[IER] IER News Brief

Fri Jul 25 23:12:27 BST 2014

News Brief 25 July 2014

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 <http://www.ier.org.uk/node/2114> View in your browser

In the news this week

The Department for Work and Pension’s handling of benefits has been criticised by both an independent report and a parliamentary select committee this week, with urgent reviews being recommended for both Jobseekers Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance systems.

These failings of the social security system are in part responsible for the proliferation of precarious working conditions including Zero Hours Contracts, as Zoe Adams and Simon Deakin argue in the forthcoming IER publication, “Re-Regulating Zero Hours Contracts”, due to be released in August. The book also says that the issue of exclusivity contracts, set to be abolished as outlined in the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill, is a “red herring”.
For more information on our  <http://www.ier.org.uk/node/%E2%80%9Chttp:/www.ier.org.uk/publications/re-regulating-zero-hours-contracts%E2%80%9D> forthcoming book on Zero Hours Contracts continue reading….

New on the Coalition Timeline

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/resources/coalition-timeline> 

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/resources/coalition-timeline> Click here to see the Coalition Timeline

Trade Union Freedoms

·         Boris threatens firefighter lockout (24/7/2014)

Health and Safety

·         ONS figures show extent of health inequalities (22/7/2014)

·         HSE finds over 50% of building sites putting workers at risk (24/7/2014)

·         Cuts to rail funding is putting workers and passengers at risk (25/7/2014)

Pay and Benefits

·         Minimum Wage Regulations to be consolidated (25/7/2014)

The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill passes second reading

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/news/small-business-enterprise-and-employment-bill-passes-second-reading> cid:FD6EB1E1-7E2A-4C77-8F0B-CC047A5EC14A at cable.virginmedia.net

The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill passed its second reading in the House of Commons this week. The bill will ban the exclusivity clauses for zero-hours contracts that prevent employees working for another employer when no hours are guaranteed.  <http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/re-regulating-zero-hours-contracts> A new publication by the IER however, says that the issue of exclusivity clauses is no more than a “red herring”.

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/news/small-business-enterprise-and-employment-bill-passes-second-reading> Read More…

JSA Failures Criticised By Independent Report

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/news/jsa-failures-criticised-independent-report> cid:FD6EB1E1-7E2A-4C77-8F0B-CC047A5EC14A at cable.virginmedia.net

The DWP is failing to communicate with those on mandatory back-to-work schemes, resulting in cruel and unfair sanctions. An independent report into Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) claimants forced on back-to-work schemes was published on the 22nd of July. The report, commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and authored by Matthew Oakley, former head of social policy at center-right think tank Policy Exchange, found that the system was incomprehensible to many claimants, with sanctions often imposed on the most vulnerable due to their difficulties with understanding the “complex” and “legalistic” style of correspondence.

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/news/jsa-failures-criticised-independent-report> Read More…

Forthcoming Events

Employment Law Update 2014, Unite the Union, London

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Tuesday 7 October 2014

This 10th annual IER conference is designed to ensure trade union representatives are kept up to date and well-informed about developments in employment law. It is a must go to event for anyone with an interest in employment law and the protection of collective and individual workers’ rights.

Employment Law Update 2014, Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool

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Wednesday 22 October 2014
This 7th annual IER conference in the North West is designed to ensure trade union representatives are kept up to date and well-informed about developments in employment law. It is a must go to event for anyone with an interest in employment law and the protection of collective and individual workers’ rights.

Equality and Discrimination: What Next For Equal Rights? , Unite the Union, London

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Wednesday 19 November 2014
Four years after the introduction of the Equality Act and where are we now? Leading equality experts from the law, trade unions and academia will come together to critically assess the latest case law, precedents and evidence and anticipate where they will lead us in terms of ensuring fairness at work for all.

 <http://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/law/distance-learning-llm/distance-learning-llm-employment-law?utm_source=IER&utm_medium=banner&utm_content=Employment%20law%20LLM%20apply&utm_campaign=LAW9> 

Help us to celebrate 25 years of the Institute

Donations are coming in daily to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Institute. If you make a donation, don’t forget to send us a supporting statement about why you support the institute. So, whether you’re an individual or a branch, whether it’s £25 or £250,  <http://www.ier.org.uk/node/%E2%80%9Chttp:/www.ier.org.uk/about-us/help-us-celebrate-25-years-institute%22> join in and you’ll be included in out monthly draw to win a free place at an IER event!

IER Manifesto for Collective Bargaining

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/resources/reconstruction-after-crisis-manifesto-collective-bargaining> cid:image007.jpg at 01CFA85B.B8DB8C00

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/resources/ten-point-collective-bargaining-manifesto> Read the ten-point manifesto

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/reconstruction-after-crisis-manifesto-collective-bargaining> By the book

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/resources/watch-experts> VIDEOS: Watch the experts

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/resources/listen-experts> PODCASTS: Listen to the experts

Upcoming Publication:

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 <http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/re-regulating-zero-hours-contracts> Re-regulating Zero Hours Contracts

By Zoe Adams and Simon Deakin

ZHCs are highly profitable for employers, but lead to insecurity of income and low pay for workers. The authors point to rigidities in employment law and the operation of the tax-benefit system as being responsible for the rise in zero hours contracting. Due for release in August. Pre-order your copy <http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/re-regulating-zero-hours-contracts>  here

Other Publications

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/labour-migration-hard-times-reforming-labour-market-regulation> cid:78E80F16-0951-4F91-B0D5-B2E438B5343E at cable.virginmedia.net

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/labour-migration-hard-times-reforming-labour-market-regulation> Labour migration in hard times: Reforming labour market regulation?

Edited by Bernard Ryan

A collection of papers by the UK’s leading experts on labour migration on the exploitation of migrant workers and the need for labour law reform.

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/reconstruction-after-crisis-manifesto-collective-bargaining> cid:image009.jpg at 01CFA85B.B8DB8C00

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/reconstruction-after-crisis-manifesto-collective-bargaining> Reconstruction after the crisis: a manifesto for collective 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.

Our mailing address is:

Institute of Employment Rights

4th Floor

Jack Jones House

1 Islington

Liverpool

L3 8EG

 <mailto:office at ier.org.uk> office at ier.org.uk

To unsubscribe, please follow the instructions in the footer.  If you are unable to see the footer or have problems unsubscribing, please click here or email  <mailto:unsubscribe at ier.org.uk> unsubscribe at ier.org.uk.

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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