Pay and prices

Private-sector bonuses boost average earnings (200 words)

Latest figures from the LRD PayLine database show that settlements for the three months to February have a median (midpoint) of 3.0%. The public-sector ...

Labour Research Department three monthly pay figures (220 words)

Percentage increases on lowest basic rates (by agreements covered) ...

Other pay analysts (30 words)

Confederation of British Industry (manufacturing, three months to Nov 2003) 3.2% ...

Average earnings indices (155 words)

Nov 02 (r) 110.0 4.5 4.0 4.8 4.4 5.0 ...

Full-time weekly average earnings (28 words)

All workers £500.50 ...

Inflation forecasts (31 words)

RPI forecasts (and underlying inflation- excluding mortgage interest payments) ...

Prices (59 words)

January 03 178.4 2.9 2.7 ...

Bargaining news

Minimum wage to increase in October (287 words)

National minimum wage rates will rise by nearly 8% from 1 October to £4.85 (for workers aged 22 and above) and £4.10 (for 18- ...

Royal Mail deal on pay, London weighting and "major change" (567 words)

A new national agreement with the CWU communications union on "pay and major change" was concluded at the Royal Mail earlier this year. ...

Local councils offer 7% over three years, plus reviews of conditions (345 words)

Local government employers have responded to the unions' pay claim with an offer worth 7% over three years for workers in England, Wales and ...

Public-sector unions fight pension changes (392 words)

Government proposals that would raise the pension age to 65 and worsen pension provision for 1.2 million workers in the public services are being ...

Rises for lowest-paid in finance sector (331 words)

Recent finance-sector settlements include guarantees for the lowest-paid staff, although performance continues to be the main factor determining individual pay rises. ...

Construction workers get 8.13% rise (272 words)

Pay rises of 7% to 8% and the phasing out of sick pay "waiting days" are two of the key features in a new ...

Equality news

More employers offer maternity pay above the statutory minimum (536 words)

The number of women receiving maternity pay above the statutory minimum amount has doubled since 1996, according to research published by the Department for ...

M&S work experience scheme helps parents (208 words)

Parents who wish to return to employment are being helped by a work experience scheme run by Marks & Spencer. ...

Guide dog released from cupboard (111 words)

The GMB general union has helped a blind worker back to work after his guide dog was banned by his employer. ...

Recruitment and organisation news

New US tool for applying pressure to employers (346 words)

A new tool for workplace organising has been added to the techniques taught at the TUC Organising Academy, after having considerable success in the ...

NUT urges its reps to get paid time off (118 words)

Just 7% of National Union of Teachers reps receive any paid time off to carry out their trade union activities, according to a report ...

Learning and training news

University challenge for Scottish shopworkers (225 words)

A successful lifelong-learning project in Scotland, which gave over 450 Safeway supermarket workers the opportunity to enhance their skills and knowledge, is now taking ...

TUC seeks the best in learning reps (98 words)

The TUC is inviting nominations for an award recognising union members who represent the best aspects of being a learning rep. This is the ...

European news

French reach agreement on equality framework (343 words)

French unions and employers have reached preliminary agreement on mechanisms to promote equality between men and women in the workplace. ...

New rights for call-centre staff (225 words)

Italian unions and the employers' association Assocallcenter have signed an agreement which, for the first time, regulates the terms and working conditions of around ...

Journalists have to settle for less (238 words)

A dispute between the union Verdi and German newspaper owners was settled at the end of last month. The dispute included several days of ...

Works council discusses job losses at EDF (116 words)

The European works council at the French company EDF, which brings together employee representatives from across Europe, is calling an extraordinary meeting to discuss ...

Health & safety news

New pressure for a ban on workplace smoking (305 words)

A government-funded public health report provides "powerful backing" to the case for a law ending smoking in the workplace, according to tobacco control pressure ...

Landmark ruling on compensation (223 words)

A Court of Appeal ruling in February could mean better compensation for victims of workplace bullying and other cases of unfair dismissal. ...

Lack of time control makes you sick (107 words)

A low level of control over working time increases the risk of health problems, according to Finnish researchers. ...

ISTC takes up women's health and safety (84 words)

The community union ISTC sent packs to all its safety reps as part of international women's day celebrations this month. ...

Tube workers' victory over safety fears (138 words)

Members of the rail union RMT who refused to work during the firefighters' dispute because of safety fears have won back the pay they ...

Features

Contract law (492 words)

Among this month's contract law developments are key cases focusing on illegality and on contract status, breach of contract and the duty to inform. ...

Illegal contracts (279 words)

Case 1: The facts ...

Employee status (90 words)

Case 3: The facts ...

Carpenters (155 words)

Case 4: The facts ...

Joiners (157 words)

Case 5: The facts ...

Defining a contract (94 words)

Case 6: The facts ...

Breach of contract (212 words)

Case 7: The facts ...

Stress (158 words)

Case 8: The facts ...

Duty to inform (255 words)

Case 9: The facts ...

Abusive language (98 words)

Case 10: The facts ...

Transfer law (279 words)

Key developments in transfer law this month include European court rulings on what makes a relevant transfer and on early retirement benefits after a ...

Identifying an entity (198 words)

Case 1: The facts ...

Nature of a commercial undertaking (211 words)

Case 2: The facts ...

Internal transfers (82 words)

Case 3: The facts ...

Changes to terms of employment (263 words)

Case 4: The facts ...

More than one entity (182 words)

Case 5: The facts ...

Early retirement benefits (234 words)

Case 6: The facts ...

Unlawful deductions (159 words)

Where an employer changes the contract so as to pay the employee less and the employee continues to work, the change will be affirmed ...

Working hours (170 words)

An award made under pendulum arbitration operates as if it was a collectively agreed term, and therefore falls within the exceptions set out in ...

Data protection (99 words)

This case, although not involving an employment relationship, is the first where the Court of Appeal has looked at what information falls within the ...

Lack of enforcement is the main issue, says TUC (273 words)

The House of Commons Works and Pensions Select Committee began hearing witnesses this month into the work of the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) ...

HSE staff vote for strike action over pay offer (182 words)

Safety inspectors have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action in a pay dispute with the HSE. ...

Protective equipment must be provided free of charge (233 words)

The HSE has told catering industry employers about their duty to provide workers with free personal protective equipment (PPE). ...

Study confirms safety implications of drug use (127 words)

An HSE study has confirmed that recreational drug use may have effects on safety at work, though more research is needed to clarify these ...

Rail companies fined £300,000 (77 words)

Two rail companies, Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd (NRIL) and Balfour Beatty Rail Infrastructure Services Ltd (BBRIS), were fined a total of £300,000 last month ...

Many employers failing to act on women's health and safety (2575 words)

Breastfeeding, pregnancy, cancer screening, the menopause ... minimising the risks faced by women in the workplace requires a wide range of gender-specific issues to ...

Occupational pension schemes: the debate (2305 words)

Through its Pensions Bill and other measures, the government is trying to improve the UK's pension system. Workplace Report looks at these and other ...