New on the Coalition Timeline
What have we learned from the Coalition Timeline so far ? Find out in the IER ' s latest series of articles .
Increasing vulnerability in the workplace - Lansley ' wanted to sack whistleblower ' ( 24 / 06 / 13 )
Pay and Benefits - Keep pay low for young people , govt says ( 27 / 06 / 13 )
Public Sector - Spending review deepens attack on public sector workers ( 26 / 06 / 13 )
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In the news this week ...
ACAS codes Acas has published its new code on settlement agreements , which can be found here . The new code follows consultation with unions , employers , other organisations and individuals . Many of the suggestions of trade unions were taken on board by Acas , including writing in the code that an employee is permitted to take a union official or other companion into settlement meetings ; and changes to the list of ' improper behaviour ' by employees to include ' unambiguous impropriety '.
Public sector In the week that George Osborne ' s Spending Review announced another attack on public sector workers , there has been more news on the damage the spending cuts have already done . Research by the Trades Union Council showed that over 180,000 children with a parent working in the public sector will fall into poverty by 2015 .
However , trade unions have also shown their might in the fight back against the cuts , with the NUT and NASUWT taking thousands of teachers out to strike rallies in the North West this week . Meanwhile , Unison took another step toward victory in a long-running fight for equal pay for women in Dumfries and Galloway , as the Supreme Court agreed that it is fair for the union to compare the work of female nursery nurses and classroom assistant to male menial staff ( such as refuse workers ) in order to claim equal pay and conditions . The case will now be referred back to tribunal .