Hall, Mark

On 9 December 2005, the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) published its decision [1] in the first case (case number I&C/03/05) to be determined under the Information and Consultation of Employees (ICE) Regulations (UK0502103N [2]; UK0512101N [3]). [1] http://www.cac.gov.uk/I&C/IC3 14 Dec Moray Council Reg 10(1) Decision (Final Version-Amended).htm [2] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/employee-consultation-legislation-finalised [3] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/cac-receives-first-cases-under-consultation-regulations

The Information and Consultation of Employees (ICE) Regulations 2004 [1] took effect in April 2005 in respect of undertakings with 150 or more employees (UK0502103N [2]). The Regulations seek to implement the requirements of the 2002 EU Directive (2002/14/EC [3]) on informing and consulting employees (EU0204207F [4]). To date there has been little systematic evidence on how employers, employees and trade unions have been responding to the new legislation, and on what patterns of implementation are emerging. However, two recent pieces of research suggest that the new legislation is proving not to be the 'damp squib' that some commentators have predicted. [1] http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2004/20043426.htm [2] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/employee-consultation-legislation-finalised [3] http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2002/l_080/l_08020020323en00290033.pdf [4] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/undefined/final-approval-given-to-consultation-directive

In the autumn of 2005, ballots of the memberships of NATFHE - The University & College Lecturers’ Union and the Association of University Teachers (AUT) were held to seek endorsement of proposals for the amalgamation of the two unions to form a new organisation, the University and College Union (UCU). In December 2005, it was announced that the merger had been supported by 95.7% of NATFHE members and 79.2% of AUT members who voted.

The Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) is responsible for adjudicating in a wide range of potential disputes under the Information and Consultation of Employees (ICE) Regulations, which took effect in relation to undertakings with 150 or more employees in April 2005 (UK0502103N [1]). The first cases under the Regulations are now beginning to emerge. The CAC’s website carries a livelisting [2] of applications and decisions made . This currently lists three complaints under the ICE Regulations that it received in the period from August to October 2005. [1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/employee-consultation-legislation-finalised [2] http://www.cac.gov.uk/I&C/I&C_live_applications_and_decisions_.htm

On 24 November 2005, the Transport and General Workers’ Union (TGWU) released details of a letter that its general secretary, Tony Woodley, has sent to the Polish prime minister, Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz, highlighting evidence of the exploitation and abuse of Polish migrant workers in the UK and urging him to raise the issue with his UK counterpart, Tony Blair, during a visit to London.

On 19 October 2005, the government unveiled the Work and Families Bill [1], which will provide the basis for 'new measures to help all working families balance busy home and work lives'. Its provisions are based on policy commitments included in the Labour Party’s 2005 election manifesto (UK0504110F [2] and UK0506102N [3]), and were the subject of public consultation earlier in the year (UK0507104F [4]). The government published its response [5] to the consultation at the same time as publishing the bill. [1] http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmbills/060/2006060.htm [2] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/parties-outline-contrasting-election-policies-on-employment-relations [3] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/government-to-extend-leave-rights-for-parents-and-carers [4] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/employers-and-unions-respond-to-proposed-improvements-to-parents-and-carers-rights-at-work [5] http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/consultationchoiceflexibility2005final1.pdf

On 18 October 2005, at a meeting of the Public Services Forum, government ministers and trade unions in the public sector reached a framework agreement [1] that will be applied to the reform of public services pensions in the National Health Service, education and the civil service. [1] http://www.dti.gov.uk/news/pensionreform.html

In September 2005, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) published the results of its latest annual employment trends survey, conducted in conjunction with the Pertemps recruitment agency. The survey, carried out in May 2005, reports the responses of 420 private sector employers to a questionnaire that covered a range of labour market issues. Key findings from the survey are outlined below.

On 1 October 2005, adult rate of the national minimum wage (NMW) increased from GBP 4.85 to GBP 5.05 per hour. At the same time, the 'development' rate, paid to 18-21 year-olds, went up from GBP 4.10 per hour to GBP 4.25. These increases follow recommendations made by the independent Low Pay Commission (LPC) (UK0505104F [1]). The rate for 16-17 year old workers, introduced in October 2004 (UK0409108F [2]), remains at GBP 3.00 an hour, but will be reviewed by the LPC in its next report to the government in February 2006. [1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/national-minimum-wage-reviewed [2] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/changes-made-to-national-minimum-wage

On 28 September 2005, workers at airline caterers Gate Gourmet voted to accept an agreement reached between officials of the Transport and General Workers’ Union (TGWU) and managers at the US-owned company to bring to an end the long-running, high-profile industrial dispute which had led to the dismissal of 670 Gate Gourmet employees and two days of unofficial strike action by British Airways ground staff during August (UK0509106F [1]). The dispute prompted calls from trade unions for changes in the law to allow secondary industrial action and became a /cause célébre/ at both the Trades Union Congress (TUC) (UK0510103N [2]) and Labour Party conferences. [1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/british-airways-heathrow-flights-grounded-by-dispute-at-gate-gourmet [2] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/tuc-conference-highlights-government-union-tensions