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In this edition we have an article on the changes to the minimum wage and holiday entitlement.
We hope that you will enjoy the E-News and that you will visit www.unionstogether.org.uk to read previous editions of the E-News and find out more information about TULO and the work of the Trade Unions.
Regards,
Trade Unionists today welcomed a new leave entitlement which will benefit 5.9 million people across the country . Additionally, another rise in the minimum wage will benefit more than 1 million workers in the UK starting from this week.
Around six million workers across the UK, made up of 3.5 million women and 2.5 million men, will benefit from the extra annual leave of four days for full-time workers. This new leave entitlement helps fulfil a Labour manifesto pledge to give an extra boost to workers who are made to take bank holidays out of their annual leave entitlement.
In addition, more than a million workers across the UK will be better off as a result of the minimum wage increases which, when combined with Working Tax credits and other benefits, will provide a guaranteed minimum income of at least £276 a week for families with one child and one full-time worker.
These changes show that Labour is determined to do right by Britain’s hardworking families. Compare that to the Tories, who opposed the extra leave entitlement and the minimum wage every step of the way.
This is great news for the Trade Union workers in the UK who stand to benefit from the increased holiday entitlement Labour is introducing from this week. About 1 million workers in the UK will also be better off thanks to the latest increase in the minimum wage.
The new pay and leave conditions will benefit the most vulnerable members of the workforce, improve working conditions and help boost productivity.
Under the changes:
• The minimum wage will increase from £5.35 to £5.52 an hour for workers aged 22 and over. There will also be increases from £4.45 to £4.60 for 18-21 year olds, and from £3.30 to £3.40 for 16-17 year olds.
• The minimum annual leave entitlement will increase from 20 days to 24 days for full-time workers – as part of Labour’s Warwick agreement on bank holidays. A further increase to 28 days will take place on 1 April 2009.
The changes that come into effect this week will be backed up by a tough new minimum wage enforcement regime announced by the Government last month, including increased maximum fines for employers who flout the laws. Employers who do not pay the correct wages will have to repay arrears to their workers at a higher rate.
Full details of the increases in wage and holiday entitlements are available here.
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Trade unionists now have the opportunity to get involved in Labour’s policy making process – Partnership in Power.
Through Partnership in Power the Labour Party aims to constantly discuss and respond to the evolving challenges they face as a party of government. Partnership in Power recognises that the Labour Party stays relevant as a political party through its connections to, and involvement in, our local communities.
We hope that the new PiP documents will be used by trade union branches, as well as individual trade unionists, to spark debates, discussions and ultimately ideas in local policy forums and meetings across the country.
This is one of six documents produced by Labour’s policy commissions and the NPF. The six second year documents are:
• Britain in the World
• Creating Sustainable Communities
• Crime, Justice, Citizenship and Equalities
• Education and Skills
• Health
• Prosperity and Work
These documents reflect the comments and submissions received on the first year consultation document “Securing Britain’s Future” which was published in 2006. All six documents set out key challenges which have been identified by the commission and the National Policy Forum.
The Labour Party wants to know, have they identified the right issues and raised the right challenges? What are the broad issues they need to consider and address to meet the challenges in their next manifesto?
You can comment on these documents until February 2008. The documents will then be redrafted and considered at a meeting of the National Policy Forum in 2008. These final year documents will help shape the manifesto for a fourth term Labour government.
Information on how to make a submission, and to view all the documents, can be found here.
We hope you take the time to submit your views and help shape Labour’s next manifesto.
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TULO has been working to re-develop our support materials for TULO Officers.
As a result of which we have a new design and content for the 2007 TULO directory & 2007 TULO Officers Handbook.
You can download all the new documents here. You may also like to click here to view the handbook online and download the various sample letters and materials for your own use.
It you have any questions about the Handbook or Directory please contact the Regional TULO Officer, Helen Symons, for more information.
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10am-2.30pm Saturday 3 November 2007, Leeds University Business School, Leeds
Speakers: Fiona Millar, The Guardian; John Bangs, NUT; Heather Wakefield, UNISON; Helen Jackson; Clare Moody, Unite; John Harris, The Guardian
This event is free to attend, but places are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis, to register please email: gavin@compassonline.org.uk
7pm-8.30pm Friday 16 November 2007, Nottingham Mechanics, Nottingham
Speakers: Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP; Ruth Lister, Loughborough University; John Harris, The Guardian; Hilary Wainwright, Red Pepper; Cllr Jon Collins, Nottingham City Council
This event is free to attend, but places are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis, to register please email: gavin@compassonline.org.uk
10.30am-1pm Saturday 24 November 2007, Transport House, Bristol
Speakers: Kerry McCarthy MP; Roger Berry MP; Doug Naysmith MP; Cllr Sam Townend; Neal Lawson, Compass (chair)
This event is free to attend, but places are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis, to register please email: gavin@compassonline.org.uk
Full details of these events can be found here.
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