[IER] 40 years after GCHQ: uniting against attacks on workers' rights

Fri Jan 12 14:21:51 GMT 2024

News brief 12/01/24    <https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?e=__test_email__&u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=c455e68b22> View this email in your browser 

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40 years after GCHQ: uniting against attacks on workers' rights

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40 years ago, 14 civil servants working in Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) lost their jobs for being members of a trade union. 

Margaret Thatcher had enforced a ban on trade union membership in 1984, claiming that it wasn’t possible for someone to be in a union and be loyal to their country. 

But 14 brave workers stood firm and refused to relinquish this fundamental human right – and their defiance cost them their jobs.  

What followed was one of the longest and most high-profile disputes in our movement’s history.  

by Fran Heathcote, PCS General Secretary elect

[Photo by Johnragla - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27351598]

 <https://www.tuc.org.uk/blogs/40-years-after-gchq-uniting-against-attacks-workers-rights> Read here 

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Asda private equity owners grilled by MPs over lack of transparency and workers’ rights

TDR Capital were grilled by MPs yesterday over the supermarket’s debt pile, a lack of transparency and workers’ rights 

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/asda-private-equity-owners-grilled-by-mps-over-lack-of-transparency-and-workers-rights/> More details 

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Brewdog sparks union fury after ditching commitment to Real Living Wage

Scottish brewer BrewDog has sparked union fury after it told workers it will ditch its commitment to the Real Living Wage (via the Morning Star) 

 <https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/brewdog-sparks-union-fury-after-ditching-commitment-to-real-living-wage> More details 

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Future of Work and Devolution in Wales Report: Workers need change

An independent report on the Future of Work and Devolution in Wales by Professor Jean Jenkins of Cardiff Business School has been published 

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/future-of-work-and-devolution-in-wales-report-workers-need-change/> More details 

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Removing asbestos from schools and hospitals would benefit UK economy by almost £12 billion over 50 years, says report

Latest research also shows that asbestos-related diseases in former school and hospital workers cost the UK economy £1.3 billion per year

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/removing-asbestos-from-schools-and-hospitals-would-benefit-uk-economy-by-almost-12-billion-over-50-years-says-new-report/> More details 

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Elon Musk doesn’t understand Sweden’s unions. If he did, he’d work with them

If the Tesla CEO studied the Nordic labour model like he studies car batteries, he’d see that collective bargaining can suit employers too, writes German Bender in the Guardian. 

 <https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/10/elon-musk-sweden-unions-tesla-labour-car> Read here 

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Workers in Argentina face the biggest blow to their employment rights since the military dictatorship of the 1970s

But the President Milei is facing opposition to his plans. More than 40 legal challenges have been filed claiming Milei’s decree is unconstitutional. Luciana Zorzoli writing for the Conversation. 

 <https://theconversation.com/workers-in-argentina-face-the-biggest-blow-to-their-employment-rights-since-the-military-dictatorship-of-the-1970s-220611> Read here 

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Migration and work in post-Brexit UK

Dr Manoj Dias-Abey and Dr Katie Bales make the case for a regulatory regime that respects the humanity and contribution of all workers.

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/product/migration-and-work-in-post-brexit-uk/> Download here 

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