LRD guides and handbook August 2009

Organising and bargaining in the downturn - a guide for unions

Introduction

Introduction [page 2] (338 words)

Although recession has a detrimental and sometimes dramatic effect on employment and on the conditions of union members’ jobs, it does not ...
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Chapter 1

1. The current situation [ch 1: pages 3-6] (1,399 words)

The current recession looks likely to be the worst since the 1930s and to involve the economy shrinking by nearly 4% in 2009-2010, according to the ...
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Chapter 2

2. Threats to terms and conditions [ch 2: pages 7] (127 words)

As a general rule, employers cannot impose changes to contractual terms and conditions without consultation and agreement with employees. If ...
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Bargaining before cuts are made [ch 2: pages 7-8] (433 words)

Long-term deals [ch 2: pages 8-9] (614 words)

Getting support for the business [ch 2: pages 10-11] (446 words)

Financial and market justifications [ch 2: pages 11-13] (635 words)

Pensions [ch 2: pages 13-14] (867 words)

Pensions if the employer goes bust [ch 2: pages 15-16] (344 words)

Layoffs and short-time working [ch 2: pages 16-18] (413 words)

Wage freezes and pay cuts [ch 2: pages 18-20] (1,095 words)

Mergers and takeovers [ch 2: pages 20-23] (1,483 words)

Legal considerations [ch 2: page 24] (167 words)

Contractual rights to changes [ch 2: page 24] (111 words)

Survival of the business [ch 2: pages 24-25] (88 words)

Constructive dismissal and notice [ch 2: page 25] (127 words)

Valid consent [ch 2: page 25] (220 words)

Refusing changes [ch 2: page 26] (187 words)

Public sector equality duty [ch 2: page 26] (83 words)

Chapter 3

3. Redundancies [ch 3: page 27] (248 words)

A good redundancy agreement will set out steps to be followed by the company, including consideration of other measures, before redundancies can be ...
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Challenging the need for redundancies and other cuts [ch 3: pages 27-31] (1,249 words)

Bargaining for alternatives to redundancy [ch 3: pages 31-33] (975 words)

Bargaining for no compulsory redundancies [ch 3: pages 33-34 ] (263 words)

Taking the campaign wider [ch 3: pages 34-35] (545 words)

Legal considerations [ch 3: pages 35-37] (700 words)

Information on proposed redundancies [ch 3: pages 37-38] (125 words)

Redundancy packages [ch 3: page 38] (251 words)

Tribunal claims [ch 3: page 39] (91 words)

Chapter 4

4. Organising in the recession [ch 4: page 40] (159 words)

Amidst the challenges that unions will face during the economic downturn there exists an opportunity. An opportunity to talk up trade unions and to ...
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A stronger workplace union [ch 4: pages 40-41] (220 words)

Assessing the union’s organisational strength [ch 4: page 41] (176 words)

Campaigning on the issues that matter [ch 4: pages 41-42] (329 words)

Creating opportunities for activity [ch 4: pages 42-43] (371 words)

Organising beyond the workplace [ch 4: pages 43-44] (129 words)

Organising in all that unions do [ch 4: pages 44-45] (428 words)

Further information

Further information [pages 46-47] (431 words)

Acas, Acas National (Head Office), Euston Tower, 286 Euston Road, London NW1 3JJ, Tel: 0207 396 0022 (Note: Acas National cannot provide information ...
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