![[Basket]](images/basket.png){kind=small}
Your order![[cover image]](images/issue/LR202509.jpg)
Labour Research September 2025
Draconian laws inhibit right to peaceful protest UK unions and others have expressed “deep concern” over laws eroding the right to peacefully demonstrate and protest.
Who are the TUC’s European equivalents? As delegates gather for the annual TUC Congress, Labour Research takes a look at the TUC’s counterparts elsewhere in Europe.
Dealing with alcohol addiction among workers Recent research reveals a high level of alcohol use for work-related reasons — though many workplaces lack an alcohol policy.
News
CEOs cash in while workers struggle to make ends meet (330 words)
Chief executives of the UK’s biggest companies are enjoying record payouts, while millions of ordinary workers continue to struggle with the cost ...
Subscribers only
Hundreds of jobs at risk with closure of UK’s biggest bioethanol plant (303 words)
The UK’s biggest bioethanol plant began shutting down in August, with hundreds of jobs at risk following the government’s refusal to support the ... Subscribers only
New data centres planned (234 words)
The number of data centres in the UK is set to increase rapidly. Construction researchers Barbour ABI analysed planning documents and identified ...
Open access
Nurses’ union may move to industrial action ballot following rejection of 3.6% pay award (286 words)
Nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland overwhelmingly rejected the government’s proposed 3.6% pay award in a consultation by the Royal ... Subscribers only
TUC urges ‘bold action’ as labour market cools (325 words)
The UK jobs market is showing clear signs of strain, with official figures pointing to falling payrolls, fewer vacancies and rising unemployment. ... Subscribers only
Inflation hits 4.8% (80 words)
RPI inflation (the inflation measure favoured by union negotiators) rose to 4.8% in July while the CPI measure hit 3.8% — its highest rate since ... Open access
Labour market indicators (207 words)
While inflation was up this month, pay deals recorded for July 2025 were lower than in previous months. ... Open access
Key economic indicators
Key economic indicators (188 words)
INFLATION (RPI) +4.8% AVERAGE EARNINGS (ONS regular) +5.0% ... Open access
Union news
Union members discuss prospect of Corbyn’s new left wing party (344 words)
In several unions, members have held online meetings to discuss the prospect of a new left wing party. This follows the announcement in July by ... Subscribers only
US labour activist beaten by Israeli forces during Gaza aid mission (289 words)
American labour activist Chris Smalls, who helped found the Amazon Labor Union in 2021, was released from Israeli imprisonment in late July amid ... Subscribers only
Wrack confirmed as leader (209 words)
The former general secretary of the firefighters’ FBU union, Matt Wrack, was recently confirmed as the permanent general secretary of the NASUWT ... Open access
European news
Extensive changes to Labour Code branded ‘assault on rights’ (332 words)
Unions and employers in Portugal are starting discussions this month with the country’s government on its plans to make extensive changes to the ... Subscribers only
‘Right to disconnect’ moves closer (278 words)
Binding EU legislation giving workers a “right to disconnect” — providing periods when they will not be required to respond to work-based ... Subscribers only
Plans face union opposition (111 words)
Unions in France have reacted with outrage to two new proposals by the government. ... Open access
Shorter week trials (124 words)
The Polish labour ministry has announced that it will choose the pilot projects for its plan to reduce the working week next month. ... Open access
Features
Legislation has ‘chilling effect’ on ability to protest (1,983 words)
Trade unions are among those speaking out against “draconian” laws that are designed to inhibit peaceful protestors from demonstrating. ... Subscribers only
Who are the TUC’s Euro counterparts? (2,103 words)
This month, more than 600 delegates from 48 separate unions are meeting in Brighton for the annual Congress of the TUC. It is a good time to look at ... Subscribers only
Hidden threat to employee wellbeing (2,068 words)
New research released to mark this year’s Alcohol Awareness Week in July showed almost two-thirds (64%) of UK workers drink alcohol for ... Subscribers only
Law Matters
Unfair dismissal claim was outside time limits (331 words)
This case concerns the application of the law to the extension of time limits to allow for time spent in Acas Early Conciliation (EC) to count when ... Subscribers only
Tribunal was in error over definition of disability (308 words)
The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) allowed a claimant’s appeal against the decision of an Employment Tribunal (ET) that he was not disabled. ... Subscribers only
Employment Bill roadmap (247 words)
The government has published a roadmap for implementing the Employment Rights Bill, with a proposed timetable for further consultations and phased ... Open access
Hubs not effective (251 words)
The Work Rights Centre’s No Match report finds that government-funded “International Recruitment Partnerships” (regional hubs) designed to help ... Subscribers only
Law Queries
Q&A (799 words)
Knowledge of disability ... Subscribers only
Law Back-up
THE UNIQUE FEATURES OF DIRECT AGE DISCRIMINATION (871 words)
Under s13 EA 10, direct discrimination is less favourable treatment “because of a protected characteristic”. This applies to all the protected ... Subscribers only
Health & Safety Matters
Victory for union in ‘toilet dignity’ campaign (275 words)
The ASLEF train drivers’ union has reported a “massive win” as a result of its Dignity for Drivers campaign for decent toilet facilities. ... Subscribers only
Journalists hold vigils (227 words)
NUJ journalists’ union members across the UK and Ireland held vigils and protests after Israeli forces killed at least seven people including five ... Open access
More funding needed to deal with wildfires (235 words)
The FBU firefighters’ union has warned that UK fire services do not have the resources to keep the public safe. The warning came after two ... Open access
Green energy workers marginalised, say unions (323 words)
The GMB general and Prospect specialists’ unions have launched a new Climate Jobs UK campaign, aiming to put green energy jobs and workers at the ... Subscribers only
Renewed calls for public ownership of water sector (304 words)
Unions have demanded “wholesale changes” in the water sector and renewed calls for water to be brought back into public ownership. They were ... Subscribers only
Green skills provision inadequate (232 words)
The UCU university and college union says its new Green gap report on environmental skills must act as a wake-up call for national and local ... Open access
Equality news
Retired women face yawning pension divide (403 words)
Compared to men, retired women effectively stop receiving pension income from late August, the TUC warned last month. ... Subscribers only
Unison wins long-running race discrimination case (189 words)
A local authority’s decision to discipline and transfer a senior social worker in 2021 was because of her race, the Court of Appeal has ruled. ... Open access
Pledge on sexual harassment protection (209 words)
Discount retailer Lidl GB has signed a legal agreement with the EHRC equality watchdog to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. ... Open access
Workplace Back-up
Pledge on sexual harassment protection (891 words)
Sick leave policies are a standard bargaining priority. While the Labour government’s Employment Rights Bill is set to expand the statutory minimum ... Subscribers only