Current Issues

 

Employment Tribunal Claims

We know from reports at branch meetings that many reps are dealing with individual member cases. If these have the potential to develop into a legal claim, please bear in mind that while you should always exhaust internal procedures first, you should ensure that a claim is lodged before the time limit (normally 3 months for most employment law). If the grievance is still being heard by the employer, the claim will be put on hold pending the outcome of the grievance. If you win the grievance, the claim can then just be withdrawn. Here is the government's advice:


Time limits for making a claim
In most cases, you must make an application within three months of either the date that:

your employment ended
the matter you are complaining about happened
An Employment Tribunal will not normally accept claims received after the relevant time limit. In very exceptional circumstances Employment Tribunals can extend this time limit. You can check this by calling the Employment Tribunals public enquiry line on 08457 959 775. You should act quickly to find out more if you think your claim may already be out of time or the end of the three month period is close. More details are available at:
Go to website

14/05/2012
TUPE regulations (transfer of undertakings) are increasingly important for our members - and reps. As contracts change, employers are trying to drive down pay and conditions. Campaigning and mobilising are the key but the TUPE legislation does provide some minimal help. Here Nicky Marcus (Unite full time officer) sets out some arguments to use:

29/03/2012
Unite has restated its opposition to compulsory workfare schemes. Our branch has supported Youth Fight For Jobs & Education in their succesful campaign on this. Please contact the branch if your employer is considering using such a scheme. You may find this statement by Shelter a useful example:
Go to website

27/03/2012
The branch is currently campaigning on four major issues: Pensions, Pay, sleep-ins, and health and safety. Because attendance at branch meetings is inevitably limited, we discussed using surveys to get more information on these issues for use in deciding strategic direction and designing campaign publicity.

This paper sets out a proposal for two surveys.

27/03/2012
Women's pay and employment update. A TUC report to the Women's Conference 2012 highlights the employment challenges currently facing women.

The report shows that with many thousands of skilled professional women in the public sector set to lose their jobs, the concentration of female private sector employment in low-skilled and poorly paid sectors poses a big challenge to their pay and career prospects.

Despite decades of progress, women's employment in the private sector remains concentrated around the five 'cs' - caring, catering, cashiering, cleaning and clerical work. As a result the gender pay gap for women working full time is twice as high in the private sector (18.4 per cent) as it is in the public sector (9.2 per cent).

19/03/2012
"Shrinking the State" A report produced by Unite on why outsourcing threatens the welfare state

15/03/2012
The alternative to cuts. In campaigning against specific cuts and mobilising union members it can be crucial to set out the alternative to cuts and austerity. The PCS union produced a short pamphlet setting out an alternative which has become very influential - see the pdf to download it. Unite has also produced material, follow the link to see that:
Go to website

14/03/2012
Welfare - an alternative vision. A PCS pamphlet "The aim is to arm activists with the information needed to campaign against attacks on benefits – and to put forward ideas for the future of the welfare state."

14/03/2012
LRD workplace report for February. Includes information on public sector pay, and more:

13/03/2012
Legal aide cuts are already allowing more illegal evictions to go unchallenged. A cause of homeslessness - and hits advice jobs. Click link and pdf for two sets of information:
Go to website

07/03/2012
Defending social housing. A flier produced by the branch last year - still all too relevant!

05/03/2012
This is a TUC toolkit for trade unions, voluntary organisations, community groups and others who want to assess the human rights and equality impact of the spending cuts on women in their communities. Although the toolkit focuses on women and the cuts, much of the information it contains can be used to look at the impact of the cuts on other groups

05/03/2012
How to manage a pay claim - include basic guide to company accounts

03/03/2012
Pamphlet on defending pensions in both the public and private sectors

03/03/2012
Unite reps briefing on sleepovers

02/03/2012
Briefing for reps on dealing with individualised pay & performance appraisal etc. Originally for civil service reps but helpful for our sector

02/03/2012
Unite briefing on TUPE (transfer of undertakings)

02/03/2012
A report of last weeks TUC pay forum

02/03/2012
Briefing on changes to the social housing pension scheme. This will be a major issue for the branch in the next few months

02/03/2012
The petition located at the end of the link below, is a petition set to the governments petition service. It is aimed at getting a debate in parliament at getting the government to drop the Health and Social Care Bill. As you are only to well aware this bill will privatise the provision of health service in this country, creating a two tier system similar to the USA. A good paid for service for the rich and a free poor service for the poor.

So far over 160,000 people have indicated they want this bill dropped by signing it. If enough sign it the government is compelled to debate the petition. It all adds to the pressure the government is facing. Please sign and forward to anyone you know for them to sign.

Go to website

29/02/2012
Why submit a claim in the face of a pay freeze?

Unite reps at the TSA (Tenant Services Authority) have shared with the branch the arguments they have used:

16/06/2011
Unite For Our Society launches support for voluntary sector workers in the form of a new website: www.uniteforoursociety.org

A strong voluntary sector is the foundation for a fair and flourishing society. Yet the very heart of the sector is currently at risk from government cuts, short-term contracts and top-down commissioning structures.


Go to website

15/04/2011
Changes to Housing Benefit from January 2012

The Government is planning to extend the age group for single young people who can only claim a shared accommodation rate to help with their rent (rather than being able to claim for self-contained one-bedroom accommodation).

The change means that from January 2012 onwards, instead of the one-bedroom self-contained rate, they would move onto the shared accommodation rate applying at that date, which may be much lower.
Go to website

31/03/2011

 

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