News

University lecturers' union plans ballot on strike action (282 words)

The AUT lecturers' union is to ballot its 47,000 members on strike action over the national Framework Agreement on pay modernisation and the 2003-05 ...

Government study will examine offshoring of jobs (311 words)

Last month the government announced plans for an official study into the transfer of call-centre and related jobs out of the UK - a ...

Campaigns help scupper privatisation deals (228 words)

Public services union UNISON celebrated two successes over privatisation plans in local government and the transport sector at the end of last year. ...

European report backs TUC on long hours (268 words)

The TUC view that the 'opt-out' from the 48-hour working week should be scrapped received backing from a report to the European Parliament published ...

Union news

GPMU members to choose merger partner (214 words)

Print union GPMU will shortly conduct a consultative ballot of members on merging with either manufacturing union Amicus or the T&G general union. Any ...

Features

Alan Dalton - Obituary (426 words)

Alan Dalton, health and safety researcher at the Labour Research Department from 1981 to1989, died on 11 December 2003 aged 57. ...

Victimised reps win damages (312 words)

Workers victimised for trade union activities celebrated a tribunal victory against a union-busting firm last month, winning £60,000 in damages for loss of earnings ...

Hannett elected shopworkers' leader (145 words)

Members of shopworkers' union USDAW have elected John Hannett as their new general secretary. ...

GMB finances (75 words)

The GMB general union has set out a plan to deal with its financial difficulties, which involves making around £5 million of savings. ...

BECTU keeps link (32 words)

Members of broadcast union BECTU have voted by 72% to retain its affiliation to the Labour Party in a turnout of 30%. The union's ...

Italian unions win talks on pensions (187 words)

The Italian government unexpectedly invited unions to talks on pensions last month after between one and a half and a million people marched through ...

German bargaining system reprieved (164 words)

Germany's system of collective bargaining will remain largely intact for now, although pressure on the 50-year old system seems likely to continue. ...

Unions face employer backlash (2622 words)

Evidence is mounting that unions running organising and recognition campaigns are facing increasing employer hostility. They are calling for an urgent debate within the ...

It's better with a union (1417 words)

New evidence proves that being in a union means you really do get a better deal at work, particularly for women and working parents. ...

Councils' safety regime in crisis (1820 words)

Overall, figures suggest that local authority health and safety enforcement is in crisis, but a closer look reveals a more mixed picture. Unions want ...

Law Matters

Employment bill disappoints unions (229 words)

The TUC and individual unions have expressed their disappointment over major gaps in the new Employment Relations Bill which was published last month (see ...

Tribunal reforms enter final lap (278 words)

Both the government and the advisory and conciliation service ACAS have begun consultation on the final form that the changes to employment tribunals' procedures ...

Statutory payments (62 words)

Statutory payments will increased from 1 February to (current figures in brackets): redundancy pay £270 (£260); maximum unfair dismissal compensation £55,000 (£53,500); unfair dismissal ...

TUPE ruling (110 words)

The European Court of Justice has ruled that TUPE protection applies on the transfer of a contract from one contractor to another, even if ...

Long service (73 words)

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has ruled that an employee's dishonesty in borrowing a vehicle without permission amounted to a breach of trust and ...

Law Queries

Redundancy rights on transfers (228 words)

A new owner is set to take on all staff who will have protection under TUPE. We have been told that, while our core ...

Disciplinary procedures and contract (201 words)

We are negotiating a new disciplinary and grievance procedure. We think there might be an advantage in having it incorporated into our contracts, so ...

When a resignation takes effect (165 words)

One of my members while on long-term sick leave sent his resignation by letter. He knows that after the letter reached the company it ...

Bullying and harassment (153 words)

One of our managers bullies and harasses staff, using abusive and threatening language. He says that we just have to put up with it ...

Law Back-up

Small gains for unions in Employment bill (730 words)

Last month the government published the Employment Relations Bill 2003. Although unions have welcomed some of its measures, they are disappointed that what is ...

Health & Safety Matters

Bullying of school staff (72 words)

A classroom teacher who was so bullied and harassed by her head teacher that she developed a phobic disorder and depressive illness has won ...

Nickel is top cause of skin problems (84 words)

One in eight cases of work-related contact dermatitis may be caused by nickel exposure, according to a new study. Researchers found that hairdressers suffered ...

Corporate killing LAW put off again (309 words)

Unions and campaigners reacted with anger and dismay after the Queen's Speech in November made no mention of legislation on corporate killing. ...

Report shows no progress on work safety (247 words)

New figures published by the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) show a fall in workplace deaths but no significant change in major injuries. ...

Health & Safety Back-up

Mobile phone ban for drivers takes effect (867 words)

New laws on using mobile phones while driving came into force in December. Back -up looks at the implications for those who drive as ...

Equality news

Jobs for disabled workers are key to poverty campaign (341 words)

The government should aim for 60% of disabled people to be in work in a decade, if more families are to be lifted out ...

Reps to help victims of domestic violence (240 words)

The TUC has announced that 35,000 trade union reps in workplaces across the UK will be offered training to understand and support colleagues experiencing ...

Student midwives claim maternity pay (93 words)

Three student midwives are taking the government to an employment tribunal over the refusal to grant them paid maternity leave. ...

Disability bill changes (78 words)

The new disability bill announced by the government last month will contain measures to protect people with long term progressive conditions - such as ...

Workplace Back-up

TUC says childcare is investment priority (699 words)

The TUC has welcomed the government's proposals for childcare announced by chancellor Gordon Brown in the pre-Budget statement last month. However, its submission to ...

Reviews

Families and work in the twenty-first century (218 words)

Shirley Dex, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, £16.95, from York Publishing Services, tel: 01904 430033; also available to download free from www.jrf.org.uk/bookshop ...

Victimised whistleblowers (102 words)

Edited by Sarah Friday, London Hazards Centre, 32 pages, £1.00 ...

Socialist Register 2004 - The new imperial challenge (464 words)

Edited by Leo Panitch and Colin Leys, 308 pages, paperback, £14.95 ...