The Law Versus the Trade Unions: IER Seminar

Colleagues,

The outcomes of the General Election tomorrow will have ramifications for the trade union movement, and of course for workers generally, across a wide range of fronts.

There is much evidence already of Tory thinking around trade union rights and of industrial relations generally.

The Institute of Employment Rights have convenved a seminar with a stellar cast of speakers to discuss and consider the outcomes of the general election with a specific remit of the future of trade union rights.

Attendance is free so, if you can attend please do, as we must all be party to the discussion and examination of the impact of any reform on the way we move forward as a movement.

Go to the following link for more details: www.ier.org.uk/node/465

Cheers

Ian

May Day 2010

Colleagues,

I am pleased to report that on this May Day I am thoroughly surrounded by strong, vibrant evidence of the vitality of this movement of ours.

I am at Ruskin College this weekend in part to meet a new group of students starting out on the long road towards the achievement of the College's BA in International Labour & Trade Union Studies (ILTUS).

A very fine bunch of women and men - I wish them all well.

Being in Oxford I can happily report also on a very well attended march and rally in defence in jobs and the public sector as part of the city's May Day celebrations.

I always draw on illustrations from Walter Crane for May Day, and the Workers' Garland image shown here is as good as any he created.

I wish you all the best for this global workers' day of celebration. Let us reflect on the need for solidartity with workers globally and prepare for whatever it is that comes out of the general election next week.

My very best wishes.

Ian

Remember the Dead: Fight for the Living

Colleagues, My very best wishes to those of you engaged in remembrance activity across the country and internationally today on one of the most important days of trade union activity.

Ian

Tenerife Libre!

Colleagues,

In my last post I used the unfortunate term' short' to refer to an impending holiday in Tenerife.

As you all now know, subject to the volcanish ash from Iceland my 'short' stay was all but that and I only managed to get home last Saturday!

Please bear with me as I get to grips with outstanding e-mails etc., and will post an item over the next week.

Cheers!

Ian

Workers of the World.....

Colleagues,

I'm preparing for a short break in Tenerife over the Easter break (no more posted items until after 19th April) and very pleased to report that trade unionism is alive and well in the Canary Islands.

Pictured left are trade unionsts from the Intersindical Canaria (IC) on 25 March opposing a range of austerity measures introduced by the national and regional governments.

As can be imagined within a predominantly tourist-based economy, wages are are on average lower than in Spain and unemployment is much higher than on the Spanish mainland.

Whilst on the island I hope to be able to extend a message of support to the IC and I'll let you know how I get on when I return.

Hope you all have a good break over Easter.

Best wishes

Ian

From Sick Note to Fit Note: A New Workplace Regime

Colleagues,

In a posting last year I highlighted the impending introduction of changes to the long-established method of certification for sickness absence.

6 April 2010 will herald a new regime in managing employee sickness absence with the introduction of the "Statement of Fitness for Work" or "Fit Note" as it is more commonly called. Fit notes will replace the current incapacity certificates which have been around in their present format since the 1920s in an attempt to reduce the incidence and costs of workplace absence. As the name suggests, the new regime focuses on encouraging employers and employees to work towards an early return to work in appropriate circumstances.

Thompsons Solicitors contributed to the consultation phase around the development of this new concept. Naturally the firm were seeking reassurances in the methods used to introduce the new system. See full details here:

http://www.thompsons.law.co.uk/ltext/department-work-pensions.htm

In introducing the fit note the government's mantra is that it creates a new method by which employee's full capability of undertaking some form of work is better scrutinised and made more likely.

Have a look at what the DWP has to say in rolling-out the new system:

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/newsroom/press-releases/2009/may-2009/emp170-280509.shtml

The TUC has produced a very useful guide to the new proposals and aims to help reps prepare for its workplace implications. A pdf version of the TUC can be seen here:

http://www.tuc.org.uk/extras/fitnote.pdf

Please take the time to look in detail at the information provided in the links and let me know what you see as the potential issues in your workplace.

Cheers!

Ian

The Role & Future of Trade Union Education

Colleagues,

Can I encourage you to attend an event that is being organised by the Campaign for Independent Working Class Education (IWCE) on Saturday 27th March (11am-4pm) at Ruskin College.

I am contributing to the day's focus which attempts to shine a light on the short and long-term challenges to activist education, but also seeks to gain a sense of what the purpose and function of trade union education is.


Full details of the event can be seen on the Solidarity web-site:

http://solidaritymagazine.wordpress.com/2010/03/09/the-role-and-future-of-trade-union-education/

Cheers

Ian