[IER] IER News Brief 19 September

Fri Sep 19 16:55:16 BST 2014

News Brief 19 September:

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/node/2160> 

This edition was produced by Claudia O’Brian

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/node/2160> View in your browser

In the news this week

Ed Milliband is expected to announce that businesses bidding for government contracts will have to pay employees the Living Wage at Labour party conference next week. This follows an open letter calling for a faster rise in the minimum wage, signed by a range of business executives. IER and the Campaign for Trade Union Freedom will be adding a few more policy proposals on Monday 22 September 2014 at our joint Labour Party Fringe on what unions want to see from a Labour Government.

Unison will launch a new judicial review into Employment Tribunal fees, after a successful hearing at the Court of Appeal this week. To learn more about updates to employment law, including on the new Employment Tribunal processes and its implications, there are upcoming IER Employment Update conferences, in London (7/10) and Liverpool (22/10). Click  <http://www.ier.org.uk/events/institute-events> here for more information, and to book your place online.

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 rights

·         Gagging act becomes law (19/9/2014)

Increasing vulnerability in the workplace

·         Sports Direct to be sued by ZHC workers (18/9/2014)

·         Business leaders call for a higher minimum wage (18/9/2014)

Welfare

·         73% of the people hit by the Benefit Cap are children (19/9/2014)

·         Shocking PIP delays (18/9/2014)

Other

·         £2,500 to access top Tories at conference (18/9/2014)

Latest ET Statistics Confirm Loss of Access to Justice for Workers

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/blog/latest-et-statistics-confirm-loss-access-justice-workers> 

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/blog/latest-et-statistics-confirm-loss-access-justice-workers> By Prof Nicole Busby from the Law School, University of Strathclyde

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/blog/latest-et-statistics-confirm-loss-access-justice-workers> If we needed further proof that the Coalition’s policy of charging claimants to bring cases to the ET posed a serious threat to access to justice in employment disputes, the latest ET statistics published by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) provide it. The most recent figures, which cover April to June 2014, show that the downward trend in the number of claims brought, which has been recorded for every quarter since fees were introduced in July 2013, has continued. Single claims have fallen by 70% compared with the same period in 2013, with multiple claims down from 1500 to just 500.

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/blog/latest-et-statistics-confirm-loss-access-justice-workers> Read more…

UNISON launch new judicial review

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/news/unison-launch-new-judicial-review> 

Unison have applied to submit new evidence in their appeal against the dismissal of their judicial review application against Employment Tribunal (ET) fees. The Lord Chancellor agreed that a new hearing should take place, taking into consideration new evidence. Unison will file a new judicial review application to include the most recent statistics on ET fees, which show an 81% drop in claims compared to the same quarter in 2013. Since the introduction of fees in July 2013, there has been an 86% drop in sex discrimination claims, and a 80% drop in Equal Pay claims. General secretary Dave Prentis said: “The union welcomes today’s decision of the Court of Appeal to stay proceedings while a new High Court claim is brought”.

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/news/unison-launch-new-judicial-review> Read More…

Business leaders call for a higher minimum wage

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/news/business-leaders-call-higher-minimum-wage%E2%80%A8%E2%80%A8> 

A letter calling for a faster rise in the minimum wage has been signed by several prominent business leaders andCEOs. The open letter was authored by Alan Buckle, the former KPMG chief, who Ed Miliband has hired to investigate how to restore the value of the minimum wage. The support for the letter is expected to give a boost to Labour ahead of their party conference.

 The letter stated, “Now, as the economy recovers, we believe the minimum wage should rise faster than it has in the recent past. A stronger minimum wage will benefit businesses, improve public finances, and help tackle low pay. The economy is growing again. But we must ensure that all employees are benefiting from the recovery – especially the lowest paid in society who find it hardest to make ends meet.”

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/news/business-leaders-call-higher-minimum-wage%E2%80%A8%E2%80%A8> Read More…

NHS workers vote in favour of strike action

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/news/nhs-workers-vote-favour-strike-action> 

NHS workers in England, including nurses, occupational therapists, porters, paramedics, medical secretaries, cooks, and healthcare assistants, have voted yes to strike action.

 Members of UNISON were balloted in response to the Government ignoring the independent Pay Review Body’s recommendations for an across-the-board rise. As such, 60% of NHS staff and 70% of nurses won’t get a pay rise for the next two years.68% of those who voted were in favour of a strike, while 32% were not. 88% were in favour of action short of strike action, while 12% voted against it.

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/news/nhs-workers-vote-favour-strike-action> Read More…

Publications

  <http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/re-regulating%20zero%20hours%20coontracts%20cover_0.img_assist_custom.png> 

 <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. Order your copy <http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/re-regulating-zero-hours-contracts>  here

  <http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/trade%20unions%20and%20economic%20inequality.img_assist_custom.png> 

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/trade-unions-and-economic-inequality> Trade Unions and Economic Inequality

By Dr Lydia Hayes and Professor Tonia Novitz

What is the point of trade unions? What do they deliver? Are trade unions relevant in 21st century modern society? These and many other questions are answered by the authors of this timely and well presented report. Order your copy <http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/trade-unions-and-economic-inequality>  here

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/tupe-2014> 

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/tupe-2014> TUPE 2014

By Richard Arthur

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.

Forthcoming Events

Employment Law Update 2014, Unite the Union, London

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/events/employment-law-update-2014-london> 

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

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/events/employment-law-update-2014-liverpool-0> 

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

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/events/equality-and-discrimination-what-next-equal-rights-1> 

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.

TUPE Update: the new Regulations, Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/events/tupe-update-new-regulations-liverpool> 

Wednesday 3rd December 2014
The government published newTUPE Regulations in November 2013, revealing service provision rules will not be repealed, but several changes will be made that could hinder trade union activity. There are many uncertainties about the new regulations and the conference will aim to provide answers to many questions plus any additional questions from delegates on the day.

IER Manifesto for Collective Bargaining

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/resources/reconstruction-after-crisis-manifesto-collective-bargaining> 

 <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> Buy 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

Help us to celebrate 25 years of the Institute

 http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/25th%20Anniversary.img_assist_custom.pngDonations 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!

The latest draw winners are:

Mandy Berger, UNISON
David Hope, GMB
Fred Brown, NASUWT/BELFAST

 <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> http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/UOL_Law_120x35_0.gif

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.

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/pipermail/ier-elist/attachments/20140919/13d62a2d/attachment.html>