News

Fire plans will cost £1 billion (244 words)

The government's plans to close all 46 emergency fire control rooms and replace them with nine regional centres is likely to cost over £1 ...

Rail company "should stay public," say unions (325 words)

The three main rail unions are calling on the government to shelve plans to re-privatise South Eastern Trains "for good". ...

Ryanair staff "oppressed" (291 words)

People should think twice before using low-cost airline Ryanair, and the authorities should be investigating it, according to the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF). ...

UNISON members want strike action on pensions (452 words)

The prospects of a pre-election clash between public sector unions and the government over pensions increased last month, when members of the largest public ...

Workers not saving for retirement (230 words)

Employers are not doing enough to encourage workers to join company pension schemes, says an Age Concern report. ...

Price indexes rise again (59 words)

Dearer furniture, travel and energy costs helped push inflation up in December to its highest rate since June 1998. The Retail Prices Index rose ...

Unemployment inches upwards (207 words)

Unemployment under the Labour Force Survey (LFS) count rose by by 13,000 to 1.4 million in the three months to November 2004 compared with ...

Key economic indicators

Key economic indicators (320 words)

November 03 3.2 3.6 2.9 2.9 4.2 3.3 ...

Union news

Amicus calls for crackdown on anti-union companies (266 words)

Amicus, the manufacturing and technical union, has called on the government to act against companies using anti-union tactics. ...

Court unions merge (51 words)

Members of AMO, the trade union for magistrates' court staff, have backed the proposed merger with PCS, the biggest civil service union, by 96.4%. ...

Tsunami appeal (60 words)

The TUC has thanked its affiliates and members of the general public for donating over £50,000 to its appeal to help the victims of ...

European news

ETUC plans demo in March (64 words)

The European Trade Union Confederation plans a demonstration in Brussels on 19 March on the eve of the next European summit. ...

Non-union candidates slip (84 words)

The latest figures from the works council elections in France, confirm that non-union candidates have less support than in the past. ...

Minimum wages rise more than inflation (87 words)

Last month minimum wages went up in 10 of the 25 EU member states. ...

German metal industry bosses keep up pressure on unions (377 words)

German employers in the metalworking industry are upping the pressure on unions for concessions on working hours and pay, saying regular pay increases are ...

French unions mobilise for action (284 words)

All but one of France's main union confederations are calling for major demonstrations later this month to protest against government policies, particularly on working ...

Features

Factory job-loss rate accelerates (1740 words)

Without tougher government policies to support the UK manufacturing industry, the sector faces "a bleak 2005", say unions. ...

A case of mistaken identity (1961 words)

Concern is mounting that national identity cards will restrict people's access to public services and will foster an atmosphere of racism. But even more ...

Putting new skills on the NHS agenda (1627 words)

The radical new pay scheme for health service workers includes an equally mould-breaking structure for enhancing their knowledge and skills base. ...

Fairer deal for contract staff (1603 words)

Unions, campaigners and some public authorities are trying to ensure that firms bidding for public contracts give their staff decent pay and conditions. New ...

Law Matters

Refusal of leave for Hajj pilgrimage was unlawful (315 words)

A Muslim worker has won a claim of religious discrimination and unfair dismissal after being sacked for making a six-week pilgrimage to Mecca. ...

Council pays for its failure to consult union on dismissals (334 words)

A local authority faces a compensation bill of up to £8 million after a tribunal found it had failed to consult with the union ...

Nightclub liable for doorman's conduct (117 words)

A nightclub chain has been held responsible for serious injuries resulting from an attack by a doorman. ...

Expelling fascists (155 words)

It is now lawful for unions to exclude or expel members on the grounds of their activities as members of a political party. ...

Law Queries

Conduct outside work time (208 words)

Q. A member has been called to a disciplinary meeting for getting involved in a fight at a department works party in January. The ...

Change to contractual terms (239 words)

Q. Our employer has told us that from 2005 we will no longer receive company sick pay - we will only get Statutory Sick ...

Entitlement to notice pay (370 words)

Q. I was a barperson for six weeks until I was dismissed because I could not run the bar area by myself. I have ...

Law Back-up

New ruling restricts "last straw" claims (982 words)

A series of relatively minor incidents of unfavourable treatment can constitute grounds for a constructive dismissal claim if together they amount to a breach ...

Health & Safety Matters

Australian safety reps get new rights (88 words)

Unions in Australia's Victoria State have welcomed a new law that strengthens safety reps' rights and imposes tough penalties on employers. ...

Amicus to focus on workplace bullying (73 words)

Professional union Amicus intends to expose employers who don't tackle bullying in their workplaces. ...

Deadlines are deadly (100 words)

New research has confirmed the union view that stress resulting from long working hours and short deadlines can cause heart attacks. ...

Rise in RSI victims shows need to raise awareness (328 words)

Campaigners are reminding employers and the government of the risks of repetitive strain injury (RSI), as official figures reveal a jump in the number ...

TUC report explodes enduring myth of "sicknote Britain" (246 words)

Employers' complaints about workers' time off sick are completely unfounded, according to a new report from the TUC. ...

Health & Safety Back-up

New code will protect workers' privacy (839 words)

Employers are allowed to keep records on workers' health, but they are now subject to stricter rules. Back-up looks at the new data protection ...

Equality news

Tackle mental ill health with rehabilitation, says new guide (244 words)

A new guide published by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has focused on the role of rehabilitation in helping workers who ...

Stonewall reveals best employers for gay staff (329 words)

The British Council - the organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities - has taken the top spot in the UK's first "equality index" ...

TUC demands action as GMB reveals size of gender pay gap (329 words)

Full-time women workers in the City of London face the country's biggest gender pay gap, earning just 58.2% of the average City male. ...

Workplace Back-up

Millions are "working for free", says TUC (778 words)

This month, national Work Your Proper Hours Day will recognise the vast quantity of unpaid overtime worked by the UK's employees. Back-up looks at ...

News from LRD

Guidance on bullying and harassment (131 words)

Bullying and harassment at work is becoming an increasingly prominent issue for trade unions, and this new booklet from the Labour Research Department (LRD) ...

LRD carries out TUC Equality Audit (98 words)

LRD, which undertook the 2003 TUC Equality Audit, has been asked to carry out the 2005 version, which focuses on collective bargaining and equality. ...

Reviews

NHS plc (152 words)

The privatisation of our healthcare ...

The politics of empire (155 words)

Globalisation in crisis ...

Commemorating the 50th anniversary of Liberation, formerly the Movement for Colonial Freedom (146 words)

Stan Newens, Liberation, 60 pages, £3.00 ...

E-views

e-views (355 words)

Unions tend to be fairly conservative when it comes to technology - they are not known as "early adopters". And that means that sometimes, ...