United.Kingdom
Background information on industrial relations in United.Kingdom
- 28 Dec 1997
United Kingdom: 1997 Annual Review for the United Kingdom<#PDF_LINK>This record reviews 1997's main developments in industrial relations in the United Kingdom.
- 28 Dec 1997
United Kingdom: The trade unionist of the 1990s?<#PDF_LINK>This feature looks at the UK's trade unionists of the 1990s in the light of recent evidence published by the Trades Union Congress, and at the range of services offered to them. It asks whether such services will be sufficient to retain members and attract new recruits.
- 28 Dec 1997
United Kingdom: Does Britain still have macho managers?<#PDF_LINK>Increased levels of stress within the workplace and the need for high-performing companies have led many in the UK to question the management techniques of the "macho" manager. The issue has been brought into focus by the publication of several pieces of research and the launch of a trade union campaign in late 1997.
- 28 Dec 1997
United Kingdom: Benchmarking and information sources in industrial relations decision making<#PDF_LINK>"Benchmarking" is seen by the UK Government as a vital tool for improving employment relations and business performance. Little is known about the extent and nature of benchmarking, however. The 1997Warwick pay and working time surveysheds some light on these issues, providing mixed news for government and the wider business community.
- 28 Dec 1997
United Kingdom: Toyota decision comes as a shock to the UK<#PDF_LINK>The automobile industry was the subject of controversy in December 1997, when it was announced that Toyota is to build a new assembly plant in France rather than in the UK. The decision was taken despite the facts that the labour costs are said to be higher in France, and the French Government has plans to reduce the statutory working week.
- 28 Dec 1997
United Kingdom: Government acts to relax compulsory competitive tendering<#PDF_LINK>New regulations proposed in November 1997 pave the way for changes to the UK's compulsory competitive tendering rules, which have been blamed for widespread employment insecurity.
- 28 Dec 1997
United Kingdom: Government publishes minimum wage bill<#PDF_LINK>At the end of November 1997, the bill setting out the legislative framework for the UK's new National Minimum Wage was published and received its first reading in Parliament.
- 28 Dec 1997
United Kingdom: Government called upon to save the coal industry<#PDF_LINK>In late 1997, the UK's coal industry has been in turmoil as the Government, trade unions, employers and power generators have attempted to come to an agreement to save up to eight pits and 5,000 jobs.
- 28 Nov 1997
United Kingdom: The National Minimum Wage: an update<#PDF_LINK>In September 1997, the Low Pay Commission heard its first verbal evidence from the social partners as to what they see as the main points of a National Minimum Wage in the UK. This feature reviews the discussion to date.
- 28 Nov 1997
United Kingdom: Internationalisation: employment practices in domestic multinationals<#PDF_LINK>The article highlights the challenges posed by outward investment by multinational companies to national systems of industrial relations, through the analysis of recent case study evidence of employment practices in a UK-owned multinational.
- 28 Nov 1997
United Kingdom: Staff at Barclays Bank due to strike on Christmas Eve<#PDF_LINK>Members of the finance trade unions, BIFU and UNiFI, have been called upon to support a fourth one-day strike which is due to take place on 24 December 1997, in a long running dispute with one of the UK's major banks,Barclays.
- 28 Nov 1997
United Kingdom: Government releases preliminary results of its pensions review<#PDF_LINK>In November 1997, the UK Government began to unveil the preliminary results of its review of the pensions system.
- 28 Nov 1997
United Kingdom: Skills shortage reaching crisis point<#PDF_LINK>It is apparent that the skills shortage in the UK is now approaching a crisis point in many industries. In November 1997, bodies from various industrial sectors were urging that much more should be done if the crisis is to be avoided.
- 28 Oct 1997
United Kingdom: Public sector pay claims for 1998<#PDF_LINK>The UK Government recently made it clear that there will be a continued freeze in public sector pay in 1998. In the light of such news, this feature reviews the September 1997 submissions of two of the largest public sector groups - teachers and nurses - to the pay review bodies.
- 28 Oct 1997
United Kingdom: Partners in Progress - the TUC annual conference<#PDF_LINK>The September 1997 Trades Union Congress conference was held under the slogan ofPartners in Progress, reflecting the organisation's "social partnership" agenda. The conference went smoothly, though a closer look at views on the issues of flexibility and fairness highlights possible areas for major disagreement.
- 28 Oct 1997
United Kingdom: Pension power for women<#PDF_LINK>September 1997 saw the launch of separate but related initiatives by the UK Government and the Trades Union Congress, aimed at promoting pensions provision for women.
- 28 Oct 1997
United Kingdom: Union reveals results of stress survey<#PDF_LINK>The results of a recent survey by the Manufacturing Science Finance (MSF) trade union, announced in October 1997, have led the union to call for a campaign to reduce stress at work.
- 28 Oct 1997
United Kingdom: Unions call for compulsory training levy<#PDF_LINK>Two of the UK's largest trade unions have recently called for a compulsory training levy of 2% of paybill on employers. The call comes against a background of a government "skills audit", which found some severe training shortfalls, and the Government's new plan to improve skill levels.
- 28 Oct 1997
United Kingdom: More detail and CBI support for the New Deal<#PDF_LINK>As the UK Government announced the details of its "New Deal" for unemployed people in October 1997, theConfederation of British Industry(CBI) announced its support for the measures.
- 28 Oct 1997
United Kingdom: Low Pay Commission hears evidence on National Minimum Wage<#PDF_LINK>In October 1997, employers and unions submitted evidence to the newly-established Low Pay Commission, which advises the Government on the setting of Britain's first National Minimum Wage.
- 28 Sep 1997
United Kingdom: New proposals on training for young people<#PDF_LINK>A recent report written by eight academics, published by the Institute of Personnel and Development in August 1997, claims that the UK's existing system of work-based training for the young is failing both young people and society, and suggests a radical reform of provision in order to enhance the quality and status of foundation learning in work. The existing government-sponsored Youth Training scheme should be scrapped and replaced by new work-based traineeships for all employed and unemployed 16-18 year olds not in full-time education.
- 28 Sep 1997
United Kingdom: Survey argues that UK employees are better off than their European neighbours<#PDF_LINK>Falling unemployment, low inflation and stable earnings have led some to suggest that the UK's labour market reforms of the 1980s are finally delivering results. This view could be given further support by recent research that indicates that UK employees are now among the leaders in Europe in terms of standard of living. However, this may provide too simplistic a view of the situation.
- 28 Sep 1997
United Kingdom: New Labour aims to sever its roots?<#PDF_LINK>Just as the election of the Blair Government in May 1997 looked to promise the return to influence of trade unions within the UK Government, the Labour Party is proposing changes which some argue will dilute the role of unions in the decision-making process over party policy. The subject came to a head in September 1997 at the TUC's annual conference.
- 28 Sep 1997
United Kingdom: Women still struggle to gain equality<#PDF_LINK>While women in the UK still continue to win equal pay cases, with a major ruling being handed down in September 1997, new figures from the Equal Opportunities Commission indicate that they still have a long way to go to catch up with men.
- 28 Sep 1997
United Kingdom: Proposals for employee ownership of the Post Office<#PDF_LINK>In February 1997, the trade union representing postal workers put forward proposals for employee ownership as part of giving the UK Post Office commercial freedom. In September, it was reported that this may be among the options the Government is considering.
- 28 Sep 1997
United Kingdom: CBI eager to avoid EU employment legislation<#PDF_LINK>The director general of the UK's CBI employers' organisation set out his hopes and fears - especially on the issue of EU social policy - to union delegates at the annual conference of the TUC in September 1997.
- 28 Sep 1997
United Kingdom: New Deal receives widespread support from the business community.<#PDF_LINK>The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, confirmed in September 1997 that some of Britain's major companies are committing themselves to taking part in the Government's "New Deal" for young and long-term unemployed people.
- 28 Sep 1997
United Kingdom: John Monks outlines new unionism<#PDF_LINK>In September 1997, John Monks, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), set out his vision of "new" unionism to the first TUC conference to be held under a Labour Government for 19 years.
- 28 Aug 1997
United Kingdom: Employee representation: new challenges from Europe<#PDF_LINK>Developments at EU level have profound implications for employee representation arrangements in the UK. We review the issues and highlight the possible consequences for the new Labour Government's planned industrial relations reforms.
- 28 Aug 1997
United Kingdom: A summer of discontent?<#PDF_LINK>The summer of 1997 has seen a number of industrial disputes involvingBarclays,British Airways,BTand some of the recently privatised train operators, leading to speculation about a possible upsurge in militancy, following the return of a Labour Government in the general election in May. We review in particular the dispute at British Airways, explore the reasons for the dispute and comment on its conduct, before seeking to draw some general implications.
- 28 Aug 1997
United Kingdom: Health and safety worries<#PDF_LINK>Figures published in July 1997 by the UK'sHealth and Safety Executivehave caused something of a shock. There has not only been a rise in the number of major injuries at work but also in the number of deaths in the workplace. We look in more detail at the pattern of the results and the response to them.
- 28 Aug 1997
United Kingdom: The TUC proposes an Organising Academy<#PDF_LINK>After a continuous decline in UK union membership over the past 18 years, the TUC is looking at ways of reversing the decline, especially by promoting unionism in sectors of employment growth. Its "Organising Academy", due to commence operations in 1998, is based on similar successful initiatives in theUSAandAustralia.
- 28 Aug 1997
United Kingdom: Disappointment at GCHQ?<#PDF_LINK>After the initial euphoria over the lifting in May 1997of the ban on trade unions at GCHQ, the UK secret communications station, critics of the ban are now wondering whether this will in fact make any difference.
- 28 Aug 1997
United Kingdom: National minimum wage update<#PDF_LINK>The Low Pay Commission was put in place in July 1997, and is hoping to make a recommendation on the UK's first national minimum wage by Spring 1998.
- 28 Aug 1997
United Kingdom: The beginnings of social dialogue<#PDF_LINK>After indications from the Government that a White Paper on trade union recognition may be forthcoming in autumn 1997, the TUC and CBI are eager to agree the key issues which might form the basis of the paper
- 28 Aug 1997
United Kingdom: Trade unions improve their public relations expertise<#PDF_LINK>Industrial disputes over the summer of 1997 have highlighted the success of UK trade unions in the growing public relations war.
- 28 Jul 1997
United Kingdom: Details of Welfare to work programme announced in Government's first Budget<#PDF_LINK>In July 1997, details of a new scheme to get 250,000 people back to work over the next four years were announced by the UK's new Chancellor of the Exchequer,Gordon Brown, in his first Budget. The scheme generally received a positive response from the social partners.
- 28 Jul 1997
United Kingdom: New Government, new industrial unrest: is this really the case?<#PDF_LINK>In July 1997, it seems that the headlines in the UK have been dominated by the news of strikes or impending industrial disputes. This has led some to question whether the election of another Labour Government has ushered in a new era of strikes. This feature examines the question in the light of the latest statistical data.
- 28 Jul 1997
United Kingdom: Trade union membership falls yet again<#PDF_LINK>The 1996 Labour Force Survey statistics show that UK trade union membership continues to decline from its high point in 1979. We ask what the unions will do to reverse this trend.
- 28 Jul 1997
United Kingdom: Is Britain's labour force divided by class?<#PDF_LINK>TheManufacturing, Science, Finance(MSF) trade union, which represents skilled and professional workers, published the results of a survey in July 1997, which indicate that Britain's workforce is divided in terms of status, "perks", and modes of address between staff and managers. Furthermore, the British subsidiaries of companies from elsewhere in Europe were found to be more status-orientated than were British-owned companies.
- 28 Jul 1997
United Kingdom: Barclays Bank may face strike action<#PDF_LINK>After members voted in a ballot to turn down a new pay scheme atBarclays Bank, trade unions balloted members in July 1997 on whether to take industrial action.
- 28 Jul 1997
United Kingdom: Government to repeal check-off ballots<#PDF_LINK>The UK's new Labour Government announced in July 1997 that it will repeal legislation forcing trade unions to ballot their members over the automatic deduction of membership subscriptions.
- 28 Jul 1997
United Kingdom: Record number of employees claim employment rights<#PDF_LINK>The annual report of theAdvisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service(ACAS) for 1996, published in June 1997, shows that for the first time ACAS had to deal with over 100,000 individual employment rights cases in a single year.
- 28 Jul 1997
United Kingdom: Construction industry wage agreement<#PDF_LINK>After a difficult start, employers and trade unions in the construction industry managed to reach a settlement in July 1997 over the UK's largest private sector national agreement.
- 28 Jul 1997
United Kingdom: Teamworking improves productivity and employee satisfaction?<#PDF_LINK>New research findings on teamworking in the UK and North America suggest that more "advanced" systems of teamworking may raise levels of worker job satisfaction and labour productivity. However, there is little evidence that teamworking brings about high-trust management-worker relations, or high-commitment work orientations.
- 28 Jun 1997
United Kingdom: TUC social Europe conference marks ETUC day of action<#PDF_LINK>On 28 May 1997, theEuropean Trade Union Confederation(ETUC) called for a Europe-wide day of action on the theme "Europe must work". The British Trades Union Congress (TUC) used the occasion to hold a half-day conference at its headquarters in London.
- 28 Jun 1997
United Kingdom: Social partners seek solution to bullying at work<#PDF_LINK>Bullying at work is a serious problem that could be costing UK employers millions of pounds and causing a great deal of misery for employees. In recent months, several social partner organisations have attempted to bring the problem to the fore.
- 28 Jun 1997
United Kingdom: UK pushes for employment growth in Europe<#PDF_LINK>The UK's new Labour Government, elected in May 1997, has made solving the problem of unemployment one of its top priorities. At home, it has committed itself to getting 250,000 young and long-term unemployed people back to work through the "welfare to work" deal, which has largely received a positive reception from social partners. Within the European Union, Labour is also keen to make employment a priority when the UK takes over the Presidency in the first half of 1998, though within the tight limits of promoting labour market flexibility. Will the Government's policy of promoting labour market flexibility and employment growth conflict with the views of the social partners?
- 28 Jun 1997
United Kingdom: British Airways faces summer strikes<#PDF_LINK>Three trade unions with membership totalling nearly half of the workforce ofBritish Airways(BA) balloted members on industrial action in June 1997. In response, the company is reportedly training managers to do the jobs of ground staff and cabin crew, and beginning the process of recruiting agency staff to replace strikers.
- 28 Jun 1997
United Kingdom: Social partners react to European agreement on part-time work<#PDF_LINK>The social partners in the UK have been reacting to the European framework agreement on part-time work concluded on 6 June 1997, which aims to remove discrimination against part-time workers.
- 28 Jun 1997
United Kingdom: Government and unions differ on EU information and consultation proposals<#PDF_LINK>The European Commission's ideas on new EU provisions for national-level employee information and consultation, issued in June 1997, have been welcomed by theTrades Union Congress(TUC) but frowned upon by the Government andConfederation of British Industry(CBI).
- 28 Jun 1997
United Kingdom: Unions welcome role in Government<#PDF_LINK>New initiatives launched by the UK's Labour Government in June 1997 have resulted in trade unions being invited to take part in a wide-ranging consultation process, for the first time in 18 years. These moves were warmly welcomed by the trade union movement.
- 28 Jun 1997
United Kingdom: Government relaxes compulsory competitive tendering rules<#PDF_LINK>To the delight of theTrades Union Congress(TUC), the UK Government announced on 3 June 1997 that rules compelling local councils to open their services to outside competition are to be scrapped.
- 28 May 1997
United Kingdom: Employee involvement in Total Quality Management<#PDF_LINK>Total Quality Management is one of the major "workplace change" programmes used in Britain, but few studies have addressed the effects on employees. New research evidence questions optimistic and pessimistic accounts, finding that TQM is widely welcomed but that it does not lead to "empowerment", and that success depends on certain conditions, notably job security.
- 28 May 1997
United Kingdom: Continuity and change in pay and working time<#PDF_LINK>The changing nature of collective bargaining in the UK and the ever-increasing need for flexibility provide the means and motivation for organisations to develop their pay and working time systems. However, recent research, covering 1996, indicates that few appear to be doing so, despite widespread unease over current arrangements.
- 28 May 1997
United Kingdom: Absenteeism continues to cost the UK dear<#PDF_LINK>A report from the CBI employers' organisation, published in April 1997, highlights the increasing cost of absenteeism to the UK economy. Yet few people see the links between the way that companies treat their staff and the levels of absenteeism.
- 28 May 1997
United Kingdom: European Court of Justice U-turn on transfers brings uncertainty for employees<#PDF_LINK>A March 1997 ruling by theEuropean Court of Justice(ECJ), changing the interpretation of the EU Directive on transfers of undertakings, left UK trade unions and employers speculating as to what the change would mean for the rights of the employees of contractors, and who would bear the brunt of the costs in the event of loss of contract. Their worst fears were confirmed when weeks later the UKCourt of Appealinterpreted the Directive in the same way as the ECJ.
- 28 May 1997
United Kingdom: Social partners seem to welcome Queen's speech<#PDF_LINK>No composite employment bill was contained in the Queen's speech made to Parliament on 14 May 1997, setting out the new Labour Government's priorities. However, the speech did include measures to combat unemployment and low pay which proved largely acceptable to the social partners.
- 28 May 1997
United Kingdom: Pensions deal leads the way for part timers<#PDF_LINK>A deal recently agreed between theHalifax Building Societyand theIndependent Union of Halifax Staff(IUHS) marks a breakthrough for the access and rights to pensions for UK part-time workers.
- 28 May 1997
United Kingdom: Are trade union mergers the way forward?<#PDF_LINK>May 1997 saw the announcement of further trade union mergers, one of which would create Europe's largest white-collar specialist union. Yet questions are being asked about whether such specialist unions are the best means of providing members with service.
- 28 May 1997
United Kingdom: Social partnership takes centre stage<#PDF_LINK>With the election of new Labour Government in May 1997 and the prospect of the UK opting-in to the EU's "social chapter", there are signs that some employers and their organisations seem to be warming to the idea of social partnership.
- 28 Apr 1997
United Kingdom: UK now one of the least strike-prone countries in the OECD<#PDF_LINK>The UK, which was once regarded as among one of the most strike-prone countries in Europe, now has one of the lowest levels of strike activity of the OECD countries, according to a recent report.
- 28 Apr 1997
United Kingdom: Union wins landmark equal pay cases<#PDF_LINK>In April 1997, two cases were won in a major legal battle in the UK to bring about equal pay for work of equal value for speech therapists, which has lasted for over 10 years.
- 28 Apr 1997
United Kingdom: Unfair dismissal and the 23-month workers<#PDF_LINK>A case was referred in March 1997 to theEuropean Court of Justice, which may challenge the UK's two-year qualifying period for employment protection rights, especially relating to unfair dismissal.
- 28 Apr 1997
United Kingdom: Last wages council sets minimum wage of over GBP 4.00 per hour<#PDF_LINK>TheAgricultural Wages Board, the UK's only remainingwages council, announced a new pay award in April 1997 which sets a minimum wage of over GBP 4.00.
- 28 Apr 1997
United Kingdom: April 1997 a good month for UK car plants<#PDF_LINK>Among the turmoil and insecurity of the previous few months in the motor industry, in April 1997 three British plants seemed to have secured their futures into the next century. All cases have involved the negotiation of changes in working practices.
- 28 Apr 1997
United Kingdom: The industrial relations consequences of the "new" Labour Government.<#PDF_LINK>Prior to its victory in the general election on 1 May, it was a major concern of the Labour Party to reassure voters in general, and business in particular, that, if elected, there would no return to what are seen as the "bad old days "of industrial relations of the 1960s and 1970s. This has meant that Labour has come to power with what some commentators see as a "minimalist" approach to employee rights, as well as a wariness of links with trade unions. Yet the changes the new Government is committed to introducing, including the effects of its pledge to accept the EU "social chapter", add up to a programme of radical change. This article reviews the relevant policies and their likely effects on industrial relations in the UK and the EU.
- 28 Mar 1997
United Kingdom: New men: evidence of equality in management?<#PDF_LINK>In 1994 the UKInstitute of Managementwarned that male managers were in danger of extinction, arguing that new styles of management were required for the next century. The need was for more teamworking, consensus management and "multitasking", skills traditionally thought to be more akin to the way that women manage. Such a change, combined perhaps with more family-friendly policies, was seen as offering new opportunities for women in management. A new study suggests that men have taken this to heart.
- 28 Mar 1997
United Kingdom: Is "Investors in People" solving the UK training problem?<#PDF_LINK>The "Investors in People" (IIP) scheme was a response by the UK Government to a perceived deficiency in training levels, combined with a finding that the UK's most successful companies linked people management issues strategically to business objectives. Yet six years since the introduction of IIP, commentators are still complaining that UK skill levels are insufficient to be able to compete in the markets of the future. This article assesses the success of the Investors in People initiative.
- 28 Mar 1997
United Kingdom: A National Minimum Wage: Who, what and why?<#PDF_LINK>Traditionally, in the UK minimum wages were set in certain industries by thewages council. These councils were abolished in the 1990s by the present Government, but a change of government may well see the introduction of the first universal National Minimum Wage (NMW) in the UK. This has caused tremendous speculation over what a NMW is likely to be, whom it is likely to cover and what are its likely effects. This article argues that speculation at this stage is at best unhelpful and at worse useless, until we have an idea of what the policy and coverage is likely to be.
- 28 Mar 1997
United Kingdom: Are women the trade union members of the future?<#PDF_LINK>At its women's conference in March 1997, theTrades Union Congress(TUC) advised that the trade union members of the future are women. However, it warned that the unions have a lot of work to do if they are to attract women into the movement.
- 28 Mar 1997
United Kingdom: France and UK compete for Toyota investment<#PDF_LINK>At a time when most car manufacturers are attempting to cut back in Europe because of overcapacity, both the UK and France are now in competition for the next wave of investment from theJapanese firm,Toyota.
- 28 Mar 1997
United Kingdom: Government seeks advice on working time Directive<#PDF_LINK>After losing its case in theEuropean Court of Justice(ECJ) over the EU working time Directive last year, the UK's Conservative Government has been seeking advice through theDepartment of Trade and Industry(DTI) on how best to transpose the Directive into UK legislation. Amid rumours that the Government was considering sanctions against those companies which did not comply with the Directive (something not specified by the Directive), the DTI has sought the opinion of the business community.
- 28 Mar 1997
United Kingdom: European super unions on the horizon?<#PDF_LINK>The first steps towards a "Euro-union" were taken in March 1997, as trade unions from the UK andGermanysigned the first joint membership agreement.
- 28 Mar 1997
United Kingdom: Companies "should justify directors' remuneration packages"<#PDF_LINK>TheInstitute of Directors(IOD) has recently said that companies have a responsibility to explain and justify the remuneration packages of their top directors. It urges shareholders to play more of a role, even if this means opposing the re-election of some directors.
- 28 Mar 1997
United Kingdom: New single-status deal for council workers<#PDF_LINK>A new collective agreement, signed in March 1997, harmonises the conditions of employment of UK local government workers. It seeks to provideequal opportunitiesfor all and a minimum wage for the lowest-paid workers.
- 28 Feb 1997
United Kingdom: Ford case highlights the costs of inward and outward investment<#PDF_LINK>The recent decision by the Ford Motor Company to reduce employment at its Halewood plant in the UK, and to produce a new-model Ford Escort in Spain and Germany, raises questions about the effects that multinational companies (MNCs) have on nation states.
- 28 Feb 1997
United Kingdom: Job security agreement at Blue Circle<#PDF_LINK>A recent agreement at the Blue Circle Cement company gives guarantees of job security in return for wage restraint. It has been hailed by many as a future model for good industrial relations in the UK, which might also stem any tendency towards inflationary wage claims. However the Blue Circle deal has a specific 16-year history, and caution is advised before promoting such agreements as a model for all industries.
- 28 Feb 1997
United Kingdom: Working time moves to the top of the agenda<#PDF_LINK>Working timehas moved to the top of the industrial relations agenda in the UK. As well as the failure of the UK Government's attempt to have the EU Directive on working time annulled by theEuropean Court of Justice, there has been a growing debate concerning the implications of long hours on the well-being of workers and their families. This feature argues that of all the EU member states the Directive is likely to have the greatest impact in the UK due to the historical legacy of "non-regulation" of working time, and the fact that the Government has removed the limited protective legislation on women and children's working hours.
- 28 Feb 1997
United Kingdom: Public sector pay policies<#PDF_LINK>In early February, in response to five independent pay review bodies' reports recommending pay awards for 1.3 million public service employees, the UK Government announced that the increases should be paid in two stages. These awards influence significantly the level of pay settlements for more than five million public sector employees which, for the last four years, have had to be accommodated within a government policy that pay increases should be financed by efficiency gains within an overall paybill freeze. This feature examines the background to current policies, explores the political sensitivity of public sector pay and expenditure decisions in the run-up to a general election, and identifies the pressures that may force any new government to amend the policies over the next few years.
- 28 Feb 1997
United Kingdom: TUC launches pre-election campaign<#PDF_LINK>The TUC trade union confederation has launched a GBP 1 million campaign to put employee rights at the centre of the forthcoming general election. The campaign is aimed at all parties, but is likely to be met with suspicion by the Government
- 28 Feb 1997
United Kingdom: Future of the Post Office under debate<#PDF_LINK>A consultative paper launched by the postal workers' union calls for changes to the Post Office which will allow it freedom from excessive regulation without privatisation. The paper has largely been met with approval from management, which is keen to regain the organisation's position as number one in Europe.
- 28 Feb 1997
United Kingdom: Union recognition still an issue<#PDF_LINK>Despite the fact that UK trade unions have been losing members, in early 1997 groups of employees are still fighting for the right to act collectively and to be represented by unions. At the same time, there are still employers which refuse to recognise unions and to implement what some see as basic rights which would be guaranteed by the EU "social chapter".
- 28 Feb 1997
United Kingdom: CBI sets out its plans for 1997<#PDF_LINK>The CBI employers' organisation has set out a five-point programme of long-term priorities for 1997. CBI hopes that by consulting members on targeted issues, it will be able to draw up concerted plans for the long-term future competitiveness of British industry.
- 28 Feb 1997
United Kingdom: "Social chapter" takes centre stage in the election run-up<#PDF_LINK>The EU "social chapter" has become an important policy issue in the run-up to the UK general election, as the Government and the opposition have taken opposite stances on the role it should play in their future commitments.