This week’s news in brief
Dispute resolved
Jobcentre and benefits staff have voted to accept an agreement that
guarantees their safety in open-plan Jobcentre Plus offices and resolves the
largest dispute in the Civil Service for more than 15 years. The 65,000 staff
are backing the deal which, among other safeguards, ensures high-risk
transactions will continue to be delivered in screened environments. Â www.pcs.org.uk
HSE health warning
The Health and Safety Executive has published research claiming that a
stressful working environment can lead to coronary heart disease. The report
finds that heavy workload, a lack of control and poor reward systems are
related to an increasing number of coronary heart disease incidents. Â www.hse.gov.uk
Too much pay shock
Almost half of UK employees have been overpaid because of payroll errors,
but 30 per cent kept quiet and pocketed the cash. A survey by ICM shows that 44
per cent of staff had been paid too much by their employer, with 36 per cent of
payroll errors worth £250 or more.
Theatre workers deal
West End theatre workers have won an 11.3 per cent average pay increase plus
significant improvements in holiday pay entitlements. More than 70 per cent of
BECTU members voted to accept the pay offer from the Society of London Theatres
after a ballot of union members showed 96.3 per cent in favour of taking
industrial action after the original offer of 1.6 per cent. Â www.bectu.org.uk
Top teacher rewards
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Plans to reward the most effective teachers have been given the green light
following negotiations between the Government and head teacher unions. The
general secretaries of the Secondary Heads Association and National Association
of Head Teachers have cancelled a ballot on industrial action and recommended
members adopt the revised plans for performance related pay. Â www.dfes.gov.uk
