News

Jobs more "satisfying" in public sector (227 words)

Eight in 10 public sector workers find their jobs rewarding compared with only six in 10 of their private sector counterparts, according to a ...

Unions back call for anti-war demo (175 words)

UK unions are set to play a role in international demonstrations marking the third anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. ...

MPs back USDAW on Sunday shop hours (217 words)

More than 100 MPs have now backed the campaign by the USDAW shopworkers' union against an extension to Sunday trading. ...

Campaigners demand right to work for asylum seekers (207 words)

The government must address the problem of destitution among asylum seekers by allowing them to work, a group of MPs and the UK's largest ...

Court staff solid in first national strike (337 words)

Magistrates court staff took a day's strike action last month in support of a higher pay deal. As the PCS civil service union put ...

Health watchdog's spot checks expose hospital cleaning failures (181 words)

An investigation of 99 hospitals by the independent Healthcare Commission found that cleaning was unsatisfactory in nearly a quarter (23) of them. ...

Gas strike wins some pension concessions (222 words)

A nationwide strike last month by British Gas engineers won some concessions on their pension arrangements from employer Centrica. ...

Cheaper fares cut inflation (61 words)

Cheaper petrol and air fares cut inflation for the second month. The Consumer Prices Index (CPI), which excludes housing costs and is the government's ...

Unemployment rate rises (187 words)

Unemployment rose on both official counts. ...

Key economic indicators

Key economic indicators (324 words)

October 2004 (r) 4.5% 3.3% 4.7% 4.4% 4.8% 3.0% ...

Union news

College unions merge (256 words)

The world's largest union for post-school academic and academic-related staff will be created this year following a merger vote last month. ...

GMB sticks with merger talks for now (84 words)

The GMB general union will continue with "exploratory" talks on a merger with the TGWU general union and Amicus technical and professional union, at ...

PCS sets up political fund (96 words)

Members of the 300,000-strong Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) have voted by four to one to create a political fund. ...

Rail union will appeal against tribunal ruling (239 words)

The ASLEF rail union is to appeal against a ruling that the dismissal of its general secretary, Sean Brady, was unfair. ...

UNISON cash for developing unions (101 words)

Public services union UNISON has confirmed the union movement's growing concern about global poverty and human rights by launching an International Trade Union Development ...

European news

German Gate Gourmet strike goes into third month (205 words)

A strike at the German subsidiary of the US-owned airline catering company Gate Gourmet entered its third month as Labour Research went to press. ...

Irish Ferries dispute ends after massive protests (369 words)

The industrial action at Irish Ferries ended in a settlement last month after national demonstrations brought tens of thousands onto the streets in Dublin ...

General strike paralyses Greece (275 words)

Much of Greece was brought to a halt last month by a 24-hour general strike against government policy. The action was called by Greece's ...

Features

Unions and communities unite to stop the BNP (1815 words)

The British National Party is beginning to establish itself as a rival to Labour in many of its traditional heartlands, writes Jon Cruddas, Labour ...

What's happening to the BNP vote? (1345 words)

The 2005 election saw the biggest general election vote for the far right in British history, confirming a trend of rising support for the ...

Government faces a state pensions poser from Turner (1965 words)

The Turner Commission began work in December 2002, with a brief to examine the UK's regime for private pensions and long-term savings. But its ...

Rebuilding trade union unity in Venezuela (1633 words)

This month the World Social Forum meets in Venezuela, no doubt providing a platform for its president Hugo Chávez to enchant some and enrage ...

Law Matters

Reasons for job refusal can remain confidential (219 words)

A black police officer has been told by the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) that she was not entitled to know why she had been ...

Lords allow church minister to claim sex discrimination (226 words)

A church minister has been allowed to bring a claim of sex discrimination. ...

New compensation limits announced (184 words)

Compensation limits in employment tribunals claims are to increase next month. ...

Ruling on statutory grievances (191 words)

A letter of resignation can amount to a statutory grievance statement, the EAT has said. ...

Law Queries

TUPE (198 words)

Q: Our contract has just been transferred to a different employer under the TUPE transfer regulations. I have worked every Sunday for the past ...

Return from maternity leave (248 words)

Q: We have a member on maternity leave at the moment who is due to return to work. She is employed as a personal ...

Rest breaks (90 words)

Q: What is the legal requirement for meal breaks at work? ...

Sick pay (146 words)

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is payable from the fourth day of sickness absence because the first three days are waiting days. Although a second ...

Law Back-up

Workers win claims over imposed terms (759 words)

Last year Glasgow City Council dismissed its entire museum staff and re-engaged them on different terms following a review under the best value legislation. ...

Health & Safety Matters

Occupational medicine under fire (109 words)

Occupational medicine is being undermined by pressure from governments and industry, a new report has concluded. ...

New findings on workplace cancers (109 words)

Exposure to common substances at work increases the risk of developing cancers, according to new research published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. ...

Scotland leads the way on corporate accountability (307 words)

The government will introduce a corporate manslaughter bill before the end of this parliament, but negligent company directors will not face jail terms. ...

Study finds clear link between job satisfaction and health (280 words)

Workers who are dissatisfied with their jobs are more likely to become ill, according to a study carried out by Lancaster University Management School ...

Health & Safety Back-up

Unions seek total ban on smoking at work (907 words)

When the government published its Health Bill in October 2005, it failed to include a total ban on workplace smoking in its proposals. Instead, ...

Equality news

New body set up to prioritise disability issues in government (234 words)

The government has set up an Office for Disability Issues (ODI) to promote equality for disabled people. ...

Report outlines the stress benefits of childcare (199 words)

Spending time in childcare can reduce stress levels in children whose mothers have low job satisfaction, according to a new report. ...

Commission for racial equality should be replaced, says chair (291 words)

The chair of the government's race watchdog, the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), has predicted that it will be replaced in a few years' ...

Workplace Back-up

Getting training and jobs for ex-offenders (718 words)

Around a fifth of the working population has a criminal record and failure to get paid employment is a major reason for re-offending. But ...

Reviews

Global fracture (159 words)

Michael Hudson, Pluto, paperback, 296 pages, £19.95 ...

CND - now more than ever (143 words)

Kate Hudson, Vision, paperback, 278 pages, £10.99 ...

Wobblies (159 words)

Paul Buhle and Nicole Schulman, Verso, paperback, 256 pages, £16.00 ...

E-views

e-views (303 words)

Ajax was a mythical Greek hero who fought against Troy. Ajax is also a cleaning powder. And today it is the name of a ...