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Network Journal 2004 Issue 1 |
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Campaigns
Companies
Conferences
Editorial
Employment
Equality
Get Involved
Health and Safety
Legal Services
Lifelong Learning
Pensions
People and Events
Politics
Recruitment and Organising
Transport
Campaigns
Freedom From Fear - the campaign continues
More members than ever before have been involved in the Freedom From Fear campaign to help prevent violence and abuse against shopworkers.
20 February 2004 [Full Story]
Safety first call repeated
Usdaw has welcomed, in principle, a new scheme to reduce retail crime by training shopworkers as special constables – but urged workers to always put their safety first and not to put themselves at risk of attack.
20 February 2004 [Full Story]
Survey highlights workers fear of violence
Two-thirds of British workers whose job involves contact with the public have not received any training in how to deal with violent or threatening behaviour, according to a new report.
20 February 2004 [Full Story]
Violence stops trading at city store
Armed robberies, violent attacks and aggressive shoplifters have forced Midlands Co-op to close one of its stores in Birmingham.
20 February 2004 [Full Story]
Companies
American shops dispute worsens
Tens of thousands of American trade unionists are embroiled in a bitter dispute with their employers over a revised health insurance and benefits package.
24 February 2004 [Full Story]
Companies - news in brief
Tesco staff double their money in a staff saving scheme. Sainsbury and the Co-op try to increase their share of the convenience store, while stores use a loophole in the law to increase their store size. The home delivery market is growing at twice the rate of retail sales.
24 February 2004 [Full Story]
Giant Wal-Mart under fire
American retailer Wal-Mart was responsible for ‘extensive violations’ of child labour laws, and state regulations on food and rest breaks, according to its own audit.
24 February 2004 [Full Story]
Merged Morrisons set to join big retail players
The £3 billion merger of Morrisons and Safeway won the approval of 99 per cent of the shareholders at extraordinary meetings, held by both companies in February, clearing the way for the launch of the combined group on 8 March.
24 February 2004 [Full Story]
Conferences
Editorial
Employment
Equality
Equal opportunities - news in brief
A new guide to workplace law is now available, as is a user-friendly briefing on the new Employment (Sexual Orientation) Regulations. Age Concern are calling for an end to ageist attitudes, while the National Pensioners Convention is calling for 'grey issues' to be top of the political agenda. A free booklet is available on employment rights for lone parents, and the TUC is urging the chancellor to do more for women and children in the Budget. Women are working more hours than they did five years ago, but companies are slow to carry out equal pay reviews.
24 February 2004 [Full Story]
New law will help combat religious discrimination
From 2 December 2003, when the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations came into force, it became unlawful to discriminate against workers on the grounds of their religion or belief.
24 February 2004 [Full Story]
Parliament to consider transgender rights
Legislation which aims to give new rights to transgender people is making its way through parliament. The Gender Recognition Bill (first published as a draft bill on 11 July 2003) had its first reading in the House of Lords, in November, last year. It had its second reading on the 18 December 2003.
24 February 2004 [Full Story]
Get Involved
Health and Safety
Deadline date looms for asbestos
An important regulation requiring employers to manage asbestos in their buildings comes into force at the end of May.
24 February 2004 [Full Story]
Health and Safety - News in brief
A new leaflet on health and safety in road haulage is now available. HSC propose to cut the number of deaths and injuries caused by working at a height.
24 February 2004 [Full Story]
Partnership call to enforce safety measures
The UK needs a new and stronger partnership between the HSE and Local Authorities on health and safety enforcement, say two leading safety chiefs.
24 February 2004 [Full Story]
Plans to improve consultation rights ditched
The HSC has decided to abandon its attempt to produce new regulations which would have included measures to strengthen the safety rep’s role by eg extending the duty on employers to consult with reps on risk assessments.
24 February 2004 [Full Story]
Women’s safety overlooked
Safety and health risks facing women at work tend to be underestimated and neglected, says a new report from the European Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA).
24 February 2004 [Full Story]
Workforce warned on dangers of RSI
Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) Awareness Week will run from 23-29 February and will encourage employers and employees to raise awareness of RSI and get action started to help prevent it. The 29 February is International RSI Awareness Day (chosen because it is the only non-repetitive date in the calendar).
24 February 2004 [Full Story]
Legal Services
All workers need Usdaw’s free legal service
Usdaw has its own legal department with qualified professionals working for you, backed up by a nationwide network of solicitors. With private solicitors charging over £100 per hour for their services, you simply can’t afford to be without the union.
20 February 2004 [Full Story]
Lifelong Learning
Pensions
Are you a pension fund trustee?
Is there an Usdaw member who is a trustee of your pension.
24 February 2004 [Full Story]
Automatic membership considered
Employees will be signed up for an occupational pension automatically, under new proposals being considered by the Government.
24 February 2004 [Full Story]
Lords call for universal state pension
The basic state pension should be replaced with a non-means tested citizenship pension based on years of residence rather than on National Insurance (NI) contributions, says the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee.
24 February 2004 [Full Story]
More women face poverty in retirement
One in four single women pensioners are living in poverty, a new report has revealed.
Leading charity Age Concern and campaign group the Fawcett Society joined forces to uncover the plight of women in retirement.
24 February 2004 [Full Story]
Pensions - News in brief
Pensioners are returning to work, increased life expectancy is affecting pension funds, and pension funds still underfunded.
24 February 2004 [Full Story]
System fails to reflect work patterns
Most people are at risk of being ‘under-pensioned’ and recent reforms to the pensions system will not solve the problem, according to a new report by the Pensions Policy Institute.
24 February 2004 [Full Story]
People and Events
Politics
Join the YES campaign to keep our political voice
Like all trade unions, Usdaw can only run its political campaigns by using a separate Political Fund.
Legislation means Usdaw has to ballot its members every 10 years on whether to keep the Political Fund. This vote - the ‘Political Fund ballot’ - will be held in October this year, and Usdaw is aiming to make sure that a majority of its members vote YES to keep the Political Fund.
24 February 2004 [Full Story]
Labour Partys Big Conversation
The Labour Party’s public consultation exercise, launched last November, will provide the ‘real life’ issues on which the Government will fight the next election, according to reports.
24 February 2004 [Full Story]
Politics - news in brief
News about the private members bill to keep shops shut on Christmas Day, possible lowering of the voting age to 16 and reports on a modernisation fund for unions.
24 February 2004 [Full Story]
Why you should vote in the European election
For the first time in European history, nearly 400 million citizens will vote in the same election when Europe-wide polls for Members of the European Parliament (MEP) are held in June 2004. Richard Corbett, Labour MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber, explains the crucial importance of Britain’s European voice.
24 February 2004 [Full Story]
Recruitment and Organising
Transport
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