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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-GB link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><h1 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span style='font-size:30.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#66667F'>News Brief 27 February 2015<o:p></o:p></span></h1><div style='border:none;border-bottom:solid #F2E3CE 1.0pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;margin-bottom:24.0pt'><div><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td style='padding:7.5pt 7.5pt 7.5pt 7.5pt'><div style='margin-right:6.0pt;margin-bottom:6.0pt;float:left'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/node/2392"><img border=0 width=150 height=100 src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/ierlogo-newssection.img_assist_custom.gif" align=left hspace=12 v:shapes="_x0000_s1040"></a><![endif]><o:p></o:p></p></div><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><b><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/node/2392"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>View in your browser</span></a></span></b><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><b><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>By Claudia O’Brian</span></b><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="87%" style='width:87.0%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td width="100%" colspan=2 valign=top style='width:100.0%;padding:7.5pt 7.5pt 7.5pt 7.5pt'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td width="40%" valign=top style='width:40.0%;padding:7.5pt 7.5pt 7.5pt 7.5pt'><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><div style='margin-right:6.0pt;margin-bottom:6.0pt;float:left'><p class=MsoNormal><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1039" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/fair-pay-fortnight" style='position:absolute;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:150pt;height:75pt;z-index:251689984;mso-position-horizontal:left;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:top;mso-position-vertical-relative:line;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page' o:allowoverlap="f" o:button="t">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/fair-pay-fortnight"><img border=0 width=200 height=100 src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/Screen%20Shot%202015-02-20%20at%2006.55.24.png" align=left hspace=12 v:shapes="_x0000_s1039"></a><![endif]><o:p></o:p></p></div><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>It’s the second week of Fair Pay Fortnight – part of the TUC’s Britain Needs a Pay Rise campaign. It aims to raise awareness about low pay, pay inequality and the need for higher pay settlements in the public and private sector. Click on the icon to access the great resources and infographics available. Join the debate on twitter: #fairpayfortnight</span><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#1F497D'> </span><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#404040'>and watch </span><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#1F497D'><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/new-you-tube-clip-ewing-hendy">IER’s collective bargaining video</a> </span><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#404040'>on how best to deliver fair pay.</span><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>There’s plenty in the news this week that shows how in need of fair pay British workers are. Click through on the stories below to read more.<o:p></o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td width="60%" valign=top style='width:60.0%;padding:7.5pt 7.5pt 7.5pt 7.5pt'><h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><i><span style='font-size:17.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#203864'>Blogs</span></i><span style='font-size:17.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#203864'><o:p></o:p></span></h2><h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span style='font-size:17.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#203864'>Extending Rights for Workers<o:p></o:p></span></h2><div style='margin-right:6.0pt;margin-bottom:6.0pt;float:left'><p class=MsoNormal><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" href="http://www.ier.org.uk/blog/extending-rights-workers" style='position:absolute;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:105.75pt;height:130.5pt;z-index:251659264;mso-position-horizontal:left;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:top;mso-position-vertical-relative:line;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page' o:allowoverlap="f" o:button="t">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/blog/extending-rights-workers"><img border=0 width=141 height=174 src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/andrew%20james.png" align=left hspace=12 v:shapes="_x0000_s1026"></a><![endif]><o:p></o:p></p></div><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><b><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>By Andrew James, Solicitor</span></b><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>The proliferation of zero-hour contracts is quite gaining attention. However, Andrew James points out that “ZHCs are simply one of a number of different forms of exploitative employment relationship which now exist in the type of casualised and de-regulated labour market that characterises many Western economies”. In this blog, James analyses the legislation allowing for an increasingly unequal relationship between employee and employer, and offers some suggestions moving forward…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/blog/extending-rights-workers"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>Read the full blog here…</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><i><span style='font-size:17.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#66667F'>News</span></i><span style='font-size:17.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#66667F'><o:p></o:p></span></h2><h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span style='font-size:17.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#203864'>ILO upholds right to strike<o:p></o:p></span></h2><div style='margin-right:6.0pt;margin-bottom:6.0pt;float:left'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/right-strike-re-affirmed-ilo" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:75pt;height:55.5pt;z-index:251661312;mso-position-horizontal:left;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:top;mso-position-vertical-relative:line;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page' o:allowoverlap="f" o:button="t">
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</span><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>UK companies used 1.8 million zero-hours contracts last summer, Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show. This has increased from last January’s 1.4 million. On average, someone on a zero-hours contract works around 25 hours a week – compared to 37 hours per week for those not on the contracts. A third of them say they want more hours.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/zero-hours-contracts-rise"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>Read More…</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span style='font-size:17.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#203864'>Council and NHS employers are not doing enough to limit zero-hours contracts<o:p></o:p></span></h2><div style='margin-right:6.0pt;margin-bottom:6.0pt;float:left'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1029" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/council-and-nhs-employers-are-not-doing-enough-limit-zero-hours-contracts" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:75pt;height:55.5pt;z-index:251665408;mso-position-horizontal:left;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:top;mso-position-vertical-relative:line;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page' o:allowoverlap="f" o:button="t">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/council-and-nhs-employers-are-not-doing-enough-limit-zero-hours-contracts"><img border=0 width=100 height=74 src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/ierlogo-newssection.thumbnail.gif" align=left hspace=12 v:shapes="_x0000_s1029"></a><![endif]><o:p></o:p></p></div><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>Wednesday’s (26 February) ONS statistics showed the number of workers trapped on zero-hours contracts has now reached 1.8 million. Given the exploitative nature of the contracts, public sector employers are not doing enough to curb their use. Zero-hours contracts became popular in the late 1980s and 90s, but it is in the last ten years that their popularity has really boomed – rising by 25% in 2012 alone. Increasingly, their use has extended to high skilled and white collar staff. Maternity rights, holiday and sick pay, job security and financial stability are becoming further out of reach for the majority of the UK workforce.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/council-and-nhs-employers-are-not-doing-enough-limit-zero-hours-contracts"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>Read More…</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span style='font-size:17.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#203864'>Modern Slavery Bill debated in Lords<o:p></o:p></span></h2><div style='margin-right:6.0pt;margin-bottom:6.0pt;float:left'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1030" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/modern-slavery-bill-debated-lords" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:75pt;height:55.5pt;z-index:251667456;mso-position-horizontal:left;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:top;mso-position-vertical-relative:line;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page' o:allowoverlap="f" o:button="t">
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</span><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>This Wednesday (February 25) the Modern Slavery Bill went through report stage in the House of Lords. The Bill is intended to strengthen protections against forced labour and human trafficking. Although a welcome and necessary step, we reported in December that the Modern Slavery Bill doesn’t do enough – particularly because it does not provide for adequate victim protection.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/modern-slavery-bill-debated-lords"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>Read More…</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span style='font-size:17.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#203864'>Migration targets: What’s the government missing?<o:p></o:p></span></h2><div style='margin-right:6.0pt;margin-bottom:6.0pt;float:left'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1031" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/migration-targets-what-government-missing" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:75pt;height:55.5pt;z-index:251669504;mso-position-horizontal:left;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:top;mso-position-vertical-relative:line;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page' o:allowoverlap="f" o:button="t">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/migration-targets-what-government-missing"><img border=0 width=100 height=74 src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/ierlogo-newssection.thumbnail.gif" align=left hspace=12 v:shapes="_x0000_s1031"></a><![endif]><o:p></o:p></p></div><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>Immigration has hit the headlines this week with the news that the government has completely failed to reach its target of reducing net annual immigration to 100,000, “no ifs, no buts” – a target that should never have been set in the first place.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#1F497D'><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/migration-targets-what-government-missing">Read More…</a></span><span class=MsoHyperlink><o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span style='font-size:17.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#203864'>Five million earn below the living wage<o:p></o:p></span></h2><div style='margin-right:6.0pt;margin-bottom:6.0pt;float:left'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1032" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/5-million-earn-below-living-wage" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:75pt;height:55.5pt;z-index:251671552;mso-position-horizontal:left;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:top;mso-position-vertical-relative:line;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page' o:allowoverlap="f" o:button="t">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/5-million-earn-below-living-wage"><img border=0 width=100 height=74 src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/ierlogo-newssection.thumbnail.gif" align=left hspace=12 v:shapes="_x0000_s1032"></a><![endif]><o:p></o:p></p></div><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>A shocking 5 million UK workers out of a 30.6 million strong workforce earn below the living wage, TUC research has revealed. One in five workers are on less than £7.85 (£9.15 in London) – calculated as the minimum needed to sustain a decent but basic standard of living. TUC analysis has revealed some particular blackspots – the constituency of Birmingham Northfield has the highest proportion of below living wage workers – 53% of men and 63% of women.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/5-million-earn-below-living-wage"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>Read More…</span></a></span><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#203864'><o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span style='font-size:17.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#203864'>Public procurement regulations rushed through<o:p></o:p></span></h2><div style='margin-right:6.0pt;margin-bottom:6.0pt;float:left'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1033" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/public-procurement-regulations-rushed-through" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:75pt;height:55.5pt;z-index:251673600;mso-position-horizontal:left;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:top;mso-position-vertical-relative:line;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page' o:allowoverlap="f" o:button="t">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/public-procurement-regulations-rushed-through"><img border=0 width=100 height=74 src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/ierlogo-newssection.thumbnail.gif" align=left hspace=12 v:shapes="_x0000_s1033"></a><![endif]><o:p></o:p></p></div><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>New public procurement regulations have come into force today (27 February). The public procurement regulations were first laid before parliament on 5 February of this year. Just 22 days later they have come into force, as the government scrambles to push through legislation before the general election. The EU directive on public procurement was passed in March 2014, and governments were given until April 2016 to pass the directive until law. Most countries are making use of the full time given.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/public-procurement-regulations-rushed-through"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>Read More…</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span style='font-size:17.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#66667F'>New on the Coalition Timeline<o:p></o:p></span></h2><div><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/resources/coalition-timeline"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=250 height=136 id="_x0000_i1025" src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/Screen%20Shot%202014-07-25%20at%2011.29.14.img_assist_custom.png"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></div><h3 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#66667F'><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/resources/coalition-timeline"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>Click here to see the Coalition Timeline</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></h3><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'> </span><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#66667F'>Pay and Benefits<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:24.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#413839'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>TUC: Executive pay is set by out of touch elite<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:24.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#413839'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>Low pay commission: minimum wage should be at £6.70<o:p></o:p></span></p><h3 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#66667F'>Economy<o:p></o:p></span></h3><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:24.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#413839'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>Unpaid overtime contributes £32bn to UK economy<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'> <o:p></o:p></span></h2></td><td width="40%" valign=top style='width:40.0%;padding:7.5pt 7.5pt 7.5pt 7.5pt'><h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span style='font-size:17.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#203864'>Collective Bargaining Video – Why we need it<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p class=MsoNormal><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1041" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/johnhendy_0.img_assist_custom.png" href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/new-you-tube-clip-ewing-hendy" style='position:absolute;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:112.5pt;height:134.25pt;z-index:251694080;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:left;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:top;mso-position-vertical-relative:line;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page' o:allowoverlap="f" o:button="t">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/new-you-tube-clip-ewing-hendy"><img border=0 width=150 height=179 src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/johnhendy_0.img_assist_custom.png" align=left hspace=12 alt="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/johnhendy_0.img_assist_custom.png" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1"></a><![endif]><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/new-you-tube-clip-ewing-hendy"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 id="_x0000_i1026" src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/keith%20ewing.img_assist_custom.png"></span></a><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>To mark #fairpayfortnight we have released a video on collective bargaining. What is it? Why do we need it? What will be the consequences of its restoration? Keith Ewing and John Hendy explain all…</span><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/new-you-tube-clip-ewing-hendy"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>Watch the <b>collective bargaining</b> video here</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span style='font-size:17.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></h2><h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span style='font-size:17.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%'>Forthcoming Events<o:p></o:p></span></h2><h3 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#66667F'>International Women’s Day, 2015<o:p></o:p></span></h3><div style='margin-right:6.0pt;margin-bottom:6.0pt;float:left'><p class=MsoNormal><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1042" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style='position:absolute;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:232.5pt;height:90pt;z-index:251696128;mso-position-horizontal:left;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:top;mso-position-vertical-relative:line;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page' o:allowoverlap="f">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=310 height=120 src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/Screen%20Shot%202015-02-27%20at%2018.03.57.preview.png" align=left hspace=12 v:shapes="_x0000_s1042"><![endif]><o:p></o:p></p></div><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><b><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>People’s History Museum, Manchester</span></b><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><i><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>8 March 2015, 2pm-5pm</span></i><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>In the five years that the Coalition Government has been in power, women and families have born the brunt of their so-called ‘austerity’ cuts. To celebrate International Women’s Day, Thomson’s Solicitors are holding an event in Manchester. The programme of events includes a discussion on <b>ending apartheid in Palestine</b>, a short play – <b>Soledad – one woman’s experience of the Spanish Civil War</b> and a panel of women MPs discussing <b>why we need to vote</b>. For more information contact<i><a href="mailto:teerenasmith@thompsons.law.co.uk">teerenasmith@thompsons.law.co.uk</a></i><o:p></o:p></span></p><h3 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#66667F'>Employment law after the election: what do we want?, The Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool<o:p></o:p></span></h3><div style='margin-right:6.0pt;margin-bottom:6.0pt;float:left'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1038" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:75pt;height:91.5pt;z-index:251687936;mso-position-horizontal:left;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:top;mso-position-vertical-relative:line;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page' o:allowoverlap="f">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=100 height=122 src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/flyer%20cover.img_assist_custom.png" align=left hspace=12 v:shapes="_x0000_s1038"><![endif]><o:p></o:p></p></div><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><b><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>Wednesday 25th March 2014</span></b><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'><br>Following the tremendous success of the IER’s <b><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/blog/what-kind-laws-do-we-want-report-ier-conference"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>What We Want conference in London</span></a></b> on 11 February, a similar, half-day event will take place in Liverpool to allow more people to engage in the debate. The conference will be a key event in the run-up to the general election, asking how the lives and living standards of Britain’s population can be improved under a new government.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>A summary of the London event is available to read <a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/events/employment-law-after-election-what-kind-laws-do-we-want-london"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>here</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>What laws do you want after the election? Let us know on #ierwhatwewant.<o:p></o:p></span></p><h3 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-color:#203864;mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha:100.0%;font-weight:normal'>Bill Wedderburn Lecture addressed by Len McCluskey, 19 March 2015</span><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;font-weight:normal'>: </span><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#66667F'>Can unions stay within the law any longer?<o:p></o:p></span></h3><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>This meeting will be held at The Royal College of Surgeons, 35-43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3PE at 6.30pm. The attendance fee will be waived for Trade Union members. More information and online booking is available <a href="http://www.industriallawsociety.org.uk/ils_events/66"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>here</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span style='font-size:17.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#66667F'>New – Election 2015: What’s at stake for work, pay and trade unions?<o:p></o:p></span></h2><div style='margin-right:6.0pt;margin-bottom:6.0pt;float:left'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1037" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:75pt;height:112.5pt;z-index:251685888;mso-position-horizontal:left;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:top;mso-position-vertical-relative:line;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page' o:allowoverlap="f">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=100 height=150 src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/Screen%20Shot%202015-02-13%20at%2019.00.26.png" align=left hspace=12 v:shapes="_x0000_s1037"><![endif]><o:p></o:p></p></div><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><b><i><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>Contributors:</span></i></b><i><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'> Professor Tonia Novitz, University of Bristol Law School; Professor Ozlem Onaran, University of Greenwich; Dr Lydia Hayes, Cardiff University; Carolyn Jones, Institute of Employment Rights; and James Lazou, Unite the Union.</span></i><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>This guide outlines the scale of the fall in living standards since 2008, the explosion of low-wage, insecure work and how working people and their unions have seen their rights attacked. By explaining the link between strong trade unions, widespread collective bargaining and lower inequality the pamphlet suggests short and long term policy interventions that would improve the living standards of working people and begin to steer the economy in a more equitable direction with collective bargaining at its core.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>You can read and download the election guide<a href="http://www.classonline.org.uk/projects/election-2015-whats-at-stake"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>here</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0cm'><span style='font-size:17.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#66667F'>Publications<o:p></o:p></span></h2><div style='margin-right:6.0pt;margin-bottom:6.0pt;float:left'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1036" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" href="http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/justice-deferred-critical-guide-coalitions-employment-tribunal-reforms" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:75pt;height:102pt;z-index:251683840;mso-position-horizontal:left;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:top;mso-position-vertical-relative:line;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page' o:allowoverlap="f" o:button="t">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/justice-deferred-critical-guide-coalitions-employment-tribunal-reforms"><img border=0 width=100 height=136 src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/Justice%20Deferred%20Publication%20cover.img_assist_custom.jpg" align=left hspace=12 v:shapes="_x0000_s1036"></a><![endif]><o:p></o:p></p></div><h3 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#66667F'><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/justice-deferred-critical-guide-coalitions-employment-tribunal-reforms"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>Justice Deferred: a critical guide to the Coalition’s employment tribunal reforms</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></h3><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><b><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>By David Renton and Anna Macey</span></b><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>This publication offers a chilling reminder of the extent to which access to justice is being systematically shut down by the Coalition government.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style='margin-right:6.0pt;margin-bottom:6.0pt;float:left'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1035" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:75pt;height:102pt;z-index:251681792;mso-position-horizontal:left;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:top;mso-position-vertical-relative:line;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page' o:allowoverlap="f">
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</span><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'><o:p></o:p></span></p><h3 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#66667F'><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/trade-unions-and-economic-inequality"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>Trade Unions and Economic Inequality</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></h3><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><b><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>By Dr Lydia Hayes and Professor Tonia Novitz</span></b><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>What is the point of trade unions? What do they deliver? Are trade unions relevant in 21st century modern society? These and many other questions are answered by the authors of this timely and well presented report. Order your copy<a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/trade-unions-and-economic-inequality"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'> here</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style='margin-right:6.0pt;margin-bottom:6.0pt;float:left'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1034" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:75pt;height:102pt;z-index:251679744;mso-position-horizontal:left;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:top;mso-position-vertical-relative:line;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page' o:allowoverlap="f">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=100 height=136 src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/re-regulating%20zero%20hours%20coontracts%20cover_0.img_assist_custom.png" align=left hspace=12 v:shapes="_x0000_s1034"><![endif]><o:p></o:p></p></div><h3 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#66667F'><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/re-regulating-zero-hours-contracts"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>Re-regulating Zero Hours Contracts</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></h3><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><b><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>By Zoe Adams and Simon Deakin</span></b><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>ZHCs are highly profitable for employers, but lead to insecurity of income and low pay for workers. The authors point to rigidities in employment law and the operation of the tax-benefit system as being responsible for the rise in zero hours contracting. Order your copy<a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/re-regulating-zero-hours-contracts"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'> here</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:gray'>Copyright © IER, 2013, All rights reserved.</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:gray'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:gray'>Our mailing address is:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:gray'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:gray'>Institute of Employment Rights</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:gray'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:gray'>4th Floor</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:gray'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:gray'>Jack Jones House</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:gray'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:gray'>1 Islington</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:gray'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:gray'>Liverpool</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:gray'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:gray'>L3 8EG</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:gray'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><u><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0433FF'><a href="mailto:office@ier.org.uk"><b>office@ier.org.uk</b></a></span></u><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0433FF'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;min-height:15px'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:gray'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:gray'>To unsubscribe, please follow the instructions in the footer. If you are unable to see the footer or have problems unsubscribing, please click here or email </span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:gray'><a href="mailto:unsubscribe@ier.org.uk"><b><span style='color:#0433FF'>unsubscribe@ier.org.uk</span></b></a><b>.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></div></body></html>