"Do shareholders get an opt-out facility from political donations that the company is making on behalf of the owners of the company?..." Lord Barber of Ainsdale - View Speech
"My Lords, this is an issue with a long history. In 1909 the Osborne judgment ruled that trade unions could not legally use their general funds for political purposes. Subsequently, the Trade Union Act 1913 was passed by the Liberal Government led by HH Asquith to allow trade unions to …..." Lord Barber of Ainsdale - View Speech
"Will the noble Baroness permit an intervention? As my noble friend Lord Prentis mentioned, there are 48 unions affiliated to the TUC; 13 of them also affiliate, subscribe and contribute to the funding of the Labour Party, and 35 do not. Most of those 35 have a political fund which …..." Lord Barber of Ainsdale - View Speech
"My Lords, I have Amendment 322 in this group, which requires the Secretary of State, after the establishment of the new arrangements to deliver fair pay in the social care sector, to set out a timetable and process for an assessment of whether this approach could deliver similar benefits in …..." Lord Barber of Ainsdale - View Speech
"My Lords, I oppose Amendments 132 and 137. Both of them seek to expand the list of organisations recognised in law to represent workers. Amendment 132 relates to representation in reaching settlement agreements, while Amendment 137 refers to representation in hearings at workplace disciplinary and grievance hearings.
"Thirty-four million workers. Five and a half thousand cases. Why is the number so small? It has been suggested that it is because an employer’s immediate response is to offer a settlement to buy off the prospect of a tribunal. Some may make that judgement, but, given the evidence my …..." Lord Barber of Ainsdale - View Speech
"The noble Lord pointed to the daunting process that faces an employer potentially facing an employment tribunal accusation that would damage perhaps their reputation, as well as the daunting issues that also face the employee who is considering going down that course. My noble friend made some emphasis on that …..." Lord Barber of Ainsdale - View Speech
"My Lords, this group of amendments deals with the hugely important issue of zero-hours and short-hours contracts. As the noble Baroness, Lady Lawlor, said, well over a million people in the UK work on zero-hours contracts. In sectors such as retail, it is also common for workers to have a …..." Lord Barber of Ainsdale - View Speech
"I say to the noble Baroness that I have more confidence in the adaptability of British businesses to cope with intelligent, progressive legislation like this to even up the labour market...." Lord Barber of Ainsdale - View Speech
"My Lords and Ladies, I begin by expressing my congratulations to the noble Baronesses, Lady Berger, Lady Gray and Lady Cash, on their maiden speeches. I look forward with interest to the maiden speech of the noble Lord, Lord Young.