Pay and prices

Settlements stay steady as inflation falls (237 words)

The latest figures from our Payline database of collective agreements show a median increase for the three months to May of 3.2% - the ...

Labour Research Department three-monthly pay figures (215 words)

Percentage increases on lowest basic rates (by agreements covered) for the three months up to and including: ...

Other pay analysts (23 words)

Industrial Relations Services (median, three months to end May 2005) 3.0% ...

Full-time weekly average earnings (28 words)

All workers £526.60 ...

Average earnings indices (156 words)

Feb 04 (r) 114.1 3.6 3.7 3.5 3.5 4.4 ...

Prices (59 words)

April 04 185.7 2.5 2.0 ...

Inflation forecasts (29 words)

Fourth quarter 2005: ...

Bargaining news

Nationwide improves its policy on retirement (397 words)

The Nationwide Building Society has adopted a flexible retirement policy featuring a normal retirement age of 60 together with the right for employees to ...

Unions force Imerys to consult over pensions (174 words)

Clay and mineral producer Imerys has finally agreed to consult trade unions over its controversial pension changes, implemented in January. ...

Water firm splashes out on settlement (277 words)

Anglian Water Services have reached an agreement covering the company's 3,260 staff, based mostly in the Eastern region but also in Hartlepool and part ...

New grading structure is proposed for farm workers (331 words)

A new career structure for agricultural workers is emerging from the Agricultural Wages Board, where negotiations have seen more agreement this year than recently. ...

Drug and chemical firms deliver highs and lows (330 words)

Pay rises worth between 2.5% and 3.5% to the average worker - but dependent in some cases on individual performance - have recently been ...

Progress remains slow on local HE pay structures (282 words)

The AUT university lecturers' union has registered some successes in the development of new local pay structures, but says that overall progress is still ...

Amicus piles pressure on Fujitsu over pay claim (430 words)

Skilled and professional union Amicus is pressing IT services provider Fujitsu to accept the terms of a national pay claim - the first to ...

TUC seeks extension of flexible hours (274 words)

The TUC has launched another attack on the UK's long-hours culture, and has called for every worker to be able to work flexibly, in ...

Equality news

New guidance on Asperger syndrome (235 words)

A new book about employing people with Asperger syndrome has been published by the National Autistic Society (NAS). ...

Avoid age discrimination, ACAS warns employers (279 words)

The conciliation service ACAS has joined the call for employers to employ, retain and make the most of older workers. ...

UNISON raises awareness of transgender rights (398 words)

Public services union UNISON has published a factsheet detailing transgender people's rights at work and outlining good practice for employers and employees. ...

Recruitment and organisation news

Government urged to boost reps' rights (145 words)

The TUC has welcomed new government discussions on the facilities, support and rights available to workplace reps, and has called for a comprehensive review ...

Steady rise in recognition deals (248 words)

Unions won 179 recognition deals last year, a slight increase on the 166 gained in the previous year but below the levels achieved at ...

A recruitment drive with a difference (129 words)

Shopworkers' union USDAW is offering activists the chance to win a new car if they recruit new members. ...

Learning and training news

TUC calls for "work-learn balance" (465 words)

Despite the huge demand for learning new skills, a range of obstacles - topped by overwork and stress - are preventing many workers from ...

European news

After 17 months, Italian public sector agrees to 5% two-year deal (330 words)

Unions and the government in Italy have finally reached agreement on a pay increase for 3.4 million workers in the public sector, 17 months ...

Loss-making firms excused from pay rise (139 words)

Unions representing 200,000 textile workers in Spain have agreed an above-inflation increase for this year - but with exceptions for loss-making companies. ...

Progress stalls on ending opt-out (300 words)

The Council of Ministers, which brings together representatives of the 25 national governments in the European Union (EU), failed to make progress on revisions ...

German deals rely heavily on lump sums (163 words)

Two settlements in Germany this month have included lump-sum payments as important ingredients, reflecting the difficult negotiating climate at present. ...

Law - Dismissal

Dismissal law (548 words)

Decisions this month include a number of rulings on the size - and tax status - of compensation awards. ...

Delays in investigation (137 words)

Harry Donald worked as an insurance salesman and was investigated in relation to mis-selling, for which he received a final written warning. Some time ...

Reducing compensation (329 words)

Mr Ceesay was caught on CCTV sleeping during his shift, and was dismissed. A tribunal held that he had been unfairly dismissed, but reduced ...

Length of service (114 words)

Mr Sears, a parish council clerk, took up a second job as a clerk to another parish, but was dismissed from this new job ...

Criminal charges (107 words)

Local council employee Gloria Foster was dismissed following allegations that her husband had made false benefit claims in which she was implicated. The council ...

Compensation (232 words)

Mr Schlesinger, a consultant surgeon working for the NHS, also undertook private work. Following his unfair dismissal, he claimed that lost earnings from his ...

Restrictive covenants (139 words)

David Forshaw and Christopher and James Chorley were all dismissed when they refused to sign new contracts incorporating restrictive covenants that limited the kind ...

Taxation and compensation (158 words)

Stephen Clayton and other council employees were contractually entitled to an "essential car user" allowance. The council wanted to withdraw the allowance and asked ...

Expired warning (131 words)

This claim of unfair dismissal was brought by three former colleagues. Two of them, dismissed for failing to carry out a safety procedure and ...

Reasonable investigation (114 words)

Mrs Holland, a kitchen assistant for six years, was dismissed for grabbing a young employee's T-shirt; she said the employee was "rather cheeky" and ...

Earnings during notice (171 words)

Mr Stowe, who is black, was a storeman for 19 years. He was selected for redundancy, although there were employees with shorter service. ...

Failure to mitigate (117 words)

Clare Morris was unfairly dismissed, but the tribunal reduced her compensation on the grounds that she had not mitigated (reduced) her losses - she ...

Conduct (111 words)

Following allegations of misconduct, two officers at a day centre refused to attend an investigation or disciplinary hearing. The hearing proceeded without them and ...

Law - Redundancy

Redundancy law (445 words)

This month's decisions include a landmark ruling from the European Court of Justice which has held that employees cannot be dismissed for redundancy until ...

Consultation on redundancies (283 words)

In Germany, care assistant Irmtraud Junk was one of 172 staff made redundant when her employer went into liquidation. Junk challenged her redundancy on ...

Definition of redundancy (182 words)

Mr North, a senior editor, was made redundant in a cost-saving exercise. He claimed that there was no redundancy situation since there was still ...

Costs awards and time limits (148 words)

The ISTC union (now part of Community) applied for a protective award on behalf of 170 members, but was four months out of time ...

Awards in insolvency (222 words)

Corrine Smith and Anne Moore were made redundant without consultation when their employer went into receivership. A tribunal held that they were not entitled ...

Selection for redundancy (245 words)

Frank Cassidy was selected for redundancy on the basis of a "last in, first out" (LIFO) selection criterion. He claimed that this was unfair ...

Health & safety news

Employers must act to stop the stress epidemic (298 words)

Employers are not doing enough to stem the workplace stress epidemic, according to new research for mental health charity Mind. ...

Sick and injured workers miss out on compensation (405 words)

New TUC research has demonstrated that the "compensation culture" is a myth, and that most injured workers receive no compensation at all. ...

Guards strike for safety (150 words)

Train guards working for Midland Mainline rail services have taken strike action on successive Fridays in a dispute over safety. ...

Wood dust is a lung cancer risk (130 words)

Exposure to wood dust increases workers' risk of developing lung cancer, according to new US research. ...

Features

New guidance on RPE (110 words)

The HSE has revised its guidance on the safe use of respiratory protective equipment (RPE). ...

Prospect supports HSE's back safety campaign (162 words)

Professional union Prospect is backing a major national campaign by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to cut the number of back injuries at ...

Union anger at Brown's light-touch safety regime (270 words)

Unions have reacted angrily to chancellor Gordon Brown's plans to reduce "red tape" on business by scaling down the current level of regulation and ...

Consulting reps can boost safety (260 words)

Worker representation and consultation can play a significant role in improving health and safety at work, according to new research carried out for the ...

Metalworking guide omits cancer risk (140 words)

The HSE has been criticised for omitting occupational cancer from its new online guide to metalworking fluids. The guide only acknowledges breathing and skin ...

London weighting shows little sign of capital growth (2364 words)

This year has not seen many substantial increases in London weighting, as a slowdown in the capital's housing market has left employers facing fewer ...

Equal pay claims yield mixed results (2020 words)

To judge by some statistics, you would think that equal pay is no longer a major issue in the UK - equal pay claims ...