The number of dole claimants who have been out of work for at least a year has increased by 35,000 since last year, with over a quarter of a million people set to spend their second successive Christmas on the dole, according to a new TUC analysis of official statistics published today (Wednesday).
Speaking after a meeting of public sector unions at the TUC today (Monday), TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
“Since the day of action we have seen a new atmosphere in the negotiations.
Responding to the Transport Select Committee Report published today (Friday) on the handling of the Thameslink contract, TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O'Grady said:
Responding to DWP announcement today (Thursday) on small pots, short service refunds and earnings thresholds for the auto-enrolment regime TUC Head of Campaigns Nigel Stanley said:
The TUC is supporting a national day of action today (Thursday) bringing rail unions and passenger groups together to fight proposals to cut staffing and services on UK railways.
The TUC fears that the government will use its Command Paper, due to be published in the new year, to set out how it will take forward proposals in the McNulty review. This could include dramatic cuts to staffing and services, including the closure of over half the ticket offices in the country, cuts to staff on trains, stations, and in renewals and maintenance teams, as well as longer franchises that offer train operating companies greater freedom to cut unprofitable services.
Responding to the government's announcement today (Wednesday) that it intends to charge workers a fee to take claims to employment tribunals, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
“Employment tribunals are a key way of enabling workers to enforce their rights. Government proposals to introduce a fee to lodge an initial claim – and then possibly a further charge for a full hearing – will effectively prevent the poorest and most vulnerable workers from ever being able to get justice.
Responding to the latest unemployment figures out today (Wednesday), TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
Commenting on the announcement today (Monday) that benefits will be uprated in line with inflation from April 2012, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
“After previous suggestions that benefits might not be uprated in line with inflation, today's announcement that April's uprating will be inflation-linked is welcome news.
“The government has already reduced the value of benefits by moving from the RPI to the lower CPI measure of inflation, and by introducing many benefit cuts for both working and out of work families. It is the least they can do for the millions of households facing unemployment this Christmas to guarantee that their benefits will rise by the CPI rate in the new year.”
If they become unemployed, low-paid workers such as cleaners, catering assistants and machine operators are most likely to be on the dole for more than six months, according to a new TUC analysis published today (Monday) ahead of the latest unemployment statistics this week.
The South West TUC is today launching a campaign to stop the West Country being declared a low pay zone....