[IER] Union rights pick up steam as workers' insecurity becomes evermore apparent

Fri Aug 26 15:58:33 BST 2016

IER News Brief 26/08/16

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news brief

Friday 26th August 2016

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Corbyn has this week promised to strengthen trade union rights and impose mandatory collective bargaining <http://www.ier.org.uk/news/corbyn-backs-mandatory-collective-bargaining>  for larger firms in moves that show a swing towards a more progressive Labour Party than Britain has seen in decades.

The Institute of Employment Rights' Manifesto for Labour Law <http://www.ier.org.uk/manifesto>  - the principle recommendation of which is to shift the balance of regulation from legislation to collective bargaining in order to give workers a stronger voice - has gained support from Corbyn's team as well as the UK's major unions (joined this week by the TUC <http://www.ier.org.uk/news/frances-o%E2%80%99grady-ier-policies-point-way-%E2%80%9Cbrighter-future%E2%80%9D> ).

With politicians now willing to take progressive policies to Westminster, we are urging those who think Britain needs an alternative to neoliberalism and austerity to get behind a solid legal framework for change. We believe we have provided this in our Manifesto - read about the support we have received here <http://www.ier.org.uk/resources/union-support-manifesto-labour-law> .

You can show your support by purchasing your copy of the Manifesto <http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/manifesto-labour-law-towards-comprehensive-revision-workers%E2%80%99-rights>  or making a one-off donation <http://www.ier.org.uk/resources/support-progressive-future-post-eu-uk>  to our project development fund.

Elsewhere in the news this week have been further reminders of why the UK desperately needs a change, with signs of insecurity in the workplace increasing, including a dramatic rise in the number of new mothers seeking advice after being discriminated against at work <http://www.ier.org.uk/news/number-people-seeking-information-pregnancy-discrimination-doubles> , with some even losing their jobs after starting a family.

Subscribers receive all of our publications free and discount rates on our conferences.  <http://www.ier.org.uk/subscribe> Subscribe now

 News and comment

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	Tories confirm plans to scrap Human Rights Act despite warnings from Justice Committee
It seems the Tories have ignored warnings from the House of Lords’ EU Justice Committee that plans to scrap the Human Rights Act (HRA) are “unnecessary” and potentially dangerous.
 <http://www.ier.org.uk/news/tories-confirm-plans-scrap-human-rights-act-despite-warnings-justice-committee> > click here to read full story

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	Corbyn backs mandatory collective bargaining
Jeremy Corbyn has promised to strengthen trade union powers, including by introducing mandatory collective bargaining for larger firms if Labour wins the next election.
 <http://www.ier.org.uk/news/corbyn-backs-mandatory-collective-bargaining> > click here to read full story

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	Number of people seeking information on pregnancy discrimination doubles
The number of people seeking information on pregnancy discrimination from the Citizen’s Advice Bureau website has doubled in the last year, new figures have revealed.
 <http://www.ier.org.uk/news/number-people-seeking-information-pregnancy-discrimination-doubles> > click here to read full story

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	Frances O’Grady: IER policies point way to “brighter future”
General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Frances O’Grady has welcomed the 25 policy recommendations made by the Institute of Employment Rights (IER) in its new Manifesto for Labour Law.
 <http://www.ier.org.uk/news/frances-o%E2%80%99grady-ier-policies-point-way-%E2%80%9Cbrighter-future%E2%80%9D> > click here to read full story

 The IER at the TUC

Come along to our IER Fringe at the TUC Congress this year to hear our experts speak on our 25 policy recommendations for the next Labour government - and pick up a free fish and chip supper!

The IER will once again be co-hosting our fringe with the Campaign for Trade Union Freedom and the General Federation of Trade Unions.

Speakers at the event include Len McCluskey (General Secretary of UNITE), Professor Keith Ewing and John Hendy QC (President and Chair of the IER), and Jane Carolan (Chair of UNISON's Policy Committee). 

It will be held at the Regency Room of Old Ship Hotel on Kings Road in Brighton at 7pm on Sunday 11 September. We hope to see you there!

  Publications

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	Access to Justice: Exposing the myths: £6
By Andrew Moretta
In the second of IER’s series of Mythbusters, Andrew Moretta considers the many myths surrounding access to justice, including the narrative surrounding the “red tape” and “burdens on business” ideology, which he believes paved the way for systematic attacks on the tribunal system.
 <http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/access-justice-exposing-myths> > click here to read more and purchase

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	Protect the right to strike: kill the bill: £5
By John Hendy QC & Professor Keith Ewing
Two leading experts on trade union rights – Professor Keith Ewing and John Hendy QC – publish a short but comprehensive overview of the Trade Union Bill and its implications.
 <http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/protect-right-strike-kill-bill> > click here to read more and purchase 

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	The Conservative Government’s proposed strike ballot thresholds: The challenge to trade unions: from £6
By Professor Ralph Darlington and Dr John Dobson
According to the authors of this timely report, the government is attempting to rush into law ‘the most sweeping and radical tightening of rules on industrial action since the Thatcher era of the 1980’s’. They warn that such proposals could result in ‘the biggest showdown over industrial relations for a generation’ and go on to drill down into one aspect of the government’s proposals – strike ballots.
 <http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/conservative-government%E2%80%99s-proposed-strike-ballot-thresholds-challenge-trade-unions-0> > click here to read more and purchase 

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	The mythology of business: from £6
By David Whyte
The ‘myths’ that this publication takes into consideration are the kind of things that politicians now routinely say without thinking. Yet these 10 myths have very little foundation in reality and are rarely, if ever, accompanied with any concrete evidence to support them.
 <http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/mythology-business> > click here to read more and purchase 

  Events

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	LIVERPOOL: Health and Safety Update 2016
04 October 2016 - 09:30 - 15:30
Unite the Union, Liverpool
An update on problematic developments in health and safety legislation and what can be done to reverse their harmful effects. Topics include HSE's new strategy, the reduction in inspections, worker experiences of pursuing compensation, comparisons with other European countries and developments in the construction industry on worker engagement and mental health. . 
 <http://www.ier.org.uk/node/3048> > click here to read more and book your place

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	LONDON: Health and Safety Update 2016
18 October 2016 - 09:30 - 15:30
Unite the Union, London
An update on problematic developments in health and safety legislation and what can be done to reverse their harmful effects. Topics include HSE's new strategy, the reduction in inspections, worker experiences of pursuing compensation, comparisons with other European countries and developments in the construction industry on worker engagement and mental health. . 
 <http://www.ier.org.uk/node/3046> > click here to read more and book your place

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	LONDON: Employment Law Update 2016
09 November 2016 - 09:30 - 15:15
Unite the Union, London
Our annual Employment Law Update brings together legal and academic experts with a representative from the TUC. This year we are very pleased that our event will be opened with a keynote address from the President of the Tribunals, Judge Brian Doyle, updating us with an inside account of the current ET practices and procedures. . 
 <http://www.ier.org.uk/events/employment-law-update-2016-london> > click here to read more and book your place

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	LIVERPOOL: Employment Law Update 2016
29 November 2016 - 09:30 - 15:15
Unite the Union, Liverpool
Our annual Employment Law Update brings together legal and academic experts with a representative from the TUC. This year we are very pleased that our event will be opened with a keynote address from the President of the Tribunals, Judge Brian Doyle, updating us with an inside account of the current ET practices and procedures. . 
 <http://www.ier.org.uk/events/employment-law-update-2016-liverpool> > click here to read more and book your place

To unsubscribe, please contact sarah at ier.org.uk <mailto:sarah at ier.org.uk?subject=Unsubscribe> . 

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