[IER] News Brief 18/12/2013
Carolyn Jones
cad at ier.org.uk
Wed Dec 18 16:55:36 GMT 2013
Submitted by carolyn <http://www.ier.org.uk/user/6> on Wed, 18/12/2013 -
15:49
<http://www.ier.org.uk/node/1889>
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In the news this week
According to a new Guardian/ICM poll
<http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/dec/09/no-gains-economic-recovery-
tories-cut-labour-lead-icm-guardian-poll> , 70% of people have not felt the
benefit of the economic recovery the Coalition is so eager to boast about.
Indeed, new data from the Office for National Statistics
<http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/dec/12/wage-rises-outpaced-inflati
on-official-data> has shown that wage rises have fallen short of the pace
of inflation for five years running and British workers have seen their
wages slashed by £5,000 during that time
<http://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/dec/02/british-wage-earners-pay-cut-f
ive-years> .
But despite the fact most of us are not feeling better off, Boris Johnson is
making the cost of living even higher in London
<http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/davehillblog/2013/dec/04/boris-johnson-f
ares-increases-2014> , and as fares rise, workers in some areas of the
country will be forced to shell out 23% of their wage
<http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-f3ae-Train-fare-rises-will-force-worke
rs-to-pay-up-to-23-of-salary/#.UrFwX_RdUyO> to use the railway network.
The government may also be failing to engender support from young people, as
the retirement age for those born in the 1990s is set to rise to 70 years
old
<http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/dec/05/state-pension-age-raised-to-
70-autumn-statement> .
We’ve gone into more depth on a wide range of stories this week. Click
through on the stories below to read more.
New on the Coalition Timeline
<http://www.ier.org.uk/resources/coalition-timeline>
http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/Unite%20picture%20with%2
0shadow.thumbnail.jpg
Click here to see the Coalition Timeline
<http://www.ier.org.uk/resources/coalition-timeline>
Pay and Benefits
· Boris under fire for exploiting workers
(12/12/2013)
· Osborne denies pay stagnation
(2/12/2013)
Health and Safety
· Tory ‘edged out’ for supporting higher asbestos compensation
(14/12/2013)
Increasing vulnerability in the workplace
· Businesses given power to regulate the regulators
(17/12/2013)
Equality
· Tories would consider scrapping Human Rights Act (11/12/2013)
Equality Liverpool-Early January: Book now!
<http://www.ier.org.uk/node/1730>
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ination%20cover.thumbnail.jpg
Click here to book <http://www.ier.org.uk/node/1730>
Organised by the Institute of Employment Rights and sponsored by NUT North
West Region.
This 4th Equalities Conference in the North West brings together an expert
panel of speakers to look at the latest issues affecting equality and
discrimination at work. A similar programme to the London conference, this
event will be accessible to people who don’t want to travel to London.
Christmas special packages: Order before Friday!
<http://www.ier.org.uk/node/1879>
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Support Justice for Hillsborough
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Sean Taylor’s special edition of You’ll Never Walk Alone plus a festive
Silent Night now available on iTunes with all proceeds to the Justice for
Hillsborough Campaign. The perfect Christmas gift!
Access to Justice
Legal aid cuts proposals may break human rights laws
<http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/joint-select/hu
man-rights-committee/news/legal-aid-report/>
The Joint Committee on human rights has criticised proposals for cuts to
legal aid, saying they may breach human rights laws.
Dr Hywel Francis, Chair of the Committee, explained: “Access to justice is a
human right of citizens in this country, regardless of the state of the
economy. We would urge the Government not to fall into the trap of knowing
the price of everything but the value of nothing. We are particularly
worried about the impact of the residence test on vulnerable groups such as
children or victims of domestic violence.”
Read more
<http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/joint-select/hu
man-rights-committee/news/legal-aid-report/>
Labour Migration
Migrant test to be made tougher for those seeking benefits
<http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/dec/13/eu-migrants-new-questions-be
nefits-romanians-bulgarians>
The government is continuing to make the question of immigration seem like
one of so-called ‘benefit tourism’ despite several statistical reports
showing the welfare state is not likely to be a draw to immigrants.
There are now proposals to introduce a new test for EU migrants of 100
questions before they can claim benefits, including asking why they could
not find work in their home country, and evaluating their ability to speak
English.
The IER has long demonstrated that the issue of migration is not one of cost
to the Treasury (indeed, migrants provide a net benefit to the public
purse), but one of worker exploitation. Find out more in our latest
publication on Labour Migration.
Read more
<http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/dec/13/eu-migrants-new-questions-be
nefits-romanians-bulgarians>
Immigration Bill will lead to increased homelessness and discrimination,
says human rights committee
<http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/joint-select/hu
man-rights-committee/news/immigration-bill-report-substantive/>
The Joint Committee for Human Rights has also told the government they are
in danger of breaching human rights with the new Immigration Bill, which the
IER believes is founded on myths regarding the problems associated with
immigration rather than the facts.
Buy our labour migration publication to find out more about the alternative
argument on immigration.
Read more
<http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/joint-select/hu
man-rights-committee/news/immigration-bill-report-substantive/>
Equality
<http://www.xperthr.co.uk/blogs/pay-intelligence/2013/12/gender-pay-gap-wide
ns-median-salary-increases-27000-year/>
Gender Pay gap rises despite average salary increases
The average salary of a UK worker has increased to £27,000 per year, but new
research has found women are being left behind.
A study by XpertHR revealed that the gender pay gap among full-time workers
increased to 10% by April 2013 from 9.5% in April 2012 – the first widening
for five years.
Read more
<http://www.xperthr.co.uk/blogs/pay-intelligence/2013/12/gender-pay-gap-wide
ns-median-salary-increases-27000-year/>
<http://www.ier.org.uk/news/over-two-thirds-private-sector-firms-do-not-cond
uct-equal-pay-reviews>
http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/ierlogo-newssection.thum
bnail.gif
Over two-thirds of private sector firms do not conduct equal pay reviews
<http://www.ier.org.uk/news/over-two-thirds-private-sector-firms-do-not-cond
uct-equal-pay-reviews>
New research has shown that over two-thirds of private sector firms do not
perform equal pay reviews, putting them far behind the public sector when it
comes to action on equal wages.
Read more
<http://www.ier.org.uk/news/over-two-thirds-private-sector-firms-do-not-cond
uct-equal-pay-reviews>
<http://www.ier.org.uk/node/1882>
http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/Women's%20Assembly.thumb
nail.jpg
Launch of Women
<http://www.ier.org.uk/news/launch-womens-assembly-against-austerity> ’s
Assembly Against Austerity
Over 40 female leaders signed a letter to the Guardian this week calling for
a Women’s Assembly Against Austerity to be launched on 22 February 2014 at
London’s Conway Hall. The signatories included Carolyn Jones, Director of
the Institute of Employment Rights (IER) and Vice-Chair of the Morning Star;
and member of the IER’s Executive Committee Barbara Switzer.Read more
<http://www.ier.org.uk/news/launch-womens-assembly-against-austerity>
<http://www.ier.org.uk/news/maternity-pay-could-be-cut-2015>
http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/ierlogo-newssection.thum
bnail.gif
Maternity pay <http://www.ier.org.uk/news/maternity-pay-could-be-cut-2015>
‘could be cut’ in 2015
Prime Minister David Cameron has admitted that he will not protect parental
pay from overall budget cuts in 2015. Read more
<http://www.ier.org.uk/news/maternity-pay-could-be-cut-2015>
http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/Nerys%20Owen.img_assist_
custom.jpg
Story headline
<http://www.ier.org.uk/blog/equality-experts-coalition-cuts-could-be-death-e
quality>
By Nerys Owen
Equality experts at the latest IER Equality and Discrimination conference
criticised the Coalition’s actions in the domain, suggesting the government
is dragging its feet in some important areas, and actively killing equality
law through multiple cuts in others. Read more
<http://www.ier.org.uk/blog/equality-experts-coalition-cuts-could-be-death-e
quality>
Pay and benefits
<http://www.ier.org.uk/blog/mps-should-enter-parliament-their-principles-not
-pay-rise>
http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/Roger%20Jeary%20shadow.j
pg
MPs should enter parliament for their principles, not for a pay rise
<http://www.ier.org.uk/blog/mps-should-enter-parliament-their-principles-not
-pay-rise>
By Roger Jeary
Earlier this year I blogged on this site some views on what was then
speculation as to the level of MPs’ pay rise that the independent pay review
body would come up with. The speculation has turned to reality and this week
the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) recommended that
MPs’ salaries should increase by 11% to £74,000 per annum. IPSA also advised
that this increase be countered by reductions in some expenses, reducing
pension costs and cutting the resettlement amount that retiring or
deselected politicians receive. Read more
<http://www.ier.org.uk/blog/mps-should-enter-parliament-their-principles-not
-pay-rise>
Trade Union Rights
<http://www.ier.org.uk/blog/scotlands-future-strengthening-workers-rights-no
rth-border>
http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/Ruth%20Dukes%20with%20sh
adow.img_assist_custom.jpg
Scotland
<http://www.ier.org.uk/blog/scotlands-future-strengthening-workers-rights-no
rth-border> ’s Future: strengthening workers’ rights north of the border?
By Ruth Dukes
Ruth Dukes analyses the proposals made in the Scottish Government’s white
paper for independence, including employment law policies that mark a
different approach to workers’ rights and the economy to Westminster..
Read more
<http://www.ier.org.uk/blog/scotlands-future-strengthening-workers-rights-no
rth-border>
http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/ad%20banner%20narrow.img
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ns-employment-tribunal-reforms>
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lication%20cover.img_assist_custom.jpg
Justice Deferred: a critical guide to the Coalition
<http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/justice-deferred-critical-guide-coalitio
ns-employment-tribunal-reforms> ’s employment tribunal reforms
By David Renton and Anna Macey
Justice Deferred maps out in a concise, easy to read, accessible style and
language, the ideologically driven path being pursued by the Coalition
Government. It provides a critical guide to changes in employment tribunal
rules and procedures.
<http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/reconstruction-after-crisis-manifesto-co
llective-bargaining>
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Reconstruction after the crisis: a manifesto for collective bargaining
<http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/reconstruction-after-crisis-manifesto-co
llective-bargaining>
By Professor Keith Ewing and John Hendy QC
This publication presents an evidence-based policy proposal for the state
encouragement of collective bargaining, and particularly sectoral
bargaining, as a tried-and-tested means of reducing income inequality and
stimulating the sustainable recovery of a strong and resilient economy.
<http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/labour-law-highlights-2013>
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s%202013%20cover%20website.thumbnail.jpg
Labour Law Highlights 1013
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Forthcoming events
Equality and Discrimination: What next for equal rights?
<http://www.ier.org.uk/events/equality-and-discrimination-what-next-equal-ri
ghts>
http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/Equality%20and%20Discrim
ination%20cover.img_assist_custom.jpg
Wednesday 22 January 2014
A one-day conference
Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool
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Pensions: Changes and challenges
Wednesday 12 February 2014
A one-day conference
Unite the Union, London
<http://www.ier.org.uk/events/pensions-changes-and-challenges-0>
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Wednesday 26 February 2014
A one-day conference
Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool
<http://www.ier.org.uk/events/access-justice-0>
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Wednesday 05 March 2014
A one-day conference
Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool
<http://www.ier.org.uk/events/access-justice-1>
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London.img_assist_custom.jpg
Wednesday 19 March 2014
A one-day conference
Unison, Euston Road, London
Carolyn Jones
Director
The Institute of Employment Rights
4th Floor
Jack Jones House
1 Islington
Liverpool L3 8EG
t 0151 207 5265
f 0151 207 5264
e office at ier.org.uk
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