NW Equalities: A Changing Workplace?

Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool

Confirmed speakers include:

Anna Bird, Fawcett Society
Sally Brett, TUC
Alan Christie, EHRC
Don Flynn, Migrants Rights Network
& Jo Seery, Thompsons Solicitors

download a copy of the flyer here

Book and pay for your place now

The conference will consider how far we have come in terms of equality in the workplace- and how far we still have to go.

The Equal Pay Act is 40 years old this year, and although the pay gap between men and women has narrowed over the years, there are still significant pay inequalities. Based on the findings of the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, the National Statistics website gives the gender pay gap for all employees, in 2010, as 19.8%. Which means that on average, women still earn nearly one-fifth less than men.

For a while it looked as if the Equality Act might help address the gender pay gap, through the new duty on large companies to publish gender pay audits. But the Con-Dem government recently scrapped this measure, relying instead on companies to undertake pay audits voluntarily.

The majority of the provisions of the Equality Act that bring together previously disparate legislation on age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, and sexual orientation came into force in October 2010. However some elements were not due to come into effect until April 2011, and the government is now threatening to abandon some of the more progressive clauses of the act prior to enforcement date.

The conference brings leading equality campaigners together with experts from the law, trade unions, academia, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission to offer delegates an informed and sympathetic understanding of the Equality Act.

Programme

• 9:45 Registration

• 10:00 Welcome from Chair, Carolyn Jones, IER

• 10:10 An overview of equality and equal pay
  Alan Christie, Director of Policy, Equality and Human Rights Commission

• 10:40 Equality and the law: recent cases and precedents
  Jo Seery, Thompsons Solicitors

• 11.10 Q&A

• 11:20 BREAK

• 11.40 Multiple Discrimination and Positive Action
  Sally Brett, Equality Policy Officer, TUC

• 12:10 Equality and the public sector: a view from Unison
  Dion Baugh, Unison

• 12.30 Q&A

• 12.40 LUNCH

• 1:40 The Road to Equal Pay: a new approach
  Anna Bird, Head of Policy and Campaigns, The Fawcett Society

• 2:10 Sexual Orientation, Religion & Belief
  Speaker TBC

• 2:30 Q&A

• 2.40 Migrant Workers in the context of race discrimination
  Don Flynn, Director, Migrant Rights Network

• 3:00 Equality on the shop floor
  Helen Ozgood, NW Equality Officer, Unite the Union

• 3:20 Questions and Discussion

• 3.30 Close

Who should attend

The conference will be of great interest to trade unionists, employment lawyers, personnel specialists, academics, students, and those concerned with the development of public policy.

CPD, NPP and EPP accreditation

This conference counts for 3 credit hours under the Law Society’s
Continuing Development Scheme and the General Council of the Bar’s New
Practitioners’ Programme and Established Practitioners’ Programme.

Additional Information

Details of nearby hotels are available from the office. Name changes are
accepted up until the time of the event. Delegates who advise IER of their
cancellation more than 15 working days in advance will receive a credit
note with 10% deduction for administration.

How to get there

Train: Lime St Station (British Rail) and Central Station (Merseyrail) are a five minute walk away.
Bus: 500 from Liverpool John Lennon Airport to City Centre

How to book

1. Ring us on 0151 207 5265 with a credit or debit card.

1. Book and pay for your place now

1. Download an emailable booking form Here and email to office@ier.org.uk or fax to 0151 207 5264

1. Send your cheque, made payable to IER, to Institute of Employment Rights, 50-54 Mount Pleasant, Liverpool L3 5SD.