Online resource library of the history of working people to come from £175,000 grant
The University of North London has been awarded a £175,000 grant from the New Opportunities Fund to create an online library of resources, which illustrate the history of working people and the Trade Union movement. The project is a University/Trade Union Congress (TUC) Partnership Initiative entitled TUC History On-line and will be based on documents […]
FE Colleges face biggest strike in a decade
Tuesday will see the biggest strike experienced in Further Education colleges for over a decade as lecturers begin industrial action over pay. For a Labour government in the throws of election campaigning and whose battle cry as it began its first term was, 'Education, education, education' the timing cannot be seen as helpful. No doubt […]
Government Race Relations Consultation
An invitation to help shape the implementation of new race equality legislation was issued to public bodies and others by Home Secretary Jack Straw today as he launched a consultation document on the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. The provisions in the 2000 Act, which outlaws race discrimination in public functions not previously covered by […]
Organise 2000, New Ways to Win
Identifying new ways that trade unions can appeal to new members, particularly young people and women, is one of the subjects up for discussion at Organise 2000 next weekend (Saturday 18th). London Mayor, Ken Livingstone, is the key speaker at the event that will look at how trade unions can make the most of recent […]
TUC challenges employer “red tape” campaign
In an open letter to Britain's employers, released as the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) national conference opens, TUC General Secretary John Monks has told them to stop exaggerating the effects of red tape and instead tackle the real problems challenging the economy – productivity and skills. The letter says that employers ran the same […]
High job security undermines shareholder value
An overly-comfortable working environment with low levels of employee turnover may actually drain a company's shareholder value, according to a study of over 200 European employers by Watson Wyatt Worldwide, the global actuarial, benefits and human resources consulting firm. The study shows that a paternalistic working environment has a significant negative impact on shareholder value. […]
A new record high for the cost of labour turnover
The cost of labour turnover rocketed by a hefty 10.5% last year according to the Chartered Institute of Personel and Development (CIPD). The cost of labour turnover is the cost to the business caused by staff replacement and indirect customer costs such as loss of business goodwill or customer satisfaction. The cost increase sees labour […]
Use of ACAS is on the rise
More people than ever before are ringing the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) through their Public Enquiry Points (up 40 per cent to 715,000), working with ACAS to resolve complaints to Employment Tribunals (up 32 per cent), and attending ACAS seminars and workshops (over 550 events in 99/00). The report highlights the biggest ever […]
Working Time Directive – CIPD Publication
A new CIPD publication, 'Working Time Regulations' is being launched today, Wednesday 25 October 2000, at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development's (CIPD) National Conference in Harrogate, the second edition of this guide provides up-to-the-minute answers to those most frequently asked questions about application of the working time directive. Questions such as 'Is it […]
International call for DotUnion
The TUC is backing an international campaign to secure a dot.union internet address specifically for on-line trade union organisations. The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), which represents unions around the world, has applied to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) for a .union top level domain so that trade unions […]
What do you do when your employer runs out of money?
The Telegraph today has a feature offering advice on what to do if you, like the Daewoo workers at Worthing recently, face the situation where your employer runs out of money to make up your pay-packet. Follow this link to the Telegraph story
Blunkett appoints LSC National Council Members
Education and Employment Secretary David Blunkett yesterday announced the appointment of 14 members to the National Council of the Learning and Skills Council who will oversee the work of the new body modernising post-16 learning. Mr Blunkett said, "I am very pleased that those appointed have agreed to take on this role. They bring with […]
CBI tells TUC to stop urging for staff consultation law
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has urged the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to stop pressing for an EU-wide law governing company consultation with staff. John Cridland, CBI Deputy Director-General, said it is "wholly unnecessary" to require employers with more than 50 staff to consult workers according to fixed EU rules. "EU-wide legislation on this […]
TUC welcomes move to involve safety reps.
News that the Head of the Health and Safety Commission Bill Callaghan will be arranging the piloting of the use of Worker's Safety Reps was welcomed by the TUC today. A TUC spokesperson told HR Zone today, "We welcome the recognition that representatives backed by the trade union movement help to improve safety standards. British […]
The right to snoop
I'm grateful to Carol Baker, Editor at the BusinessZONE our sister site for small businesses for the following editorial. From 24 October 2000, employers will be able to snoop on employees' e-mails and phone calls following a government decision allowing companies "routine access" to assess whether e-mails and phones calls made during office hours are […]
HR Zone Newswire # 1 – Special launch issue, feature interview
100 newswires ago, this is how HR Briefing started! ================================================================== HR Zone Newswire – Issue 16 July 2000http://wwww.hrzone.co.uk ================================================================== This is the launch issue of the new HR Zone Newswire. HR Zonecomplements the existing TrainingZONE website and focuses onemployment, legislation, personnel and human resource issues.http://www.hrzone.co.uk This first issue is sponsored by PrimeLearning.com – a leadingprovider […]