[IER] Govt votes down workers' rights protections in Brexit Bill

Fri Nov 17 17:11:49 GMT 2017

IER News Brief 17/11/17

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news brief

Friday 17th November 2017

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Senior Tory Kenneth Clarke has warned <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=a5b384c5d5&e=71131c031b>  of elements within his party who want to dilute workers' rights, during a debate over the protection of EU-derived employment law in UK statute.

Labour brought an amendment to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill that would make it so that EU-derived protections cannot be weakened unilaterally by future governments, and that any changes would instead face democratic debate and a vote in the House of Commons.

However, the amendment was narrowly defeated by 311 to 299 after the Tory party once again repeated its verbal promise not to dilute workers' rights - a promise they have, since the referendum, repeatedly refused to translate into action on the matter.

Clarke warned: "Heaven forfend that my party should swing to the right at any time in its long and distinguished history, but there are members of the present government who are not excessively fond of lizards and bats, or workers’ rights."

Elsewhere, Politico this week revealed the contents of a leaked memo <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=0c3ad8f0cd&e=71131c031b>  from the office of Brussels Brexit negotiator Michael Barnier, which showed that the EU will seek a CETA-style trade agreement with the UK.

The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada allows for favourable trade tariffs but has been widely criticised for putting the interests of multinational corporations over those of the populations of member states.

At a recent debate held by the IER, former General Secretary of the European Transport Federation, Graham Stevenson, explained the wider impact of a CETA-style deal between the EU and UK.

"The aim of CETA is partly to save taxes for EU exporters but also to obtain mutual recognition in regulated professions such as architects, accountants and engineers. But only big business and multinational corporations would seem liable to benefit, while citizens risk more costs, unemployment, and environmental damage," he said.

Graham's speech alongside those of other senior labour movement representatives and lawyers from Great Britain, Ireland, Germany, Cyrpus, Portugal and France will be released in our new publication Europe, the EU and Britain. The book will go on sale at our forthcoming Post-Brexit employment rights and trade deals conference in Liverpool on 30 November <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=e81eff8ecb&e=71131c031b> , where leading experts will discuss in detail the future of workers' rights after the UK leaves the EU.

Some seats remain at this event - click here to book yours now <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=d8a4e9bed9&e=71131c031b> 

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 News and comment

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	Deliveroo 'gig workers' want collective bargaining rights
Despite protestations from courier firm Deliveroo that its 'gig' workers are happy with their terms and conditions, the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) has found that a majority of riders for the firm in Camden and Kentish Town, London, want collective bargaining rights.
 <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=715e46e98c&e=71131c031b> > click here to read full story

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	CitySprint changes contracts to avoid workers' rights
"Gig" employer CitySprint has changed its contracts after one of its couriers was found to be a "worker" at tribunal.
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	Govt votes down proposal to enshrine EU workers' rights in primary legislation
The government has voted down proposals to enshrine EU-derived workers' rights in primary legislation during the UK's exit from the bloc, so that any changes to employment law must face a a democratic vote in parliament rather than being made unilaterally by the Conservative Party.
 <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=d90c4ece72&e=71131c031b> > click here to read full story

 EU <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/ee3d5f11-51dd-41a3-98bc-5514d517aa2a.jpg> 

	Leaked doc suggests EU seeking a CETA-style trade deal with UK
A leaked document from Chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier suggests that the EU will seek a trade relationship with the UK that is reminiscent of the recently signed Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) the bloc agreed with Canada.
 <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=4d7f6de06c&e=71131c031b> > click here to read full story

 NEW FREE RESOURCES 

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	Now uploaded: all the presentations, tweets and a full report on the IER's Future of Equality Law conference in London. <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=f0df48722b&e=71131c031b> 

At this one-day conference in October, our experts discussed developments in equality over this year and the expected impact of Brexit equal rights, as well as considering how the law can be developed and improved.

Click here to read the report and download the papers <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=e31f6f21bd&e=71131c031b> 

Free conference at the University of Liverpool on Forced Labour on Monday 20 November 2017 <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=59bd0920cf&e=71131c031b> 

Understanding Forced Labour will be held at 126 Mount Pleasant, Room 1.13, University of Liverpool, L69 3GR between 2pm and 4pm on Monday.

It will focus on three key sites of forced labour, including the use of work in immigration detention centres, prison work, and workfare schemes.

A common thread that unites these sites is that they are all forms of forced labour that are organised and administered by government.

The session therefore raises fundamental epistemological questions about how social problems are conceptualised in relation to policy agendas, and asks questions about how we can reshape the current debate on forced labour.

Click here to read more and register for a free place <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=b081ef9bbd&e=71131c031b> 

  Events 

 Post-Brexit: Liverpool <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/68ee08e0-2be1-44e9-838f-be9fca2f366c.jpg> 

	Liverpool: Post-Brexit Employment Rights and Trade Deals
30 November 2017 - 09:30 - 15:30
Unite the Union, Liverpool
At this one-day conference, some of the UK's leading academics, lawyers and campaigners will discuss the threats to employment law posed by Brexit, as well as proposing ideas for how workers' rights can be protected and even improved upon during the negotiations with the EU, as well as in future trade deals.
Speakers include Hilda Palmer, Professor Keith Ewing, Iain Birrell, Professor John Foster and Dan Kindell.
 <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=de52bca475&e=71131c031b> > click here to read more and book your place

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	London: Employment Law Update 2017
06 December 2017 - 09:30 - 16:00
Unite the Union, London
This year has been a landmark one for employment law, with the issue of exploitative working practices reaching public consciousness through repeated scandals at “gig economy” and low-pay employers, prompting political inquiry into reform. At our popular annual employment law update, top lawyers, academics and trade unionists from across the UK meet to discuss the year’s developments in labour law and make proposals for the furthering and protection of workers’ rights.
Speakers include Corinna Ferguson, Tara O’Halloran, Stuart Brittenden, Adam Ross, Bruno Gil, Paul Scholey, Jo Seery, John Hendy QC.
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In this booklet, Dr Lydia Hayes sets out the lessons learned from her interdisciplinary research into the social care sector, and builds upon the recommendations made in the Institute of Employment Rights' Manifesto for Labour Law: a comprehensive revision of worker’s rights to propose a sectoral collective bargaining structure for the negotiation of wages and conditions.
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