Gilman, Mark
Survey argues that UK employees are better off than their European neighbours
27 september 1997
A combination of falling unemployment and soaring corporate profit has still
not generated demands from UK workers for a round of substantial pay
increases. The annual rate of growth of average earnings fell slightly from
4.5% in April 1997 to 4.25% in both May and June, according to the latest
/Labour Market Briefing/ (August 1997) from the Trades Union Congress. One
reason why average pay may have risen so slowly is that the recent surge in
job creation has come mainly in lower-paid positions in shops, hotels and
restaurants. Overall figures have also been depressed by continued tight
control of public sector pay, which accounts for about 20% of the earnings
index. Although commentators note that there have been attitudinal changes -
in that managers, union leaders and shopfloor workers generally accept that
companies can only fund pay rises they can afford - this is combined with the
fact that increased flexibility in the job and pay markets is permitting
greater divergence both within and between companies in terms of pay rates.
This permits pay negotiators to take more account of the financial
performance of individual units. There is also an element of the "fear
factor", in that although unemployment figures are falling the proportion of
households which experience long-term unemployment is growing. Only skill
shortages in certain industries have led to an upward pressure on wages, but
having said this, it is generally agreed by employers and trade unionists
alike that there is likely to be little change in the general climate of pay
and inflation.
Women still struggle to gain equality
27 september 1997
In September 1997, four women won what has been described as a landmark
victory in achieving equal pay for work of equal value, ensuring that their
pay as nursery nurses is the same as men employed by the same county council
(Gloucestershire) working as technicians. The women, who care for children
with special needs, claimed that their salaries were in breach of the Sex
Discrimination Act, arguing that their jobs entailed similar work and
qualifications to the male technicians, who were paid up to 25% more than
themselves. An industrial tribunal rejected the council's argument that the
pay gap was entirely due to extra hours worked. The county council, which
employs 860 women as nursery nurses, is to hold an emergency meeting to
discuss the implications of the ruling.
Proposals for employee ownership of the Post Office
27 september 1997
Previous UK Governments had considered how best to privatise the public
sector Post Office, but following the election of the Labour Government in
May 1997, a review of the Post Office and its functions was announced in
order to find other ways of bringing about commercial freedom. The Government
has ruled out the previous options of privatisation or the breaking up of
some of the post office services, but is looking at other ways of achieving
what both management and staff are looking for.
CBI eager to avoid EU employment legislation
27 september 1997
Adair Turner, director general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI)
told delegates at the Trades Union Congress (TUC) conference, held on 8-11
September 1997, that the CBI and the TUC should seek joint commitments where
possible over a wide range of policy areas, including education and training
and European social policy. He said that he did not support the previous
Government's proposals for a further round of legislation to limit trade
union rights, but equally he did not favour moves by the present Government
towards introducing a statutory basis for trade union recognition. The CBI
would clearly prefer voluntary agreements, and Mr Turner stated that it did
"not think partnership is best fostered when one partner feels that they have
been forced to deal with the other".
Construction industry wage agreement
27 juli 1997
At the beginning of July 1997, Britain's largest general workers unions, GMB
and TGWU, were calling for members in the construction industry to back
industrial action on up to 50 "prestige" building sites, including the
millennium dome project in London's docklands, Manchester airport and the
Channel tunnel.
Record number of employees claim employment rights
27 juli 1997
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service published its 1996 annual
report on 18 June 1997. Of the over 100,000 individual employment rights
cases ACAS dealt with, nearly half of the employees involved were claiming
unfair dismissal, but other categories are as follows:
Is Britain's labour force divided by class?
27 juli 1997
As the debate continues over the need to treat employees as valued assets,
the MSF survey of employees, published on 11 July 1997, indicates that within
companies there is a very wide divide between management and other staff. The
table below shows the extent to which separate, and better, facilities and
conditions are provided for senior managers
Barclays Bank may face strike action
27 juli 1997
Members of the finance trade unions BIFU and UNiFI who work at Barclays Bank
were balloted in July 1997 over whether to take industrial action. The ballot
took place after a consultative ballot concerning the bank's new pay
proposals showed overwhelming rejection by staff. Jim Lowe, the BIFU general
secretary, said that: "Staff are very angry ... If these proposals go through
as they stand, potentially over 25,000 staff face a wage freeze as well as
leaving pensions expectations in ruins. We believe this is totally immoral."
Government to repeal check-off ballots
27 juli 1997
The Government announced on 8 July 1997 that it is to end balloting over the
check-off system for trade union members, whereby members can have their
union subscriptions deducted directly from their wages by the employer, who
then passes them on to the union.
Unions welcome role in Government
27 juni 1997
After 18 years in the wilderness, being frozen out of influence in the
corridors of government by Conservative administrations, trade unions have
been informed that they will be offered places on working groups being formed
to advise various government departments. The Trades Union Congress (TUC)
reports a substantially changed mood in Whitehall and Westminster, after
years of unions being systematically excluded from representing their
members.