Read to the end for for a major trade union win, the workers serving un-Happy Meals, and the place to go for the best work-life balance in the world.
Morning team,
Evie Breese here, as per, bringing you the week’s top employment stories. And it’s certainly been a week of swings and roundabouts as the government desperately tries to bring enough cash to the table to end the strikes - while maintaining its line that too much pay will worsen inflation.
The government’s offer of between 5% and 7% for public sector workers has received a mixed bag of responses. For teaching unions, it’s enough to recommend the offer to their members, while the British Medical Association angrily announced two further strike dates for senior doctors while calling the rate “derisory”.
The claim that higher pay rises would worsen inflation — pushed by the Bank Of England, which funnily enough gave its own staff £25 million in bonuses last year — has been widely debunked. The Institute for Public Policy Research has calculated that public sector pay rises of 10% would add little to inflation, undermining Rishi Sunak’s call for wage restraint.
While every other sector saw workers get real-terms pay cuts, those in finance and business services managed to take home an average annual pay rise of 6% since 2008, even while taking into account inflation, according to new TUC wage analysis. As per the status quo, those holding the purse strings are reaping the profits.
Do you work in the public sector? Let me know how you feel about the government’s pay offer, at evie.breese@bigissue.com.
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Mickey Mouse degrees. Rishi Sunak has announced a crack down on “low value” university degrees that don’t offer students good job prospects or high earning potential. The Guardian’s Nimo Omer has a deep dive into why Sunak is pushing the policy now, the impact it may have, and why it will reinforce the “class ceiling”.
Holding fast. The High Court has upheld a legal challenge from 13 trade unions that prevents the government from repealing the ban on agency workers. It means that businesses won’t be able to bring in temporary staff to break strikes. The government is considering its next steps carefully, reports Reuters.
Hypocrisy. The Bank of England employees received more £25m in staff bonuses last year, despite its chief economist Huw Pill telling Brits to “accept” being poorer, and governor Andrew Bailey calling for wage “restraint” to avoid worsening inflation. Important reporting from Martin Williams at Open Democracy.
Unhappy meals. Fast-food chain McDonalds has been hit by widesreaching allegations of a toxic workplace culture of sexual assault, harassment, racism and bullying, as revealed in a BBC investigation. The Equality and Human Rights commission has launched a new confidential email hotline for reporting McDonald’s harassment incidents in response to the findings.
Broken promises. Among its many u-turns, Labour has quietly dropped policies that would guarantee basic rights and protections at work and strengthen trade unions, writes Keith Ewing and John Hendy in Tribune. Is Labour backsliding on workers’ rights?
Work sucks, I know. Two thirds of young people say their work is damaging their mental health, according to this damning new polling from The New Statesman. The poll also found that one in five employees are encouraged to work unpaid overtime.
Strike watch
Hollywood actors and writers in America have joined forces to strike in protest of low pay and poor working conditions, while raising concerns over the rise of AI. Here’s how the industrial action will affect productions in the UK, from Reemul Balla for Sky News.
Gatwick airport staff are set to walk out for eight days at the start of the school summer holidays.
Hospitality workers at Glasgow music venue 13th Note went on strike for 48 hours on July 15, and will walk out every weekend until 6 August. The strike was called “the first bar workers' strikes in over 20 years" by Unite leader Sharon Graham. The members of unite are seeking better pay, improved working conditions and union recognition. Reported by the BBC.
Senior doctors have announced two further days of strike action with the BMA in response to the government’s public sector pay offer.
Dreaming of a better work-life balance? New Zealand might be the place for you.
Global HR technology company Remote has ranked the top 60 countries in the world for work-life balance, by looking at each countries’ legal minimums for pay, and annual leave, maternity and paternity leave. They also added points for how happy people are, according to The Happiness Index, how LGBTQ+ inclusive the country is, and how many hours a week people work on average.
While the UK came in sixth place, New Zealand took the crown, where workers can expect 32 days of holiday, a high rate of sick pay (80%), and a government-funded universal health care system.
Working culture
The Bear has been warmly embraced by the hospitality and restaurant worlds for its portrayal of a chaotic family-run kitchen that has deep connections to its neighbourhood. With stress levels rising, the new season promises a full restaurant redesign, new staff and teases at the return of an ex. As someone who worked in restaurants and bars for years, it’s exciting to see a show that depicts all the gritty drama, without dumbing down service industry workers.
Enjoying this newsletter? Check out Survival Guide, our newsletter on the cost of living crisis from my colleague Isabella McRae. We also have a cost of living help Facebook group with money-saving tips and positive stories..
Thursday 20 July. Railway workers begin the first of three days of strike action with transport union the RMT.
Consultants (senior doctors) are set to strike for two consecutive days with the BMA.
Saturday 22 July. Railways workers strike for a second day.
Sunday 23 July. Workers on the London Underground will undertake five days of rolling strike action until Friday July 28, with no strike on Monday July 24. The RMT is yet to announce which lines will be affected.
Friday 28 July. Gatwick airport staff including baggage handlers and ground workers strike for four consecutive days, until Tuesday 1 August.
Friday 4 August. Gatwick airport staff start a second block of strike action, until Tuesday 8 August.
Thursday 24 August. NHS consultants walk out for two days.
Wednesday 27 September. Creating a Good Jobs economy, lecture by Professor Dani Rodrik, at The Resolution Foundation.
Animals with jobs
There’s nothing like being kneaded like a ball of biscuit dough to relax the body and mind. Next time you’re feline tense, make an appointment with Kitty.
Does your cat/dog/garden fox/animal you saw on holiday participate in the daily grind? Nominate them today by sending me a photo to: evie.breese@bigissue.com
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