Tim Sharp

Urban Outfitters, Dreams and Royal Parks cafes criticised for use of gig economy app TUC urges ministers to bring forward changes to protect workers amid concerns over apps such as Temper

Urban Outfitters, Dreams and Royal Parks cafes criticised for use of gig economy app www.theguardian.com/business/202...

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The Conservatives’ plan to leave the ECHR is an attack on workers' rights The Conservative Party’s latest flirtation with withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is not just a reckless political stunt, it’s a direct threat to the rights and freedoms ...

Some interest in the European Convention on Human Rights on here today. If you want to know what the ECHR means for workers' rights read @pwielt.bsky.social's blog.
www.tuc.org.uk/blogs/conser...

8 in 10 parents trust education staff on AI as unions set out roadmap  – TUC New polling reveals that a majority of parents back unions’ urgent call to make education staff central at every stage of AI adoption in education - to deliver the best outcomes for children and young...

8 in 10 parents trust education staff on AI as unions set out roadmap @tuc.org.uk www.tuc.org.uk/news/8-10-pa...

Just going to reply with this chart whenever I hear people telling me how the triple lock will destroy the public finances from now on.

But you'd get the bus there.

I really enjoyed Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis. Surprisingly very funny given subject matter. Audiobook version is great if you are on the move.

Bore on about this a lot, but really was one of the worst parts of the government's response to the pandemic that they steadfastly and repeatedly refused to improve the existing sick pay system. Instead, they brought in a terrible temporary mess of a scheme six months in and ended it asap.

TUC hails “historic day” for working people as Employment Rights Bill passes Lords The TUC has today (Tuesday) hailed an “historic day” for working people as the government’s flagship workers’ rights Bill has finally broken its House of Lords deadlock after months of wrangling in pa...

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www.tuc.org.uk/news/tuc-hai...

Find out why Gavin Edwards is "hugely optimistic" about the implementation of Fair Pay Agreements in the adult social care sector ⤵️

A good way for employers to manage this risk would be to not unfairly dismiss people.

Got my finger on the pulse.

Despite clear scientific advice, and despite many considering that the provision of financial support to encourage adherence to testing and self-isolation policies was necessary, the Inquiry heard that such provisions were “heatedly debated in government”.144 Professor Whitty summarised: “Treasury were generally not convinced by these arguments in favour of payments for working people who were self-isolating and who were not otherwise paid for that time.” Rishi Sunak MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer from February 2020 to July 2022, confirmed to the Inquiry that he was: “sceptical that [financial provision] would make a significant difference to the levels of people self-isolating”.

I know it came out a couple of weeks back, but still find the section of the latest report from the covid inquiry depressing but unsurprising.

Despite clear advice on the need for better financial support for people to self-isolate, the treasury and the chancellor just ignored it.

Presumably the web person at the OBR needed to nip out for an early lunch.

Employers! Avoid this problem by simply not firing someone an hour after they start a job you have presumably selected them for.

Zack Polanski in September: The Green Party stands in solidarity with the TUC in saying there must be no watering down of Workers’ Rights,

Green Party peers tonight: voting with Tories and Lib Dems to water down measures to stop exploitative zero hours contracts.
votes.parliament.uk/votes/lords/...

UK MPs urged to investigate TikTok’s plans to cut 439 content moderator jobs Trade unions and online safety experts sign letter warning jobs losses could expose children to harmful content

Job cuts at TikTok came eight days before workers were due to vote on union recognition.

UK MPs urged to investigate TikTok’s plans to cut 439 content moderator jobs www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Paul Nowak Column: 'The Left has a political and moral duty to defend the ECHR' - LabourList In his barnstorming regular column TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak says all MPs have a moral and political duty o defend the ECHR.

Great piece by @paulnowaktuc.bsky.social in support of the ECHR: exactly the points I and others in @soclablaw.bsky.social have been making. labourlist.org/2025/10/paul...

David Lammy rules out charging workers for employment tribunal claims Justice secretary says right to challenge unfair work behaviour is core to Labour work plan after union backlash

A really welcome announcement on employment tribunal fees.

www.theguardian.com/money/2025/o...

Don't let tribunal fees undermine the government's Plan to Make Work Pay The government’s Plan to Make Work Pay promises stronger protections for workers, but apparent proposals to reintroduce employment tribunal fees risk undermining that progress.

www.tuc.org.uk/blogs/dont-l...

The government’s Plan to Make Work Pay promises stronger protections for workers, but proposals being considered in Whitehall to reintroduce employment tribunal fees would risk undermining that progress.

Why ‘dynamic pay’ is the new way to rip you off Workers are being offered personalised payments for each job — but often that means they’re get a smaller piece of the pie

The likes of EVRi, Deliveroo etc, and the murky pay 'models' they inflict on their workers, needs serious attention www.thetimes.com/business-mon...

*Waves in agreement from North Jutland*

Obstruction on the line: Employment Rights Bill delayed by peers’ amendments Workers anticipating overdue improvements to their rights will have to wait longer after Tory and Lib Dem peers voted to water down key protections.

Obstruction on the line: Employment Rights Bill delayed by peers’ amendments. @timsharp.bsky.social @tuc.org.uk update on shenanigans in the Lords www.tuc.org.uk/blogs/obstru...

To all who think capitalism can drive progressive change, it won’t – and here’s the shocking proof | Polly Toynbee Asset manager Aberdeen’s surprise cut to funding research into inequality has left those that used its grants for good work reeling, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

Appalled to read this. A critical funder of UK social and fiscal policy research has just been summarily dumped, along with its key staff and trustees. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Time to boost workers' data rights to shed a light on the algorithms that determine their work and pay.

UK Uber drivers’ earnings cut after secretive algorithm changes www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

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Data intermediaries TUC response to Department for Science, Innovation and Technology call for evidence, May 2025

More needs to be done to facilitate workers' collective data rights.

The TUC response to the government's call for evidence on data intermediaries:

www.tuc.org.uk/research-ana...

What you will see next month: me speaking at this great event.

What you won't see: that terrible beard, which although it occasionally reappears in pixel form, is thankfully no longer attached to my face.

At £118.75 a week, low statutory sick pay is a real issue.

One figure we didn’t include: households with a full-time worker spend £193 a week on essentials like food, housing, fuel and power.

Even among lower income households, it’s £128.

SSP doesn’t cover the basics.

I also need to work on my posture.