United.Kingdom
Background information on industrial relations in United.Kingdom
- 21 Dec 2005
United Kingdom: Pensions Commission issues final report<#PDF_LINK>At the end of November 2005, a Pensions Commission appointed by the UK government published its final report. This article highlights some of the key issues raised in the report and reviews the responses of employers and trade unions.
- 08 Dec 2005
United Kingdom: Union highlights exploitation of Polish migrant workers in UK<#PDF_LINK>In November 2005, the Transport and General Workers’ Union wrote to the Polish prime minister, who was visiting London, urging him to raise the issue of the exploitation and abuse of Polish migrant workers in the UK with British government.
- 08 Dec 2005
United Kingdom: CAC receives first cases under consultation Regulations<#PDF_LINK>The Central Arbitration Committee has published details of three complaints under the Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations that it received in August-October 2005. These are the first disputes over the application of the Regulations to be dealt with by the CAC since the legislation came into effect in April 2005.
- 28 Nov 2005
United Kingdom: Government unveils new family-friendlyemployment legislation<#PDF_LINK>In October 2005, the UK government published its Work and Families Bill, which will enable ministers to introduce a range of new family-friendlyemployment rights. These include longer paid maternity leave, paid paternity leave for fathers if the mother returns to work before the end of her maternity leave period, and a new right for carers to request flexible working.
- 07 Nov 2005
United Kingdom: Government and unions agree public sector pensions framework<#PDF_LINK>In October 2005, the government and public sector trade unions agreed a framework for the reform of pension schemes in the health sector, education and civil service.
- 24 Oct 2005
United Kingdom: CBI publishes survey of employment trends<#PDF_LINK>The Confederation of British Industry’s latest annual employment trends survey, published in September 2005, highlights employer concerns about the impact both of existing employment legislation and of prospective regulatory developments at national and EU level.
- 24 Oct 2005
United Kingdom: Concern over bullying in the workplace<#PDF_LINK>A number of surveys have highlighted the cost of workplace bullying to individuals and to organisations in the UK in the run-up to Ban bullying at work dayin November 2005. Trade unions state that much of the problem is managerial abuse of power, though they are joined by managers’ own professional associations in calling for action.
- 24 Oct 2005
United Kingdom: Uncertainty continues following sale of MG Rover to Nanjing Automobile Corporation<#PDF_LINK>Three months after the surprise sale of MG Rover’s assets to the Nanjing Automobile Corporation in July 2005, uncertainty remains over the future of the Longbridge plant in the UK as the relocation of the engine plant to China takes place. This article outlines the events surrounding the sale of MG Rover and the consequences for the local economy.
- 10 Oct 2005
United Kingdom: TUC rejects EU constitution<#PDF_LINK>The annual conference of the Trades Union Congress, held in September 2005, voted in favour of a resolution that rejected the proposed EU constitutional treaty.
- 10 Oct 2005
United Kingdom: TUC conference highlights government-union tensions<#PDF_LINK>The annual conference of the Trades Union Congress took place in September 2005. Union leaders were critical of a range of government policies. This article highlights some of the key issues discussed.
- 10 Oct 2005
United Kingdom: Increase in national minimum wage takes effect<#PDF_LINK>On 1 October 2005, the national minimum wage rose to over GBP 5 per hour, increasing the pay of more than 1 million low-paid workers.
- 10 Oct 2005
United Kingdom: Agreement reached to end Gate Gourmet dispute<#PDF_LINK>In late September 2005, workers at airline caterers Gate Gourmet voted to accept a deal to end a long-running, high-profile industrial dispute.
- 10 Oct 2005
United Kingdom: Government-sponsored report focuses on tackling long working hours<#PDF_LINK>In September 2005, the Department of Trade and Industry published a report, produced in partnership with the CBI and TUC, highlighting how leading companies are reforming long hours working practices.
- 22 Sep 2005
United Kingdom: Disagreement over impact of right to request flexible working and wider employment regulation<#PDF_LINK>A survey published by the Confederation of British Industry in September 2005 highlights employer concern over the impact of the right for workers to request flexible working, and of employment legislation more generally. Other recent reports reach a more positive verdict.
- 20 Sep 2005
United Kingdom: Survey reveals continued erosion of collective representation at the workplace<#PDF_LINK>First findings from the 2004 Workplace Employment Relations Survey, published in July 2005, show a further decline in collective representation in the UK since the previous survey in 1998. Fewer workplaces recognise trade unions; collective bargaining is less widespread; and the proportion of workplaces covered by representative-based consultative arrangements has fallen. Yet there are signs that the rate of decline may have slowed compared with the period before 1998.
- 20 Sep 2005
United Kingdom: British Airways’ Heathrow flights grounded by dispute at Gate Gourmet<#PDF_LINK>A bitter industrial dispute at British Airways’ catering supplier affected the airline itself in August 2005 as ground staff at Heathrow airport took unofficial strike action in support of dismissed catering workers.
- 06 Sep 2005
United Kingdom: Unions sign partnership agreementwith disability charity<#PDF_LINK>In summer 2005, UK trade unions Amicus and Unison announced that they had signed a partnership agreementwith the disability charity Scope which guarantees union representation in the running of the organisation and is expected to boost union membership.
- 06 Sep 2005
United Kingdom: Union modernisation fund up and running<#PDF_LINK>In July 2005, the UK government launched the Union Modernisation Fund - a new grant scheme to provide financial assistance to trade unions to support projects designed to improve their organisational effectiveness.
- 06 Sep 2005
United Kingdom: CSC and Amicus agree offshoringdeal<#PDF_LINK>In August 2005, the UK trade union Amicus announced an agreement with the information technology services company CSC on consultation procedures over the implementation of the company’s world sourcingstrategy and on employment security in the event of work relocation.
- 22 Aug 2005
United Kingdom: Health care assistants fill nursing gap<#PDF_LINK>In July 2005, the UK public service Unison held its second annual conference for health care assistants with major speeches by the health secretary and other senior National Health Service officials. This article highlights the rapid growth in the role and number of health care assistants in response to staff shortages among registered nurses, and the key issues facing this increasingly important group of workers.
- 11 Aug 2005
United Kingdom: Draft age discrimination legislation published<#PDF_LINK>In July 2005, the Department of Trade and Industry published draft Employment Equality (Age) Regulations for consultation. The Regulations are intended to implement the age discrimination provisions of the EU framework equal treatment Directive, and are due to come into force in October 2006.
- 27 Jul 2005
United Kingdom: Ethnic minorities still disadvantaged in employment<#PDF_LINK>Research published by the Trades Union Congress in July 2005 finds slow progress in closing the employment gapbetween white and ethnic minority workers in the UK. This is despite evidence from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development suggesting that employers are experiencing difficulties in recruiting workers. It also comes at a time when race equality is high on the government’s policy agenda.
- 27 Jul 2005
United Kingdom: Employers and unions respond to proposed improvements to parents’ and carers’ rights at work<#PDF_LINK>A public consultation exercise on extending the statutory rights of parents and carers to paid leave and flexible working closed in the UK in May 2005. This article outlines the government’s proposals and the social partners’ responses.
- 13 Jul 2005
United Kingdom: 2004 Annual Review for the UK<#PDF_LINK>This record reviews the main industrial relations developments in the UK during 2004.
- 05 Jul 2005
United Kingdom: CBI opposes changes to statutory collective bargaining requirements<#PDF_LINK>During June 2005, the main UK employers’ organisation, the CBI, published a submission made in response to a government review of whether the scope of the statutory collective bargaining arrangements that can potentially be imposed on employers should be extended to include training and pensions issues.
- 28 Jun 2005
United Kingdom: Research highlights discrimination against pregnant women in the workplace<#PDF_LINK>A survey published by the Equal Opportunities Commission in February 2005 highlights the extent to which pregnant women and new mothers experience discrimination in the workplace. Nearly half of the women surveyed who had worked while pregnant said they encountered some form of related discrimination. This feature outlines the study’s main findings and examines employer and union stances on the issue.
- 23 Jun 2005
United Kingdom: Mixed UK reaction to developments concerning amendment of EU working time legislation<#PDF_LINK>Decisions during May and June 2005 by the European Parliament and the social affairs Council concerning the proposed amendment of the EU working time Directive met with contrasting responses from UK employers, trade unions and the government.
- 07 Jun 2005
United Kingdom: Government to extend leave rights for parents and carers<#PDF_LINK>Among the legislation the re-elected Labour government will introduce in the 2005-6 session of parliament, outlined in the Queen’s Speech in May 2005, is a parental rights Bill which will extend maternity leave provision, enable mothers to transfer some of their maternity leave and pay to fathers and extend the right to request flexible working to other workers with caring responsibilities.
- 31 May 2005
United Kingdom: End of the line for MG Rover<#PDF_LINK>One hundred years of volume car production at the Longbridge plant in Birmingham, UK, came to an end in April 2005, nearly five years after the sale of Rover by BMW. This article outlines the main events surrounding the collapse of MG Rover and the consequences for the local economy.
- 31 May 2005
United Kingdom: National minimum wage reviewed<#PDF_LINK>In February 2005, the Low Pay Commission published its latest report reviewing the impact of the UK's national minimum wage. This recommended increases in the adult and development rates, among other reforms.
- 31 May 2005
United Kingdom: Job losses and strike threats hit banking sector<#PDF_LINK>In May 2005, large-scale job losses were announced at Abbey, LloydsTSB, and the Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks in the UK. Another contentious issue is pay, with ballots for strike action being held at LloydsTSB and HSBC.
- 31 May 2005
United Kingdom: Government outlines new proposals to implement skills strategy<#PDF_LINK>In March 2005, the UK government published a white paper outlining new measures to tackle Britain’s skills problem. Chief among these is the National Employer Training Programme, which seeks to put employer needs at centre stage in the design and delivery of training.
- 18 May 2005
United Kingdom: Issues and trends in pay and benefits practice for HR professionals in the UK<#PDF_LINK>The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development released the findings of its fourth annual reward management survey in February 2005. The results identified a number of significant issues and trends in pay and benefits practice in the UK.
- 11 May 2005
United Kingdom: Thematic feature - unskilled workers<#PDF_LINK>This article gives a brief overview of the industrial relations aspects of the topic of unskilled workers and unskilled work in the UK, as of February 2005. It looks at: national definitions of unskilled workers or work; the number of unskilled workers and workers in unskilled jobs, and the extent of unskilled work; employment and unemployment among unskilled workers; the regulatory framework; trade union organisation among unskilled workers; pay and conditions; recent initiatives to improve the situation of unskilled workers; and the views of trade unions and employers' organisations on the issue and its implications for collective bargaining.
- 09 May 2005
United Kingdom: Official statistics highlight union membership trends<#PDF_LINK>In April 2005, the government published its annual statistical report on trade union membership, based on Labour Force Survey data for autumn 2004. The number of union members in the UK and the rate of union membership fell slightly, compared with the previous year. This article briefly outlines the report’s main findings.
- 30 Apr 2005
United Kingdom: Union membership gender gap closes<#PDF_LINK>Research published by the Trades Union Congress in March 2005 highlights the closing of the gender gapin trade union membership. Nearly 30% of both female and male workers in the UK belong to a union. This article outlines the main findings of the study and considers the implications of key labour market trends for continued gender parity and union organisation more generally.
- 30 Apr 2005
United Kingdom: Government sets out education and skills reforms<#PDF_LINK>In February 2005, the government unveiled plans to reform education for those aged 14-19 in England, which include introducing new diplomas for work-related learning. The proposals were welcomed by the social partners but have been widely criticised within the education profession for failing to tackle the divide between the academic and the vocational routes.
- 30 Apr 2005
United Kingdom: Labour migration policies under debate<#PDF_LINK>The impact of recent immigration and asylum policies, and proposals for their reform, have been widely debated over the first three months of 2005. This article examines data on labour migration to the UK from the EU accession states in 2004, and reviews the wider policies of employers and trade unions on migrant workers in the UK labour market.
- 30 Apr 2005
United Kingdom: Bleak future predicted for trade unions<#PDF_LINK>A report published in January 2005 suggests that the decline of trade unions in the UK private sector is such that it might culminate in their eventual demise. Unions need to focus on organising new recruits as well as servicing existing members, but without further state support this seems an uphill task. One potential glimmer of hope is said to be provided by the introduction of legislation to implement the EU information and consultation Directive.
- 22 Apr 2005
United Kingdom: Parties outline contrasting election policies on employment relations<#PDF_LINK>Elections to the UK parliament will take place on 5 May 2005. We highlight the main political parties’ manifesto commitments in the area of employment relations.
- 11 Apr 2005
United Kingdom: Job cuts announced at Peugeot plant<#PDF_LINK>In March 2005, the French car manufacturer Peugeot Citroën announced 850 job losses at its Ryton plant near Coventry. The move has fuelled speculation over the long-term future of the plant.
- 11 Apr 2005
United Kingdom: Talks on public sector pensions avert planned strike<#PDF_LINK>Trade unions representing public sector workers called off a 24-hour strike due to be held on 23 March 2005 over planned changes to pension arrangements after the government agreed to new talks involving ministers, employers and unions.
- 25 Feb 2005
United Kingdom: Automotive sector developments reviewed<#PDF_LINK>During late 2004 and early 2005, the UK’s automotive sector, particularly in the West Midlands, has been overshadowed by the announced closure of Jaguar’s Coventry plant and speculation over the survival of MG Rover as it continues negotiations with the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation. Elsewhere Nissan, BMW and Ford have announced substantial investments, whilst the latest collective agreements continue to emphasise labour flexibility and performance-linked reward.
- 14 Feb 2005
United Kingdom: Unions to hold strike ballots over public sector pensions changes<#PDF_LINK>In January 2005, the UK public sector trade union, Unison, announced that it would be holding a ballot of its members in local government over possible strike action against changes to their pension scheme. Other unions are to follow suit. Unions across the public services are campaigning against government-proposed changes to pension schemes involving increased pension ages, moves away from final-salary-based pensions and reduced benefits.
- 14 Feb 2005
United Kingdom: Employee consultation legislation finalised<#PDF_LINK>The final text of the Regulations implementing the EU employee consultation Directive in Britain received parliamentary approval in December 2004. The legislation will come into force in April 2005, applying initially to undertakings with 150 or more employees.
- 28 Jan 2005
United Kingdom: Agreement on implementation of pay reforms in National Health Service<#PDF_LINK>In November 2004, representatives of the UK government, National Health Service employers and trade unions reached an agreement to reform the pay and conditions of employment of more than 1 million health service staff.
- 28 Jan 2005
United Kingdom: Staff absence a concern for both unions and employers<#PDF_LINK>In January 2005, the UK's Trades Union Congress published a report examining staff absence due to ill-health, claiming that much of this is due to rising workplace stress. The report comes at a time of growing employer concern at the extent and cost of sick leave, with some employers introducing new policies designed to provide incentives for attendance and make absenteeismmore difficult.
- 28 Jan 2005
United Kingdom: Changes to incapacity benefit under discussion<#PDF_LINK>In October 2004, the UK government announced that it intended to reduce the cost of incapacity benefit. It believes that as many as two-thirds of the current claimants could return to work, but there is disagreement between government, trade unions and employers about how this should be achieved.
- 17 Jan 2005
United Kingdom: Government announces policy on age discrimination and retirement<#PDF_LINK>In December 2004, ministers outlined how they propose to deal with the issue of employers’ mandatory retirement ages in the context of forthcoming UK legislation outlawing age discrimination. The government has decided to set a default retirement age of 65, but give employees the right to request to work beyond that age, which employers must consider seriously.
- 17 Jan 2005
United Kingdom: Government consults on draft Regulations on working time in road transport<#PDF_LINK>In November 2004, the UK's Department for Transport published a consultative draft of Regulations aimed at implementing the 2002 EU Directive on the working time of road transport workers.