[IER] IER calls for changes to the law after zero-hours contracts rocket by over 20% in one year

Fri Sep 9 16:11:40 BST 2016

IER News Brief 09/09/16

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news brief

Friday 09th September 2016

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New figures <http://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=bbcbbf704b&e=71131c031b>  from the Office for National Statistics show that the number of workers reporting that they rely on a zero-hours contract for their main source of income has rocketed by over 20% this year. What's more, this understates the number of zero-hours contracts in the economy - around 1.7 million - with the largest employers far more likely to use them than the smallest.

The IER is calling for the redefinition of the term 'worker' so that the most vulnerable of those in work - including agency staff, people misclassified as 'self-employed' and those who are not offered guaranteed hours - are provided with better legal protection.

In addition, we have recommended that the focus of labour law shifts towards pay and conditions collectively bargained for at sectoral and enterprise levels by workers' organisations rather than relying on statutory minimums. By strengthening workers' voices in this way, we can reduce the UK's pay gap (currently the widest in Europe) and provide a way for workers to improve the conditions of their contracts.

Our proposals, which were submitted to the Labour Party in the form of our Manifesto for Labour Law <http://ier.us12.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=30343644d6&e=71131c031b> , have attracted the support of the UK's major unions <http://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=a95ed130b5&e=71131c031b>  as well as Jeremy Corbyn's team. 

Those at TUC Congress this weekend can find out more at our Fringe event <http://ier.us12.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=cec3c25632&e=71131c031b>  on Sunday 11th, at which Shadow Minister for Trade Unions Ian Lavery will join UNITE General Secretary Len McCluskey, Chair of UNISON's Policy Committee Jane Carolan, and legal experts from the IER to discuss the future direction of labour law in the UK. Attendees can also pick up a free fish and chip supper! We hope to see many of you there.

Subscribers receive all of our publications free and discount rates on our conferences.  <http://ier.us12.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=b8acf3fd88&e=71131c031b> Subscribe now

 News and comment

 Zero-hours contracts <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/a9d92fb1-5a31-442b-bae4-c11fdbf2d392.jpg> 

	IER calls for changes to the law after zero-hours contracts rocket by over 20% in one year
The number of workers saying they are on a zero-hours contract for their main job has risen by over 20% in the last year.
 <http://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=fe6dafe71d&e=71131c031b> > click here to read full story

 Sally Hunt <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/2603c4d7-7eb3-4346-accf-2358d6172b67.png> 

	UCU welcomes proposals for new labour law framework
The University and College Union has welcomed 25 new policy proposals for the next Labour government that shift the focus of labour law to give workers a stronger voice.
 <http://ier.us12.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=c8016e42ed&e=71131c031b> > click here to read full story

 Michelle Stanistreet <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/7df792ea-2d54-497d-8185-395c9a56dbe1.jpg> 

	IER Manifesto "an alternative narrative and a blueprint for the future", says NUJ Chief
General Secretary of the National Union for Journalists (NUJ) Michelle Stanistreet has welcomed new policy proposals from the Institute of Employment Rights (IER).
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 Workers' Rights <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/b1c726de-bf3c-454c-9dd0-50d42672c9ff.png> 

	Workers ‘too ill to reach state retirement age’
Around one in eight workers are forced to stop working before state retirement age, with the lowest paid suffering the most.
 <http://ier.us12.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=f37c7f74aa&e=71131c031b> > click here to read full story

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	Wage growth ‘next to nothing’ since financial crisis
New data has revealed that average wage growth in the UK has been next to nothing since September 2008, when the global financial crisis hit.
 <http://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=40ff1f633a&e=71131c031b> > click here to read full story

 Low Pay <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/c9de063b-cd73-4fc5-8d13-fb67b7e3e040.png> 

	Executive pay keeps rising among FTSE 100
Executive pay rose again last year, despite growing anger among shareholders, a new analysis has revealed.
 <http://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=284bae5fb4&e=71131c031b> > click here to read full story

 Workers' rights <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/b1c726de-bf3c-454c-9dd0-50d42672c9ff.png> 

	Funding cuts will lead to "apprenticeship desert" in most deprived areas
Cuts of up to 50% to apprenticeship funding could lead the most deprived areas of the UK to become an "apprentice desert", the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has said.
 <http://ier.us12.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=37060a98e7&e=71131c031b> > click here to read full story

 Health and safety <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/b2c03606-1ca0-42dd-b5d2-e6271b972144.png> 

	Govt replaces workers’ rep with employer on Health and Safety Executive
The government has announced the appointment of Susan Johnson, former Chief Executive of Northern Business Forum, to a seat on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reserved for workers’ representatives. She was also previously a Director of Greggs.
 <http://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=998f934205&e=71131c031b> > click here to read full story

 The IER at the TUC

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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=37ed4145c2&e=71131c031b> > click here to read more and book your place

 EU Developments <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/370dcc94-63f0-4712-9842-455298351ed9.png> 

	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://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=f2324207a6&e=71131c031b> > 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. . 
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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://ier.us12.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=654d8b646b&e=71131c031b> > click here to read more and book your place

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