Equality issues
This section of the website provides general guidance on equality issues, rights and legislation.
The advice in these briefs provides some basic details on employment law. They do not attempt to describe every aspect, and should not be regarded as an authoritative statement of the law in any particular case.
TSSA members should, where necessary, seek advice from their staff reps, the TSSA Helpdesk or their Negotiations Officer.
- 2007 TUC Disability Conference
- Wednesday 23 May to Thursday 24 May 2007
- Bullying
- The Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt announced a project in early 2004 to eradicate bullying and discrimination in the workplace.
- Childcare
- Childcare is increasingly recognised by the government, employers and trade unions as an important component in maintaining and improving the UK’s economic performance in the years to come.
- Dealing with sex discrimination in the workplace
- A guide for representatives on dealing with sex discrimination in the workplace, the different types of discrimination and remedies.
- Disability - the meaning
- The Meaning of Disability Regulations which accompany the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) provide that addiction (including a dependency) to "alcohol, nicotine or any other substance" is to be treated as not amounting to an impairment for the purposes of the DDA.
- Disability Discrimination Act
- Disabled people continue to be disadvantaged in the job market due to prejudice, lack of understanding, inadequate access and the failure of the education system to accommodate their needs.
- Diversity training offered by majority of employers
- Three out of five organisations now provide diversity training, according to the 2003 annual Training and Development survey from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
- Domestic violence - an introduction
- After years of campaigning, the issue of domestic violence has begun to work its way on to the political and social agenda.
- Domestic violence - helping the victims
- This brief explains why domestic violence is a workplace issue and what can be done to help the victims of domestic violence.
- Domestic violence - model policy
- This brief provides a model Domestic Violence policy which TSSA reps can use when discussing, with their employer, the development of a workplace strategy for dealing with domestic violence.
- Domestic violence - useful contacts and further information
- This brief provides some helpful contacts for further information and assistance on domestic violence.
- Employers recruitment practices risk discrimination claims
- UK organisations could be leaving themselves open to discrimination payouts of millions of pounds from job seekers, according to a report by The Work Foundation, which highlights inadequate monitoring of job applicants for diversity.
- Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 - TSSA Supports Legal Challenge
- The TUC recently announced that it is to co-ordinate a union-backed legal challenge to the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 which could allow pension schemes and religious organisations to continue to discriminate against lesbian and gay workers.
- Equal Pay differences between Scotland, Wales and the English Regions
- The following information is obtained from the 2002 Labour Force Survey and is based on hourly earnings including overtime.
- Equal pay questionnaire came into force on 6 April 2003
- Individuals who suspect their employers pay them less than their colleagues are able to use the new equal pay questionnaire from 6 April 2003.
- Government broadens childcare tax incentive package for working parents
- Improved incentives to boost employer-supported childcare were outlined in a Treasury consultation in 2003, marking another step towards affordable, good quality childcare for all.
- Harassment at work
- Harassment may be defined as conduct that is unwanted and offensive and which affects the dignity of a person.
- Hidden racism still pervades British workplaces
- Britain’s black and ethnic minority workers say that real progress has been made in combating race discrimination at work over the past 10 years, but that racism persists, often in disguised form.
- Issues for pregnant employees
- Lack of awareness could be putting the health and well-being of pregnant women and their unborn babies at risk according to the shop workers’ union, USDAW, who have conducted a survey of 1200 women.
- Pregnant workers - good practice and legal rights
- The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have recently published new guidance "to help employers ensure pregnant women have a safe and healthy experience at work".
- Religion or belief - discrimination in employment
- This brief covers the main provisions of the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations.
- Requesting time off to care for dependants
- How much and what kind of notice should an employee give if they need to take time off to care for a breakdown in care arrangements for a child?
- Sexual harassment - an overview
- The extent of the problem - definitions - employers responsibilities - rep action
- Sexual harassment - negotiating effective policies
- This brief looks at practical ways that TSSA representatives can help negotiate company policies that can make a positive difference to their colleagues’ working lives.
- Sexual harassment - policy statements
- This brief covers the role of a company’s policy statement in the initial process of combating sexual harassment.
- Sexual orientation - discrimination in employment
- From 1 December 2003, the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 prohibit discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.
- Study measures barriers to employment
- Lone parenthood, disability, age and ethnic background are major factors that increase the risk of unemployment, according to a study of multiple disadvantage in employment.
- The Women Chainmakers’ Festival 2006 - Saturday 16 September 2006 10am to 5.30pm
- In 1910 the Women Chainmakers of Cradley Heath fought a successful 10 week dispute to establish a minimum wage for their labour.
- TUC campaigns for improved disability rights - May 2003
- The TUC is asking trade union members to sign a petition calling for the government to strengthen the law providing equal rights for disabled people thereby enabling more of them to get into work.
- Women’s Equal Pay Course, 25-27 January 2010, Glasgow
- Please see the flyer attached for the Women’s Equal Pay course.
- Work and Families
- Choice for parents, the best start for children: a ten-year strategy for childcare
- Workplace bullying "widespread and rising"
- The results of a survey into workplace bullying, carried out by anti-bullying charity the Andrea Adams Trust and magazine Personnel Today, have shown that 87% of personnel professionals have witnessed or are aware of bullying in their organisation, with 33% reporting a rise in the past two years.
