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REVIEW: Politically motivated attacks
20 October 2016
By Declan Owens, Socialist Lawyer
Access to Justice: Exposing the Myths, Andrew Moretta, published by the Institute of Employment Rights, 2016
Readers of Socialist Lawyer are aware of the problems in relation to their clients obtaining access to
justice in their various practice areas and the devastating impact of the legal aid under New Labour, the Coalition Government and the Tories. One of the Coalition’s most far reaching reforms was the introduction of fees in the employment tribunals in 2013 (except for Northern Ireland) and the removal of employment law from the scope of legal aid, which had a major impact on law centres and firms. Andrew Moretta provides the reader with a clear, concise and detailed critique of how access to justice for workers in the United Kingdom has been
gorged and outlines why the myths propagated by the Tories and businesses need to be exposed.
REVIEW: Too much law and not fit for purpose!
20 October 2016
By Declan Owens, Socialist Lawyer
A Manifesto for Labour Law: towards a comprehensive revision of workers’ rights, published by the Institute of Employment Rights, 2016
Workers who read the Institute of Employment Rights’ Manifesto will recognise its diagnosis of the problem of labour law in the UK and it is likely that they will agree the recommended solution: a comprehensive revision of workers’ rights. Workers’ rights in the UK are already subject to a framework of law that is the most restrictive in the western world, a grim reality proudly endorsed by Tony Blair on the eve of his election in 1997 and not effectively addressed by any UK government since. Nevertheless, the Manifesto recognises that the world of work has changed and the law must follow.
Liam Fox agrees to sign controversial trade deal without parliamentary debate
19 October 2016
Trade Minister Liam Fox has agreed to sign a controversial trade deal between the EU and Canada – the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) – before MPs were given the opportunity to debate it in the Commons.
Sharp rise in “self-employment”, but earnings fall
19 October 2016
Self-employment has boomed by 45% since 2001-02, but earnings among this section of the workforce are lower than they were 20 years ago.
EU case law protecting workers’ rights ‘could be challenged following Brexit’
19 October 2016
Research by the House of Commons Library has warned that workers' rights won through EU courts could be challenged in British courts and overturned if the government does not act to incorporate existing case law into legislation.
One in five female teachers say their priority is to quit
17 October 2016
One in five female teachers say that their biggest career priority is to leave their current profession, according to a new survey shedding further light on the poor conditions in which Britain's educators are expected to work.
Govt accused of hiding evidence that could terminate Southern Rail contract
14 October 2016
The government has been accused of deliberately hiding evidence of the poor performance of Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), a subsidiary of Southern Rail.
RMT “delighted to back” Manifesto for Labour Law
RMT chief Mick Cash has announced the transport union's support for the Institute of Employment Rights' (IER) Manifesto for Labour Law, joining 12 other major UK unions and the Labour Party - which has said it plans to implement the IER's proposals.
REVIEW: IER Manifesto could represent a “qualitative shift in politics”
14 October 2016
Writing for the Industrial Law Journal, Private Law Lecturer at Kings' College London Dr Ewan McGaughey, has praised the Institute of Employment Rights' Manifesto for Labour Law, saying it could represent a "qualitative shift in politics".
PCS “proud to stand behind” IER Manifesto
13 October 2016
Announcing his union's official support for the Institute of Employment Rights' (IER) Manifesto for Labour Law, General Secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) Mark Serwotka has said he is "proud to stand behind" a "progressive alternative" to austerity.
Govt workers on low pay and insecure contracts
13 October 2016
Despite Theresa May's claims that the new Conservative government is behind the nation's workers, it seems that as an employer, the Party is not practicing what it preaches.
Businesses can do more to tackle modern slavery, Commissioner reports
12 October 2016
Kevin Hyland, the UK's Independent Anti-slavery Commissioner, has said the private sector could do more to tackle forced labour in his first annual report.
