<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Helvetica;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS Mincho";
panose-1:2 2 6 9 4 2 5 8 3 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"\@MS Mincho";
panose-1:2 2 6 9 4 2 5 8 3 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
h1
{mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 1 Char";
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0cm;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0cm;
font-size:24.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;
font-weight:bold;}
h2
{mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 2 Char";
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0cm;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0cm;
font-size:18.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;
font-weight:bold;}
h3
{mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 3 Char";
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0cm;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0cm;
font-size:13.5pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;
font-weight:bold;}
h4
{mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 4 Char";
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0cm;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0cm;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;
font-weight:bold;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0cm;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0cm;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
span.Heading1Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 1 Char";
mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 1";
font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;
color:#2E74B5;
mso-fareast-language:EN-GB;}
span.Heading2Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 2 Char";
mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 2";
font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;
color:#2E74B5;
mso-fareast-language:EN-GB;}
span.Heading3Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 3 Char";
mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 3";
font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;
color:#1F4D78;
mso-fareast-language:EN-GB;}
span.Heading4Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 4 Char";
mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 4";
font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;
color:#2E74B5;
mso-fareast-language:EN-GB;
font-style:italic;}
span.EmailStyle22
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1036" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-GB link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><div><div><div><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 20 March 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 style='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'><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/node/2441" target="_blank"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=150 height=100 id="_x0000_i1025" src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/ierlogo-newssection.img_assist_custom.gif"></span></a><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/2441" target="_blank"><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></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><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'><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'> </span><span style='font-size:17.5pt;color:#413839'>Dominating the headlines this week was the delivery of Osborne’s sixth and last budget. Having failed to reduce the deficit as promised, he claimed that “Britain is walking tall again” with faster growth than any major economy, and living standards to match. “This is a Budget that takes Britain one more big step on the road from austerity to prosperity” yet the most basic analysis of his budget shows that all it actually spells is more austerity. Osborne’s rhetoric offers little to the workers who have suffered seven years of falling wages and shrinking employment rights. Read a collection of responses to the budget that pick apart the Tory spin </span><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/responses-budget" target="_blank"><span style='font-size:17.5pt;color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>here</span></a></span><span style='font-size:17.5pt;color:#413839'>.</span><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'><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:#66667F'>Blogs</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:#66667F'>IMF says unions are key to tackling inequality: Are you listening Osborne?<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: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">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter" />
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0" />
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0" />
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1" />
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2" />
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth" />
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight" />
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1" />
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2" />
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth" />
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0" />
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight" />
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0" />
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" />
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t" />
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" href="http://" target=""_blank"" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:112.5pt;height:158.25pt;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">
<v:imagedata src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/Reconstruction%20after%20the%20crisis.img_assist_custom.jpg" />
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><a href="http://" target=""_blank""><img border=0 width=150 height=211 src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/Reconstruction%20after%20the%20crisis.img_assist_custom.jpg" 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 Sabina Dewan and Gregory Randolph</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'>As George Osborne delivers his last budget under this Coalition Government, we wonder if he has paid any attention to a recent report published by the International Monetary Fund on how to build a better future. We guess not. Why? Because the report reiterates what we have been saying for some time – that rising inequality is in part due to a decline in unionisation. According to the IMF report, even if governments and the private sector manage to create jobs and boost GDP, it will not result in greater equality unless unions have a key role in helping boost wages. The following report by the above authors sets out the case.<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/imf-says-unions-are-key-tackling-inequality-are-you-listening-osborne" target="_blank"><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:#66667F'>What do the latest labour market figures tell us?<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/what-do-latest-labour-market-figures-tell-us" target=""_blank"" 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">
<v:imagedata src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/ierlogo-newssection.thumbnail.gif" />
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/what-do-latest-labour-market-figures-tell-us" target=""_blank""><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_s1027"></a><![endif]><o:p></o:p></p></div><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>We have reported many a time that falling unemployment figures masks the more sinister reality of the new jobs market; casualisation, underemployment, zero hours contracts and bogus self employment. We know that the increasing quantity of jobs is not being matched by quality. As Frances O’Grady said: “Wages are stuck in the slow lane of recovery and are not set to be back to their pre-recession levels until the end of the next parliament. Underemployment has fallen very little since the recession, so problems remain with the quality and security of jobs that people are getting. We are still not seeing any significant progress on youth unemployment, which raises concerns that young people are being shut out of the recovery.” The latest labour market statistics also show that women, young people and people from BAMEbackgrounds are faring the worst.<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/what-do-latest-labour-market-figures-tell-us" target="_blank"><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'>Barristers condemn ET fees<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_s1028" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/barristers-condemn-et-fees" target=""_blank"" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:75pt;height:55.5pt;z-index:251663360;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">
<v:imagedata src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/ierlogo-newssection.thumbnail.gif" />
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/barristers-condemn-et-fees" target=""_blank""><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_s1028"></a><![endif]><o:p></o:p></p></div><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>The Employment Law Bar Association has written an open letter to Chris Grayling MP, Jo Swinson MP, Shailish Vara MP and Chuka Umunna MP expressing concerns about the impact of fees on access to justice in the employment tribunals, and calling for a review. The letter says employment tribunal fees are a barrier to justice, and has been signed by 40 QCs and over 400 barristers who specialise in employment law.<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/barristers-condemn-et-fees" target="_blank"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>Read the letter 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'>Minimum wage to increase, minimally<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/minimum-wage-increase-minimally" target=""_blank"" 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">
<v:imagedata src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/ierlogo-newssection.thumbnail.gif" />
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/minimum-wage-increase-minimally" target=""_blank""><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'>The minimum wage will increase to £6.70 this October, a rise of 3%. The government has accepted the Low Pay Commission’s recommendation, and will also rise rates for younger workers and apprentices. The minimum wage for 18- to 20-year-olds will increase from £5.13 to £5.30 (3%) and by 8p to £3.87 for 16- and 17-year-olds (2%). The rate for apprentices will rise by 57p to £3.30, an increase of 20%, which constitutes the biggest ever rise.<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/minimum-wage-increase-minimally" target="_blank"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>Read More…</span></a><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:17.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#66667F'>New Collective Bargaining Video – Why we need it<o:p></o:p></span></h2><div><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/new-you-tube-clip-ewing-hendy" target="_blank"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 id="_x0000_i1030" src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/keith%20ewing.img_assist_custom.png"></span></a><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/new-you-tube-clip-ewing-hendy" target="_blank"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=150 height=179 id="_x0000_i1031" src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/johnhendy_0.img_assist_custom.png"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></div><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><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…<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" target="_blank"><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:#66667F'>IER Manifesto for Collective Bargaining<o:p></o:p></span></h2><div><p class=MsoNormal><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1030" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" href="http://www.ier.org.uk/resources/reconstruction-after-crisis-manifesto-collective-bargaining" target=""_blank"" style='position:absolute;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:112.5pt;height:112.5pt;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">
<v:imagedata src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/Collective%20Bargaining%20infographic.thumbnail.jpg" />
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/resources/reconstruction-after-crisis-manifesto-collective-bargaining" target=""_blank""><img border=0 width=150 height=150 src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/Collective%20Bargaining%20infographic.thumbnail.jpg" align=left hspace=12 v:shapes="_x0000_s1030"></a><![endif]><o:p></o:p></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/resources/ten-point-collective-bargaining-manifesto" target="_blank"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>Read the ten-point manifesto</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></h3><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/reconstruction-after-crisis-manifesto-collective-bargaining" target="_blank"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>Buy the book</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></h3><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/watch-experts" target="_blank"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>VIDEOS: Watch the experts</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></h3><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/listen-experts" target="_blank"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>PODCASTS: Listen to the experts</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></h3><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></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:#66667F'>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'>Campaign for Trade Union Freedom Event: Defeating Austerity, Free Trade Deals and Attacks on Trade Union Rights<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_s1035" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:230.25pt;height:61.5pt;z-index:251677696;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">
<v:imagedata src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/Screen%20Shot%202015-03-13%20at%2016.20.56_0_0.png" />
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=307 height=82 src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/Screen%20Shot%202015-03-13%20at%2016.20.56_0_0.png" align=left hspace=12 v:shapes="_x0000_s1035"><![endif]><o:p></o:p></p></div><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>As we hurtle towards the general election two things are clear – Austerity must go and so must this Coalition government. We want politicians who inspire and policies that work for the people. We want an end to attacks on trade unions and their members. Join one of the rallies in Liverpool and Cardiff and show your support. Another world is possible.<b> Free entry</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><b><i><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#413839'><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/events/campaign-trade-union-freedom-event-defeating-austerity-free-trade-deals-and-attacks-trade-uni" target="_blank"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>Liverpool</span></a>: Wednesday 25th March 2015, 6pm.</span></i></b><b><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#413839'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><b><i><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#413839'><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/events/campaign-trade-union-freedom-event-defeating-austerity-free-trade-deals-and-attacks-trade-u-0" target="_blank"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>Cardiff</span></a>: Monday 13th April 2015, 6pm<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><i><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>RSVP to the event <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/916506425060417/" target="_blank"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>here</span></a> or by email<b><a href="mailto:office@ier.org.uk" target="_blank">office@ier.org.uk</a></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><h3 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><i><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#66667F'>New Resource<o:p></o:p></span></i></h3><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'><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/resources/access-justice-2010-2015" target="_blank"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>Access to Justice 2010-2015</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></h2><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><i><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>The Beecroft report, employment tribunal fees, the removal of wing members, reduction of limits on tribunal awards for unfair dismissal; The Coalition’s reformation of the employment dispute system has succeeded in making accessing justice even more difficult than it already was. We have gathered news, blogs, research and publications documenting the events of the last few years and their consequences together in one place. <b>Take a look <a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/resources/access-justice-2010-2015" target="_blank"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>here</span></a>.</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></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'>New – Election 2015: What’s at stake for work, pay and trade unions?<o:p></o:p></span></i></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_s1034" 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:251675648;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">
<v:imagedata src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/Screen%20Shot%202015-02-13%20at%2019.00.26.png" />
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</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_s1034"><![endif]><i><o:p></o:p></i></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.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><i><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></i></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><i><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" target="_blank"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>here</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></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'>Publications<o:p></o:p></span></i></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/publications/justice-deferred-critical-guide-coalitions-employment-tribunal-reforms" target=""_blank"" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:75pt;height:102pt;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">
<v:imagedata src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/Justice%20Deferred%20Publication%20cover.img_assist_custom.jpg" />
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/justice-deferred-critical-guide-coalitions-employment-tribunal-reforms" target=""_blank""><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_s1033"></a><![endif]><i><o:p></o:p></i></p></div><h3 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><i><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" target="_blank"><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></i></h3><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><b><i><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>By David Renton and Anna Macey</span></i></b><i><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><i><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></i></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_s1031" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:75pt;height:102pt;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">
<v:imagedata src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/trade%20unions%20and%20economic%20inequality.img_assist_custom.png" />
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=100 height=136 src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/trade%20unions%20and%20economic%20inequality.img_assist_custom.png" align=left hspace=12 v:shapes="_x0000_s1031"><![endif]><i><o:p></o:p></i></p></div><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><i><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:"MS Mincho";color:#413839'>
</span></i><i><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><h3 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><i><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" target="_blank"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>Trade Unions and Economic Inequality</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></h3><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><b><i><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>By Dr Lydia Hayes and Professor Tonia Novitz</span></i></b><i><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><i><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" target="_blank"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'> here</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></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_s1032" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:75pt;height:102pt;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">
<v:imagedata src="http://www.ier.org.uk/sites/ier.org.uk/files/images/re-regulating%20zero%20hours%20coontracts%20cover_0.img_assist_custom.png" />
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</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_s1032"><![endif]><i><o:p></o:p></i></p></div><h3 style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><i><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" target="_blank"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>Re-regulating Zero Hours Contracts</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></h3><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><b><i><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'>By Zoe Adams and Simon Deakin</span></i></b><i><span style='font-size:14.5pt;color:#413839'><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style='mso-line-height-alt:14.4pt'><i><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" target="_blank"><span style='color:#66667F;text-decoration:none'>here</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></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" target="_blank"><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" target="_blank"><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></div></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></body></html>