Pay and prices

Pay deals still below inflation (247 words)

The latest figures from LRD’s Payline database show pay settlements for the three months to May steady at 4.0%. This is the median across ...

Labour Research Department three-monthly pay figures (77 words)

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

Full-time weekly average earnings (16 words)

All workers£567.40All male£625.50All female£477.60Managers£853.90Professionals£765.60Associate professional£585.40Admin & secretarial£390.60Skilled/craft£476.80Services£335.50Sales£316.30Operatives£441.60Other manual£344.20 ...

Average earnings indices (including bonuses) (56 words)

* 2000=100 ...

Other pay analysts (21 words)

Industrial Relations Services (median, three months to end May 2008)3.3%Incomes Data Services (median, three months to end April 2008)3.8% ...

Inflation forecasts (17 words)

Fourth quarter 2008 ...

Bargaining news

Two cheers for three-year NHS pay deal (617 words)

The three-year pay deal proposed for most NHS staff (see Workplace Report, April) has now won the backing of the two largest unions (public ...

Bravo for theatre deal aimed at low paid (142 words)

Long running pay talks at the National Theatre (NT) in London have resulted in a significant boost for the lower paid. Front-of-house and catering ...

Youth workers could get more flexibility (220 words)

The Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) for Youth and Community workers is consulting on a system of flexible working arrangements and time off in lieu ...

Unite’s finance sector campaign targets low pay (605 words)

Unite, the biggest union in the finance sector, is challenging banking and insurance companies to ensure that their pay and remuneration systems realise the ...

Waterways workers agree 3.5% deal (179 words)

Members of public service union UNISON and the Unite general union voted overwhelmingly to accept the 2008-09 pay deal at British Waterways which will ...

Survey reveals low pay in magazine industry (105 words)

A survey of members’ pay by the National Union of Journalists’ London Magazine branch has revealed that while the highest salary in the survey ...

European unions will resist working time deal (868 words)

Europe's employment ministers have reached agreement on two directives – agency workers and working time – that have been blocked for several years. However, ...

Scottish council craft workers suspend action (276 words)

Scottish local government craft workers had suspended further strike action for a four-week period in a dispute over working hours as Workplace Report went ...

Equality news

Employers reject most requests for homeworking (400 words)

Almost seven in 10 employers “never” or only “occasionally” accept employees’ requests for homeworking, according to recent research. ...

Solicitors set to tackle gender and BME pay gaps (282 words)

An equal pay campaign highlighting gender pay inequalities in the legal sector has been launched by the Law Society, the representative body for solicitors ...

Prison Service launches equality plan (135 words)

THE Prison Service has launched a two-year plan to tackle sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination in the service following an agreement with equality watchdog ...

Acas sets up disability forum (116 words)

THE Acas employment relations service is to set up a Disabled People’s Involvement Forum to help ensure fairness and disability equality in its work. ...

Recruitment and organisation news

Union targets support at branches and stewards (463 words)

Public services union UNISON is recruiting 60 local organisers as part of its commitment to “moving staffing resources from administration to organising”. The organisers ...

Learning and training news

New deals mark learning at work day (402 words)

Trade unions were heavily involved in this year’s Learning At Work Day, part of Adult Learners Week, with the signing of new learning agreements ...

European news

Swedish health workers settle but Danish nurses continue to strike (701 words)

SWEDISH health care workers have reached a three-year agreement with their employers, which provides a 4.0% increase in the first year. This keeps pace ...

French bank begins equal pay audit (340 words)

THE French bank Crédit du Nord has signed a new equality agreement which includes a pay audit, where any gap of more than 10% ...

Law - Dismissal

Dismissal law (491 words)

f An employment tribunal is entitled to draw an inference of discrimination on trade union grounds in the same way as it can for ...

Trade union discrimination (143 words)

Case 1: the facts ...

Remedies (212 words)

Case 2: the facts ...

Emergency leave dismissal (178 words)

Case 3: the facts ...

Constructive dismissal (214 words)

Case 4: the facts ...

Reasonable investigation (194 words)

Case 5: the facts ...

Dismissal for assault (144 words)

Case 6: the facts ...

Contributory fault (206 words)

Case 7: the facts ...

Compensation (272 words)

Case 8: the facts ...

Law - Redundancy

Redundancy law (263 words)

f If an employee has offered an alternative job that is only “marginally” suitable, this can be taken into account when deciding whether their ...

Alternative employment (194 words)

Case 1: the facts ...

Protective award (341 words)

Case 2: the facts ...

Statutory procedures (264 words)

Case 3: the facts ...

Law - Other Law News

Transfer law (243 words)

f An employee who worked for a new employer on “secondment” for six weeks had transferred under TUPE even though she had said she ...

Objecting to the transfer (262 words)

Case 1: the facts ...

Transfer-related dismissals (230 words)

Case 2: the facts ...

Liability for dismissal (315 words)

Case 3: the facts ...

Health & safety news

Tube booze ban fails to tackle real problem (157 words)

The RMT rail union has said that London mayor Boris Johnson should personally apologise to every tubeworker assaulted, abused and spat on when his ...

London bus drivers get spit kits (138 words)

Unions have welcomed the introduction of spit-kits for London bus drivers but warned that consultation is necessary for the new measure to be effective. ...

Guide for managers sets out how to prevent stress (352 words)

Earlier this month new guidance was published aimed at managers and human resource professionals on how to tackle stress. The publication is a joint ...

Unions give members advice about tick hazards (143 words)

Unions are backing a warning from the Health Protection Agency and other organisations of the hazards from ticks. ...

Safety reps rights: No. 3: Inspections (Regulations 5 and 6) (153 words)

The Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations came into force nearly 30 years ago, in October 1978. Workplace Report is running a regular column ...

Health & safety - HSE Monitor

Campaigners debate how to tackle workplace cancer (217 words)

Hazards activists and researchers used a conference in Stirling in Scotland at the end of April to step up the campaign on occupational cancers. ...

New intake fails to end HSE recruitment crisis (332 words)

THE Health and Safety Executive (HSE) remains mired in crisis, despite promises to recruit more staff, according to unions and professional safety bodies. ...

Court ruling on lung cancer and asbestos (146 words)

THE High Court has ruled that there is a strong link between lung cancer and asbestos exposure, setting an important precedent for subsequent cases. ...

European campaign on risk assessment (135 words)

The European Campaign for Safety and Health at Work, formerly known as Euroweek, launched on 24 June, will focus on risk assessment over the ...

HSE consultation on safety posters (109 words)

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is consulting on proposals to amend the Health and Safety Information for Employees Regulations 1989 (HSIER). The changes ...

Features

Unions fight for final salary pensions (3586 words)

The strike at Grangemouth and disputes or potential disputes at BAA and Royal Mail are about trade union efforts to keep defined benefit pension ...

Public sector London weighting rises lag behind private sector (1152 words)

Annual developments in London weighting payments and other regional allowances can vary considerably. Some London allowances are linked to annually negotiated increases in pay, ...