This month’s news
Major research into bias
The Cabinet Office has announced a major package of initiatives aimed at
stamping out discrimination and harassment. It proposes to review
anti-discrimination legislation with a view to harmonisation; to implement the
Stephen Lawrence inquiry action plan on institutional racism; to eliminate the
gender pay gap and simplify equal pay law; to give greater personal choice over
work patterns and to carry out research into religious discrimination.
Union deals hit new high
Seventy-five new recognition agreements were signed by unions in the 10
months between January and October 1999, the highest number ever reported in a
Trade Union Trends survey. Four in 10 unions responding to the survey said the
impending legislation had been influential in securing the new deals. Six out
of 10 unions surveyed said the new legal rights had affected the way they
campaigned.
New protection for children
The Criminal Records Bureau is to start issuing information to prospective
employers from July 2001 to help them protect children in their care, the Home
Office has announced. Three levels of check will be available by July 2002. The
CRB will be permitted to pass on information from List 99 which contains
details of people barred from or restricted in work with schools, further
education and the youth service.
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Banker’s sex bias win
£300,000-a-year banker Kay Swinburne has won a long-running sex
discrimination case against her former employer Deutsche Bank. Her complaints
against her line manager included him suggesting she must be having an affair
with a major client after she had dinner with him. Swinburne is expected to net
up to £1m in compensation.
