Businesses urged to ensure workplace fairness and equality
Wed, 16 Sep 2009
Businesses should attempt to treat their employees fairly if they wish to avoid incurring the wrath of the unions, it has been reported.
According to the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Equality Audit, 65 per cent of unions were asked for guidance on general equalities issues last year, the same proportion received enquiries related to working hours and 63 per cent fielded queries about the gender pay gap, the audit revealed.
A wide range of equalities issues were addressed, including women's pay and employment, disability, age, religion and migrant workers, the TUC said,
Brendan Barber, general secretary of the TUC, said achieving fairness and equality in the workplace is "a core issue" for unions.
He added that the report showed the best way to pursue this is through "successful negotiation and collective bargaining".
Mr Barber added: "Unions have always led the way in calling more friendly family working rights. But unions have an even more important role in delivering a better work-life balance for workers up and down the country.
"Next year the equality bill will come into effect and unions, judging by the results of our Equality Audit, are well placed to ensure that these new rights make a real difference to people's lives."
Earlier this week, Mr Barber called on the government to remain committed to its public spending plans in a bid to stimulate the UK economy.
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