Minimum service levels update – major change to UK trade union law – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 27th, 2023 in employment, industrial action, local government, news, trade unions by tracey

‘Under the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023, which received Royal Assent on 20 July 2023, the Secretary of State has the power to set Minimum Service Levels (MSLs) for “relevant services” in the fields of health, transport, education, fire and rescue, border control, and nuclear decommissioning and radioactive waste management services. Christopher Grierson and Francesca Gallagher look at the key provisions.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 24th November 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Blow to gig economy workers after UK supreme court rules against collective bargaining rights – The Guardian

‘Deliveroo riders do not have the right to collective negotiations on pay and conditions, the UK’s top court has ruled, in a blow to gig economy campaigners and the unions that represent them.’

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The Guardian, 21st November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Sheffield council faces mass equal pay claim over ‘scandalous’ pay grades – The Guardian

‘Sheffield city council is to become the latest local authority to face a mass equal pay claim from women who have been underpaid by up to £11,000 a year, the GMB union has said.’

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The Guardian, 25th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Tribunal rejects MoJ’s ‘elaborate’ reason for refusing FOI request – Law Society’s Gazette

The first-tier tribunal has overturned a ruling that the Ministry of Justice was entitled to turn down freedom of information requests relating to cleaners’ pay.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 8th September 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

TUC complains to UN watchdog over ‘undemocratic’ UK anti-strike law – The Guardian

‘The Trades Union Congress has lodged a complaint with the UN’s labour standards body claiming the UK government flouted the watchdog’s orders over its newly enforced “undemocratic” anti-strike law.’

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The Guardian, 10th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Strike action ‘minimum services’ code in Britain drafted – OUT-LAW.com

‘Businesses affected by strike action in Britain this year have an opportunity to help the government find a way to ensure services in six important areas impacting the economy continue to be delivered while such action is underway.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 5th September 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Strengthened immunity protection proposed in Arbitration Act reform – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Arbitrators’ common law duty to disclose any reason for doubts as to their impartiality could be codified under proposals from the Law Commission of England and Wales today. The recommendation is among proposed updates to the Arbitration Act 1996 which the independent reform body has published along with draft legislation.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 6th September 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023: what does it mean for workers? – Cloisters

‘On 13 July 2023, the High Court quashed the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses (Amendment) Regulations 2022, which attempted to render lawful the supply of agency workers to break a strike. In this judicial review brought by 11 trade unions, the High Court held that the government had acted unlawfully and irrationally by introducing the Regulations, by failing in its duty to consult on the Regulations, and instead relying on a 7-year old consultation (from 2015) where the majority of stakeholders had opposed earlier proposals of a similar set of legislations (§28). The Court found that the then business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng had proceeded ‘at exceptional speed’ in introducing the Regulations before the summer recess of 2022 (§175), an approach described by the Court as one which ‘frustrated the aim of informed decision-making’ (§180). Although this judgment has several interesting public law implications, specifically on the extent and nature of the government’s duty to consult, it is also significant for labour law, and was hailed by the unions as a significant victory in preserving the right to strike in the UK.’

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Cloisters, July 2023

Source: www.cloisters.com

High court quashes rules letting agency workers cover for UK strikers – The Guardian

Posted July 14th, 2023 in government departments, industrial action, news, trade unions by sally

‘Legal changes brought by the government to let agency staff fill in for striking workers have been quashed by the high court, with ministers’ approach to the policy being labelled “irrational”.’

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The Guardian, 13th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Workers’ rights put at risk by plan to scrap EU working hours rules, says TUC – The Guardian

Posted May 11th, 2023 in bills, brexit, EC law, news, trade unions, working time by sally

‘Trades unions have warned that workers’ rights are in peril after the government unveiled new plans to scrap EU rules on working hours as part of its drive to cut “unnecessary red tape”.’

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The Guardian, 10th May 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Powys: Care home firm ‘bullied’ staff to accept new conditions – BBC News

‘A care home firm has been accused of bullying staff into accepting new terms and conditions or face being fired.’

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BBC News, 16th April 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Case Preview: R (on the application of Palmer) v Northern Derbyshire Magistrates Court and Anor – UKSC Blog

‘In this post, Ingrida Jakuseva, a paralegal within the Litigation and Arbitration department at CMS, previews the decision awaited from the Supreme Court in R (on the application of Palmer) v Northern Derbyshire Magistrates Court and Anor. The application for permission to appeal will be heard by the Supreme Court on 8 March 2023.’

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UKSC Blog, 1st March 2023

Source: ukscblog.com

New powers to curb strike disruption approved by MPs – BBC News

Posted January 31st, 2023 in bills, emergency services, industrial action, news, trade unions, transport by tracey

‘MPs have backed plans aimed at enforcing minimum service levels for some sectors during strikes.’

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BBC News, 31st January 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Grant Shapps unveils new powers in strike laws – BBC News

‘Business Secretary Grant Shapps has set out plans to enforce minimum service levels during strike action, including for ambulance staff, firefighters and railway workers.’

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BBC News, 10th January 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Keeping tips from workers could be illegal under new law -BBC News

Posted October 31st, 2022 in bills, employment, news, remuneration, trade unions by tracey

‘Employers not paying workers their tips in their entirety, without deductions, may soon become illegal.’

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BBC News, 30th October 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Unions Launch Legal Action Over The Government’s Agency Workers Strike Law – Each Other

‘Ten trade unions are taking legal action against the government’s new regulations that allow agency workers to fill in for workers on strike. ‘

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Each Other, 12th October 2022

Source: eachother.org.uk

Royal College of Nursing issues apology after damning report into its culture – The Independent

Posted October 12th, 2022 in bullying, employment, equality, harassment, news, nurses, trade unions, women by tracey

‘The Royal College of Nursing has pledged to leave “no stone unturned” after a damning report into its culture.’

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The Independent, 11th October 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Bullying, misogyny and sexual culture at Royal College of Nursing, inquiry finds – The Guardian

Posted October 11th, 2022 in bullying, inquiries, news, nurses, reports, sexual grooming, trade unions by tracey

‘A damning inquiry into the Royal College of Nursing, the world’s biggest nurses’ union, has exposed bullying, misogyny and a sexual culture where women are at risk of “alcohol and power-related exploitation.”’

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The Guardian, 10th October 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Truss risks fresh row with EU over workers’ rights, say legal experts – The Guardian

Posted September 7th, 2022 in brexit, EC law, employment, news, trade unions by sally

‘Liz Truss risks igniting another row with the EU which could lead to tariffs on British exports if she tries to dilute workers’ rights too much, legal experts and union leaders have said.’

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The Guardian, 6th September 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government urged to classify Covid as an occupational disease – The Guardian

‘Ministers should urgently classify Covid-19 as an occupational disease to prompt employers to reduce the risk of exposure and help workers access key benefits, the TUC has said.’

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The Guardian, 15th August 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com