[IER] Govt passes Policing Bill; now turns to breaking up the NHS

Fri Jul 9 16:57:01 BST 2021

News brief - 09/07/21                                                                            <https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?e=__test_email__&u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=f92e47f5ff> View this email in your browser 

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Govt passes Policing Bill; now turns to breaking up the NHS

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On Monday (05 July 2021),  <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/mps-vote-in-favour-of-the-policing-bill/> the Police, Crime, Courts and Sentencing Bill was voted through the House of Commons and passed to the House of Lords for further scrutiny.

365 MPs, including all Conservative MPs, voted in favour of the legislation, which will strengthen the power of the police to place conditions on peaceful protests – including their location, size and duration – and impose severe penalties, including prison sentences, against participants who cause “annoyance” such as by making too much noise.

All Labour Party, Green Party, Plaid Cymru, SNP and Liberal Democrat MPs were among the 265 who voted in opposition of the Bill.

And the government shows no signs of slowing down when it comes to pushing through increasingly controversial new laws, even in the face of widespread opposition.

The very next day (Tuesday 06 July 2021), it  <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/nhs-bill-opens-the-door-to-increased-privatisation/> launched its new Health and Care Bill, which will divide the health service into 42 Integrated Care Systems (ICS).

Although the Bill has been touted by the government as the end of competition-based services and the privatisation of the NHS, campaigners and experts warned it actually opens the door to increased interference from the private sector.

Private firms, including US-based health insurance companies, will be invited onto the boards of ICSs and have a say in who is awarded contracts. Meanwhile, the Secretary of State for Health will be given additional powers to meddle with health system, raising fears among NHS providers that everyday services will be subject to political interference. 

WATCH: Trade Unions , unemployment and workers’ rights

 <https://youtu.be/NLJEzluZ9qo> 

 <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 

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MPs vote in favour of the Policing Bill

The Policing Bill has passed through the House of commons with the support of every single Conservative Party MP.

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/mps-vote-in-favour-of-the-policing-bill/> Read full story 

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NHS Bill ‘opens the door to increased privatisation’

Private companies, including US-based insurance firms, will have a say on the provision of services.

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/nhs-bill-opens-the-door-to-increased-privatisation/> Read full story 

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“Absolutely no justification” for human rights reform

The Joint Commmitee on Human Rights has warned the government to abandon plans to "update" the Human Rights Act.

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/absolutely-no-justification-for-human-rights-reform/> Read full story 

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 

EVENT: Human rights and employment rights

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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'

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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.

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