United.Kingdom
Background information on industrial relations in United.Kingdom
- 20 Dec 2004
United Kingdom: Health and Safety Executive launches new measures to tackle workplace stress<#PDF_LINK>In November 2004, the UK's Health and Safety Executive launched a new initiative to help employers tackle the problem of work-related stress. The new management standardsdo not amount to legal regulation but are an authoritative attempt to encourage employers to work with employees and their representatives to reduce stress problems in the workplace.
- 20 Dec 2004
United Kingdom: Worker representation and 'voice' in small firms examined<#PDF_LINK>In September 2004, the annual conference of the UK's Trades Union Congress called for the extension of trade union recognition legislation to include smaller firms. Trade unions have also criticised the exclusion of small firms from forthcoming information and consultation Regulations. This article reviews the extent of employee representation in small firms, and the debate about widening legal requirements to encourage it.
- 20 Dec 2004
United Kingdom: Jaguar plant closure is latest blow to UK automotive sector<#PDF_LINK>In September 2004, Ford announced that it would cease manufacturing Jaguar vehicles at its historic Coventry site in the UK, with the loss of over 1,100 jobs. The move has been strongly opposed by trade unions within the company, but in December members affected by the proposed closure voted against industrial action on the issue.
- 07 Dec 2004
United Kingdom: Employers and unions disagree over scope for increases in national minimum wage<#PDF_LINK>In November 2004, during consultations held by the Low Pay Commission, the UK’s Trades Union Congress called for the national minimum wage to be increased to GBP 6.00 per hour over the next two years, whereas the Confederation of British Industry argued that the minimum wage should be frozen at its current level until 2006.
- 23 Nov 2004
United Kingdom: Civil servants strike over proposed job cuts<#PDF_LINK>The first national strike by UK civil servants for more than a decade took place in November 2004. Its main objective was to protest against government plans to cut a large number of civil service posts over the next four years, but the strike also highlighted other issues on which civil service trade unions are in conflict with the government.
- 23 Nov 2004
United Kingdom: Pensions crisis under debate<#PDF_LINK>In October 2004, a government-appointed Pensions Commission published its interim report. This feature highlights some of the key issues raised in the report, and reviews the state of the debate about pension provision in the UK, including the views of trade unions and employers.
- 22 Nov 2004
United Kingdom: Thematic feature - collective agreements on changes in work organisation<#PDF_LINK>This article gives a brief overview of collective bargaining on changes in work organisation in the UK, as of September 2004. It looks at: the extent to which collective agreements introduce changes in work organisation that take into account productivity demands, flexibility and security in an integrated way; the main areas in which changes are being introduced; the overall success or otherwise of bargaining on the topic; and the prospects for the future.
- 22 Nov 2004
United Kingdom: CBI surveys employment practice<#PDF_LINK>The Confederation of British Industry’s annual employment trends survey, published in September 2004, highlights employer concerns about employment tribunal claims, EU regulation and increases in the national minimum wage.
- 08 Nov 2004
United Kingdom: Employment Relations Act 2004 begins to come into force<#PDF_LINK>The Employment Relations Act 2004 reached the UK statute book in September 2004 and a cluster of its provisions were brought into force in October. This article highlights the key measures contained in the new legislation.
- 21 Oct 2004
United Kingdom: Union merger momentum continues<#PDF_LINK>Several major UK unions have been involved in mergers in 2004, continuing a trend established in the 1990s. The mergers go beyond industry consolidation and demonstrate further membership concentration in large, general super-unions.
- 20 Oct 2004
United Kingdom: Employment tribunal applications analysed<#PDF_LINK>A survey of UK employment tribunal applications in 2003 confirms previous evidence showing limited formal workplace means to handle disputes between individual employers and employees. The results act as a benchmark of existing practice, ahead of the implementation in October 2004 of new statutory minimum dispute resolution procedures.
- 04 Oct 2004
United Kingdom: UK reaction to European Commission working time proposals<#PDF_LINK>The European Commission’s September 2004 proposal for amending the working time Directive met with a critical response from both employers and trade unions in the UK.
- 04 Oct 2004
United Kingdom: TUC defers decision on EU constitution<#PDF_LINK>At its annual conference in September 2004, the Trades Union Congress put off reaching a definitive decision on the stance it will take in the planned UK referendum on the proposed EU constitutional treaty.
- 22 Sep 2004
United Kingdom: Parliamentary committee calls for changes to workplace health and safety regulation<#PDF_LINK>A report by the House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee, published in July 2004, sets out a number of criticisms of the system of health and safety regulation in the UK. Its recommendations include more resources for enforcement by the Health and Safety Executive and new rights for worker representatives.
- 22 Sep 2004
United Kingdom: Changes made to national minimum wage<#PDF_LINK>From 1 October 2004, the existing adult and development rates of the UK's national minimum wage will be increased, and a new rate for 16 and 17 year olds introduced for the first time.
- 06 Sep 2004
United Kingdom: Unions win concessions from ministers on employment law agenda<#PDF_LINK>In July 2004, UK trade union leaders secured agreement from government ministers on a series of employment law reforms and other policy commitments. The move - seen as a pre-election pact ahead of the general election expected in spring 2005 - follows strong union criticism of the Blair government’s record.
- 06 Sep 2004
United Kingdom: Unions to appeal against ruling on sexual orientation Regulations<#PDF_LINK>UK trade unions are to pursue an appeal against a court ruling in April 2004 rejecting their legal challenge to certain key provisions of the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003.
- 06 Sep 2004
United Kingdom: Single university and college lecturers’ union planned<#PDF_LINK>In July 2004, the Association of University Teachers and the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education agreed to begin detailed discussions on the creation of a single new trade union to represent academic and related staff in the further and higher education sectors in England and Wales.
- 06 Sep 2004
United Kingdom: CBI seeks more effective scrutiny of proposed EU laws by UK Parliament<#PDF_LINK>In August 2004, the CBI employers’ organisation called for a package of parliamentary reforms aimed at increasing the UK’s influence over EU legislation. The CBI criticised the UK Parliament for failing to scrutinise proposed European law effectively and prevent Whitehall gold-platingEU laws when implementing them domestically.
- 06 Sep 2004
United Kingdom: First ever CAC ruling under UK European Works Councils law<#PDF_LINK>In July 2004, the Central Arbitration Committee issued its first decision on a complaint made under the Transnational Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 1999, which implement the European Works Councils Directive in the UK.
- 23 Aug 2004
United Kingdom: New statutory workplace dispute resolution procedures outlined<#PDF_LINK>The statutory disciplinary and grievance procedures set out in the UK's Employment Act 2002 will be brought into force in October 2004. This feature highlights the main aims of the new legislation, and employer and trade union reaction.
- 13 Aug 2004
United Kingdom: Thematic feature - industrial relations and undeclared work<#PDF_LINK>This article gives a brief overview of the industrial relations aspects of undeclared work in the UK, as of June 2004. It looks at: the nature and extent of undeclared work; the regulatory framework; the role, activities and views of the social partners; and partnerships between social partners and public authorities to tackle undeclared work.
- 21 Jul 2004
United Kingdom: Government revises draft information and consultation Regulations<#PDF_LINK>In July 2004, the UK government published a revised draft of Regulations intended to implement the requirements of the 2002 EU information and consultation Directive. The amendments reflect comments from employers, trade unions and others on an initial consultative draft of the Regulations published a year previously.
- 21 Jul 2004
United Kingdom: Spending review has major implications for public sector employment<#PDF_LINK>In July 2004, the UK government announced its expenditure plans for the next three years. These have major implications for the future scale and distribution of public sector employment, and include cutting over 100,000 civil service posts.
- 21 Jul 2004
United Kingdom: Overseas recruitment of health workers sparks controversy<#PDF_LINK>The spring 2004 annual conferences of public service trade unions voiced criticism of the UK government's reliance on expanding the international recruitment of National Health Service staff to combat staff shortages. This article reviews the background to and consequences of this policy.
- 06 Jul 2004
United Kingdom: White paper on single equality and human rights commission published<#PDF_LINK>In May 2004, the UK government published a white paper on the establishment of a single body to promote equality of opportunity and human rights, which will eventually take over the functions of the existing, separate commissions in the areas of race and sex equality and disabled people’s rights.
- 06 Jul 2004
United Kingdom: Government consults on long working hours<#PDF_LINK>In late June 2004, in the light of EU-level discussions on the possible amendment of the working time Directive, the UK’s Department of Trade and Industry launched a consultation on the operation of the individual opt-out from the 48-hour weekly working time limit in the UK and ways to improve its application.
- 21 Jun 2004
United Kingdom: Thematic feature - individual labour/employment disputes and the courts<#PDF_LINK>This article examines how individual labour/employment disputes are handled through the courts in the UK, as at March 2004.
- 21 Jun 2004
United Kingdom: Government responds to consultation on UK experience of EWCs<#PDF_LINK>In May 2004, the UK Department of Trade and Industry published its response to the comments submitted during a recent consultation exercise on the operation of European Works Councils.
- 07 Jun 2004
United Kingdom: Mixed reception for European Commission working time proposals<#PDF_LINK>The Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress issued contrasting reactions to proposals for revising the EU working time Directive put forward in a European Commission consultation document in May 2004.
- 07 Jun 2004
United Kingdom: Union members support merger<#PDF_LINK>In May 2004, members of the UK's ISTC steel workers’ union and the Knitwear, Footwear and Apparel Trades Union voted overwhelmingly in favour of a proposed merger between the two organisations.
- 01 Jun 2004
United Kingdom: 'Offshoring' of service sector jobs prompts union concerns<#PDF_LINK>A series of highly publicised decisions by several major companies in late 2003 and early 2004 to relocate - or offshore- jobs in activities such as call centres and back-office operations to low labour cost countries such as India and China has prompted widespread concern amongst trade unions and a consultation exercise by the UK government.
- 01 Jun 2004
United Kingdom: Employers and unions highlight concerns over EU constitution<#PDF_LINK>Following the UK government’s decision in April 2004 to hold a referendum on the proposed EU constitution, and the resumption of EU-level treaty discussions during May, employers and trade unions have been setting out their objectives concerning the outcome of the constitutional process.
- 01 Jun 2004
United Kingdom: Government announces reform of apprenticeship system<#PDF_LINK>In May 2004, the UK government unveiled plans to reform the apprenticeship system, including the removal of the current age limit of 25 and establishing a new Young Apprenticeshipsprogramme for 14-16 year olds still at school. The social partners' reactions to the proposals have been generally positive.
- 13 May 2004
United Kingdom: 2003 Annual Review for the UK<#PDF_LINK>This record reviews the main industrial relations developments in the UK during 2003.
- 10 May 2004
United Kingdom: Impasse over retirement age policy reported<#PDF_LINK>Newspaper reports in April 2004 suggested that disagreements within the UK government are holding up proposals for age discrimination legislation. At issue is the scope for employers to insist on mandatory retirement ages for their employees.
- 21 Apr 2004
United Kingdom: Managing absence from work - an update<#PDF_LINK>Studies published in 2003 and early 2004 examine the extent of absence from work in the UK and managerial policies of monitoring and control. They suggest that absence levels remain steady and are rarely seen as a problem, but also that new factors such as stress may be changing absence patterns and that the dominant managerial policy of neglect may need to change.
- 21 Apr 2004
United Kingdom: EU Directive drives reform of junior doctors’ working hours<#PDF_LINK>The application from August 2004 of statutory working time limits (in line with the EU working time Directive) to doctors in training in the UK , in conjunction with two recent rulings by the European Court of Justice, has considerable implications for the working patterns of doctors, nurses and other health professionals - and potentially for patients.
- 05 Apr 2004
United Kingdom: Commission refers UK working time rules to ECJ<#PDF_LINK>In February 2004, the European Commission decided to launch a legal case against the UK at the European Court of Justice (ECJ), concerning alleged deficiencies in the UK’s transposition of the EU working time Directive.
- 22 Mar 2004
United Kingdom: Industrial relations developments in the automotive sector<#PDF_LINK>This feature highlights the main industrial relations developments in the UK automotive sector over 2003 and early 2004, including the outcome of the 2003 pay round.
- 22 Mar 2004
United Kingdom: School teachers face changes in pay structures and performance management<#PDF_LINK>In November 2003, the School Teachers’ Review Body made recommendations which resulted in teachers’ first multi-year pay award. Its latest report, published in March 2004, proposes significant changes in salary structures and performance management. The changes affect half a million teachers in England and Wales.
- 22 Mar 2004
United Kingdom: Government extends minimum wage to 16 and 17 year olds<#PDF_LINK>In March 2004, the UK government announced that the adult hourly rate of the national minimum wage will be increased in October 2004 to GBP 4.85, with a rate for 18-21 year olds of GBP 4.10 per hour. The government also announced its decision to introduce for the first time a minimum wage for 16 and 17 year olds, of GBP 3.00 per hour from October 2004.
- 08 Mar 2004
United Kingdom: Land Rover employees accept pay deal<#PDF_LINK>In February 2004, following a second 24-hour strike at car manufacturer Land Rover in the UK, negotiations between management and trade unions paved the way for a further ballot in which Land Rover employees voted to accept the company’s 2003 pay offer by a two-thirds majority.
- 08 Mar 2004
United Kingdom: Controversy over union modernisation fund<#PDF_LINK>In February 2004, the UK government tabled an amendment to the Employment Relations Bill to enable the establishment of a new funding scheme to assist trade unions to modernise their operations. The move has been strongly attacked by employers and by opposition members of Parliament.
- 23 Feb 2004
United Kingdom: Union learning representatives profiled<#PDF_LINK>Statutory rights for union learning representativescame into force in the UK in April 2003. This feature reviews the latest evidence on the spread, activities and impact of this new kind of workplace representative.
- 23 Feb 2004
United Kingdom: Gender pay gap examined<#PDF_LINK>The gap between the average hourly earnings of men and women working full time in Great Britain narrowed in 2003, to 18%, continuing the trend of the last 20 years. This feature explores the different measures of the gender pay gap and the impact of policies designed to reduce expressions of gender inequality more broadly.
- 23 Feb 2004
United Kingdom: Employers and unions comment on draft UK consultation law<#PDF_LINK>This feature highlights the main points made by the TUC, CBI and other leading organisations in their November/December 2003 submissions to the UK government in response to the draft Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations.
- 09 Feb 2004
United Kingdom: Pay dispute at Land Rover<#PDF_LINK>UK trade unions representing employees of car maker Land Rover have organised escalating levels of industrial action over a pay dispute, including a 24-hour strike held in January 2004.
- 09 Feb 2004
United Kingdom: Government introduces standard commencement dates for employment law changes<#PDF_LINK>From 2004, domestic employment law changes in the UK will be implemented on two set dates each year - 6 April and 1 October. The move is in response to recommendations by the Better Regulation Taskforce and is intended to be of particular benefit to small businesses.
- 28 Jan 2004
United Kingdom: UK reaction to EU working time report<#PDF_LINK>Responding to the European Commission’s January 2004 evaluation of the EU working time Directive, trade unions and employers put forward opposing views on the scope under current UK legislation for individual employees to opt out of the 48-hour weekly limit on average working time, with the TUC calling for its removal and the CBI for its retention.