Janet Newsham
Janet Newsham Janet Newsham Janet works for Greater Manchester Hazards Centre as the coordinator and Chair of the Hazards Campaign.
12 April 2013 By Janet Newsham Janet Newsham reports back on the debate and lessons learned from the IER's most recent conference: Workplace Issues - Learning from the Front Line.
12 April 2013
Janet Newsham reports back on the debate and lessons learned from the IER’s most recent conference: Workplace Issues – Learning from the Front Line.
This was a practical conference providing information and discussion about how we should be responding in our workplaces to the changes being introduced by the Government.
The conference began with a presentation from Brian Doyle, The Regional Employment Judge; and Jo Seery, from Thompsons Solicitors. Brian Doyle explained how employment law has developed and plays an increasingly greater role in the labour market. He explained the changes that were about to be introduced in Employment Tribunals, including the introduction of fees, could have significant effects on workers accessing justice. There is to be a remission system introduced for low-paid workers but there are no details on this yet. The new system will create an environment where there is no incentive for employers to conciliate until after the employee has paid the hearing fee. The change also raises questions about how the successful claimant will be able to recover the fee.
The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill which is expected to become law in Spring will introduce a number of changes to employment rights:
However they may be admissible to use in tribunals investigating discrimination issues
Jo followed this detailed look at the changes to employment law with an examination of changes to collective employment rights on redundancy. She explained that the government were pursuing an agenda which supports the interests of the employer, but not the worker:
These included:
Union negotiators need to:
Carla Bennett, also from Thompsons Solicitors, explained about contract changes and suggested that the approach union negotiators should take is:
Peter Middleman from PCS talked about regional pay, wages and living standards. He noted the government’s u-turn on the issue of regional pay. However the Government are proceeding to attack national agreements. He explained about the extreme right wing think tanks with innocuously sounding names which are influencing Government policy and being presented as credible organisations to the public. However, he suggested that the tide might be turning because of the accelerating rise in the cost of living and the media attacks after the budget. There are a number of trade unions preparing to take industrial action and there is rising confidence amongst the membership.
After lunch there were a number of workshops which examined resisting attacks on facility time, organising against austerity and avoiding redundancy: negotiating for members.
In concluding, Carolyn Jones, Director of IER said that unions are only as strong as their members and it was up to all of us to push for change. She emphasised that there are alternatives – alternative facts, alternative figures and alternative policies – but that such alternatives can only be achieved by the organised working class – the trade union movement – making a difference.
Janet Newsham Janet Newsham Janet works for Greater Manchester Hazards Centre as the coordinator and Chair of the Hazards Campaign.