The Engineering Employers’ Federation has called on the Government to set future rises in the National Minimum Wage according to a pre-determined formula. Ministers should base the formula on a retrospective analysis of basic pay rates across the economy, not on movement in average earnings, the EEF said.
Stakeholder study
Just less than half of employers do not understand stakeholder pensions, even though there are only six months to go before they are introduced, research has revealed. Pensions administration specialist the FPS claims 49 per cent of companies it surveyed do not know if the pensions will be in place by April 2001 and 42 per cent did not know if they will contribute to the pensions.
Equality workshops
London Underground, with partners RMT and Aslef, has won government funding for a programme of workshops on equality for women and people from ethnic minorities. In all, 41 organisations including Birds Eye Walls, Thames Water and NHS trusts have been given £1.4m by the DTI under its Partnership fund scheme.
Unison strike ballot
Unison has announced its industrial action ballot timetable for members in higher education establishments. The ballot, which closes at 10am on 21 November, could see 60,000 Unison members in universities and colleges of higher education taking strike action.
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Print fears unfounded
Fears that digital technology could wipe out the Welsh print industry are unfounded, according to a leading academic. Dr Tim Claypole, of the University of Wales in Swansea’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, said all industry sources predict growth in the market.
