International Employment Relations Network List
(IERN-L)
A Miscellany of International Employment Relations News
Miscellany 17, 19 June 2012
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Contents
Main Stories
Australia: Fairfax downsizes its future as Rinehart circles, 1900 jobs cut and
papers become tabloids
China: Are Chinese transport workers learning from Western transport unions?
Fiji: Outrage as international employer group prevents ILO from hearing about
abuse of worker rights in Fiji
Nigeria: COEASU set for battle with Adeniran Ogunsanya CEO’s management
Singapore: Unlicensed Employment Agent Jailed 25 weeks
UK: TUC poll says ministers should 'look before they leap' on regional pay
In Brief
ILO: The ILO and the G20
Italy: WFTU affiliate, USB, calls for a general strike
Nigeria: SEC explains redeployment of workers
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Singapore ratifies ILO Framework for OSH
Publications
Calls for Papers, Conferences, Seminars, Symposia
Other Sites
Awards
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Main Stories
Australia: Fairfax downsizes its future as Rinehart circles, 1900 jobs cut
and papers become tabloids
IR/ER/Australia/Downsizing/Media
The Australian, 19 June 2012 at http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/fairfaxdownsizes-its-future-as-rinehart-circles-1900-jobs-cut-and-papers-becometabloids/story-e6frg996-1226399271059
THE nation's oldest newspaper business, Fairfax Media, has foreshadowed the end of
its printed mastheads with plans to turn its iconic broadsheet papers into tabloids, erect
paywalls around its websites and axe 1900 jobs, including one in four journalists.
As Australia's richest person, and Fairfax's biggest shareholder, Gina Rinehart stepped up her
campaign to secure board seats and a say in the newspapers' editorial direction, chief
executive Greg Hywood shocked the media industry with the scale of the restructuring to be
undertaken at the 180-year-old company.
Hit by what Mr Hywood called the "perfect storm" of structural and cyclical changes
buffeting the newspaper publishing, online and radio group, he revealed the group
contemplated a wholesale break-up of its operations before opting instead for the announced
restructuring plan.
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"These decisions are necessary and we will not resile from them. We are committed to them
knowing they will change this business for the better," Mr Hywood said yesterday. "For the
first time in our 180-year history, we are not beholden to classified revenues."
The newspaper industry globally has been hit by the wholesale migration of readers and
advertisers to the internet, which has led to a big drop in circulations and classified revenues
that have traditionally delivered the biggest profits for publishing businesses.
Rival newspaper group News Limited, publisher of The Australian, is expected to announce
its own restructuring plans as soon as tomorrow. There is speculation News may axe more
than 1000 jobs in total, including 400 to 500 editorial jobs from an editorial staff of about
3000.
From March, Fairfax will move its flagship newspapers The Sydney Morning Herald and The
Age in Melbourne to tabloid formats, similar to its business daily, The Australian Financial
Review.
It will also close its printing presses at Chullora in Sydney and Tullamarine in Melbourne by
June 2014, producing estimated annual cost savings of $44 million, and, in a significant
backflip for the company, begin charging for content on the internet.
The company canvassed abandoning its weekday print editions altogether, but said it was not
economical to move online only, so long as print revenue remained substantial. It said it
could save 34 per cent of total costs if it abandoned print and switched wholly to online.
Mr Hywood said the restructuring would save costs and allow a switch to digital online if
needed.
"The compact move (to tabloid) means we can access the $500m in print revenue still
available to the metros while getting the cost base down to boost their profitability," he told
The Australian.
"But by taking big restructuring costs now we can make a transition to digital more readily if
we need to."
The plans provoked a sharp reaction, with opposition communications spokesman Malcolm
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Turnbull saying the Fairfax job cuts could pose a "threat to democracy" and the print workers'
union taking the company to Fair Work Australia.
"Our democracy depends on a strong, vibrant, healthy, independent media," Mr Turnbull
said. He predicted the company's print newspapers would go entirely online. "I think that will
happen," he told Sky News.
Fairfax shares rose 4.5c, or 7.4 per cent, to 65c yesterday but remain a fraction of levels
above $5 five years ago. Mrs Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting revealed yesterday it had
increased its stake in Fairfax to 18.7 per cent.
It is believed Fairfax was prepared to offer Mrs Rinehart one board seat for her own nominee
and one for fellow Ten Network director Jack Cowin. However, she wanted two of her own
nominees plus Mr Cowin. This would include the role of deputy chair and the power to hire
and fire editors at the company's newspapers.
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said Mrs Rinehart was "welcome to be on the
board; she is welcome to launch a takeover. She can do either of those things, because that is
the law. But what is vital is that the editorial charter be maintained."
Fairfax told the stockmarket the restructure would save $235m over three years. Journalists,
print staff and executives at the company were shocked to hear of the plan. But Mr Hywood
said the cuts were needed because newspapers were operating in "very challenging times".
"Readers' behaviours have changed and will not change back. As a result, we are taking
decisive actions to fundamentally change the way we do business," he said.
Up to 20 per cent of the cuts are expected to be redundancies among journalists. Up to 400
positions at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age are expected to go and 10 per cent of
staff at the Financial Review Group, publisher of the AFR.
The Canberra Times, which remains a broadsheet newspaper, was not part of the
restructuring.
The journalists' union, the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, held urgent talks with
management and left the door open for industrial action. The MEAA said management had
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not offered details about how the restructure would work but wanted the redundancies to be
handled within the next 90 days. The MEAA said it would meet management later in the
week.
The Australian Manufacturers and Workers Union said it had sought a hearing at Fair Work
Australia on Thursday, after Fairfax said it would close its Chullora and Tullamarine plants.
The union claimed Fairfax management had not abided by extensive consultation clauses in
its workplace agreements. Printers will hold a mass meeting tomorrow to protest the expected
220 job losses in Sydney and 180 in Melbourne. Fairfax plans to print its metropolitan
newspapers in regional centres in Richmond, in northwest Sydney, and Ballarat in Victoria.
The move comes after last year's failed talks to merge its printing operations with News
Limited.
The changes to The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald formats follow the downsizing of
their business and sports sections three years ago. By turning tabloid, or compact, the two
newspapers will follow a path taken by many other newspapers in Australia and overseas.
The Advertiser in Adelaide turned tabloid in 1997, as did The Courier-Mail in Brisbane in
2006. In London The Independent and The Times both went tabloid in 2003, enjoying
substantial circulation gains for a limited period.
Fairfax will start charging for online access to The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald in
six months. The Australian Financial Review introduced a paywall in 2006, while The
Australian introduced paid content last year. Fairfax will introduce a metered paywall, which
means its websites will be free but readers will start to pay once they have accessed a certain
number of stories. The company said its websites would be free if readers subscribed to the
print edition two days a week - a strategy it expected to boost print circulation.
Mr Hywood, who had said he wanted the websites to remain free, said yesterday he had been
a "sceptic" on the paywall issue.
"We wanted to created the audience first and establish what our audience is before we started
charging," he said. "But I am no longer a sceptic because the work we did proved we could
have it both ways digital advertising and digital subscriptions."
For years production of Fairfax newspapers were supplemented by classified advertising
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from property, jobs and cars. This has largely migrated to the internet and the company has
been struggling financially.
Last week Fairfax admitted that second-half revenue would be 8 per cent down on last year,
driving its shares to an all-time low of 56.5c.
Fairfax said yesterday it had sold down its share of New Zealand internet auction site
TradeMe from 66 per cent to 51 per cent, for about $160m. "It remains a strong strategic
investment for us. We saw an opportunity there (to sell) at a very high multiple to help get
our debt to where we wanted it to be" Mr Hywood said.
_______________________________________________________________________
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China: Are Chinese transport workers learning from Western transport
unions?
IR/China/Transport/Strategic Strike
China Labour Bulletin, 12 June 2012 at http://www.clb.org.hk/en/node/110076
Last week, London bus drivers, members of Britain’s largest trade union, Unite, voted by
more than 90 percent for strike action during the upcoming Olympic Games to press their
claim for a £500 bonus.
At the same time, more than 80 percent of the taxi drivers in the town of Yueqing, near
Wenzhou, went out on strike on the first day of the national college examination (高考) in a
bid to draw attention to the unfair competition they face from unlicensed cabs.
Transport workers in the West have for decades now been staging strikes at times, such as
public holidays and major sporting events, specifically designed to cause maximum
disruption and focus attention on their grievances. Now it seems that Chinese workers are
adopting the same strategy.
Anyone who has lived in China knows how important the annual national college exam is; it
is an almost sacred ritual, one that demands respect and reverence for the next generation of
college students. So for taxi drivers to go on strike on the first day of the exam, hindering the
progress of students and their parents to and from school, is a bold move – one that shows
just how determined the drivers are to have their grievances heard.
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One of the drivers told the Oriental Morning Post (东方早报) competition from “black cabs”
and motorised tricycles was now so bad it was threatening their livelihood. Daily operating
costs could reach 250 yuan but sometimes cab drivers could not even earn 200 yuan, he said.
Moreover, he pointed out that licensed cab drivers could only charge what was on the meter
even on long journeys to the countryside with little hope of a return fare, while black cabs
had more flexibility.
In the end, there was minimal disruption to the examination. The local government laid on
special buses and community care vehicles (社会爱心车辆) to ferry students to the
examination halls. Local education officials claimed that not one of the 11,047 registered
students was late for the exam.
It is difficult tell right now how effective the strike will be forcing the local government to
crackdown on black cabs or to what degree the drivers’ action was supported or opposed by
local residents. As transport workers in the West know from long experience, staging strikes
at the most disruptive times is a double-edged sword; while it is guaranteed to get attention in
the media and cause major headaches for management, it also risks alienating an otherwise
supportive public.
However, the fact that transport unions in Europe have been using these tactics on a regular
basis for many decades now, suggests that they are on balance effective. It will be interesting
to see the extent to which they are adopted in China in the future. Of course, there is
absolutely no way transport workers would be allowed to disrupt a major sporting event like
the Olympics but smaller more targeted actions like the one in Yueqing might well become
more frequent in the next few years.
___________________________________________________________________________
Fiji: Outrage as international employer group prevents ILO from hearing
about abuse of worker rights in Fiji
IR/Fiji/Global Employers/Worker Rights
ACTU, 7 June 2012 at
http://www.actu.org.au/Media/Mediareleases/OutrageasinternationalemployergrouppreventsI
LOfromhearingaboutabuseofworkerrightsinFiji.aspx
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The action of the peak global employer group in preventing the International Labor
Organisation’s annual conference from discussing violations against Fijian and other workers
is an outrage.
ACTU President Ged Kearney said the conference in Geneva was this week set to hear from
Fiji union leaders about the military regime’s restrictions on worker and human rights. It was
also to hear cases of 24 other countries where violations of workers’ rights are considered to
be extremely serious.
But Ms Kearney said the International Organisation of Employers had refused to allow
discussion about any cases of abuse of labour rights, including those occurring in Fiji.
“This shocking and self-interested action from the international employer group is nothing
short of irresponsible and the only purpose it serves is to prevent international scrutiny of the
atrocities that are occurring against workers around the world,” Ms Kearney said.
Fijian authorities were this week to appear before a tripartite committee at the conference to
explain their serious and persistent failure to respect freedom of association as required by
ILO Convention 87, their mistreatment of workers and trade unions and their failure to
respond to ILO requests for change.
The committee presented an important and rare opportunity for the Fiji Trade Union
Congress and other workers, governments and employers, to tell the international community
what is happening in the island nation. It would also have been an opportunity for the
international community to call on Fiji to immediately repeal the offensive decrees that
restrict worker and union rights, and to fulfil their obligations under fundamental ILO
conventions.
Fiji Trade Union Congress Secretary Felix Anthony said workers in viewed the ILO as a
glimmer of hope.
“But this hope has been dashed by employers who failed to see the bigger picture and to
understand the real role of the ILO,” Mr Anthony said. “These employers are obsessed with
their own interest rather than that of labour around the world who pin their hope and
aspirations on the ILO to ensure dignity at work.”
Ms Kearney said unionists from around the world had travelled to Geneva, some risking their
8
lives in doing so, because it presented an opportunity to draw the attention of the international
community to the abuses of workers’ rights occurring in their countries. This is the first time
since the Committee was formed in 1926 that cases of serious non-compliance with ILO
conventions by member-states have not been heard.
Fijian workers’ rights have increasingly been violated under Prime Minister Frank
Bainimarama’s unelected government, which over the last year has stepped up its attack
through the introduction of new decrees that place even greater restrictions on human rights.
“Fijian workers not only deserve for their story to be told to the ILO, but the world has an
obligation to stand up for them and to condemn the Fijian authorities for their actions,” Ms
Kearney said.
The action by employer groups comes as the annual survey of violations of trade union rights
by the International Trade Union Confederation said the Fijian “military junta launched an
aggressive campaign to dismantle the trade union movement” in 2011.
___________________________________________________________________________
Nigeria: COEASU set for battle with Adeniran Ogunsanya CEO’s
management
IR/Nigeria/Rival Unionism/COEASU
Daily Trust, 18 June 2912 at
http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=165229:coe
asu-set-for-battle-with-adeniran-ogunsanya-ceos-management-&catid=16:labourreport&Itemid=14
Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) is gearing up for battle over what it
termed covert support to a splinter group of the union by the management of Adeniran
Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Otto-Ijanikin, Lagos State.
Trouble began when COEASU, through its national leadership wrote the provost of the
institution Mr Wasiu Olalekan Bashorun on the existence of an unsanctioned body parading
itself as the union’s representative in the institution, while presenting its true representative.
The letter which was obtained by Daily Trust and dated 5th April, 2012 had as topic, “resuspension of COEASU chapter at the Adeniran Ogunsanya Coolege of Education Otto-
9
Ijanikin Lago: A final note of caution and call for respect for the constitution of our great
union.”
According to the union, the institution did not take any action and this has led to it issuing a
notice of imminent industrial action including possible strike action if the “anomaly” is not
corrected.
Jointly signed by COEASU President Comrade Mohammed Awwal Ibrahim and General
Secretary Comrade Asagha, Emmanuel Nkoro, the union stated that no group or individuals
have the right to administer its activities under whatever circumstance but the national
leadership guided by its constitution.
It warned the school management to hands-off union activities stating that the only
recognised representative of the union after the expiration of tenure of the immediate past
leadership is its national Public Relations Officer (PRO), who incidentally is a member of the
institution.
The letter maintained that “after the exit of the Adeyemi Adesanya led Chapter Executive
Council (CEC) as representatives of COEASU at AOCOED, the only interim representative
of the interest of this union in that chapter is the National PRO, Comrade Olorunfemi Tola
Keshinro of the department of Metal Works at AOCOED.
“All businesses of this union with any other group who claim to represent COEASU at that
chapter should be stopped urgently. This is to avoid the far reaching and blatant implications
of allegations of complicity in the atrocious act of impersonation and anti-union activities.
Enough is enough.”
The union reminded the school management that COEASU is not an illegal which condones
illegality stressing that it is a properly registered trade union with Certificate No: 0115 under
the provisions of the Federal Government of Nigeria Trade Unions Act: CAP T.14 OF 2004
as amended by the Trade Unions (Amendment) Act 2005.
It stated that its certificate of registration as a trade Union noted that the attachment of the
approved rules of the union as contained in its revised constitution of 2010 as an inevitable
guideline for all the operations of the Union.
“We wish to categorically state without an iota of equivocation that, any deviation from or
egregious violation of the extant regulations as clearly enunciated in the union’s constitution
10
constitutes a deliberate scheme at forcing the leadership and followership of our Union to
take umbrage.
“Hence, the present show of anti-Union egotism by some congress members in AOCOED
aimed at foisting an illegal CEC as representatives of our Union at AOCOED is entirely
unacceptable.”
While referring to the earlier letter it wrote the provost, the union restated its reasons for
suspension of COEASU activities AOCOED to include non adherence to provisions of
union’s constitution even after a visit by union’s leaders who advised on the need to respect
the constitution.
It lamented that to further undermine the structure and constitution of the union, “a process
was illegally enabled which gave rise to a so called election/emergence and swearing-in of a
new leadership on 17/11/2011 and 08/12/2011 respectively, in yet another deliberate
contravention of the provisions of the Constitution.
“The practice adopted by AOCOED chapter, in which an election was conducted without the
presence of a supervisory eye of a National Officer or an approved representative and the
swearing-in of a CEC by an Electoral Officer is an aberration and totally not acceptable to
this Union.
“Having rejected the provisions of the constitution, the taking of oath and pledge of true
allegiance may have been done to a constitution that is unknown to this Union? This is
viewed as a critical and threatening offence,” it stated
It declared as “unrecognised” the “present purported leadership which was selected/elected
and inaugurated outside the provisions of the constitution and whose oath of allegiance” is
not to the present 2010 operational constitution of the union.
“Any form of representation of by any individual or group of individuals, who were so
unconstitutionally inaugurated on the 8th of December, 2011 at AOCOED will be tantamount
to gross impersonation and an obvious breach of our fundamental rights and privileges as a
registered Trade Union.”
It reiterated that while the current logjam lasts, the South-West Zonal Coordinator Comrade
Femi Keshinro, a staff of AOCOED remains its only recognized representative and that all
forms of transactions with respect to COEASU affairs with any individual or group aside the
recovery of bank loans to be managed and supervised by the same individual should be
11
suspended with immediate effect, stressing that any contravention to this position shall
among other things attract legal actions.
It charged “well-meaning academics in the college to lend their voices by calling derailing
colleagues to order” noting that the union shall not take responsibility for any action or
inaction by impostors who may forthwith illegally parade themselves as its representatives.
It also declared that all meeting held with the group who claim to represent the union after its
letter to the Provost of the College dated 27th January, 2012 are illegal, just as it called on
AOCOED authorities to take note and act accordingly to avoid legal action.
Finally, it urged the school management to always ensure respect for the constitution of
COEASU by all members of the union, stating that it is a “desideratum for the legitimate and
smooth operations of the union” and industrial harmony in the school.
However when contacted over the phone by our reporter, the Provost of AOCOED Mr
Olalekan Wasiu Bashorun said management was looking into the matter, denying that he was
supporting any group.
“They have actually communicated to us but that the management is supporting any illegal
body; that statement is what I am saying is not true. We acknowledge their letters, they have
written to us quite okay but supporting any illegal body, no, that is not true at all.
“We are handling the issue, there is no problem, we are on top of the situation and we are
handling the issue,” he said.
___________________________________________________________________________
Singapore: Unlicensed Employment Agent Jailed 25 weeks
ER/Singapore/Employment Agencies/Foreign Workers
Ministry of Manpower, 12 June 2012 at
http://www.mom.gov.sg/newsroom/Pages/PressReleasesDetail.aspx?listid=434
1. In a landmark case of an unlicensed employment agent, 39-year-old Chua Mei Chern
(“Chua”) was sentenced to 10 weeks’ jail under the revised Employment Agencies
Act for operating an unlicensed employment agency (EA).
2. On 4 May 2012, Chua pleaded guilty to four charges: including one count for
operating an unlicensed employment agency (EA), one count for declaring false
information in a work permit application, one count for illegal employment and one
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count for abetting in a conspiracy to make a false statement. One other charge was
taken into consideration. For the MOM-related charges, Chua was sentenced to a total
of 25 weeks imprisonment.
3. In passing judgement, District Judge Liew Thiam Leng considered the prosecution’s
submissions that she was the mastermind of an illegal operation, had caused harm to
five workers and also had related illegal employment and false declaration of
employer charges. On top of these, she faced 17 other cheating charges under the
Penal Code. Chua was sentenced to a total of seven years imprisonment for the
cheating charges, with the sentence for the MOM-related charges running
concurrently1.
Facts of the case
4. Between April to November 2011, Chua had operated an unlicensed employment
agency called “SSS Employment Services”. To run her business, she employed a
Filipino assistant, Jeraldine Pagulayan Tuliao. Chua made a false declaration in
Jeraldine’s work permit application, stating that she was to be a foreign domestic
worker (FDW) under another employer.
5. Jeraldine was asked by Chua to assist with sourcing for Filipino workers, arranging
interviews for the workers and applying jobs for the workers. She also collected
agency fees ranging from $2,800 to $4,000 on behalf of Chua, who promised her a
commission ranging from $300 to $500 for each successful placement of the workers.
6. Later, in October 2011, three Filipino FDWs filed a police report against “SSS
Employment Services” and Jeraldine for acting as an unlicensed employment agent.
MOM officers successfully lured Jeraldine out and arrested her. Jeraldine then
provided leads which eventually led to the arrest of Chua on 4 November 2011.
7. On 10 November 2011, 39-year old Jeraldine Pagulayan Tuliao, was fined $20,000
for abetting Chua. She was also fined $5,000 for making a false declaration in her
own work permit application to be a FDW. Jeraldine was the first person to be
convicted under the revised Employment Agencies Act for abetting unlicensed EA
activities. For Chua, her run from the law finally come to an end with her conviction
today. She is the second principal offender to be convicted under the revised
Employment Agencies Act2.
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Keep SingPass Confidential
8. Mr Aw Kum Cheong (区锦章), Divisional Director, Foreign Manpower Management
Division (人力部外劳管理署署长), MOM, said, "The case of Chua Mei Chern
shows that no matter how hard offenders try to cover their tracks, with persistent and
determined investigators, some luck and the help of the public, the law will eventually
catch up with them. With harsher penalties in place under the revised Employment
Agencies Act, coupled with MOM’s robust intelligence and enforcement, we will
continue to weed out such unlicensed EAs.”
9. MOM would like to take this opportunity to remind the public that their SingPass
should be kept confidential, as they may be subject to abuse by third parties. Those
who deliberately allow their particulars to be used to make false work pass
declarations are guilty of an offence under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act
(EFMA), and liable to be punished with a fine not exceeding $15,000 and/or up to 12
months’ jail, or both.
10. Under the revised Employment Agencies Act (EAA), which took effect on 1 April
2011, any person who operates or abets an unlicensed employment agency is
punishable with a fine of up to $80,000 and up to 24 months’ jail, or both. For
subsequent convictions, a fine of up to $160,000 and up to 48 months’ jail, or both,
will be imposed.
11. The public are advised to use only MOM-licensed employment agents for their
employment needs. To protect their interests, they are encouraged to verify the
legitimacy of the EA through the EA Directory on the MOM website at
www.mom.gov.sg/eadirectory.
12. Members of the public who are aware of any individuals or EAs that are operating
without a licence should contact MOM at (65) 6438 5122 or e-mail
mom_fmmd_cr@mom.gov.sg. All information will be kept strictly confidential.
1
This means that she will serve a total of 7 years including the 25-week sentence for the
MOM-related charges.
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2
The first principal offender was one De Luna Noriza Dancel, who was fined $50,000 for the
same offence.
___________________________________________________________________________
UK: TUC poll says ministers should 'look before they leap' on regional pay
UK/IR/ER/Public Sector/Regional Pay
TUC, 13 June 2012 at http://www.tuc.org.uk/industrial/tuc-21118-f0.cfm
Almost two-thirds (65 per cent) of voters believe that the introduction of local pay rates for
public sector employees would make it harder for schools in low-pay areas to attract and
retain good teachers, according to a new poll published today (Thursday) by the TUC.
In the same poll - undertaken on behalf of the TUC by pollsters Survation - three-quarters of
voters (75 per cent) said they felt it was important that the government conducts an
independent economic impact assessment on the possible consequences that regional pay
could have for local communities before proceeding any further.
The government has asked the public sector pay review bodies to report from next month on
how plans to introduce a system of localised pay bargaining for public sector employees
might work, but the Chancellor announced in the Budget that some parts of government
could press ahead this year. The TUC is concerned that little thought seems to have been
given by the government to the negative economic impact that lower pay rates for public
sector workers might have on already blighted regional economies.
When asked how paying teachers working in low-pay parts of the UK less than those in areas
with higher wages would affect schools, a clear majority - 65 per cent - of voters thought the
move would make it harder for schools in low-pay areas to recruit and retain good quality
staff. Only 21 per cent disagreed.
On the subject of the need to explore in more detail the possible economic consequences of
varying pay rates for public sector workers, 79 per cent of Liberal Democrat and 74 per cent
of Conservative supporters agreed that an independent economic assessment was needed
before ministers press ahead with their plans for local pay.
Since the government announced plans for introducing local pay in this year's Budget, the
TUC has expressed concern that any move towards local or regional salaries could lead to a
15
'brain drain' of public service professionals who would be more likely to go after jobs in the
more prosperous areas of the UK where pay rates were higher.
As a consequence the TUC has repeatedly called on ministers to abandon their regional pay
plans, believing them to be unfair, divisive, hard to implement and with the risk that billions
will be taken out of local economies, accelerating the already growing north-south divide.
Commenting on the poll TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'This research shows
that the government really needs to stop, listen and think again on regional pay. These are
plans that could see over two million public sector workers suffering an almost permanent
pay freeze. Taking money out of the pockets of hardworking dinner ladies, teachers and
nurses will not only increase the financial pressure on already hard-pressed families but in
undermining their spending power will hit also local high streets hard.
'Nothing has been thought through properly and rather than carry on regardless of the impact
that these damaging plans could have, ministers should look before they leap any further.
Holding back the pay of public sector workers who live beyond the South East will simply
drive down wages in poorer areas of the country, cause more business closures and
significantly lessen the UK's chances of growth.
'Nurses' and teachers' pay should be set by the job they are doing rather than how wealthy
their local area is. Paying someone more to save lives or teach a child in a rich area is not
only deeply unfair, it also makes no sense at all.'
Chief Executive of Survation Damian Lyons-Lowe said: 'When presented with questions
about the potential unintended consequences of the effect regional pay schemes may have,
the UK public is genuinely concerned that schools will have issues with attracting and
retaining good teachers. The public's view on the importance of an independent study on the
economic impact of regional pay is high across supporters of all of the main political parties.
A deeper look by the government at these issues would be well advised.'
The TUC has commissioned independent economic experts to assess the impact that local
pay could have on the UK's regional economies in the short and the longer-term. These
findings will be published early next month.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- Pollsters Survation were commissioned by the TUC to explore public attitudes towards the
importance of independent analysis of the likely economic consequences of regional pay.
16
- Survation questioned 1,003 adults in England, Scotland and Wales on 31 May and 1 June
2012. Data was weighted to the profile of all adults aged 18+ and by gender, age, socioeconomic group, region, past vote and likelihood to vote.
- Survation previously conducted the first national poll on regional pay on 30 March 2012
which showed only 28 per cent of voters believed regional pay to be fair, with just 17 per
cent believing that regional pay would help low-pay economies outside London and the
South East http://survation.com/2012/03/survation-reveals-strong-opposition-in-first-ukpoll-on-regional-public-sector-pay/
- The Survation polling can be found at http://survation.com/wpcontent/uploads/2012/06/Regional-Pay-II-Complete-1.pdf
- More information about the TUC's Pay Fair campaign against regional public sector pay can
be found at www.tuc.org.uk/payfair
- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
___________________________________________________________________________
In Brief
The ILO and the G20
ER/G20/Restoring Labour Markets
ILO accessed at http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/how-the-ilo-works/multilateralsystem/g20/lang--en/index.htm 18 June 2012.
ILO Director-General Juan Somavia headed to the G20 summit with a strong message on the
need to restore confidence on labour markets by creating decent jobs, particularly for young people, and promoting
social protection.
_____________________________________________________________________
Italy: WFTU affilate, USB, calls for a general strike
IR/Italy/Strike Call/ WFTU/USB
WFTU, 14 June 2012 at http://www.wftucentral.org/?p=5306&language=en
17
The WFTU Affiliate in Italy, USB, calls a 24-hour general strike of all workers on June 22,
2012 and a general demonstration in Rome and Milan! Solidarity Messages to be sent at:
internazionale@usb.it On its call to the Italian workers the Unione Sindicale di Base (USB)
says: "The Italian government is about to enact a law which further worsens workers’ rights
and forms of protection in offices and factories. They envisage to cancel the ban to dismiss
workers unlawfully and unfairly. Precarious employment is on the increase, whereas
subsidies, allowances, benefits and forms of protection ...
__________________________________________________________________________________
Nigeria: SEC explains redeployment of workers
ER/Nigeria/ Redundancy
The Guardian (Nigeria), 18 June 2012 at
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=89620:
sec-explains-redeployment-of-workers-&catid=1:national&Itemid=559
AN explanation came yesterday from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC),
saying that 17 of its workers redeployed last week were “idle in their former positions.”
__________________________________________________________________________
Singapore ratifies ILO Framework for OSH
IR/ER/Singapore/ILO/OHS
NTUC, 13 June 2012 at
http://www.ntuc.org.sg/wps/portal/up2/home/workingforu/workingforudetails?WCM_GLOB
AL_CONTEXT=/content_library/ntuc/home/working+for+u/b5be88804b9927d4b607fefc7fc
7dcdb
Singapore ratified the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Promotional Framework for
Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Convention, C187, on 11 June 2012 at the
International Labour Conference in Geneva.
It was a tripartite effort of the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), National Trades Union
Congress (NTUC) and Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF).
18
______________________________________________________________________
Publications 2011-2012
________________________________________________________________________
Employment Trends unit of the ILO Employment Sector (2012) Global Employment Trends,
Download at http://www.ilo.org/global/publications/books/global-employmenttrends/WCMS_171571/lang--en/index.htm ISBN 978-92-2-124924-5
The annual Global Employment Trends report offers the latest global and regional
information and projections on several indicators of the labour market, including
employment, unemployment, working poverty and vulnerable employment. It also presents a
number of policy considerations in light of the new challenges facing policy makers in the
coming year.
___________________________________________________________________________
Pierluigi Rausei, Michele Tiraboschi Work: a reform in midstream (ADAPT 2012 @
University Press) access at http://www.bollettinoadapt.it/acm-on-line/Home.html
________________________________________________________________
26th AIRAANZ Conference 2012: Re-Organising Work, Association of Industrial Relations
Academics of Australia and New Zealand, published papers, ed. Robin Price, Brisbane,
Queensland University of Technology.
________________________________________________________________________
Baird, M., Hancock, K. and Isaac, J. eds. (2012) Work and Employment Relations: An Era
of Change, The Federation Press, ISBN: 9781862878501 may be ordered at www.federation
press.com.au
__________________________________________________________________________
Bamber, G. J., Lansbury, R. D. and Wailes, N. (2012) International and Comparative
Employment Relations: Globalisation and Change, Allen and Unwin, ISBN:
9781742370651 may be ordered from academic@allenandunwin.com
___________________________________________________________________________
European Commission (2012) White Paper on Pensions (16/02/2012). White Paper on
Pensions .
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This document is the follow up of the Green Paper 'Towards adequate, sustainable and safe
European pension systems' published in July 2010. Its purpose was to initiate a European
debate on the key challenges concerning pensions, the main question being: how can the EU
best support the efforts of Member States to ensure adequate, sustainable and safe pensions
for their citizens both now and in the future. On the basis of the responses to the open
consultation launched by the Green Paper, the White Paper identifies the most important
measures to be taken forward in this respect at the European level.
___________________________________________________________________________
Gall, G., Wilkinson, A. and Hurd, R. (2011) The International Handbook of Labour
Unions, Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar. Orders at www.marston.co.uk
___________________________________________________________________________
Hayter, S. (2011) The Role of Collective Bargaining in the Global Economy, Cheltenham,
UK: Edward Elgar. Orders at www.marston.co.uk
___________________________________________________________________________
ILO “World of Work Report 2012: Better Jobs for a Better Economy” Access at:
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inst/download/eswow12_e.pdf
___________________________________________________________________________
India: The Indian Journal of Industrial Relations
The Indian Journal of Industrial Relations (IJIR): A Review of Economic & Social
Development is devoted to dissemination of knowledge for effective management of human
resources and harmonious industrial relations. A quarterly in English its readership consists of
academia, policy makers, practicing managers and the student community. Access at
http://www.srcirhr.com/ijir.php
Recent Special Issues
The Global Indian Firm (July 2009) Guest Editor: Tarun Khanna
Corporate Social Responsibility (Jan. 2009) Guest Editor: Mritunjay Athreya
Affirmative Action (Oct.2008) Guest Editor: Lord Meghnad Desai
_____________________________________________________________________________
20
International Labour Review, Vol. 150 (3-4)
Posting of workers, EU enlargement and the globalization of trade in services, by S.
LALANNE
Job attitudes, behaviours and well-being among different types of temporary workers in
Europe and Israel, by E.J. GRACIA, J. RAMOS, J. M. PEIRÓ, A. CABALLER and B.
SORA
Primary school student employment and academic achievement in Chile, Colombia, Ecuador
and Peru, by D. POST
Trade union influence in Spanish manufacturing firms, by C. GARCÍA-OLAVERRI and
E.HUERTA
Special feature: DECENT WORK IN GLOBAL PRODUCTION NETWORKS
Decent work in global production networks: Framing the policy debate, by S.
BARRIENTOS, F. MAYER, J. PICKLES and A. POSTHUMA
Economic and social upgrading in global production networks: A new paradigm for a
changing world, by S. BARRIENTOS, G. GEREFFI and A. ROSSI
Economic and social upgrading in global production networks: Problems of theory and
measurement, by W. MILBERG and D. WINKLER
Further reading
Notes and debates
Documents and communications
Book reviews
___________________________________________________________________________
Japan Labor Review, Vol. 9 (1) Winter 2012
Special Edition: ‘Labor Relations in Japan’
Access at http://www.jil.go.jp/english/JLR.htm
Introduction
Articles
Japan's Labor Unions: Past, Present, Future
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Unionization of Non-Regular Workers by Enterprise Unions
The Functions and Limits of Enterprise Unions in Individual Labor Disputes
The Current Status and Significance of General Unions: Concerning the Resolution of
Individual Labor Disputes General Unions and Community Unions, and Japanese
Labor Law
Article Based on Research Report
The Scheduled Increase in the Pension Age a JILPT Research Activities and the Effect
of Job Security Measures for the Elderly in Supporting Their Subsistence
JILPT Research Activities
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Kahaned, M. and Zimmerman, K. F. (2011) Ethnic Diversity in European Labour Markets,
Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar. Orders at www.marston.co.uk
___________________________________________________________________________
Pocock, B., Skinner, N and Williams, P. (2012) Time Bomb: Work, Rest and Play in
Australia Today, NewSouth Books, may be ordered at
http://www.newsouthbooks.com.au/isbn/9781742232959.htm
__________________________________________________________________________________
Rogowski, R. , Salais, R. and Whiteside, N. (2012) Transforming European Employment
Policy, Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar, Orders at www.marston.co.uk
___________________________________________________________________________
Unison (2012) The Hidden Workforce: Final Project Report. Download at
http://www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/20611.pdf
________________________________________________________________
Calls for Papers, Conferences, Seminars, Symposia, Meetings
International Labour Review
Full details at http://www.ilo.org/public/english/revue/m_scripts/index.htm
22
Unsolicited articles are welcome and are considered on their merits and in the light of the
overall programme of the Review. All manuscripts are subject to scholarly review and, if
accepted, to editorial revision.
Manuscripts may be submitted as email attachments in English, French or Spanish (if
translated from another language the original should also be provided). They should be
between 7 000 and 10 000 words, with a 100-word abstract.
Manuscripts should be addressed to: the Managing Editor, International Labour Review,
International Labour Office, 4, route des Morillons, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland. Tel.
+41-22 799 79 03; Fax +41-22 799 61 17; Email: revue@ilo.org.
__________________________________________________________________________
International: The E-Journal of International and Comparative Labour Studies
The following is a list of indicative, but far from exhaustive, topic areas: - collective and
individual labour issues; - equality and discrimination; - school-to-work transition; industrial relations; - vulnerable workers and precarious working; - employment productivity;
- role of skills and human capital in a global context – immigration issues, labour law. For
more information http://www.adaptbulletin.eu/docs/e_journal_cfp.pdf
___________________________________________________________________________
Korea: The Korean Journal of Industrial Relations
The Korean Journal of Industrial Relations (KJIR) is published by the Korean Industrial
Relations Association. There is no due date for the submission. We receive articles around a
year. Web/URL:
http://www.lera.uiuc.edu/news/Calls/2007/Korean%20Journal%20of%20Industrial%20Relati
ons.htm
___________________________________________________________________________
Ireland: IFSAM 2012 Conference, Limerick, Ireland, 26-29 June 2012. Website:
http://www.ifsam.org/
___________________________________________________________________________
UK: BUIRA 2012 Conference, University of Bradford, 28 - 30 June 2012. Calls for
abstracts have now closed, however if you have submitted an abstract to the conference
please check that your submission was successfully submitted. As this is the first time we
23
have used this electronic submission system you may not have been aware that you should
have received this confirmation. If you did not receive confirmation of your submission
please contact k.gilbert@strath.ac.uk attaching a copy of your abstract.
___________________________________________________________________________
USA: ILERA Study Group (Public Sector)
Leading Public Service Organisations in Challenging Times, July 2-5, 2012 in Philadelphia at
ILERA.
__________________________________________________________________
USA: ILERA Study Group (Research Methods)
The study group will meet during, USA, 2–5 July 2012 (http://www.ilera2012.com/). The
focus of the meeting will be on Partisanship in Industrial Relations Research. The aim of
this study group is to examine issues around the topic of whether IR can be truly objective.
__________________________________________________________________________
USA: ILERA - Global Meeting of Deans/Directors/Chairs of Programs in Industrial
Relations and Human Resources
In conjunction with the 16th World Congress of ILERA in Philadelphia during 2-5 July,
2012, a global meeting of Deans/Directors/Chairs of university and college programs in
industrial relations and human resources will be held from 4 pm - 5:30 pm on Monday, July
2, 2012. To participate in this forum, please send an email request to: ac@ilera2012.com
Please include name, address, name of the university, email, phone and some information on
the programs at your university like name of the degree and annual enrollment.
___________________________________________________________________________
USA: 16th World Congress of ILERA, 16th World Congress of ILERA, 2-5 July 2012,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Website: http://www.ilera2012.com/
Register at: http://www.ilera2012.com/Registration/default.asp
Reserve accommodation at: http://www.ilera2012.com/Accommodations/default.asp
Review program at: http://www.ilera2012.com/Congress-Program/default.asp
Arrange travel at: http://www.ilera2012.com/General-Information/default.asp
__________________________________________________________________________________
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Australia: Special Issue of Labour and Industry
Governance and CSR: Implications for Labour.
Papers are due to s.h.young@latrobe.edu.au by end of August 2012
___________________________________________________________________________
Portugal: IREC 2012: Challenges for Public and Private Sector Industrial Relations and
Unions in times of Crisis and Austerity
5-7 September 2012, CIES-ISCTE/IUL, Lisbon, Portugal
For full details, visit the conference web site at
http://conferencias.cies.iscte.pt/index.php/IREC2012/irec2012
__________________________________________________________________________
UK: 2nd International Conference on Vulnerable Workers and Precarious Work in a
Changing World
Date:
10-11 September 2012
Venue:
Middlesex University Business School, Hendon campus, The
Burroughs, NW4 4BT, London.
___________________________________________________________________________
Germany: Call for Papers "Temporary Organization and Workers’ Representation"
Special Issue of Industrielle Beziehungen - The German Journal of Industrial Relations.Guest
editors: Michael Fichter & Jörg Sydow, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany. Deadline for
submission is September 30, 2012. All submitted manuscripts will be subject to a doubleblind review process. The publication of the SI in planned for summer 2013. For more
information please visit www.hampp-verlag.de/hampp_e-journals_IndB.htm or contact
Prof. Dr. Jörg Sydow, Freie Universität Berlin, School of Business & Economics, Dept of
Management, Boltzmannstraße 20, D-14195 Berlin, Germany.
E-Mail: joerg.sydow@fu-berlin.de
Web: http://www.wiwiss.fu-berlin.de/institute/management/sydow/index.html
_________________________________________________________________________
Australia: Call for papers: Skills and the role of HRM – Change, Challenges and
Competition in the Asia Pacific Region
Special issue of the Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources
25
Abstracts (maximum 500 words) to be submitted by 30 October 2012.
Papers may address the following themes although other relevant themes will be welcome:
1.
The impact of competitive labour markets in the Asia Pacific region;
2.
Identification of major future skills issues and possibilities for capacity building,
promotion and realisation;
3.
The development of frameworks for the creation of these future skills, and the
accordant responsibilities of governments, industry, unions and universities; and
4.
Proposals for research and industry agendas/partnerships to address the changes,
challenges and competition.
Contacts: Professor Julia Connell, Curtin University: julia.connell@curtin.edu.au or
Professor Pauline Stanton, Victoria University: pauline.stanton@vu.edu.au
________________________________________________________________________
Canada: International Interuniversity Research Centre on Globalization and Work
(CRIMT) Conference, on Union Futures: Innovations, Transformations, Strategies,
October 25th to 27th 2012, HEC Montréal, Montreal, Canada.
Original academic and actor contributions are invited on one or more of the following
themes. 1. What do Unions Stand For? 2. Who do Unions Represent? 3. What are the
Dynamics of Union Activism? 4. What are the Strategies for Union Power? 5. How do
Unions Innovate? For details on each of these themes and on how to submit proposals, see
the full call for papers at http://www.crimt.org/UnionFutures.html . The deadline for
submission of proposals is April 30th, 2012. They must be sent to Nicolas Roby, CRIMT
Scientific Coordinator at nicolas.roby at umontreal.ca.
__________________________________________________________________________
Australia: Pacific Employment Relations Association Conference, Hervey Bay,
Queensland, Australia, 19 to 21 November, 2012. Information at http://www.pera.net.au.
Theme: People, Management and Employment Issues: Sustainability, Inclusiveness and
Knowledge Management. Full paper 13 September 2012.
___________________________________________________________________________
Australia: The Australian Labour Law Association is pleased to announce that its 6th
Biennial Conference will be held in Canberra on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 November 2012.
The conference will run all day on the Friday, with a dinner that night, then conclude at
26
lunchtime on the Saturday. The venue is the Rydges Lakeside Hotel, conveniently located in
the heart of Canberra.
Full Call for Papers Document
Download File
___________________________________________________________________________
Australia: 27th AIRAANZ Conference, 6-8 February 2013, Freemantle, Western Australia.
Information from www.conferencewa.com.au/airaanz2013; email trish.todd@uwa.edu.au;
email al.rainnie@gbs.curtin.edu.au . Submission deadline for refereed papers 21 September
2012.
__________________________________________________________________________
Australia: 8th Asian Regional Congress of the International Labour and Employment
Relations Association, 9-12 April 2013, Melbourne, Victoria.
Theme: Work and Employment in the Asian Century
The program will be organised around four track themes:
1. The changing contours of employment relations and labour market regulation.
2. Human Resource management – trends and challenges.
3. The future of worker voice and representation, and
4. Globalisation, corporate social responsibility and decent work.
Call for Abstracts Open, February 2012; Deadline for Special Interest Symposia,
27 July 2012; Deadline for Abstract Submissions, 28 September 2012; Registration Open
11 April 2012.
For more details about the program, please click here:
_______________________________________________________________________________
The Netherlands: 10th European Conference of the International Labour and
Employment Relations Association, Imagining new employment relations and new
solidarities. Amsterdam, 20 - 22 June 2013
___________________________________________________________________________
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Australia: Fifth International Community, Work and Family Conference, The fifth
international Community, Work and Family Conference will take place at the University of
Sydney, 15-17 July 2013. Information at www.CWF2013.aifs.gov.au
___________________________________________________________________________
Other Sites
ILO: The International Institute for Labour Studies (IILS) was established by the
International Labour Organization in 1960 as a centre for advanced studies in the social and
labour fields. It produces the annual "World of Work Report". The International Labour
Review, a global multidisciplinary journal of labour and social policies is also published
under the aegis of the IILS.
http://www.ilo.org/
___________________________________________________________________________
UK: Working Lives Research Institute
Subscribe to the WLRI mailing list for regular news updates, including our regular WLRI
electronic-newsletter, and subscribe to our WLRI press release mailing list.
___________________________________________________________________________
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