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Labour Research April 2025
How can unions combat the rise of the far right? There is a dangerous rise in the growth of far right parties and their ideas across Europe and America.
How can unions combat this? Artificial intelligence and health and safety at work While artifical intelligence could potentially improve health and safety at work, its use is actually increasing work intensification
Union rights to time off: how does the UK compare? We look at how Labour's measures to improve union rights to facility time compare with those of other European countries
News
University anti-cuts campaign launched (225 words)
University staff at three universities were on strike in March over planned cuts and redundancies. ...
Open access
Concern over impact of Britain's 'Project Chainsaw' (356 words)
Major job cuts are planned at NHS England as part of government plans to “avoid duplication” with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). ...
Subscribers only
Trade unions encouraged to influence plans for net zero (259 words)
A new report makes recommendations for both government and trade unions on how “to make the journey to net zero fair for workers, and guarantee ... Subscribers only
Qualified welcome extended to Employment Rights legislation (364 words)
The government has introduced several new amendments to the Employment Rights Bill (ERB) following consultation with businesses and unions. ... Subscribers only
Bin strike dispute escalates (247 words)
Nearly 400 refuse workers in Birmingham launched indefinite strike action on 11 March against the scrapping of key roles in the workforce. The strike ... Open access
Inflation falls (75 words)
RPI inflation was 3.6% in January 2025. Inflation statistics for February had not yet been released at the time of going to press. ... Open access
Labour market indicators (208 words)
Earnings growth over the whole economy in the three months to January was 5.9%, matching last month’s figure. ... Open access
Key economic indicators
Key economic indicators (428 words)
Inflation (RPI) +3.6%, Average earnings (ONS regular) +5.9% ... Subscribers only
Union news
Surprise nomination for post of education union leader (517 words)
There are a number of developments at the top of the trade union movement, with a surprise nomination for the post of general secretary at the NASUWT ... Subscribers only
Arts sector must be supported (280 words)
The Equity performing arts union has highlighted the impact of the Green Rider pilot scheme to push for “cleaner, greener and fairer” practices ... Subscribers only
Call for release of donated fire engine (222 words)
An open letter signed by firefighters, other trade unionists and MPs, has called for the immediate release of a fire engine donated to Palestinian ... Open access
European news
General strike (76 words)
Belgium’s two main union confederations, the Christian CSC/ACV and the socialist FGTB/ABVV called for a general strike on 31 March following a ... Open access
Leadership resigns (54 words)
The board of FNV, the largest union confederation in the Netherlands, has resigned following a strike by its staff. ... Open access
Common demands (92 words)
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the UK's TUC have produced a set of joint demands in advance of the EU-UK summit planned for May. ... Open access
Tesla accused of intimidating workers at German plant (310 words)
Germany’s largest union, IG Metall, has accused the US carmaker Tesla of intimidating workers at its plant at Grünheide near Berlin through its ... Subscribers only
Finnish government plans to impose further controls on strikes (304 words)
The right-wing Finnish government, which last year clashed with the unions over the changes it made to industrial relations, employment rights and ... Subscribers only
Features
Combating the rise of the far right (2,498 words)
At the end of April, representatives from civil society, including unions, churches and charities, will gather with leaders of Scotland’s ... Subscribers only
Counter intelligence? AI and workers' health and safety (2,098 words)
Trade unionists across the world will this month hold events marking International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD) on 28 April. ... Subscribers only
Facility time: how does the UK compare? (2,133 words)
The Employment Rights Bill, currently going through Parliament (see page 5), was strengthened with a round of amendments last month and will ... Subscribers only
Law Matters
Tribunal was mistaken over injury to feelings (291 words)
The award of £10,000 as compensation for injury to feelings in a pregnancy and maternity discrimination case was “manifestly excessive”. ... Subscribers only
Dismissal over Facebook posts was discriminatory (298 words)
In September 2023, Labour Research reported on a decision of the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT), holding that an Employment Tribunal (ET) was wrong ... Subscribers only
Giving evidence from abroad (142 words)
New government guidance, Taking oral evidence by video or telephone from persons located abroad, explains what to do if you are giving evidence from ... Open access
New rates (79 words)
The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2025 means that, from 6 April 2025, new weekly rates for key payments to workers come into effect. These ... Open access
Law Queries
Q&A (749 words)
Arrest and employment ... Subscribers only
Law Back-up
Redundancy consultation: holding bosses to account (870 words)
Consultation falls broadly into two categories. There must be consultation with the individual employee and, usually, there must also be collective ... Subscribers only
Health & Safety Matters
Petition aims to put school minibus safety on the agenda (235 words)
The NASUWT teachers’ union has launched a UK-wide petition to “put school minibus safety on the political agenda”. ... Open access
UK faces growing work and health challenges (283 words)
Work-related ill-health is now costing the UK economy more than £415 million a week, according to a new TUC analysis. ... Subscribers only
'Epidemic' of retail crime (258 words)
Against an “epidemic of retail crime”, abuse, threats and assaults against shopworkers remain higher than pre-Covid levels, according to the ... Subscribers only
Still time to get back on track for greener future (356 words)
It’s not too late for the UK to get back on track to a greener future — but “only if the right levers are pulled”, said UNISON public ... Subscribers only
Scheme cuts pollution (278 words)
The Equity performing arts union has highlighted the impact of the Green Rider pilot scheme to push for “cleaner, greener and fairer” practices ... Subscribers only
ULEZ has ‘positive impact’ (232 words)
The CIEH environmental health body has welcomed the successful expansion of ULEZ ultra-low emission zones in London after a new study published by ... Open access
Equality news
LGBTQ+ employees still hide identity (241 words)
Almost 40% of LGBTQ+ individuals still feel the need to hide they are LGBTQ+ at work, according to recent research by the Stonewall LGBTQ rights ... Open access
Discrimination worsens for pregnant employees (357 words)
Things are deteriorating considerably for pregnant employees, according to recent research from the Pregnant Then Screwed (PTS) charity, which ... Subscribers only
Ethnic minorities miss out due to graduate bias (263 words)
Employers are less likely to employ ethnic minority graduates from a low socio-economic background (SEB). And Black and Asian applicants are 45% and 2 ... Subscribers only
Workplace Back-up
Cutting headcount: what is the union response? (896 words)
Science and technology secretary Peter Kyle recently warned that the civil service headcount will “go down”. ... Subscribers only