United.Kingdom
Background information on industrial relations in United.Kingdom
- 28 Dec 2000
United Kingdom: Government announces employment tribunal reforms<#PDF_LINK>In November 2000 the UK government unveiled a package of measures to limit the impact of regulation on businesses, including changes to employment tribunal procedures. The move is in response to employers' criticisms of the growth in "red tape" and rising tribunal caseloads.
- 28 Dec 2000
United Kingdom: TUC calls for workforce consultation on e-mail rules<#PDF_LINK>New Regulations in the UK governing interception of workplace communications, effective from 24 October 2000, have been criticised by the Trades Union Congress, which is calling on employers to consult their employees about surveillance at work.
- 28 Dec 2000
United Kingdom: Problems mount for UK automotive manufacturers in face of increased competitive pressures<#PDF_LINK>The decision by Vauxhall to cease car production at its Luton plant, announced in December 2000, is the latest blow to hit the UK automotive industry in 2000. Europe-wide overcapacity is exacerbated for UK-based manufacturers by the UK remaining outside the euro-zone. This feature summarises the main developments in the UK automotive sector in the six months since the break-up of the Rover Group by BMW.
- 28 Dec 2000
United Kingdom: Industrial relations implications of the liberalisation of the UK electricity sector<#PDF_LINK>In November 2000, the European-level social partners in the electricity sector agreed a joint declaration on maintaining a "partnership approach" to restructuring in the context of the increasing liberalisation of the European energy market. Given the advanced state of the liberalisation of the electricity sector in the UK, this feature reviews how restructuring has developed and the impact it has had on industrial relations.
- 28 Dec 2000
United Kingdom: 2000 Annual Review for the UK<#PDF_LINK>This record reviews 2000's main developments in industrial relations in the UK.
- 28 Nov 2000
United Kingdom: School Teachers' Review Body gives green light to performance-related pay<#PDF_LINK>A report published in October 2000 by the School Teachers' Review Body has endorsed the government's controversial performance-related pay scheme for teachers in England and Wales. In obtaining a number of concessions, teachers' trade unions also claim to have won a victory. This feature considers the implications of the report and the possible consequences of the introduction of the government's pay reforms.
- 28 Nov 2000
United Kingdom: Government seeks employer and union involvement in productivity initiative<#PDF_LINK>In October 2000, the chancellor of the exchequer invited the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress to engage in joint discussions on boosting the UK's productivity.
- 28 Nov 2000
United Kingdom: Mixed reaction to agreement on EU anti-discrimination Directive<#PDF_LINK>There has been mixed reaction in the UK to the EU Employment and Social Policy Council's agreement in October 2000 to adopt a Directive to combat discrimination in employment on grounds of religion or belief, disability, age and sexual orientation.
- 28 Nov 2000
United Kingdom: Employers and unions highlight opposing views on regulation<#PDF_LINK>The November 2000 annual conference of the Confederation of British Industry was the occasion for renewed public debate with the Trades Union Congress about the role and impact of business regulation, particularly in the area of employment relations.
- 28 Oct 2000
United Kingdom: Amendments to EU Charter allay CBI fears<#PDF_LINK>The Confederation of British Industry has said that it "can live with" the final draft of the EU Charter of fundamental rights published by the drafting Convention on 2 October 2000, having been strongly critical of earlier drafts, particularly as regards their references to strikes and consultation.
- 28 Oct 2000
United Kingdom: TUC conference overshadowed by petrol price protests<#PDF_LINK>In September 2000, the annual conference of the UK Trades Union Congress took place. As in 1999, debates at the conference highlighted the uneasy relationship between the unions and the Labour government. However, media attention was largely distracted by the impact of protests over petrol prices.
- 28 Oct 2000
United Kingdom: Government considers improvements in parental leave rights<#PDF_LINK>In September 2000, as part of a review of maternity pay and parental leave, the UK government published a discussion paper intended to encourage public debate about how to help working parents balance work and family commitments. Trade unions and other campaigners hope that the review will result in proposals for some element of payment during parental leave.
- 28 Oct 2000
United Kingdom: New right for workers to be accompanied at disciplinary and grievance hearings<#PDF_LINK>The Employment Relations Act 1999 gives UK workers the statutory right to be accompanied by a trade union official or fellow worker at workplace disciplinary and grievance hearings. This feature outlines the new provisions, which came into force in September 2000, and highlights their potential impact.
- 28 Oct 2000
United Kingdom: National Skills Task Force issues final report<#PDF_LINK>In June 2000, the UK National Skills Task Force produced its final report setting out its proposals for a new national skills agenda intended to develop the UK as a high-skill, high-value-added "knowledge economy" in the 21st century.
- 28 Sep 2000
United Kingdom: TUC seeks substantial increase in national minimum wage<#PDF_LINK>In August 2000, the Trades Union Congress called for an increase in the UK's national minimum wage to between GBP 4.50 and GBP 5.00 per hour. The move has been attacked by the Confederation of British Industry.
- 28 Sep 2000
United Kingdom: Unions refute threat from demise of the traditional job<#PDF_LINK>In the 1980s and 1990s, UK trade unions seemed under threat from increasing labour market "flexibility" as service sector jobs replaced manufacturing employment and union membership fell. However, a report from the Trades Union Congress, published in June 2000, denies this, using official statistics to demonstrate the continued dominance of conventional employment patterns.
- 28 Aug 2000
United Kingdom: Round-up of industrial relations developments<#PDF_LINK>June and July 2000 saw new moves concerning a number of key issues in UK industrial relations, including legal challenges to the teachers' performance-related pay scheme and the UK's parental leave Regulations, the commencement of further provisions of the Employment Relations Act 1999 and the debate about the draft EU Directive on consultation rights.
- 28 Aug 2000
United Kingdom: Managing employees in high-skill sectors<#PDF_LINK>The UK government argues that modern employee relations are essential in order to compete within the new "knowledge economy". This feature reports on research in two high-skill sectors, completed in 1999, which evaluates the contribution of new work practices - such as job security, semi-autonomous teamworking and various forms of employee participation - to explaining the success of these industries.
- 28 Jul 2000
United Kingdom: Workforce and management skills key to competitiveness says CBI survey<#PDF_LINK>The Confederation of British Industry's annual employment trends survey, published in May 2000, shows that employers regard workforce and management skills as crucial to raising competitiveness. A large majority of employers said that the administrative burden of employment legislation had increased.
- 28 Jul 2000
United Kingdom: Unions launch joint campaign to cut teachers' workload<#PDF_LINK>In June 2000, the UK's two main teaching trade unions revealed plans for a work-to-rule by teachers in a bid to reduce what the unions see as "excessive" out-of-class workloads and bureaucracy.
- 28 Jul 2000
United Kingdom: Terms of reference for review of national minimum wage announced<#PDF_LINK>In June 2000, the UK government published terms of reference for the next phase of the work of the Low Pay Commission. The Commission has been asked to prepare a third report on the impact of the national minimum wage and to make recommendations on its future up-rating.
- 28 Jul 2000
United Kingdom: Statutory trade union recognition procedure comes into force<#PDF_LINK>On 6 June 2000, a new statutory procedure came into effect in the UK, through which trade unions can seek recognition from employers for collective bargaining purposes. This feature outlines the main elements of the legislation and discusses its likely impact.
- 28 Jun 2000
United Kingdom: Parental leave Regulations referred to ECJ<#PDF_LINK>In May 2000, a legal challenge to the UK's parental leave Regulations by the Trades Union Congress was referred to the European Court of Justice for determination.
- 28 Jun 2000
United Kingdom: Junior doctors vote to accept new contract<#PDF_LINK>It was announced in May 2000 that junior doctors in the UK had voted overwhelmingly in favour of accepting a new pay deal negotiated between the Department of Health and the British Medical Association. The new pay system is expected to provide significant pay rises for the vast majority of junior doctors and addresses long-standing grievances over excessive working hours.
- 28 Jun 2000
United Kingdom: New forms of employment and work: survey findings from the West Midlands<#PDF_LINK>According to a survey of workplaces across the UK's major industrial region, the West Midlands, first reported in February 2000, the use of non-standard forms of employment and outsourcing is more widespread than initiatives to increase the flexibility of work organisation and working time. Yet it is the use of these latter, internal forms of flexibility, which is more likely to be the subject of negotiation and consultation with employees. A significant "participation gap" surrounds employers' use of non-standard forms of employment.
- 28 May 2000
United Kingdom: Skychefs dispute settled<#PDF_LINK>In April 2000, it was announced that the long-running industrial dispute at Lufthansa's airline catering company Skychefs in the UK had been settled, with workers dismissed for taking part in a strike in November 1998 being given the opportunity to return to work or receive compensation.
- 28 May 2000
United Kingdom: Teaching union conferences vote for ballots on industrial action<#PDF_LINK>The April 2000 annual conferences of the UK's two largest teaching trade unions supported proposals for ballots on industrial action – on the issues of performance-related pay and excessive workload respectively. Differences over objectives and tactics continue to be apparent, both between the two unions and between their leaderships and activists.
- 28 May 2000
United Kingdom: Immediate future of Longbridge secured after sale of Rover to Phoenix consortium<#PDF_LINK>In May 2000, the final piece in the jigsaw of BMW's sale of its loss-making UK subsidiary, formerly the Rover Group, fell into place with the announcement that the West Midlands-based Phoenix consortium had agreed terms to acquire the Longbridge plant. Unlike the proposed deal with Alchemy, direct job losses are likely to be restricted to 1,000 employees and the impact upon the wider supply base within the West Midlands region is likely to be less than previously predicted. This feature reviews the deal with Phoenix and the role of threatened litigation by trade unions and management in upsetting the planned sale to Alchemy.
- 28 May 2000
United Kingdom: Regulations introduce new rights for part-time workers<#PDF_LINK>Regulations that will come into force in July 2000 introduce new statutory rights for part-time workers in the UK. We highlight the key points of the Regulations, noting a significant change in their coverage following consultation on draft Regulations. Reference is also made to the accompanying best-practice guidance.
- 28 Apr 2000
United Kingdom: Substantial job losses predicted as BMW sells Rover and Land Rover<#PDF_LINK>In March 2000, German motor manufacturing companyBMWannounced the break-up and sale of its loss-making UK subsidiary, formerly theRover Group. Heavy job losses are expected among Rover employees and the wider supply base within theWest Midlandsregion of the country. This feature reviews the background to BMW's decision, and the reaction of the UK government and trade unions.
- 28 Apr 2000
United Kingdom: Government's pro-business credentials under attack<#PDF_LINK>The UK Labour government has again been facing strong criticism from employers' groups over increasing business regulation, particularly in the area of employment legislation. In a speech to the British Chambers of Commerce conference in early April 2000, the trade and industry secretary sought to allay employers' concerns about "red tape".
- 28 Apr 2000
United Kingdom: Union group formed to campaign for euro entry<#PDF_LINK>In March 2000, a group of UK trade unions joined forces to launch a campaign to boost support for the UK joining the European single currency. The unions believe that emphasising the EU social dimension is crucial in persuading UK workers to vote for euro entry in a referendum.
- 28 Apr 2000
United Kingdom: Union challenges UK redundancy consultation law<#PDF_LINK>A complaint submitted to the European Commission in March 2000 by the UK trade union MSF raises new questions over the adequacy of UK's implementation of the EU collective redundancies Directive.
- 28 Apr 2000
United Kingdom: Industrial relations at British Airways - setting a new course?<#PDF_LINK>On 10 March 2000, British Airways announced the resignation of Bob Ayling, the company's chief executive. His departure comes at a time of considerable industrial relations uncertainty: the company recently announced a renewal of its cost-cutting programme involving around 6,000 redundancies, but simultaneously appears to be exploring the possibility of "partnership" arrangements with the trade unions. This feature examines the recent history of industrial relations at British Airways and their possible future direction.
- 28 Apr 2000
United Kingdom: Uncertainty over future of Rover continues<#PDF_LINK>Controversy over the break-up and sale of BMW's UK subsidiary, Rover, has dominated newspaper headlines over the weeks since it was announced on 16 March 2000. We highlight recent developments.
- 28 Apr 2000
United Kingdom: National Minimum Wage: the story so far<#PDF_LINK>In February 2000, the Low Pay Commission published its second report, assessing the impact of the UK's National Minimum Wage (NMW) nearly one year after its introduction. Based on a number of different research projects, it found that the NMW had delivered significant benefits for large numbers of low-paid employees. Yet the impact on employers, the report asserts, was largely "minimum wage, minimum fuss".
- 28 Mar 2000
United Kingdom: Increase in national minimum wage announced<#PDF_LINK>Contrary to earlier signals, in February 2000 the UK government announced a GBP 0.10 increase in the main hourly adult rate of the national minimum wage, but this will take effect from October 2000, not from the April 2000 first anniversary of the introduction of the national minimum wage.
- 28 Mar 2000
United Kingdom: New initiatives to counter ageism at work<#PDF_LINK>A government media campaign against age discrimination at work was launched in the UK in February 2000, designed to back up a code of practice on age diversity in employment issued in mid-1999. This was followed by a further initiative by the Employers' Forum on Age designed to commit leading UK employers to an active age diversity strategy.
- 28 Mar 2000
United Kingdom: Takeover of NatWest puts 18,000 jobs at risk<#PDF_LINK>In February 2000, NatWest, one of the largest banks in the UK, lost its independence, falling victim to a hostile takeover bid from the Royal Bank of Scotland. The merger is certain to lead to thousands of job losses. This feature highlights the implications of the merger, examining the strategies pursued by the banks concerned and the response of the trade unions.
- 28 Mar 2000
United Kingdom: Union conference focuses on Labour's second term and the knowledge economy<#PDF_LINK>With membership rising, UK trade unions are in a more up-beat mood of late and are seeking to influence the current political debate. In March 2000, participants at a conference organised by the Unions 21 network discussed the employment agenda of a second-term Labour government and the implications of the pursuit of a knowledge-driven economy.
- 28 Mar 2000
United Kingdom: Review bodies focus on planned changes in pay systems for teachers and health workers<#PDF_LINK>For the second year running, the UK'S Labour government has accepted in full the recommendations of the pay review bodies for above-inflation pay awards for public sector workers from April 2000. These awards have loosened the government's grip on public sector pay, but its plans for new pay systems for teachers and health workers remain controversial.
- 28 Feb 2000
United Kingdom: Government consults on draft part-time work Regulations<#PDF_LINK>In January 2000, the UK government initiated consultation on draft Regulations designed to prevent part-time employees being treated less favourably than full-time employees in respect of pay, pensions, training, holidays and redundancy. Trade unions say that the draft Regulations need "toughening up".
- 28 Feb 2000
United Kingdom: Round-up of industrial relations developments<#PDF_LINK>During December 1999 and January 2000, there were new moves concerning a number of important ongoing issues in UK industrial relations, including a dispute at BT, junior doctors' working hours, and legal developments related to working time, parental leave and posted workers.
- 28 Feb 2000
United Kingdom: How is the New Deal for young people working?<#PDF_LINK>The New Deal for young people which was launched in April 1998 is a key component of the UK government's "Welfare to work" strategy. It is playing an important role in helping long-term unemployed and economically inactive people move into employment. In early 2000, research on New Deal suggests that generally it has made a good start, with many young unemployed people benefiting from the programme's innovative approach. However, it is clear that the long-term success of New Deal hinges on the economy, the danger remaining that it could be hit in some parts of the country by rising unemployment.
- 28 Feb 2000
United Kingdom: High involvement work systems and economic performance: a review of recent research<#PDF_LINK>Many commentators suggest that "high involvement work systems" may markedly improve organisational performance. Drawing upon UK research to be published later in 2000, this feature reviews and critically examines these claims.
- 28 Feb 2000
United Kingdom: How small firms are adjusting to the national minimum wage<#PDF_LINK>As the first anniversary of the introduction of the UK's first national minimum wage approaches in April 2000, research covering sectors in which it was expected to have the most significant impact reveals the processes of adjustment within small firms.
- 28 Jan 2000
United Kingdom: UK implements European Works Councils Directive<#PDF_LINK>Regulations to implement the European Works Councils Directive in the UK came into force in January 2000. Following consultations on draft Regulations published in July 1999, the government made a number of changes to its original proposals.
- 28 Jan 2000
United Kingdom: Uncertainty over anniversary uprating of national minimum wage<#PDF_LINK>In the run-up to the April 2000 first anniversary of the introduction of the national minimum wage in the UK, there is trade union disquiet at signals that government ministers have ruled out increasing its current rate in 2000.
- 28 Jan 2000
United Kingdom: The impact of the 1998 Working Time Regulations<#PDF_LINK>UK employers have introduced a number of important changes to working time arrangements in recent years to improve performance and competitiveness, and the 1998 Working Time Regulations were widely seen as providing a further stimulus to major change. However, a major survey of employers conducted in the summer of 1999 shows that employers have so far focused on securing "flexibilities" to minimise the impact of the legislation. As a result, long-hours working remains common and there have been only limited signs of innovations such as annualised hours. Nevertheless, the implications of the legislation are likely to be much more significant in the medium to longer term.
- 28 Jan 2000
United Kingdom: The impact of the 1998 Working Time Regulations<#PDF_LINK>UK employers have introduced a number of important changes to working time arrangements in recent years to improve performance and competitiveness, and the 1998 Working Time Regulations were widely seen as providing a further stimulus to major change. However, a major survey of employers conducted in the summer of 1999 shows that employers have so far focused on securing "flexibilities" to minimise the impact of the legislation. As a result, long-hours working remains common and there have been only limited signs of innovations such as annualised hours. Nevertheless, the implications of the legislation are likely to be much more significant in the medium to longer term.
- 28 Jan 2000
United Kingdom: Evidence of further decline of the British shop steward?<#PDF_LINK>This feature highlights the key findings of the 1998 Workplace Employee Relations Survey concerning the extent and role of workplace representatives in the UK. The survey shows that in most British workplaces there are no shop stewards or other type of employee representatives present, and that where they do exist they are seen as largely ineffective.