Latest News
Zero-hours contracts on the rise
26 February 2015
UK companies used 1.8 million zero-hours contracts last summer, Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show. This has increased from last January’s 1.4 million.
Council and NHS employers are not doing enough to limit zero-hours contracts
26 February 2015
Wednesday’s (26 February) ONS statistics showed the number of workers trapped on zero-hours contracts has now reached 1.8 million. Given the exploitative nature of the contracts, public sector employers are not doing enough to curb their use.
Public procurement regulations rushed through
26 February 2015
New public procurement regulations have come into force today (27 February).
International Women’s Day 2015
People’s History Museum, Manchester
8 March 2015, 2pm-5pm
In the five years that the Coalition Government has been in power, women and families have born the brunt of their so-called ‘austerity’ cuts. To celebrate International Women’s Day, Thomson’s Solicitors are holding an event in Manchester. The programme of events includes a discussion on ending apartheid in Palestine, a short play – Soledad – one woman’s experience of the Spanish Civil War and a panel of women MPs discussing why we need to vote. For more information contact teerenasmith@thompsons.law.co.uk
The right to strike re-affirmed at ILO
25 February 2015
According to a press release from ITUC today (25 February 2015), a breakthrough has been made at the International Labour Organisation(ILO) following two years during which employers at the ILO brought the UN body’s global supervisory system to a standstill in an attempt to wipe out decades of ILO jurisprudence supporting the right to strike.
TUC: Wage stagnation has increased the deficit by at least £33bn
19 February 2015
The government is collecting £33.4bn less in income tax and national insurance than official forecasts indicated.
ONS Employment figures
19 February 2015
Another quarter, another ONS employment figures release. Comparing the October to December quarter to July to September, employment rose slightly and unemployment fell slightly.
Defend the right to strike
16 February 2015
18 February 2015 has been designated by the International Trade Union Confederation as a global day of action in defence of the right to strike. In the UK, Early Day Motion 802 has been tabled in the House of Commons in support of the global day of action and against threats by the UK government to further weaken the right to strike in the UK.
David Cameron calls for workers to get a pay rise
12 February 2015
Echoing the language of the TUC, David Cameron urged business leaders to “give Britain a pay rise” on Tuesday (10 February).
Miliband pledges to double length of paternity leave
13 February 2015
Under the plans, fathers would be offered four weeks off work at £260 per week.
Work experience off limits for many young workers
13 February 2015
Young people are facing a postcode lottery in gaining work experience – with some parts of the UK twice as likely to offer work experience as others.
