Weekly Issue 73 - September 2002

Bend it like Beckmann

Beckmann v Dynamco Whicheloe Macfarlane Ltd [2002] IRLR 578 ECJ

The pernicious pensions exclusion from TUPE protection has long been an issue for trade unions.

Subsidising low pay

Nerva and others v United Kingdom [2002] IRLR 815

The High Court (as upheld by the Court of Appeal) ruled in 1995 that non-cash tips could be used by employers to count towards the National Minimum Wage (Nerva v R L & G Ltd [1995] IRLR 2000 and [1996] IRLR 461).

Employment Rights Unit

Thompsons has the largest nationwide team of lawyers specialising purely in employment law for trade unions. The team covers the full range of employment law, with lawyers who focus on key specialist areas.

Law must be changed to protect union rights

Wilson v UK [2002] IRLR 568

Thompsons represented Dave Wilson and the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) in their landmark case before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

Time for European action

Council Proposal of Procedures for Public Procurement, 9270/02 of 28 May 2002
Case C-513/99 on 17 September 2002, Concordia Bus Finland Oy Ab, formerly Stagecoach Finland Oy Ab v Helsingin Kaup Unki, HKL-Bussiliikenne
Case 225/98, Commission of the European Communities v French Republic, 26 September 2000
Posting Directive 96/71/EC

Sex and the City

Julie Bower v Cheapside (SSL) Ltd (formerly Schroder Securities Ltd) ET (unreported)

In this widely publicised case, Thompsons acted for Julie Bower, funded by the EOC, in her claim for sex discrimination, equal pay and unfair dismissal against her former employer - a large city institution.