Workplace Report October 2000

Stress at work - survey of 250 safety reps puts stress at top of health and safety agenda Unions and lifelong learning - how unions are getting involved in learning initiatives in the workplace

Pay and prices

Pay and prices (428 words)

Labour Research Department three monthly pay figures ...

Bargaining news

Conflicting signals on jobs and pay (708 words)

Labour market statistics point to continuing employment growth, and in some sectors recruitment pressures are driving up settlements. Nevertheless, some industries are still suffering ...

Features

Pay deals in brief (747 words)

Agreement % increase hours holidays ...

Redundancy - consultation, selection, alternative work and pay (1011 words)

An employer who is proposing to make redundancies has specific legal obligations in relation to consultation, selection, offers of alternative work and redundancy pay. ...

Disciplinary appeals (54 words)

An employer who refuses to take account of new evidence presented at a disciplinary hearing appeal will be doing something that is outside the ...

Contract changes (148 words)

Workers will have greater protection from employer threats to change their contracts as a result of a ruling by the Employment Appeal Tribunal, in ...

Car allowances (43 words)

The EAT has confirmed that car allowances, including fixed sums for essential users, cannot be pursued in the tribunals under the provisions covering unlawful ...

Holiday pay (91 words)

An employee who is paid an annual salary and who has holiday outstanding at the end of the employment contract has the right to ...

Union membership contract (88 words)

A county court has held that a union guidance document, which stated that a member has the right to be represented by the union, ...

Working time (181 words)

The European Court of Justice is being asked to rule on what is meant by the exclusion of workers in the transport sector from ...

Equal rights for gay pensioners (108 words)

The legal campaigning group Liberty is backing a gay couple in their attempt to end discrimination in the NHS pension scheme. ...

Government consults on pension scheme security (155 words)

The Department of Social Security has begun consulting over possible changes to the minimum funding requirement (MFR). The MFR was introduced under the 1995 ...

TUC and BECTU reveal stakeholder plans (414 words)

The TUC and broadcasting union BECTU have both announced plans for stakeholder pension schemes. ...

OPRA publishes guide to information disclosure (67 words)

Pensions regulator OPRA has published a 60-page guide to information disclosure in occupational pension schemes. Scheme members, prospective members and recognised trade unions have ...

One in five safety reps put stress at top of health and safety agenda (3159 words)

A Bargaining Report survey of safety reps from 17 unions found that one in five saw stress as the main health and safety concern ...

Union learning reps give major boost to workplace training (2042 words)

Trade unions are the driving force behind many new initiatives on learning at work. They are being supported by government recognition of the unique ...

Institutional racism is rife in Scottish firms (339 words)

Institutional racism continues to have a huge impact on Scottish ethnic minority workers but few workers would turn to a trade union for help ...

Tribunal ruling outlaws gay discrimination (256 words)

Lesbians and gay men are covered by the Sex Discrimination Act according to a significant new ruling by the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT). ...

Small employers need more support to help with disabled workers (217 words)

Disabled workers face barriers in achieving equal access to employment opportunities in small businesses, according to a recent report by disability charity RADAR. ...

Irish pay policy hits crisis (213 words)

The national Irish pay pact, the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness (PPF), which was agreed by unions, employers the government and community representatives in ...

Austrian civil servants settle (176 words)

Following difficult negotiations and the threat of action Austrian civil servants have agreed a flat rate increase of Euro36.33 a month for 2001. The ...

Federations call for works councils changes (161 words)

European industry federations, which bring together unions in different sectors, are organising a day of action on European works councils (EWCs) on 31 October. ...

German textiles deal pre-empts strike ballot (148 words)

At the end of last month German textile and clothing unions agreed a pay deal for the 190,000 employees in the industry the day ...

Dutch unions ask for 4% plus (98 words)

FNV, the main Dutch trade union confederation is calling for a 4% increase in pay next year plus another 0.5% for other improvements. Inflation ...

3.5% in the box and packaging industry (160 words)

Nationally agreed wage rates increased by 3.5% with effect from 1 August, with a corresponding increase in youth rates. Other items in the claim ...

New shift system at Inco Europe (250 words)

Process and craft workers at South Wales metal manufacturer Inco Europe received a 3.4% increase on basic salaries and shift allowances in a pay ...

Twenty month deal for bus drivers at Arriva (355 words)

Bus drivers at Arriva Guildford and West Surrey depots (Crawley, Guildford, Woking and Merstham), formerly known as London and Country Bus, are covered by ...

Survey reveals back pain as major problem for small businesses (570 words)

Back strain is a problem for almost two-thirds (63%) of small businesses and is leading to the loss of around 13 million working days ...

TUC criticises HSC asbestos proposals (257 words)

The TUC has voiced concern about the Health and Safety Commission's (HSC) proposals which would modify the current Control of asbestos at work regulations ...

Diagnosing upper limb disorders (212 words)

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has developed a new method of diagnosis to help GPs and other doctors more accurately assess patients who ...

Cleaners face highest risk of strain injuries (144 words)

Cleaning staff are one of the highest risk groups in terms of strain injury at work, particularly back pain and arm pain associated with ...