Legal threat over ‘back door’ grammar school streams – BBC News
‘Legal action to prevent grammar schools expanding by the back door in England is being threatened by a teachers’ union.’
BBC News, 15th April 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: trade unions
£1,200 cost for unfair dismissal claims is challenged in UK’s highest court – The Guardian
‘Steep rises in fees for bringing unfair dismissal claims at employment tribunals – which have led to a 70% fall in the number of cases – are to be challenged at the UK’s highest court.’
The Guardian, 27th march 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
First Uber, now DX – union brings legal action over “forced self-employed” workers – Legal Futures
‘DX has become the latest delivery company to face legal claims that it is taking advantage of the ‘gig economy’ by forcing workers into bogus self-employment, after the GMB union announced it was to start legal action on behalf of members working as couriers.’
Legal Futures, 8th March 2017
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Trade Union Act ballot thresholds in force from 1 March, regulations confirm – OUT-LAW.com
‘Higher ballot thresholds which must be met before trade unions can proceed with industrial action, particularly in relation to ‘important public services’, will come into force on 1 March 2017, the government has confirmed.’
OUT-LAW.com, 16th February 2017
Source: www.out-law.com
Lesson for employers and unions from Southern Rail industrial action, says expert – OUT-LAW.com
‘The partial resolution of the dispute between Southern Rail and trade union representatives for its drivers and conductors provides an “interesting contrast and lessons” for both employers and unions, an expert has said.’
OUT-LAW.com, 6th February 2017
Source: www.out-law.com
Hermes facing legal challenge from its self-employed workers – The Guardian
‘Hermes, the courier company that delivers parcels for John Lewis and Next, is facing a legal claim from workers who believe they are wrongly classed as self-employed, according to the Labour MP Frank Field.’
The Guardian, 26th January 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Southern rail operator appeals to supreme court to block drivers’ strikes – The Guardian
‘Govia Thameslink Railway is taking a legal case against drivers’ union Aslef to the supreme court over its industrial action on Southern rail.’
The Guardian, 11th January 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Court rejects bid to halt Southern train drivers’ industrial action – The Guardian
‘The high court has rejected an attempt by the owners of Southern rail to prevent train drivers from taking industrial action.’
The Guardian, 8th December 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Care workers sue council contractor in minimum wage battle – BBC News
‘Seventeen care workers are alleging failure to be paid the minimum wage in the sector’s biggest ever legal claim.’
BBC News, 14th September 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Workers’ rights must not be bartered away in Brexit negotiations – The Guardian
‘Unions warned workers might pay the price for leaving the EU. The government must not invoke article 50 until it has negotiated a secure future for them ‘
The Guardian, 26th July 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Cavanagh and others v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions – WLR Daily
Cavanagh and others v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2016] EWHC 1136 (QB)
The first and second claimant employees were, it was assumed for present purposes, employed by the defendant employer under civil service terms and conditions and various collective agreements. Under “check-off arrangements” in the employer’s deductions from pay policy, the employees had opted for their subscriptions to the third claimant trade union to be paid by deduction from their salary and paid by the employer to the union. Latterly the check-off arrangements had been included in the employer’s salary policy published on the staff intranet. When the employer ended the check-off arrangements, the claimants brought a claim against it, contending that the employees had a contractual right to insist that the employer continue with the arrangement enforceable by the trade union under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.
WLR Daily, 13th May 2016
Source: www.iclr.co.uk
Theresa May agrees to review of snooper’s charter powers – The Guardian
‘Labour has edged closer to supporting the “snooper’s charter” after the home secretary, Theresa May, agreed to order an independent review of proposed state surveillance powers.’
The Guardian, 24th May 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Construction firms apologise in court over blacklist – The Guardian
‘Leading construction firms have formally apologised to hundreds of trade unionists for putting them on an illegal blacklist and denying them work.’
The Guardian, 11th May 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Blacklisted workers win £10m payout from construction firms – The Guardian
‘About £10m will be paid in compensation to more than 250 building workers who were “blacklisted” by some of Britain’s biggest construction firms under a settlement to be announced on Monday.’
The Guardian, 9th May 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
An absence of fairness: the Trade Union Bill – OUP Blog
‘According to Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS), the Trade Union Bill currently before Parliament is “not a ban on strike action. This is about ensuring that our rules are modern and right and fit for today’s workplace”. As the Bill progresses through the House of Lords, Mr Javid’s rosy view has been challenged by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the UN supervisory body responsible for scrutiny of compliance with international labour standards.’
OUP Blog, 5th April 2016
Source: http://blog.oup.com
Peers defeat trade union funding reforms – BBC News
‘The government has been heavily defeated in the House of Lords over trade union reforms Labour fears will cost it millions of pounds in funding. Ministers want to require Labour-affiliated union members to “opt in” to paying a levy to the party. But peers voted by 320 to 172 to apply the changes to new members only and with a 12-month transition period.’
BBC News, 16th March 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Government seeks High Court ban on sixth-form strike plan – BBC News
‘Strike plans by sixth-form college teachers are “unlawful”, the government will argue in the High Court later.’
BBC News, 14th March 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
TTIP deal poses ‘real and serious risk’ to NHS, says leading QC – The Guardian
‘The controversial transatlantic trade deal set to be agreed this year would mean that privatisation of elements of the NHS could be made irreversible for future governments wanting to restore services to public hands, according to a new legal analysis.’
The Guardian, 22nd February 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
