[IER] UN human rights expert concerned about UK govt

Fri Jun 25 18:53:34 BST 2021

News brief - 25/06/21                                                                            <https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?e=__test_email__&u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=91bbc9db98> View this email in your browser 

  <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/3038f9d5-b388-4d05-b8a1-dcf173b2070d.png> 

UN human rights expert concerned about UK govt

  <https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/da32e515-014f-41d9-b156-a407eea5479e.jpg> 

The United Nations' Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment, David Boyd, says he has concerns about three policies being pushed through by the UK government.

The Policing, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill will impose severe sanctions on protestors for minor infractions like making too much noise.

Meanwhile, the government has confirmed its intention to water down citizens' right to hold ministers to account through the judicial review process.

Boyd said he also has concerns about the CHIS Act, which passed this year and protects undercover State agents when they break the law, including where the justification for lawbreaking is the economic wellbeing of the country. The act passed admist an inquiry into the abuses of power committed by undercover agents who infiltrated law-abiding left-wing groups, including trade unions.

David Boyd said that "it’s troubling when a country as wealthy and poweful as the UK is not moving in [the right] direction”. 

“Protest is not the first that that people do,” he added. ” – taking part is a desperate act in a desperate time when we face desperate environmental challenges."

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/un-human-rights-expert-says-uk-govt-policymaking-is-troubling/> Read full report 

Featured publication

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/product/labour-law-highlights-2021/> 

Our Labour Law Highlights publication takes a stroll through the main judicial and statutory highlights of the previous year. In this case, the year under review will be for ever remembered as the Covid year.

The public health crisis and the ensuing lockdowns go someway to explaining the relative brevity of this year’s report: politicians were focused on the pandemic and keeping the economy turning, while the number of court cases was substantially reduced as courts – like many workplaces – adjusted to working on-line.

Covid-19 also helped expose some of the fundamental weaknesses in the UK’s employment law and our authors turn their legal eyes to a range of these issues including industrial action, redundancy, TUPE, whistleblowing and equalities.

Of particular interest this year is the question of the employment status of workers in the gig economy. Issues reflected upon include the exclusion of gig workers from the job retention scheme (furlough), whether gig workers should be covered by health and safety protections and, in a case that went all the way up to the Supreme Court, how the definition of ‘worker’ should be determined, the outcome of which decides who is entitled to the minimum wage, paid holidays and rest breaks.

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/product/labour-law-highlights-2021/> Read more 

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/IER.AdvertisingSheet.V7.Feb21.pdf> 

Low-cost advertising with the IER

The 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.

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/IER.AdvertisingSheet.V7.Feb21.pdf> Read more 

  <https://mcusercontent.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/125fb7dc-995f-4c02-96e6-e25df6a83929.jpg> 

TUC calls for Long Covid to be recognised as a disability as sufferers face dismissal

One in 20 Long Covid sufferers have already been forced out of their jobs.

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/tuc-calls-for-long-covid-to-be-recognised-as-a-disability-as-sufferers-face-dismissal/> Read full story 

  <https://mcusercontent.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/9b4b1e03-9683-2cd2-2fcd-a3b455390d10.jpg> 

Toxic workplaces increase risk of depression by 300%, research finds

Poor management practices and lack of engagement with unions are key risk factors for clinical depression among workers.

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/toxic-workplaces-increase-risk-of-depression-by-300-research-finds/> Read full story 

  <https://mcusercontent.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/510ccc4a-c076-4a5c-864c-7f56de2b6ca9.jpg> 

Sick pay for all employees would cost just 1% of test and trace budget, TUC says

Hundreds of thousands of key workers got no sick pay for self isolating during the pandemic.

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/sick-pay-for-all-employees-would-cost-just-1-of-test-and-trace-budget-tuc-says/> Read full story 

  <https://mcusercontent.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/1f8f1bc8-34f3-7538-e5b5-04be8863450f.jpg> 

Tribunals must take childcare disparities into account in sex discrimination cases, Judge rules

The decision came after a nurse was sacked because she needed predictable hours to look after her disabled children.

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/tribunals-must-take-childcare-disparities-into-account-in-sex-discrimination-cases-judge-rules/> Read full story 

EVENT: Trade Unions, unemployment and workers’ rights

  <https://mcusercontent.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/f91fccac-4a22-14a1-8512-4084177d44f6.jpg> 

7th July 2021 – 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
FREE 

About this event

Successive governments have created and/or maintained a reserve army of unemployed workers. This economic manipulation is ideological in nature and seeks to hold down pay and conditions for workers. This is underpinned by duplicitous economic arguments about supply and demand, so that business owners and shareholders can award themselves more money. Workers suffer as a result, and the unemployed descend into destitution. This is bad for the economy, bad for workers and bad for public health.

Join us at the next IER and Campaign for Trade Union Freedom joint event to discuss what can be done.

Speakers

Martin Cavanagh, Deputy President of PCS and President of PCS DWP group, discussing Social Security – the need for a safety net and meaningful employment.

Brett Sparkes, Unite the Union, talking on Community branch support and organising the community.

Helen O’Connor, The People’s Assembly, speaking about the need for a People’s march for jobs.

Tony Burke, CTUF, will discuss the present case for reducing working time for workers, with no loss of pay, to help prevent mass unemployment after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Chaired by Carolyn Jones, IER Director

 <https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88388159438?pwd=K3hrN0NjWWNEWFBacWs4TllKVERUdz09> Book your place 

EVENT: Human rights and employment rights

  <https://mcusercontent.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/f369c953-7f2f-a09c-d44a-c560e848f717.jpg> 

21 July 2021 – 7:00pm
FREE 

About this event

Human rights at work and the right to privacy are rising to the forefront of workers' concerns, with employers often taking advantage of weak laws to intrude further in to the personal lives of their staff. The employer intends to squeeze more out of its workforce and artificially boost productivity, but little or no thought is given to whether this is sustainable for the worker, their lifestyle, or their mental health.

This situation has been worsened by the increasing ubiquity of social media, with posts made by workers used as ammunition against them by bad employers both during recruitment, disciplinaries and dismissals.

Despite a human right to privacy within one's home, employers have been monitoring staff working remotely during the pandemic using technologies such as keystroke logging software, instant messaging applications, and webcams.

Other more broad implications for human rights arise out of potential infringements on human rights through exploitative clauses in trade deals.

Join us to discuss these problems and potential solutions.

Speakers

Dr Philippa Collins, University of Bristol will be discussing The Human Right to privacy and the future of work.

Professor Keith Ewing, IER President will be talking on Trade & Cooperation agreement & future of labour law.

Josie Irwin, UNISON National Womens Officer is going to talk on Women, equality and working from home: Bargaining for the best homeworking arrangements.

Chaired by Carolyn Jones, IER Director

 <https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RygS-rfTSZKwVSPrpRZFPA> Book your place 

EVENT: In Conversation: 'The Shadow of the Mine'

  <https://mcusercontent.com/f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3/images/9c3db946-0e05-7078-8a8b-0c4d1bb7ec50.jpg> 

29 July 2021 – 6:00 pm
FREE 

About this event

No one personified the age of industry more than the miners. A new book tells the story of King Coal in its heyday – and what happened to mining communities after the last pits closed. British politics now revolves around the coalfield constituencies that have lent their votes to the Conservatives. What will the future bring?

Come and join the conversation between the author and two giants of the labour movement.

Speakers

Professor Huw Beynon, Cardiff University and author of The Shadow of the Mine

Professor Keith Ewing, IER President

Lord John Hendy QC, IER Chair

Chaired by Carolyn Jones, IER Director

 <https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4ZMi2rIpSvO1tUatCLu7cw> Book your place 

IER and Covid-19

Due 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.

 <http://www.facebook.com/theinstituteofemploymentrights> 

 <https://www.twitter.com/IERUK/> 

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

Our mailing address is:

Institute of Employment Rights

4th Floor Jack Jones House

1 Islington

Liverpool, Merseyside L3 8EG 

United Kingdom

 <https://ier.us12.list-manage.com/vcard?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=4e9e05d15d> Add us to your address book

Unsubscribe by following the instructions at the bottom of this email or in the attached .txt document. If you cannot find the instructions, please contact sarah at ier.org.uk

-- 
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://mailman.gn.apc.org/pipermail/ier-elist/attachments/20210625/b906b4da/attachment-0001.html>