| A new government-funded "mental health in work" support service has been launched by specialist employer Remploy. The £4.8 million contract between the Department for Work and Pensions and Remploy Employment Services will see Remploy delivering mental health provision and support under the Access to Work programme in Remploy has said this new service will assist more than 1,600 people with mental health conditions to stay in employment. The service will provide support for six months and will include:  a work-focused counselling service or other tailored work-focused mental health support; provision of a personalised action plan and exit report; employer education; assessing an individual's needs and identifying coping strategies; and identifying reasonable adjustments in the workplace or within the confines of working practice. |
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About Me
- Linda Roy
- Lifetime commitment to the trade union and labour movement. Been local workplace and national CWU representative and held many other positions in the CWU. TUC accredited tutor and disability champion. Former Labour town councillor and town Mayor.
Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Remploy to provide support for mental health problems
Source: Occupational Health. 1 Janauary 2012.
Election of delegates to TUC Womens Conference 2012
Dear Colleague
Please find attached regulations and nomination forms for the above Conference the details of which are as follows:-
TUC WOMEN’S CONFERENCE
Date: 14 March – 16 March 2012
Venue: Congress House, London
Despatch ballot papers: 10 February 2012
Ballot closes: 24 February 2012 (14.00)
Elections of:
CWU Delegates to the TUC Women’s Conference - 2012Please find attached regulations and nomination forms for the above Conference the details of which are as follows:-
TUC WOMEN’S CONFERENCE
Date: 14 March – 16 March 2012
Venue: Congress House, London
Nominations open: 25 January 2012
Nominations close: 8 February 2012 (14.00) Despatch ballot papers: 10 February 2012
Ballot closes: 24 February 2012 (14.00)
Reminders:-
- All candidates for election to the TUC Women’s Conference shall be women.
- All nominees require the nomination of their own Branch.
Yours sincerely,
Tony Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
Employment Law Reforms 2012
Thanks to Linda Stewart at Simpson Millar for supplying he following.
Follow IDS on Twitter or visit our blog at www.idseye.com
News from IDS Brief - Employment law reforms - clarifications and timings
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has confirmed to IDS Brief that the increase in the qualifying period for unfair dismissal claims to two years will only apply to those starting a new job on or after 6 April 2012. Employees whose employment started before 6 April will remain subject to the one-year qualifying period. Thus, someone with 18 months' continuous employment on 6 April will not lose their right to claim unfair dismissal, and an employee with 11 months' service on that date will still only have to wait one month before being able to claim. The regulations to extend the qualifying period will be published shortly and will be subject to Parliamentary debate.
BIS also stated that it will not implement the revised EU Directive on Parental Leave (No. 2010/18) in March 2012. Instead, due to the ongoing Modern Workplaces policy development, the Government will use the additional year's grace allowed by Art. 2(3) of the Directive and implement the changes in March 2013. Consequently, the number of weeks of unpaid parental leave will increase to 18 per parent per child ahead of the other changes proposed in the consultation for 2015, such as a new flexible system of shared parental leave and an extension of the right to request flexible working.
Further details on the intended dates for a number of reforms announced last year as part of the Employment Law Review were given by the Employment Relations Minister Edward Davey in a written answer to Parliament on 17 January. Subject to parliamentary approval, changes to be effected via secondary legislation - witness statements being taken as read, the removal of witness expenses, judges sitting alone in unfair dismissal cases and changes to limits for cost awards and deposit orders - will come into force on 6 April 2012. Measures requiring primary legislation, including early conciliation, financial penalties for employers, judges sitting alone in the EAT as a default arrangement and an amended formula for uprating tribunal awards and redundancy payments, will be implemented when parliamentary time allows. The revised procedural code for employment tribunals expected as a result ofMr Justice Underhill
View Edward Davey's written answer to Parliament in Hansard.
Source: BIS 23/1/2012; Hansard 17/1/2012
BIS also stated that it will not implement the revised EU Directive on Parental Leave (No. 2010/18) in March 2012. Instead, due to the ongoing Modern Workplaces policy development, the Government will use the additional year's grace allowed by Art. 2(3) of the Directive and implement the changes in March 2013. Consequently, the number of weeks of unpaid parental leave will increase to 18 per parent per child ahead of the other changes proposed in the consultation for 2015, such as a new flexible system of shared parental leave and an extension of the right to request flexible working.
Further details on the intended dates for a number of reforms announced last year as part of the Employment Law Review were given by the Employment Relations Minister Edward Davey in a written answer to Parliament on 17 January. Subject to parliamentary approval, changes to be effected via secondary legislation - witness statements being taken as read, the removal of witness expenses, judges sitting alone in unfair dismissal cases and changes to limits for cost awards and deposit orders - will come into force on 6 April 2012. Measures requiring primary legislation, including early conciliation, financial penalties for employers, judges sitting alone in the EAT as a default arrangement and an amended formula for uprating tribunal awards and redundancy payments, will be implemented when parliamentary time allows. The revised procedural code for employment tribunals expected as a result of
View Edward Davey's written answer to Parliament in Hansard.
Source: BIS 23/1/2012; Hansard 17/1/2012
© Incomes Data Services Ltd, 2012 (this news alert may not be reproduced without prior permission of IDS).
www.idsbrief.com www.incomesdata.co.uk Follow IDS on Twitter or visit our blog at www.idseye.com
Friday, 20 January 2012
Gay/Lesbian/Pride events 2012
If you have any events you wish to add please leave a comment with details.
March 2012
The Pride Ball 2012 International Convention Centre Birmingham 23 Mar 2012
April 2012
North Wales Mardi Gras 2012 Beaumaris Centre, Beaumaris, Anglesey 28 Apr 2012
June 2012
Birmingham Gay Pride 2012 The Gay Village, Southside Area, Birmingham 02 Jun 2012
Sheffield Gay Pride 2012 Endcliffe Park, Ruskins Road, Sheffield 02 Jun 2012
Blackpool Gay Pride 2012 Blackpool 09 Jun 2012
Calderdale Pride 2012 The Halifax Piece hall 16 Jun 2012
Gloucestershire Gay Pride 2012 Gloucester Park 16 Jun 2012
Oxford Gay Pride 2012 Oxford 16 Jun 2012
July 2012
World Pride London 2012 London 07 Jul 2012
Bourne Free Pride Festival 2012 Bournemouth 14 Jul 2012
Glasgow Gay Pride 2012 Glasgow 14 Jul 2012
Northern Pride 2012 Leazes Park Newcastle upon Tyne 14 Jul 2012
Hull Pride 2012 West Park Hull 21 Jul 2012
York Pride 2012 Rowntree Park, Terry Avenue, York 21 Jul 2012
Norwich Gay Pride 2012 Norwich 28 Jul 2012
Nottingham Gay Pride 2012 Forest fields recreation ground 28 Jul 2012
August 2012
Liverpool Gay Pride 2012 Pier Head, Liverpool 04 Aug 2012
Swindon & Wiltshire Gay Pride 2012 Swindon 04 Aug 2012
Manchester Gay Pride 2012 Manchesteer 17 Aug 2012
Cornwall Gay Pride 2012 Truro Cornwall 25 Aug 2012
September 2012
Brighton Gay Pride 2012 Brighton Madeira Drive / Preston Park 01 Sep 2012
Cardiff Mardi Gras 2012 Cardiff Coopers Field 01 Sep 2012
Grimsby Pride 2012 Meridian Park, Cleethorpes 01 Sep 2012
Leicester Gay Pride 2012 Victoria Park Leicester 01 Sep 2012
Reading Gay Pride 2012 Kings Meadow Park, Reading 08 Sep 2012
February 2012
National Student Gay Pride 2012 Brighton 25 Feb 2012March 2012
The Pride Ball 2012 International Convention Centre Birmingham 23 Mar 2012
April 2012
North Wales Mardi Gras 2012 Beaumaris Centre, Beaumaris, Anglesey 28 Apr 2012
June 2012
Birmingham Gay Pride 2012 The Gay Village, Southside Area, Birmingham 02 Jun 2012
Sheffield Gay Pride 2012 Endcliffe Park, Ruskins Road, Sheffield 02 Jun 2012
Blackpool Gay Pride 2012 Blackpool 09 Jun 2012
Calderdale Pride 2012 The Halifax Piece hall 16 Jun 2012
Gloucestershire Gay Pride 2012 Gloucester Park 16 Jun 2012
Oxford Gay Pride 2012 Oxford 16 Jun 2012
July 2012
World Pride London 2012 London 07 Jul 2012
Bourne Free Pride Festival 2012 Bournemouth 14 Jul 2012
Glasgow Gay Pride 2012 Glasgow 14 Jul 2012
Northern Pride 2012 Leazes Park Newcastle upon Tyne 14 Jul 2012
Hull Pride 2012 West Park Hull 21 Jul 2012
York Pride 2012 Rowntree Park, Terry Avenue, York 21 Jul 2012
Norwich Gay Pride 2012 Norwich 28 Jul 2012
Nottingham Gay Pride 2012 Forest fields recreation ground 28 Jul 2012
August 2012
Liverpool Gay Pride 2012 Pier Head, Liverpool 04 Aug 2012
Swindon & Wiltshire Gay Pride 2012 Swindon 04 Aug 2012
Manchester Gay Pride 2012 Manchesteer 17 Aug 2012
Cornwall Gay Pride 2012 Truro Cornwall 25 Aug 2012
September 2012
Brighton Gay Pride 2012 Brighton Madeira Drive / Preston Park 01 Sep 2012
Cardiff Mardi Gras 2012 Cardiff Coopers Field 01 Sep 2012
Grimsby Pride 2012 Meridian Park, Cleethorpes 01 Sep 2012
Leicester Gay Pride 2012 Victoria Park Leicester 01 Sep 2012
Reading Gay Pride 2012 Kings Meadow Park, Reading 08 Sep 2012
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
Stop the forced sterilisation of transgender people in Sweden
Thanks to Gary Williams for supplying the following. Please do all you can to help stop this.
Right now a reform of the law is being debated inSweden Sweden and Europe that finally convinces PM Reinfeldt to speak out and break the deadlock. Will you take one minute to sign our urgent letter? RFSL, the Swedish federation for LGBT rights, will publicly deliver our signatures directly to the Prime Minister and demand that he intervene right now:
www.allout.org/stop_forced_sterilization
Forced sterilization has a long and frightening history inSweden Sweden
Now he has a chance to close that chapter for good. A reform of the law is ready to be presented directly to the Parliament - where 90% of MPs are in favor of banning forced sterilization - but without a push from the Prime Minister, the conservative KRISTDEMOKRATERNA party will use its seat in the government to block the change.
We know he is on our side: whether you are straight, gay, lesbian, bi or trans, will you take a moment to raise your voice and ask Prime Minister Reinfeldt to take a stand for human rights?
Our friends at RFSL, the Swedish LGBT Federation, will deliver your signatures directly to the Prime Minister's office.
www.allout.org/stop_forced_sterilization
Thank you for going All Out.
Best,
Andre, Emmy, Erika, Flavia, Guillaume, Jeremy, Joseph, Oli, Tile, Wesley and the rest of the team at All Out
Sources:
Sweden
www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/culture-lifestyle/111101/sweden-transgender-LGBT-gay-lesbian-bisexual-sterilization
Sweden
www.thelocal.se/38466/20120112/
Human Rights Watch's Letter to the Swedish Prime Minister
www.hrw.org/node/104368
If you are a transgender person in Sweden
Despite a massive push to repeal the law, including support from 90% of Swedish MPs, Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt has stayed silent on the issue: allowing one small conservative party to block the change.Right now a reform of the law is being debated in
www.allout.org/stop_forced_sterilization
Forced sterilization has a long and frightening history in
Now he has a chance to close that chapter for good. A reform of the law is ready to be presented directly to the Parliament - where 90% of MPs are in favor of banning forced sterilization - but without a push from the Prime Minister, the conservative KRISTDEMOKRATERNA party will use its seat in the government to block the change.
We know he is on our side: whether you are straight, gay, lesbian, bi or trans, will you take a moment to raise your voice and ask Prime Minister Reinfeldt to take a stand for human rights?
Our friends at RFSL, the Swedish LGBT Federation, will deliver your signatures directly to the Prime Minister's office.
www.allout.org/stop_forced_sterilization
Thank you for going All Out.
Best,
Andre, Emmy, Erika, Flavia, Guillaume, Jeremy, Joseph, Oli, Tile, Wesley and the rest of the team at All Out
Sources:
www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/culture-lifestyle/111101/sweden-transgender-LGBT-gay-lesbian-bisexual-sterilization
www.thelocal.se/38466/20120112/
Human Rights Watch's Letter to the Swedish Prime Minister
www.hrw.org/node/104368
Monday, 16 January 2012
Haiti - What's changed.
I am indebted to Mark Bastiani for supplying what follows.
In attendance were Mr Mario Joseph Avocat and one of the leading civil rights activists in Haiti, with Mr Owen Tudor head, European Union and International Relations at the TUC was chairing this briefing.
There were 3 members from the Haiti Support Group and other leading Union Officials from different sectors attending this event.
Mr Joseph spoke about how there were no creditable Trade Union in Haiti with many accepting money and gifts from the Government in return for not representing the members when they need the Union most of all. Mr Joseph went on to say that a MP in Haiti has tried to get the minimum wage increased from $2 Haitian Dollars to $5 Haitian Dollars per day, and it was the so called Trade Unions not supporting this cause, with many receiving money and gifts in return.
Mr Joseph spoke how 2 years on and not much has changed in his country in fact it’s been made worse since the arrival of the United Nations (UN) Troops who were sent to help the people of Haiti after the terrible earthquake. When UN troops arrived from Nepal they were found to be dumping their human waste into the nearby river causing Cholera resulting in 7,000 deaths so far and rising, with half a Million infested and on average 200 people a month dies.
The UN are being sued by Mr Joseph as well as the former Government, tests done by the UN, France the experts all point to the same conclusion that UN Troops from Nepal are the cause, Haiti had been cleared of Cholera for over a 100 years.
Mr Joseph pointed out that the IMO (International Missions Outreach) are working with private landlords, telling the refuges to jump on to waiting trucks as there are new houses for them to move into only to find out after driving around and around there is nothing, and then being dump at a Police Station next to their camp. Some are getting $20,000 Haitian Dollars around 500 US but this is not enough to put a deposit or to rent a property and some young woman are being forced to give sexual favours in return for the money.
There are unfortunately many more that the people of Haiti have to go through every day just to survive. When some try and join a union they face the sack, leading official face problems everyday some not being paid in months and the Government spend over a 100 Million Haitian Dollars last month with no control and it’s the UN paying the Civil Servants and not the Government.
In conclusion
Money is not always the key but it helps, what is needed most of all is making sure the organizations working in Haiti are paying local staff a proper and fair rate of pay equivalent to what Western staff are being paid.
To get Unions from the United Kingdom (UK) to get Representatives to go to Haiti to sit down with them, talk about the pride you feel Representative your members, showing that no matter what part of the world or background there are many like minded people out there fighting for the rights of the working class. If this is not possible maybe try to sponsor Union Officials from Haiti with the help of Mr Joseph to learn online, or to be able to get out to the workplace and spread the word without the fear of being sacked and not being able to provide for there families.
www.haitisupportgroup.org
Mario Haiti@aol.com
Haiti Briefing 2 years on and what has changed?
I was happy to attend the above briefing yesterday 12th January 2012 on behalf of the CWU at the TUC headquarters, Congress house, 23-28 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS.In attendance were Mr Mario Joseph Avocat and one of the leading civil rights activists in Haiti, with Mr Owen Tudor head, European Union and International Relations at the TUC was chairing this briefing.
There were 3 members from the Haiti Support Group and other leading Union Officials from different sectors attending this event.
Mr Joseph spoke about how there were no creditable Trade Union in Haiti with many accepting money and gifts from the Government in return for not representing the members when they need the Union most of all. Mr Joseph went on to say that a MP in Haiti has tried to get the minimum wage increased from $2 Haitian Dollars to $5 Haitian Dollars per day, and it was the so called Trade Unions not supporting this cause, with many receiving money and gifts in return.
Mr Joseph spoke how 2 years on and not much has changed in his country in fact it’s been made worse since the arrival of the United Nations (UN) Troops who were sent to help the people of Haiti after the terrible earthquake. When UN troops arrived from Nepal they were found to be dumping their human waste into the nearby river causing Cholera resulting in 7,000 deaths so far and rising, with half a Million infested and on average 200 people a month dies.
The UN are being sued by Mr Joseph as well as the former Government, tests done by the UN, France the experts all point to the same conclusion that UN Troops from Nepal are the cause, Haiti had been cleared of Cholera for over a 100 years.
Mr Joseph pointed out that the IMO (International Missions Outreach) are working with private landlords, telling the refuges to jump on to waiting trucks as there are new houses for them to move into only to find out after driving around and around there is nothing, and then being dump at a Police Station next to their camp. Some are getting $20,000 Haitian Dollars around 500 US but this is not enough to put a deposit or to rent a property and some young woman are being forced to give sexual favours in return for the money.
There are unfortunately many more that the people of Haiti have to go through every day just to survive. When some try and join a union they face the sack, leading official face problems everyday some not being paid in months and the Government spend over a 100 Million Haitian Dollars last month with no control and it’s the UN paying the Civil Servants and not the Government.
In conclusion
Money is not always the key but it helps, what is needed most of all is making sure the organizations working in Haiti are paying local staff a proper and fair rate of pay equivalent to what Western staff are being paid.
To get Unions from the United Kingdom (UK) to get Representatives to go to Haiti to sit down with them, talk about the pride you feel Representative your members, showing that no matter what part of the world or background there are many like minded people out there fighting for the rights of the working class. If this is not possible maybe try to sponsor Union Officials from Haiti with the help of Mr Joseph to learn online, or to be able to get out to the workplace and spread the word without the fear of being sacked and not being able to provide for there families.
Useful Links
www.tuc.org.ukwww.haitisupportgroup.org
Mario Haiti@aol.com
Sex and Power report from the EHRC
"The results of this year’s survey indicate that it will take another 70 years to achieve an equal number of women directors in the FTSE 100 and another 45 years to achieve an equal number of women in the senior judiciary. It will take another 14 general elections – that is, up to 70 years ‑ to achieve an equal number of women MPs"
The full report can be downloaded here http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/key-projects/sexandpower/.
The full report can be downloaded here http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/key-projects/sexandpower/.
Thursday, 12 January 2012
A true story of Courage and Resistance comes to Liverpool
I am indebted to Billy Butterworth for supplying details of this film. If you can get there please do.
Monday, 9 January 2012
BT engineer awarded £18000 for hearing loss
The following appears courtesy of Simpson Millar's law update.
BT engineer receives £18,000 for hearing loss claim
Dated: 03/01/2012 Key Contact: Phillip Gower
We recently acted on behalf of a client who during his course of employment as a jointer/engineer had been exposed to excessive levels of noise. We helped our client bring a noise induced hearing loss claim for compensation against his previous employer and he received £18,000 in compensation for his work-related injury.
Our client worked as a jointer/engineer from 1987 to 2004 with British Telecommunications PLC which meant that during his employment he often used tone sets (oscillators and amplifiers) used to produce and detect a tone on a line during cable changing, fault finding and cable jointing. The tone sets or tests were at various stages coloured green and yellow.
BT admitted that they had been negligent and were in breach of their statutory duty to keep employees safe in relation to the green and unmodified yellow testers and agree that our client's hearing loss was attributable to his work with them as a jointer/engineer.
Our client was diagnosed with high frequency sensorineural hearing loss as a result of ageing, dyslipidaemia and noise exposure on both sides. Medical experts on both sides agree that our client suffers with mild tinnitus and hyperacusis and would benefit from having his hearing aided.
Phil Gower, Noise Induced Hearing Loss Claims Specialist at Cardiff based Simpson Millar LLP said: "The client's claim is one for general damages for pain, suffering, and loss of amenity, the requirements for hearing aids and tinnitus retraining therapy."
"I am pleased that we were able to negotiate a settlement on behalf of our client that reflects his needs and ongoing treatment. This is one of a large number of claims we are dealing with against a number of Telecommunication Companies."
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BT engineer receives £18,000 for hearing loss claim
We recently acted on behalf of a client who during his course of employment as a jointer/engineer had been exposed to excessive levels of noise. We helped our client bring a noise induced hearing loss claim for compensation against his previous employer and he received £18,000 in compensation for his work-related injury.
Our client worked as a jointer/engineer from 1987 to 2004 with British Telecommunications PLC which meant that during his employment he often used tone sets (oscillators and amplifiers) used to produce and detect a tone on a line during cable changing, fault finding and cable jointing. The tone sets or tests were at various stages coloured green and yellow.
BT admitted that they had been negligent and were in breach of their statutory duty to keep employees safe in relation to the green and unmodified yellow testers and agree that our client's hearing loss was attributable to his work with them as a jointer/engineer.
Our client was diagnosed with high frequency sensorineural hearing loss as a result of ageing, dyslipidaemia and noise exposure on both sides. Medical experts on both sides agree that our client suffers with mild tinnitus and hyperacusis and would benefit from having his hearing aided.
Phil Gower, Noise Induced Hearing Loss Claims Specialist at Cardiff based Simpson Millar LLP said: "The client's claim is one for general damages for pain, suffering, and loss of amenity, the requirements for hearing aids and tinnitus retraining therapy."
"I am pleased that we were able to negotiate a settlement on behalf of our client that reflects his needs and ongoing treatment. This is one of a large number of claims we are dealing with against a number of Telecommunication Companies."
Get the news direct to your Email Inbox
If you liked this article you can sign up to receive our news articles via email here: Subscribe to our Email News Update Service
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