United.Kingdom
Background information on industrial relations in United.Kingdom
- 03 May 2012
United Kingdom: Government amends controversial work experience programmeIn February 2012, the UK government announced changes to a work experience programme for young unemployed people, after some employers withdrew from or criticised the scheme amid high-profile allegations that it amounted to unpaid ‘forced labour’. After a meeting with employers, the government agreed to change the scheme, so that if young workers withdrew early from their work experience, they would no longer be under threat of losing their unemployment benefits.
- 03 May 2012
United Kingdom: Trade union ‘facility time’ under reviewWorkplace trade union representatives in the UK are granted paid time off, known as ‘facility time’, to carry out trade union duties. In 2012, the government will consult over cutting the amount of facility time granted to representatives in the civil service, as well as reviewing the provision of such paid time off for union representatives right across the public sector. Unions say the move is an attack on trade unions and argue that there is a benefit to employers as well as a cost.
- 24 Apr 2012
United Kingdom: United Kingdom: Employment and Industrial Relations in the Hotels and RestaurantsThe HORECA sector is amongst the largest in the UK employing around 5% of the workforce. Just over half of workers are female and just less than half are part-time. Around three in five are foreign workers. The financial crisis has mostly had a negative effect on smaller and independent enterprises while larger restaurant chains and ‘budget’ hotels have grown. Union density is low throughout the sector and the main area of campaigns is concerned with the relationship between large pub companies and lessees. Unions and an employers’ organisation are engaged with a sectoral skills council and a dedicated health and safety forum for the HORECA sector.
- 23 Apr 2012
United Kingdom: UK: The representativeness of trade unions and employer associations in the insurance sector’The UK insurance sector is important in economic terms (managing investments amounting to around a quarter of the country’s net worth), though it accounts for less than 1% of total employment. The great majority of significant employers in the industry are represented by the Association of British Insurers. The main trade union is Unite, though several smaller unions organise in the sector, and union density is estimated at around 16%–20%. Collective bargaining occurs in most of the large insurance companies, and covers an estimated 30% or so of the sector’s workforce.
- 30 Mar 2012
United Kingdom: Redundant Woolworths staff compensatedIn January 2012, unions representing former employees of the collapsed retail chain Woolworths announced that most employees who were made redundant would receive compensation of 60 days’ pay because the company’s administrators had not met statutory consultation requirements. However, a minority who worked in smaller stores will not benefit from the award. The unions plan to challenge the exclusion of these former employees from the compensation award.
- 27 Mar 2012
United Kingdom: United Kingdom : The representativeness of trade unions and employer associations in the paper sectorEmployment in the UK paper sector stood at 68,767 people in 2010, working for 2,090 companies in the sector. Collective bargaining takes place at the level of the firm. The two main trade unions in the sector are GMB and Unite, which engage in collective bargaining with employers. The main employers’ association is the Confederation of Paper Industries, which also participates in collective bargaining in the sector.
- 21 Mar 2012
United Kingdom: Key cases highlight impact of consultation legislationFew employee or trade union complaints were brought under the UK’s Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations (ICE) between 2005–2011, a recent analysis has revealed. However, it also shows that decisions on ICE cases by the Central Arbitration Committee and Employment Appeal Tribunal have addressed key aspects of the legislative framework with significant implications for both employers and unions, suggesting that the regulations can be highly effective.
- 07 Mar 2012
United Kingdom: UK: The representativeness of trade unions and employer associations in the sea fisheries sectorThe UK sea fishing sector in 2009 comprised 1,715 firms with aggregate employment of 10,256. There is no collective bargaining coverage in the sector and minimal, if any, union membership due to the pervasive model of share fishing. There are two dominant employers’ associations which represent the sector at a national, and European, level on sector-specific issues.
- 27 Feb 2012
United Kingdom: Rising conflict over private sector pensionsStrikes at Unilever in December 2011 and January 2012 have highlighted the contentious issue of occupational pensions in the UK private sector. Private pension coverage has declined dramatically from a high of 12.2 million in 1967 to 3 million in 2010. Many employers still providing pensions have switched from defined benenfit schemes to less generous defined contribution schemes. This has led to industrial action at several large companies, such as the BBC and the AA.
- 27 Feb 2012
United Kingdom: Unions highlight unpaid overtimeIn January 2012 Britain’s Trades Union Congress (TUC) issued figures indicating that UK workers performed unpaid overtime in 2011 that was the equivalent of one million additional jobs. The TUC is campaigning against persistent and excessive unpaid overtime, which it claims is holding back job creation while affecting workers’ health and family life. The TUC urges a change in work organisation, so that jobs are based on productivity and earnings from core hours.
- 30 Jan 2012
United Kingdom: Public service workers strike over pension reformsOn 30 November 2011, over one million UK public service workers took part in a national 24-hour strike in protest against changes the government has already introduced, and others it wants to make, to public sector occupational pension schemes. Unions and the government disagreed over the impact of the stoppage. Talks between government and union officials are continuing, although unions have questioned ministers’ willingness to negotiate over the proposed changes.
- 30 Jan 2012
United Kingdom: Government announces employment law reformsIn November 2011, the UK government outlined a range of employment law reforms intended to reduce the impact of regulation on businesses and encourage recruitment. These included substantial changes to the employment tribunal system. Employer bodies generally welcomed the government’s announcement. However, trade unions were highly critical of the measures, saying it was more important to address the problems firms have in getting bank loans, because of the economic crisis.
- 04 Jan 2012
United Kingdom: Leaked government report calls for ‘no-fault’ dismissalIn October 2011, a report commissioned by the UK government was leaked to a national newspaper, revealing proposals for the abolition of employees’ rights to claim unfair dismissal in certain circumstances. As an alternative, the report proposed introducing a ‘no-fault’ scheme, whereby employers could dismiss employees without giving them a reason and make only basic redundancy and notice payments. The proposals have prompted strong criticism from social partners.