe and the United ... Subscribers only
Why the Euro elections count (1,706 words)
This month, people across Europe will vote in elections to the European Parliament — a body whose powers have become increasingly extensive. ... Subscribers only
Civil service under the cosh (1,651 words)
The pay and conditions of civil service staff — often stereotyped as a feather-cushioned workforce — are under attack, reports Helen Oswald. ... Subscribers only
Law Matters
Secondary action ban is justified, says court (407 words)
In a bitterly disappointing judgment, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has rejected the RMT rail union’s challenge to the ban on secondary ... Subscribers only
Care workers’ campaign stepped up by unison (230 words)
Public services union UNISON has launched multiple tribunal claims against Hampshire-based homecare provider Apex Care, which is contracted to ... Open access
Redundancy success (233 words)
A group of former employees of the Peacocks retail chain has succeeded in persuading an employment tribunal that they have an implied contractual ... Open access
Law Queries
Redundancy rights (299 words)
Q. I have been told that my supervisor role at work is redundant. I have been offered a new role in a different team. But although I have all the ... Subscribers only
Bank holidays (230 words)
Q. I am about to start a new job. My friend who works there tells me that they are not paid for bank holidays and have to take the time off. Is that ... Open access
Retirement age (237 words)
Q. I am approaching the retirement age of 65. I don’t want to retire completely. What are my options? ... Open access
Law Back-up
Flexible working rules change from next month (887 words)
The law on flexible working is about to change. From 30 June 2014, all employees with at least 26 weeks’ service will have the statutory right to ... Subscribers only
Health & Safety Matters
UK unions speak out over world cup sites (358 words)
UK parliamentarians and trade unions are urging the Qatari government to take action over horrendous working conditions on construction sites in ... Subscribers only
Stress campaign launched (199 words)
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) last month launched a two-year European campaign called Healthy workplaces manage stress. ... Open access
TUC issues guidance on older workers (232 words)
The TUC has issued The health and safety of older workers: a guide for workplace representatives, aimed at helping workplace reps support an ... Open access
Health & Safety Back-up
Safety deregulation hits self-employed (886 words)
The government has decided to exclude most of the country’s 4.3 million self-employed people from health and safety regulation. Back-up reports on ... Subscribers only
Equality news
Union issues call over fitness assessments (346 words)
The PCS civil service union has called on the assessment of fitness to work for benefit claimants with health conditions and disabilities to be ... Subscribers only
Focus on mental health (286 words)
A new initiative to improve support for people with mental health issues in the workplace has been launched by Business in the Community (BITC), the ... Subscribers only
EHRC programme (155 words)
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has set out its work programme for the next year, focused on tackling entrenched inequalities and promoting ... Open access
Movement Against Xenophobia (68 words)
Formed in reaction to the anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies of political parties and the media, the Movement Against Xenophobia was launched with ... Open access
Workplace Back-up
What’s behind the fall in sickness absence? (913 words)
Recent statistics on sickness absence show it to be falling. But are workers getting healthier, or is fear of possible job loss driving them to work ... Subscribers only
Reviews
The man who loved dogs (227 words)
Leonardo Padura, Bitter Lemon Press, 576 pages, hardback, £20 ... Open access
Silvertown (227 words)
The lost story of a strike that shook London and helped launch the modern labour movement ... Open access
E-views
e-views (411 words)
Have you ever wanted to get a message across loudly on Twitter or Facebook? ... Subscribers only
News from LRD
LRD annual general meeting (50 words)
The annual general meeting of the Labour Research Department will take place on Monday 19 May, 2014 at Jerwood Space, Union Street, London SE1 0LN ... Open access