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Welcome
Welcome to In ToUCh e-bulletin from the TUC, the bite-size round up of our news and views.
This issue features the release of the TUC's groundbreaking report on vulnerable working, the latest on the campaign for fair taxation, and, thirty years on from the creation of the May Day bank holiday, a call for a new public holiday.
Let us know what you think about the issues reported here by emailing editor@tuc.org.uk.
Copies of In ToUCh are archived at www.tuc.org.uk/intouch
TUC News
Two million reasons to tackle exploitation
Two million workers - 60 per cent of them women - are 'trapped in a continual round of low-paid and insecure work where mistreatment is the norm,' according to the TUC's Commission on Vulnerable Employment, which published its findings in a major report on 7 May (see New this month below).
Launched at Westminster, the report provides an accurate, evidence-based analysis of the scale of vulnerable working in Britain today. It argues that government, unions, employers and consumers must all play a part in ending exploitation at work.
The Commission included employers and independent experts as well as trade unionists, and said it was shocked both by the extent of the abuses, and the fact that much of the poor treatment was legal. 'Employment practices attacked as exploitative in the 19th century are still common today,' it concluded.
Summary details @
http://www.tuc.org.uk/law/tuc-14693-f0.cfm
http://www.tuc.org.uk/law/tuc-14696-f0.cfm
http://www.tuc.org.uk/law/tuc-14694-f0.cfm
Download the full report Hard work, hidden lives @
www.vulnerableworkers.org.uk
Child poverty commitment
Unions and anti-poverty campaigners are to join forces to step up pressure on the Government to meet its target of eradicating child poverty by 2020.
The commitment came after Kate Green of the Child Poverty Action Group gave a presentation to the April meeting of the TUC General Council. On 4 October the End Child Poverty Campaign, which brings together the TUC and CPAG, will be holding a major campaign event entitled 'Keep The Promise'.
More on the work of CPAG @
http://www.cpag.org.uk/
TUC at heart of 10p campaign
The TUC played a prominent role in the campaign to secure financial help for the millions of low-paid workers who lost out as a result of the abolition of the 10p tax rate on 6 April.
In a speech to the North West TUC annual conference, general secretary Brendan Barber argued that the impact of the new tax regime on low-paid workers, combined with the generous tax breaks enjoyed by the super-rich, was causing huge resentment among ordinary people.
Meanwhile, at the launch of a Fabian Society pamphlet on inheritance tax, he said the decision last autumn to raise inheritance tax thresholds 'had undermined the Government's credibility on fair taxation'.
More on these stories @
http://www.tuc.org.uk/economy/tuc-14558-f0.cfm
http://www.tuc.org.uk/economy/tuc-14628-f0.cfm
http://www.tuc.org.uk/economy/tuc-14662-f0.cfm
Poverty concern for BME workers
While employment rates for black and ethnic minority workers have increased steadily, BME poverty rates remain twice as high as those for the population as a whole, according to a TUC report released ahead of last month's black workers conference.
The study - Ten years after - also reveals continuing pay discrepancies, with black men working full-time in the private sector still paid 11 per cent less than white men. However, the situation is better in the public sector and BME women earn the same as white women in both sectors.
This year's conference, held in Eastbourne between 19 and 21 April, also saw the launch of a new joint campaign by the TUC and Refugee Council to give asylum seekers the right to work.
Further details @
http://www.tuc.org.uk/equality/tuc-14603-f0.cfm
Access the full report @
http://www.tuc.org.uk/extras/tenyearsafter.pdf
Time to end 30-year holiday wait
The 30th anniversary of the creation of the May Day bank holiday was used by the TUC to make the case for a new public holiday in the UK
Held during the autumn half term, and designed to celebrate the values of voluntary work, the new holiday would bring the UK into line with practice elsewhere in the EU. With just eight dates in the calendar, Britain has the second lowest number of public holidays in Europe.
Information on this @
http://www.tuc.org.uk/work_life/tuc-14664-f0.cfm
Ten years of organising
The TUC Organising Academy, which marks its tenth anniversary this year, is now starting to recruit trainee organisers for its year 11 programme, which starts this September.
Over the past decade the Academy has transformed the trade union approach to organising and produced 250 graduates, with the majority pursuing successful careers within the trade union movement. A conference to mark its 10th anniversary will be held at Congress House on 14 October.
More on the work of the Academy @
http://www.tuc.org.uk/organisation/index.cfm
Interest rate decision
The Bank of England's decision to leave interest rates on hold at 5 per cent in May was 'expected', the TUC said in response. But given falling manufacturing output and continuing concerns in the housing market, it added that the Bank should 'be prepared to cut base rates again soon'.
More on this @
http://www.tuc.org.uk/economy/tuc-14738-f0.cfm
HSE report
Last month's DWP Select Committee report on the work of the Health & Safety Executive received a positive response from the TUC.
The report recognised the need to increase penalties for rogue employers, and the importance of consulting and involving safety representatives. In addition, there was welcome recognition of the 'appalling position' faced by vulnerable migrant workers.
However, the TUC added that the Select Committee's report underlined that 'the HSE is being asked to do too much with too little'. The Government needed to address 'the very serious resource issues' it raised.
Further details @
http://www.tuc.org.uk/h_and_s/tuc-14611-f0.cfm
New occupational health guide
Employers should give better occupational health assistance to the two million employees who each year believe they become ill as a result of their jobs, a new guide from the TUC and unionlearn argues.
Released to coincide with Workers' Memorial Day on 28 April, the guide provides an invaluable resource for union safety reps. Over the next year, the TUC hopes around 15,000 will use it to assess the extent of ill health in their workplaces, and work with employers to create a healthier working environment.
Find out more @
http://www.tuc.org.uk/h_and_s/tuc-14646-f0.cfm
Zimbabwe action urged
The TUC wrote to Namibian President H E Hifikepunye Pohamba last month to urge him to turn away a Chinese ship loaded with arms destined for the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe.
During the previous week, members of the South African transport union SATAWU refused to unload the ship's cargo when it docked in Durban. The move was applauded by the TUC, which said it 'should shame' politicians around the region into action.
More on this @
http://www.tuc.org.uk/international/tuc-14627-f0.cfm
http://www.tuc.org.uk/international/tuc-14605-f0.cfm
Migration reports welcomed
Last month's report by the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), which concluded that the influx of migrant workers into the UK had not led to a crime wave, was welcomed by the TUC.
Meanwhile, another report on migration, this time from the Institute for Public Policy Research, also received a favourable response from the TUC. The think tank's report 'showed once again that migration is not a threat to Britain's workers or society at large, as long as migrant workers are treated the same as the existing workforce and the laws on working conditions are properly enforced'.
Read full TUC response to both reports @
http://www.tuc.org.uk/international/tuc-14590-f0.cfm
http://www.tuc.org.uk/international/tuc-14672-f0.cfm
Scientific advance needed
The funding crisis hitting scientific research in the UK needs to be addressed otherwise scientists will take their skills elsewhere, the TUC argued in a report published at the end of April.
Hybrid cars and shooting stars urges ministers to make up the £80 million shortfall affecting the Science and Technologies Facilities Council, with funds provided to protect 'important science projects'.
Further information @
http://www.tuc.org.uk/economy/tuc-14670-f0.cfm
Better protection for pension funds
DWP proposals to protect pension funds that are involved in buy-outs received a positive response from the TUC last month.
The measures offered protection 'against smash and grab raids by unscrupulous investors' and required companies to contribute to pension funds, improving the financial security of schemes. Meanwhile, plans to give the Pensions Regulator the power to bolster scheme trustees would also protect the governance of schemes in members' interests.
More on this @
http://www.tuc.org.uk/pensions/tuc-14564-f0.cfm
21st century equality law
The TUC has joined forces with the Equality and Diversity Forum to organise a one-day conference on equality law. The event will take place on 9 June at Congress House, and the keynote address will be given by the Secretary of State for Women and Equalities Harriet Harman.
Details @
http://www.tuc.org.uk/equality/tuc-14668-f0.cfm
Pensions in a time of uncertainty
Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell and BBC Business Editor Robert Peston will be guest speakers at this year's TUC Trustee Network Conference, which will be held at Congress House on 27 June. The conference will focus on effective trusteeship in uncertain economic times.
Further information @
http://www.tuc.org.uk/pensions/tuc-14716-f0.cfm
CBI wake-up call
Last month's education and skills survey from the CBI 'served as a warning to the one third of employers who bluntly refuse to offer any training to their staff', the TUC said in response.
When complaining about skill levels in the UK, the CBI needed to look at the poor record of its members, the TUC added. It said employers should work with unions to offer more training at work, as well as sign up to the Skills Pledge.
Full TUC response @
http://www.tuc.org.uk/learning/tuc-14604-f0.cfm
May Day, virtual style
As well as the traditional international celebrations, unions marked this year's May Day by launching Union Island, an innovative project to build a trade union presence in the virtual world Second Life.
To this end Union Island hosted the first ever virtual May Day, a day of training, networking and celebration to bring activists from the global labour movement together in a way never before possible.
Summary details @
http://www.tuc.org.uk/organisation/tuc-14622-f0.cfm
Take a trip to Union Island @
www.slunionisland.org
Tolpuddle
The programme is now available for this year's Tolpuddle Festival, which once again features a mix of politics, entertainment and celebration. The festival runs from 18-20 July.
More on Tolpuddle @
http://www.tuc.org.uk/the_tuc/tuc-14521-f0.cfm
RMT rail seminar
The challenges facing the UK's rail network will be discussed at the third annual RMT Parliamentary Rail Seminar, due to be held in Committee Room 10 in the House of Commons at 3pm on 20 May. Speakers include rail minister Tom Harris, RMT general secretary Bob Crow and TSSA general secretary Gerry Doherty.
Details @
http://www.rmt.org.uk/
IER events
The Institute of Employment Rights is holding a variety of events during the second half of 2008 likely to be of interest to trade unionists, from a half-day seminar on long hours working to a conference on employment law.
Full details available @
http://www.ier.org.uk/system/files/A5+events+catalogue.pdf
Union changes
Following the death of Steve Sinnott, Christine Blower is now Acting General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers.
The Skipton Staff Association has changed its name to the Skipton Union Representing Group Employers, and will now be known as SURGE. Brian McDaid remains team leader and chair.
Events
18 May Jubilee Debt Campaign Event
21 May Workwise UK summit
21-22 May Disability conference
9 June Equality Bill conference
16 June Climate change conference
27 June Trustee network conference
3-4 July LGBT conference
16-20 July Tolpuddle Green Camp
19-20 July Tolpuddle Festival
8 - 11 September TUC Congress
More info on TUC events @
http://www.tuc.org.uk/events/index.cfm
New this month
Hard work, hidden lives - the short report of the Commission on Vulnerable Employment - cover price £20 (£10 for unions), from Publications.
Organising for the future - report prepared for the 2008 Women's conference - cover price £5, from Publications
The learning rep - regular magazine from unionlearn - from unionlearn.
Details of TUC publications @
http://www.tuc.org.uk/publications/index.cfm
Links
Visit the website of the Working Class Movement Library @ www.wcml.org.uk
Please email editor@tuc.org.uk if you wish to suggest a new link for the TUC website.
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