Royal College of Nursing issues apology after damning report into its culture – The Independent

Posted October 12th, 2022 in bullying, employment, equality, harassment, news, nurses, trade unions, women by tracey

‘The Royal College of Nursing has pledged to leave “no stone unturned” after a damning report into its culture.’

Full Story

The Independent, 11th October 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Bullying, misogyny and sexual culture at Royal College of Nursing, inquiry finds – The Guardian

Posted October 11th, 2022 in bullying, inquiries, news, nurses, reports, sexual grooming, trade unions by tracey

‘A damning inquiry into the Royal College of Nursing, the world’s biggest nurses’ union, has exposed bullying, misogyny and a sexual culture where women are at risk of “alcohol and power-related exploitation.”’

Full Story

The Guardian, 10th October 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Truss risks fresh row with EU over workers’ rights, say legal experts – The Guardian

Posted September 7th, 2022 in brexit, EC law, employment, news, trade unions by sally

‘Liz Truss risks igniting another row with the EU which could lead to tariffs on British exports if she tries to dilute workers’ rights too much, legal experts and union leaders have said.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 6th September 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government urged to classify Covid as an occupational disease – The Guardian

‘Ministers should urgently classify Covid-19 as an occupational disease to prompt employers to reduce the risk of exposure and help workers access key benefits, the TUC has said.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 15th August 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Union’s head of legal receives apology over picket line arrest – Legal Futures

‘A barrister working as a trade union’s in-house lawyer has received a formal apology and damages of £3,000 from the Metropolitan Police after he was arrested on a picket line.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 28th July 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law change allows organisations to employ agency workers during strikes – Local Government Lawyer

‘A new law is now in place that will enable organisations impacted by industrial action to plug staffing gaps with agency workers, the Government has said.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 25th July 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Heatwave: When is it too hot to work? – BBC News

Posted July 14th, 2022 in employment, health & safety, news, trade unions by tracey

‘Is there a maximum temperature for workplaces? No law in the UK says a given temperature is too hot or cold to work.’

Full Story

BBC News, 14th July 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judicial review of government handling of pension scheme gets green light – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 12th, 2022 in fire services, government departments, judicial review, news, trade unions by tracey

‘Permission has been granted to the Fire Brigades Union (and others) to challenge the Government’s reduction in the value of new pension schemes for firefighters.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 8th July 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

MPs approve controversial plans to let agency workers cover for striking staff – The Guardian

Posted July 12th, 2022 in casual workers, industrial action, news, trade unions by tracey

‘Ministers have approved controversial plans to allow agency workers to replace striking workers, voting through the regulations on Monday night by 289 votes to 202.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 12th July 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Rail strike: Law change would allow agency staff to cover industrial action – BBC News

Posted June 23rd, 2022 in casual workers, industrial action, news, railways, trade unions by sally

‘Plans are under way to change the law to enable employers to use agency staff to cover staffing gaps during strikes, the government has announced.’

Full Story

BBC News, 23rd June 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Delaying new law ‘gives green light to rogue employers’, says TUC – The Guardian

Posted April 4th, 2022 in bills, delay, employment, news, trade unions by sally

‘Britain’s top union leader has written to the business secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, to warn the government that dropping plans to legislate for tougher employment rights after mass sackings at P&O Ferries would “side with bad bosses”.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 4th April 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Employers can take action against striking workers, Court of Appeal decides – OUT-LAW.com

‘The English and Welsh Court of Appeal has reasserted the previously held view that protection against detriment on the grounds of “trade union activities” does not extend to strike action.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 29th March 2022

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Law will be changed to ‘undo’ P&O’s mass sacking of its workers, government vows – The Independent

Posted March 25th, 2022 in consultations, employment, government departments, news, trade unions, transport by tracey

‘The law will be changed to “undo” P&O’s mass sacking of its workers, the government is vowing – just hours after a minister warned that would harm the economy.’

Full Story

The Independent, 24th March 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Happy Birthday: Unfair Dismissal at 50 – by Hugh Collins – UK Labour Law

Posted March 3rd, 2022 in employment, employment tribunals, news, trade unions, unfair dismissal by sally

‘Half a century ago, on the 28th of February 1972, the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act 1971 that established an employee’s statutory right not to be unfairly dismissed came into force. To mark this anniversary, I offer some reflections on the significance and impact of this major legal innovation.’

Full Story

UK Labour Law, 3rd March 2022

Source: uklabourlawblog.com

Union loses legal challenge to PM’s decision to back Priti Patel – BBC News

‘The union for senior civil servants has lost its High Court challenge to Boris Johnson’s decision to back Priti Patel over claims she bullied staff.’

Full Story

BBC News, 6th December 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Supreme Court delivers Judgment on Collective Bargaining – Littleton Chambers

‘The Supreme Court has handed down judgment in Kostal UK Ltd v Dunkley and others [2021] UKSC 47, an important decision for collective bargaining. It held that the employer (Kostal) was in breach of s. 145B of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (the “1992 Act”) by making offers of a change to the terms and conditions of employment directly to employees and bypassing the procedure for collective bargaining agreed with Unite the Union (“Unite”).’

Full Story

Littleton Chambers, October 2021

Source: littletonchambers.com

Kostal UK Ltd v Dunkley & Ors [2021] UKSC 47 – Inducements relating to collective bargaining – Old Square Chambers

‘On 27 October 2021 the Supreme Court handed down judgment in Kostal UK Ltd v Dunkley & Ors [2021] UKSC 47, allowing the appeal by 57 members of Unite the Union, recognised by Kostal for collective bargaining purposes. This is the first occasion the appeal courts considered the interpretation of section 145B of the Trade Union & Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, which was introduced following the decision of the ECtHR in Wilson/Palmer v United Kingdom [2002] IRLR 568. S. 145B gives trade union members the right not to receive offers from their employer which, if accepted, would have the result that one or more terms of their employment will not (or will no longer) be determined by collective bargaining (the “prohibited result”), if (but only if) if the employer’s sole or main purpose in making the offers is to achieve the prohibited result. Where liability is established, the Employment Tribunal (ET) must make a prescribed award (currently £4,341) to each member to whom the offer is made.’

Full Story

Old Square Chambers, 27th October 2021

Source: oldsquare.co.uk

New Judgment: Kostal UK Ltd v Dunkley and others [2021] UKSC 47 – UKSC Blog

‘The Appellant and 56 others are all members of the trade union “Unite” and are employed by the Respondent. They began formal annual pay negotiations and the Respondent made a pay offer. Union members were balloted and rejected the offer. The Respondent then made the same offer to its employees directly, bypassing Unite, also saying that if no agreement was reached “this may lead to the company serving notice on your contract of employment”.’

Full Story

UKSC Blog, 27th October 2021

Source: ukscblog.com

Firms urged to protect workers from abuse in ‘wild west’ UK gig economy – The Independent

Posted September 20th, 2021 in employment, harassment, news, remuneration, sick leave, trade unions by tracey

‘Gig economy firms are facing calls to better protect their workers, as an MP and a trade union warn of a wave of harassment and physical and emotional abuse facing couriers and taxi drivers.’

Full Story

The Independent, 19th September 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

BMA drops opposition to assisted dying and adopts neutral stance – The Guardian

Posted September 15th, 2021 in assisted suicide, bills, doctors, news, statistics, trade unions by tracey

‘The British Medical Association (BMA) has dropped its opposition to assisted dying and adopted a neutral stance on the issue.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 14th September 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com