Latest News
Lobbying Bill still a threat to Freedom of Speech
10 January 2014
After a brief pause in developments, the Government now plans to amend the gagging bill to exempt smaller charities ahead of the 2015 general election. This latest u-turn will increase the amount campaigners can spend on the election.
Independent review supports HSE – so govt ignores it
10 January 2014
Martin Temple, former Director-General of employers' organisation EEF, yesterday (09 January 2014) published his Triennial Review into the HSE, revealing a supportive attitude toward the body. The government, perhaps surprised at the failure of an industry leader to toe the ideological line toward increased privatisation and deregulation, announced it would disregard some of his most important recommendations.
Tory proposes removing UK from European Court of Human Rights
10 January 2014
At the Tory party conference last year David Cameron announced that he was ready to remove the UK from the European Court of Human Rights.
Ministers consider outlawing exclusivity on Zero Hour Contracts
10 January 2014
Ministers are considering outlawing exclusivity clauses on zero hour contracts, in a faint hearted effort to boost fairness for workers.
Barristers express discontent at proposal for legal aid cuts
07 January 2014
On Monday, Barristers and Solicitors took to the streets to voice their discontent at the proposed introduction of price-competitive tendering. This will include a £220m annual cut to the criminal legal aid budget by the Justice Secretary, Chris Grayling.
George Osborne targets cuts to public welfare and the public sector in speech.
07 January 2014
It seems yet again that George Osborne is targeting the poor and vulnerable, insisting that £25bn more cuts must be made in 2015.
Launch of Women’s Assembly Against Austerity
12 December 2013
Over 40 female leaders signed a letter to the Guardian this week calling for a Women's Assembly Against Austerity to be launched on 22 February 2014 at London's Conway Hall. The signatories included Carolyn Jones, Director of the Institute of Employment Rights (IER) and Vice-Chair of the Morning Star; and member of the IER's Executive Committee Barbara Switzer.
Maternity pay ‘could be cut’ in 2015
12 December 2013
Prime Minister David Cameron has admitted that he will not protect parental pay from overall budget cuts in 2015.
Over two-thirds of private sector firms do not conduct equal pay reviews
11 December 2013
New research has shown that over two-thirds of private sector firms do not perform equal pay reviews, putting them far behind the public sector when it comes to action on equal wages.
Sir Robert McAlpine denies blacklisting employees
Despite being arguably at the centre of the blacklisting scandal since the offices of blacklist compiler The Consulting Association (TCA) were raided in 2009, construction giant Sir Robert McAlpine has now denied to a high court judge that it ever blacklisted employees.
UCATT takes construction giants to court over blacklisting
29 November 2013
Construction workers' union UCATT has begun legal proceedings against several major construction companies who have been involved in the blacklisting scandal.
Unionised workplaces better protected against recession, study finds
29 November 2013
Recognising trade unions helps to protect employers against recession, a new study has found, providing yet more data to support the Institute of Employment Rights' policy proposals to improve collective bargaining levels across the UK.
