[IER] May Day 2024: Trade unions For Democracy

Fri May 3 11:39:10 BST 2024

News brief 03/05/24    <https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?e=__test_email__&u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=61fedfb171> View this email in your browser 

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May Day 2024: Trade unions For Democracy

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The ITUC For Democracy campaign is about trade unions acting now to stop the alarming decline of democracy, and the simultaneous rise in attacks on workers’ rights.

The 2023 Global State of Democracy report shows that democracy is contracting in every region of the world. Every year since 2018 more countries experienced net declines in democratic processes than improvements.

This anti-democratic trend corresponds with global attacks on trade union rights. Over ten years the ITUC Global Rights Index has tracked the deteriorating situation. In 2023 violations of key measures reached new highs: 87% of countries violated the right to strike, while 79% violated the right to collective bargaining.

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/may-day-2024-trade-unions-for-democracy/> More details 

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The Minimum Service Levels Act is dangerous, unjust and must be defeated

We must be prepared to mobilise and build a mass movement against the Tories’ vicious anti-union law, writes Fire Brigades Union leader Matt Wrack in the Morning Star 

 <https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/minimum-service-levels-act-dangerous-unjust-and-must-be-defeated> Read here 

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Minimum service levels during strikes

The right to strike in the UK is being threatened by a draconian new law, the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act. The TUC has produced a briefing on the legislation.  

 <https://www.tuc.org.uk/resource/minimum-service-levels-during-strikes> Read here 

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75% of employers used ‘flexible contracts’ in 2023

48% of those employers planned to increase their use of flexible contracts over the next five years, according to Resolution Foundation report 

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/75-of-employers-used-flexible-contracts-in-2023/> More details 

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Unions warn Labour not to ‘water down’ New Deal for Working People

According to newspapers reports, Labour is responding to lobbying from business groups to adjust some of its workers' rights policies 

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/unions-warn-labour-not-to-water-down-new-deal-for-working-people/> More details 

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Labour denies diluting workers' rights plan

A spokesman insisted there would be “no watering down” of the party’s plans despite detailed suggestions that it was intent on appeasing business concerns (via the Morning Star) 

 <https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/labour-denies-diluting-workers-rights-plan> More details 

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Marge Simpson starts a union and fights for workers' rights

In the latest episode of the Simpsons, Marge forms a union after discovering the brutal reality of the gig-economy 

 <https://www.bigissue.com/culture/tv/the-simpsons-marge-union-workers-rights-night-of-the-living-wage/> More details 

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The Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 

Associate solicitor in employment at Morrish Solicitors, Tony Rippon, explores the act further and looks at the case of Mrs Mercer, who faced disciplinary following taking part in a strike.  

 <https://www.morrishsolicitors.com/trade-union-and-labour-relations/> More details 

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Amazon faces legal challenge after workers’ rights revelations

Retail giant is pressuring workers to give up their collective rights, says GMB Union 

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/amazon-faces-legal-chalenge-after-workers-rights-revelations/> More details 

Victory for workers’ rights: former Amazon employee cleared of allegations

Maria Malinowska's reinstatement marks a significant victory not only for her but also for workers' rights advocacy. 

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/victory-for-workers-rights-former-amazon-employee-cleared-of-allegations/> More details 

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