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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-GB link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=600 style='width:450.0pt;background:#F2E3CE'><tr><td style='padding:11.25pt 11.25pt 11.25pt 11.25pt'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr><td width="56%" style='width:56.0%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'>IER News Brief 01/04/16<o:p></o:p></p></td><td width="40%" style='width:40.0%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right;line-height:105%'><a href="http://www.twitter.com/ieruk">Follow us on Twitter</a><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width="4%" style='width:4.0%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right;line-height:105%'> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='display:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr><td width="75%" style='width:75.0%;background:#66667F;padding:11.25pt 11.25pt 11.25pt 11.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><a name="Top_of_page"></a><span style='font-size:14.0pt;line-height:105%'>news brief<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;line-height:105%'>Friday 1st April 2016</span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width="25%" style='width:25.0%;background:#66667F;padding:11.25pt 11.25pt 11.25pt 11.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'><img border=0 width=121 height=82 id="Picture_x0020_9" src="cid:image001.png@01D18C1E.D146CA40" alt="image description"></span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=2 style='padding:11.25pt 11.25pt 11.25pt 11.25pt'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr><td width="100%" colspan=4 style='width:100.0%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='color:#1F497D'>Alert readers of our News Brief may have notice the lack of a Brief last Friday. Apologies. The omission was not due to a shortage of news – more a shortage of staff! Holidays, time out and illness prevented our normal Friday round-up. However, we aim to be back on track as soon as possible, providing you with all the latest news and information on employment rights and trade union freedoms on a regular basis. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='color:#1F497D'>It’s appropriate that on the day the government’s alleged “living Wage” is implemented, our News Brief starts with a look at the state of collective bargaining throughout Europe. Researchers at Manchester University studied the decline in collective bargaining across seven EU states and their excellent blog outlines the systematic attack being undertaken throughout the EU in the name of austerity. Watch out for future blogs in the same series.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='color:#1F497D'>A report on our recent </span><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/events/eu-developments-has-social-europe-disintegrated-liverpool-0">debate in Liverpool on the EU referendum</a><span style='color:#1F497D'> is also included as is information on our forthcoming conference </span><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/events/human-rights-vs-bill-rights-whats-it-workers-london">Human Rights vs Bill of Rights: what’s in it for workers?</a> <span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><br> <br>Subscribers receive all of our publications free and discount rates on our conferences. <a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/subscribe"><span class=auto-style13><span style='color:blue'>Subscribe now</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr style='height:38.25pt'><td width="99%" colspan=3 style='width:99.44%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:38.25pt'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr style='height:11.25pt'><td style='padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:11.25pt'></td></tr><tr style='height:11.25pt'><td style='background:#A43F65;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:11.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'> News and comment<o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr style='height:3.75pt'><td style='padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:3.75pt'></td></tr></table></td><td width="0%" style='width:.56%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:38.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'> <span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr style='height:84.95pt'><td width="20%" valign=top style='width:20.18%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:84.95pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'><img border=0 width=102 height=85 id="_x0000_i1026" src="cid:image002.png@01D18C1E.D146CA40"></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width="0%" style='width:.12%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:84.95pt'></td><td width="79%" colspan=2 valign=top style='width:79.7%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:84.95pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span lang=EN><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span lang=EN>In the first of a series of articles highlighting the impact of EU austerity measures on levels of collective bargaining across seven EU member states, the authors provide an overview of their recent research. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/blog/eu-exporting-uk-neoliberalism-rest-europe"> >click here to read full story</a><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width="20%" valign=top style='width:20.18%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'><img border=0 width=102 height=85 id="_x0000_i1027" src="cid:image002.png@01D18C1E.D146CA40"></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width="0%" style='width:.12%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'></td><td width="79%" colspan=2 valign=top style='width:79.7%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span lang=EN>Members of the Scottish Parliament will be asked to pledge not to implement aspects of the Trade Union Bill that conflict with human rights obligations </span><br><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/scottish-tuc-plan-ask-msps-pledge-not-implement-aspects-trade-union-bill">> click here to read full story</a><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr style='height:93.55pt'><td width="20%" valign=top style='width:20.18%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:93.55pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'><img border=0 width=105 height=97 id="_x0000_i1028" src="cid:image003.png@01D18C1E.D146CA40"></span><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'><img border=0 width=98 height=93 id="_x0000_i1029" src="cid:image004.png@01D18C1E.D146CA40"></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width="0%" style='width:.12%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:93.55pt'></td><td width="79%" colspan=2 valign=top style='width:79.7%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:93.55pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span lang=EN>This week <span class=caps>UNISON</span> called for action from the government to ensure homecare workers receive pay for travel time.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/news/take-care-care-workers">> click here to read full story</a><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'>Just three months before the EU referendum, an IER debate in Liverpool asked Is Social Europe disintegrating? The event provided an opportunity for people to consider the arguments and express their opinion on the EU – an opinion that should be based on facts not fear. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='color:#1F497D'>> </span><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/events/eu-developments-has-social-europe-disintegrated-liverpool-0">Click here to read the full story</a><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width="100%" colspan=4 style='width:100.0%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr style='height:11.25pt'><td style='padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:11.25pt'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr style='height:38.25pt'><td colspan=3 style='padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:38.25pt'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr style='height:11.25pt'><td style='padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:11.25pt'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr><td style='padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr style='height:11.25pt'><td style='background:#773B6A;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:11.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'> Events<o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr style='height:3.75pt'><td style='padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:3.75pt'></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td width="18%" valign=top style='width:18.7%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><o:p> </o:p></p></td><td width="1%" style='width:1.64%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><o:p> </o:p></p></td><td width="79%" valign=top style='width:79.66%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><o:p> </o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td width="18%" valign=top style='width:18.7%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/node/2943"><span style='color:windowtext;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=93 height=106 id="_x0000_i1030" src="cid:image005.jpg@01D18C1E.D146CA40"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width="1%" style='width:1.64%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'></td><td width="79%" valign=top style='width:79.66%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span class=auto-style6>LONDON: Human Rights vs. Bill of Rights: What's in it for workers?</span><br><strong><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#777777'>27 April 2016 - 09:30 - 15:30</span></strong><b><span style='color:#777777'><br><strong><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Unite the Union, London</span></strong></span></b><span style='color:#777777'><br>How far has the Government gone towards its promised British Bill of Rights? More importantly, how would such changes impact on the rights of UK citizens at work, in society and in the economy?</span><br><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/node/2943">> click here to read more</a><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td width="18%" valign=top style='width:18.7%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/node/2944"><span style='color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=99 height=114 id="_x0000_i1031" src="cid:image006.jpg@01D18C1E.D146CA40"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width="1%" style='width:1.64%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'></td><td width="79%" valign=top style='width:79.66%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span class=auto-style6>LIVERPOOL: Human Rights vs. Bill of Rights: What's in it for workers?</span><br><strong><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#777777'>19 May 2016 - 09:30 - 15:30</span></strong><b><span style='color:#777777'><br><strong><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Unite the Union, Liverpool</span></strong></span></b><span style='color:#777777'><br>How far has the Government gone towards its promised British Bill of Rights? More importantly, how would such changes impact on the rights of UK citizens at work, in society and in the economy?</span><br><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/node/2944">> click here to read more</a><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td width="18%" valign=top style='width:18.7%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/events/public-sector-cuts-privatisation-and-employment-rights-london"><span style='color:windowtext;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=112 height=128 id="_x0000_i1032" src="cid:image007.jpg@01D18C1E.D146CA40"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width="1%" style='width:1.64%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'></td><td width="79%" valign=top style='width:79.66%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span class=auto-style6>LONDON: Public Sector cuts, Privatisation and Employment Rights</span><br><strong><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#777777'>15 June 2016 - 09:30 - 15:30</span></strong><b><span style='color:#777777'><br><strong><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Unite the Union, London</span></strong></span></b><span style='color:#777777'><br>How far has the Government gone towards its promised British Bill of Rights? More importantly, how would such changes impact on the rights of UK citizens at work, in society and in the economy?</span><br><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/events/public-sector-cuts-privatisation-and-employment-rights-london">> click here to read more</a><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td width="18%" valign=top style='width:18.7%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/events/public-sector-cuts-privatisation-and-employment-rights-liverpool"><span style='color:windowtext;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=105 height=120 id="_x0000_i1033" src="cid:image008.jpg@01D18C1E.D146CA40"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width="1%" style='width:1.64%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'></td><td width="79%" valign=top style='width:79.66%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span class=auto-style6>LIVERPOOL: Public Sector cuts, Privatisation and Employment Rights</span><br><strong><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#777777'>05 July 2016 - 09:30 - 15:30</span></strong><b><span style='color:#777777'><br><strong><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Unite the Union, Liverpool</span></strong></span></b><span style='color:#777777'><br>How far has the Government gone towards its promised British Bill of Rights? More importantly, how would such changes impact on the rights of UK citizens at work, in society and in the economy?</span><br><a href="http://www.ier.org.uk/events/public-sector-cuts-privatisation-and-employment-rights-liverpool">> click here to read more</a><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr style='height:11.25pt'><td width="100%" colspan=4 style='width:100.0%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:11.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:105%;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:105%'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:105%'>To unsubscribe contact <a href="mailto:cad@ier.org.uk">cad@ier.org.uk</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:105%'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:105%'>IER 4<sup>th</sup> Floor<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:105%'>Jack Jones House<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:105%'>1 Islington<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:105%'>Liverpool<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:105%'>L3 8EG<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width="20%" style='width:20.18%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'></td><td width="0%" style='width:.12%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'></td><td width="79%" style='width:79.12%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'></td><td width="0%" style='width:.56%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:105%'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='display:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr style='page-break-inside:avoid;height:2.0cm'><td width="64%" valign=top style='width:64.0%;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;mso-rotate:-90;height:2.0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td valign=top style='padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:2.0cm'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right;line-height:105%'><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='display:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr style='height:15.0pt'><td style='padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:15.0pt'></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:center'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>Carolyn Jones<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>Director <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>IER, 4th Floor Jack Jones House<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>1 Islington<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>Liverpool L3 8EG<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>0151 207 5265<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>