Weekly issue 8

News in brief

As of October 2007, the minimum wage will increase from £5.35 per hour to £5.52. The Government says that more than a million workers, two thirds of them low paid women, will benefit.

Making tracks

In RMT v Balfour Beatty the tribunal said that the company was in serious breach of its duty to inform and consult, and awarded the employees ten weeks’ compensation.

Ballot blocks

The Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2004 state that employers have to negotiate an agreement with employee representatives, if they receive a “valid employee request” from 10 per cent of the workforce.