[IER] IER responds to single enforcement body, trade union restrictions and fire and rehire

[Sarah Glenister]

                            News brief - 11/06/21                                                                           View this email in your browser
                        


                            IER responses to single enforcement body, trade union restrictions and fire and rehire



        

                            This week, IER published an initial analysis of the government's announcement of a new Single Enforcement Body for labour law.
Director of the IER, Carolyn Jones, warned: "This new body will only protect the most mistreated workers from the worst kinds of exploitation. For the majority of people – 14.5 million of whom are already living in poverty – it will do nothing.
“Worse, current details suggest it might even weaken labour law, by introducing a system of ‘compliance notices’ rather than civil penalties for what the government describes as ‘lesser’ breaches of the law. It is yet to be seen which types of exploitation are considered unimportant.
“These proposals are a fatally watered down version of the IER’s plans for a Labour Inspectorate. It appears to have virtually no proactive role to ensure compliance with the law, relying on workers to speak out, but offers nothing to prevent employers from dismissing insecure workers in retaliation for complaints made.
“Other countries, even the USA, are announcing shifts in their policies towards progressive trade union rights and regulating the gig economy.
“But not Westminster. On the same day this new body was announced, it committed to plans to weaken the trade union movement further.
“Government knew it had to do something about the rising scourge of exploitative work, but this really is the very least they can do."
                        Read full reportIER response to Labour Party Taskforce on removing restrictions on trade union activities and fire and rehire



        Lord John Hendy QC and Professor Keith Ewing, IER Chair and President respectively, respond to the Labour Party’s taskforce on employment law regarding the issues of trade union restrictions and fire and rehire.They propose legal reforms that would better the effectiveness of trade unionism in the UK and protect workers from exploitative fire and rehire practices.Download response
                                        
                                    

                            Low-cost advertising with the IERThe IER is proud to launch a programme of low-cost advertising to trade unions and the organisations that wish to reach them as a means of supporting our charitable aims.
For just £50, you can have your image in our newsletter, with a link to your website, campaign, event or service, and a coloured box of text - just like this - all about you.Read more



                    Govt allows anyone to spark investigations into trade unionsThe Certification Officer will be given the power to investigate non-member complaints about trade unions and charge them for the pleasure.Read full story



                    New govt employment law enforcement body is “the least they can do”While the IER welcomes the introduction of a new enforcement body for workers' rights, the one the government has proposed falls far short.Read full storyEVENT: Automation - negotiating a fair deal when technological improvements are made



         22nd June 2021 – 7:00 pm - 8:15 pm
FREE
 About this eventPeril and possibility for workers – exploring the worst and the best of automation transition.
Our speakers at this event will consider the past, the present and the future of automation and its interaction with the workplace and workers' rights.
Dr Leo Impett of the University of Durham will share his work identifying an ingrained bias towards worker exploitation within systems that rely on artifical intelligence.
Louisa Bull of Unite the Union will consider the impact on workers of historical advances in technology and how unions can ensure that an automation-led increase in economic productivity can be more fairly distributed among the population instead of simply lining the pockets of the rich.
Finally, General Secretary of the ACDU, James Farrar - who was a lead claimant in the case against Uber - will discuss the present-day fight against exploitative technology.
 SpeakersDr Leo Impett, University of Durham
Louise Bull, Unite the Union
James Farrar, General Secretary of the ACDUBook your placeEVENT: Trade Unions , unemployment and workers’ rights



         7th July 2021 – 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
FREE
About this eventCreating a cushion of unemployment is bad for the economy, bad for workers, and public health and wellbeingSpeakersMartin Cavanagh, Deputy President of PCS and President of PCS DWP groupMore speakers to be confirmedBook your placeIER and Covid-19Due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus disease and the need to keep our staff, supporters and speakers safe, IER is holding all events online until further notice.IER staff will continue to work, but remotely from home. We will answer emails, produce publications and circulate our weekly News Briefs and other on-line information. However, phone calls to the office or mail sent by post will not receive immediate attention.We apologise for any inconvenience caused and wish you all best wishes during this difficult time.
                                                                                
                                                                                
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