Pay and prices

Inflation rises but growth in pay is slowing (218 words)

The latest figures from LRD's Payline database show settlements averaging 3.2% in the three months to September: a slight reduction on the median of ...

Labour Research Department three-monthly pay figures (216 words)

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

Other pay analysts (23 words)

Industrial Relations Services (median, three months to end September 2005) 3.1% ...

Average earnings indices (166 words)

June 04 (r) 116.4 4.2% 4.1% 4.1% 4.1% 4.5% ...

Full-time weekly average earnings (28 words)

All workers £532.20 ...

Prices (59 words)

August 04 187.4 3.2% 2.2% ...

Inflation forecasts (28 words)

Fourth quarter 2005 ...

Bargaining news

Public pension plans get a mixed response (439 words)

Government plans for public sector pensions, preserving the right of most existing workers to retire at the age of 60, have been broadly welcomed ...

Historic strike pays off for Scottish police staff (152 words)

A new pay and conditions agreement has been reached for the 4,000 police staff in Scotland, following the first-ever strike in their history. ...

Drivers' pay leaves egg on caterer's face (156 words)

The GMB general union is negotiating with catering supplies company 3663 over the accidental overpayment of some of its lorry drivers. ...

Public transport workers in Scotland secure deals (546 words)

The T&G transport union has resolved two disputes at bus and subway companies in Scotland. ...

Industrial action looms at Innovia (78 words)

Workers at manufacturing firm Innovia Films have rejected the "job security" pay offer outlined in last month's Workplace Report. ...

Heinz staff full of beans after souped-up pay offer (194 words)

A two-year pay agreement worth at least 8% overall has been negotiated by unions at the Heinz factory in Wigan. ...

Scottish council pledges to preserve workers' pay (424 words)

Aberdeenshire Council has guaranteed its employees that none of them will experience a cut in pay as a result of pay restructuring to remove ...

BECTU urges theatre staff to improve pay locally (290 words)

Broadcasting and entertainment union BECTU has secured above-inflation pay increases for members in regional theatres and at BBC Bristol's Natural History Unit. ...

Deal strikes death blow to two-tier NHS (264 words)

The "two-tier" workforce in English healthcare is finally set to end, following a national agreement to bring contracted-out workers into line with staff employed ...

Equality news

Legal changes define sexual harassment (246 words)

Sexual harassment has been defined in UK law for the first time, under legislative changes made on 1 October to implement the European Equal ...

TUC offers employers free guidance on pay reviews (473 words)

The TUC is offering free advice and guidance to employers who are willing to carry out equal pay reviews in partnership with unions. ...

Case studies show how flexible working can work (185 words)

A new report from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has revealed how a number of employers have met the challenge of ...

Recruitment and organisation news

TUC celebrates organising reps (221 words)

Reps who ran organising and recruitment campaigns at Barnardo's and Rolls-Royce were the joint winners of this year's TUC reps of the year awards, ...

Unions reach recognition deals (192 words)

Broadcasting union BECTU is looking to recruit more members and activists at cable group NTL following the negotiation of a new recognition agreement. ...

Learning and training news

Online resource for school staff (205 words)

A new website is helping school support staff to engage in learning opportunities at work. ...

Council workers get learning help (195 words)

Cumbria County Council is working with local government unions in a "Skills for Life" partnership to encourage its employees to develop new skills and ...

European news

Metalworkers get above-inflation deal (145 words)

Unions representing manual and non-manual workers in Austria's metalworking industry have signed a deal that will deliver annual increases well above current inflation levels. ...

Union makes concessions to save Volkswagen jobs (552 words)

Metalworking union IG Metall and the works councils at two major Volkswagen (VW) plants in Germany have reached a deal that will keep jobs ...

Moderation in Dutch unions' pay demands (73 words)

The Netherlands' trade unions look set to keep their pay demands low next year. ...

Italian school staff get a pay rise - 21 months late (205 words)

Employers and unions in Italy have reached an agreement on pay increases for personnel in the country's schools - almost two years after it ...

Law - Dismissal

Dismissal law (373 words)

This month's cases include key rulings on the legitimacy of various reasons for dismissal. ...

Constructive dismissal (143 words)

Typist Brenda Hedgecock's duties were changed to include reception work. She suffered anxiety and stress as a result of performing the new duties and ...

National security (142 words)

An employee began work as an airport security guard but was dismissed when she failed her national security clearance. She claimed unfair dismissal. ...

Cross-examining witnesses (174 words)

Canteen assistants Laura Dolan and Danielle Gray were dismissed following complaints regarding their conduct. They argued that the witnesses who had given evidence against ...

Gross misconduct (91 words)

Bank employee Baljit Kaur was dismissed for gross misconduct after breaching Financial Service Authority rules by opening a bank account for a customer who ...

Reasons for dismissal (230 words)

Having received a number of formal disciplinary warnings throughout her employment, office assistant Miss Yerbury was eventually dismissed over issues relating to her work ...

Law - Redundancy

Redundancy law (333 words)

Rulings include a decision on the size of protective award that can be awarded over a failure to consult. ...

Consultation (126 words)

IT manager Mr Mallam was made redundant shortly after his employer appointed a new head of IT. Mallam had not applied for this job, ...

Selection for redundancy (164 words)

Mr Lloyd was one of nine export managers. His employer decided that it needed to make one of these posts redundant, and identified his ...

Reasons for redundancy (151 words)

After a year as research manager at a chemicals company, Dr Dias was made redundant without warning or consultation when the company decided it ...

Protective award (147 words)

A tribunal made a protective award of 80 days' pay to members of the T&G general union after their employer failed to consult over ...

Alternative work (115 words)

Facing redundancy, Martin Fisher was offered an alternative role; however, he was not given any details, such as salary. He took redundancy, but later ...

Special circumstances (105 words)

After losing its main contract, an employer told its staff that they were to be made redundant without consultation. It argued that the loss ...

Health & safety news

Safety reps urged to carry out workplace inspections (419 words)

Safety reps have organised a range of events for National Inspection Day on 26 October. ...

TUC conference demands health and safety reforms (269 words)

More powers for safety reps and personal liability for company directors who fail in their safety duties - these were the key demands at ...

Companies fail to support homeworkers (82 words)

More than a third (35%) of companies do not include mobile workers and homeworkers when implementing health and safety policies, according to a survey ...

Firefighters and public at risk under new system (106 words)

West Midlands firefighters have criticised their region's new system of fire risk management, claiming that has left whole areas without fire cover. ...

Job stress link to strokes and heart attacks (86 words)

Young men with high work demands and little control over their job situation show signs of early atherosclerosis - a condition where substances build ...

Features

Disability discrimination (269 words)

This month's round-up includes rulings on defining disability and the duty to make adjustments. ...

Discriminatory dismissal (108 words)

Mr Taylor, who is profoundly deaf, was dismissed for misuse of his employer's e-mail system. He was not provided with an interpreter or any ...

Justifying a failure to adjust (223 words)

Miss Hall had a psychiatric condition that required her to take medication, but she did not provide information about this disability when she applied ...

Non-disabled workers (86 words)

Brian Hart was offered a job, but the offer was withdrawn on the basis of an incorrect medical assessment which indicated that he had ...

Deductions for fault (264 words)

After Mr Begg set up a business in competition with his employer, he was dismissed from his position as manager of a talking newspaper ...

Reasonable adjustments (517 words)

Elaine Collins is insulin-dependent diabetic - a disability under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) - and took long-term sick leave during her probationary period, ...

Defining disability (116 words)

Mr Dunham, who suffers from learning difficulties that affect his literacy and numeracy skills and his memory, was dismissed on grounds of capability. ...

First prosecution under new height rules (103 words)

The first prosecution under the Work at Height Regulations 2005 has resulted in a £3,000 fine plus costs. ...

Occupational health data provide grim reading (130 words)

Millions of UK workers suffer from musculoskeletal disorders like back pain and mental ill health such as stress, according to new figures from the ...

New PPE guidance (42 words)

The Health and Safety Executive has updated its guidance on the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992. Copies can be ordered from HSE ...

TUC voices dissatisfaction with new HSE web pages (247 words)

New resources available on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website are no substitute for giving safety reps more rights, unions have claimed. ...

Amicus targets offshore health and safety failings (176 words)

Offshore workers' union Amicus has called for better safety regulations in the oil industry, after the HSE identified a lack of progress in protecting ...

HSE slams ambulance service's safety record (148 words)

An HSE inspection report has severely criticised the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS). ...

Economic pressures increase the value of private sector pay deals (4826 words)

Reviewing the first half of the 2004-05 pay round in April, Workplace Report found that the pace of pay deals was on the increase. ...