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Labour Research June 2012
Employment protection - The Con-Dem coalition continues to hack away at workers' employment protection rights; Retired members' sections - Retirement is not a barrier to continued trade union activism, thanks to unions' retired members' sections; Regulator under attack - Rogue employers could operate with impunity if the Gangmasters Licensing Authority has its role reduced; Unions in Colombia - Colombia continues to earn the reputation of being the world's most dangerous place to be a trade unionist;
LRD Centenary
Centenary News (265 words)
In June 1940, with the Second World War less than a year old, Labour Research looked back at the First World War and the experience of workers then. ...
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News
TUC calls for workers to be appointed to pay boards (402 words)
Binding votes are not enough to keep top pay at sensible levels, says the TUC as it calls for workers to be appointed to companies’ pay ... Subscribers only
Airport chaos blamed on staff cuts (280 words)
As airport queues continued to create chaos, the PCS civil service union last month told a government inquiry that staff reductions were to blame. ... Subscribers only
Unions dismayed as Equality Act is hit by ‘red tape’ mantra (395 words)
Unions have slammed government plans to scrap parts of the Equality Act, describing its intention to remove “unnecessary” obligations ... Subscribers only
Police privatisation plan delayed (237 words)
Surrey and West Midlands police forces have announced that they are delaying plans to push through contracts worth £1.5 billion until after the ...
Open access
Olympic Games may miss the bus (281 words)
Ballot papers have been sent to more than 20,000 bus workers at 21 bus operators across London calling for industrial action. ... Subscribers only
‘Under-employment’ drives fall (229 words)
Unemployment fell on both official counts, according to the Office for National Statistics. Under the Labour Force Survey count, it fell by 45,000 ... Open access
Inflation lowest for two years (65 words)
Inflation was at its lowest level for over two years, according to the latest official figures. Under the Retail Prices Index, inflation was down to 3 ... Open access
Key economic indicators
Key economic indicators (392 words)
Inflation +3.5%, Average earnings +0.1% ... Subscribers only
Union news
Declining trend continues as union membership falls (626 words)
The proportion of employees who are trade union members — “union density” — slipped for the second year running, due to ... Subscribers only
Tory wipeout (141 words)
Concerted union campaigning for last month’s local elections saw the Tories wiped out from Southampton Council — which had been at the ... Open access
Rail unions (126 words)
General secretary of the TSSA white collar rail union Manuel Cortes has said he is hopeful of a future merger with the RMT rail union, despite ... Open access
European news
Unions hope for change as Hollande takes the reins (544 words)
Unions in France are hoping for a major change of direction following the election victory of the socialist François Hollande, and the coming ... Subscribers only
Deal over austerity plan is agreed in Slovenia (140 words)
In return for concessions on public spending, Slovenian unions have agreed not to block the government’s planned austerity measures. ... Open access
Czech Republic to see major protest (211 words)
ČMKOS, the Czech Republic’s main union confederation, is organising a major national action later this month in protest against the ... Open access
Features
Our rights are further eroded (2,320 words)
The coalition continues to undermine legislation that provides employees with some protection against being unfairly dismissed. ... Subscribers only
Retiring but not shy of activism (1,969 words)
How do unions organise and support their retired members? A new Labour Research survey finds out. ... Subscribers only
Regulator on the ropes? (1,605 words)
The regulatory body charged with protecting some of the most vulnerable workers from exploitation is facing an uncertain future. ... Subscribers only
Surviving in the world’s deadliest place for unions (1,626 words)
Trade unionists in Colombia continue to face appalling human rights abuses, writes Bryan Nott. ... Subscribers only
Law Matters
EU pressure for law on seasonal workers (362 words)
A committee of the European Parliament is pressing for legislation guaranteeing that non-EU seasonal workers get better working conditions. ... Subscribers only
Acas gets positive over mental health at work (234 words)
Guidance on supporting workers with mental health issues has been published by the employment relations service Acas. ... Open access
Law society gives guidance (221 words)
New guidance from the Law Society, which represents solicitors in England and Wales, may help unrepresented employees taking claims to a tribunal. ... Open access
Law Queries
Accommodation charge (191 words)
Q. Our member, who works 35 hours per week, earns the minimum wage. He gets accommodation with his job — but he has to pay for it and we ... Open access
Deductions from wages (318 words)
Q. Our employer operates a chain of shops. On a day last month when our member was running one of the stores, some stock went missing. Although the ... Subscribers only
Paternity leave (214 words)
Our member was working here as an employee of an employment agency. He is due to become a dad on around 10 July. He told the agency about this back ... Open access
Law Back-up
Court rulings make age bias law clearer (950 words)
The Supreme Court’s recent rulings on two age discrimination cases relating to retirement provide interesting insights. Back-up reports. ... Subscribers only
Health & Safety Matters
Teachers’ lives are damaged by bullying (407 words)
Teachers are suffering high levels of bullying, harassment and abuse, a new online survey by teaching union NASUWT has revealed. ... Subscribers only
Sickness absence policies force staff back to work (243 words)
Concerns over sickness absence policies are highlighted in a survey of public sector workers. ... Open access
Tired pilot caused air incident (250 words)
The crucial issue of pilot fatigue is back in the spotlight after an official report into an incident on a transatlantic flight. ... Subscribers only
Health & Safety Back-up
Coalition ups its attack on health and safety (882 words)
Any remaining doubts about the direction of health and safety regulation under the coalition government were dispelled in the Queen’s Speech. ... Subscribers only
Equality news
Coalition failed over its equality duty (353 words)
A formal equality assessment of the government’s 2010 spending review has found that in some key areas the government failed to establish how ... Subscribers only
Poorest households hit harder by cost of living (284 words)
Rising food prices and soaring gas and electricity bills have meant that the cost of living has been going up faster for the poorest households than ... Subscribers only
Rail union wants equal pay (260 words)
Last month, the TSSA white collar rail union announced it was launching an equal pay claim campaign which could end up costing the rail ... Subscribers only
Workplace Back-up
Working from home is not just for Olympics (896 words)
The TUC is hoping that homeworking will be given a major boost by being adopted as a flexible working practice during the Olympic Games, while its ... Subscribers only
Reviews
The John Carlos Story (222 words)
As the 2012 London Olympics loom ever nearer, this is a good time to remember John Carlos and Tommie Smith’s Black Power salute on the 1968 ... Open access
Rank and file (211 words)
Personal histories by working class ... Open access
E-views
e-views (396 words)
How effectively do UK unions optimise their websites for search engine traffic? I’ve been doing a lot of work on Search Engine Optimisation ... Subscribers only