NATFHE Branch Resources : Tackling age discrimination

Age discrimination is something that affects significant numbers of staff in further and higher education. It may affect employment, redundancy, promotion, benefits and treatment. Until now there has been little legal protection for staff facing such discrimination and few policies within education institutions to protect staff.

Improvements in the law come into effect in 2006. In the meantime, more far-sighted employers are getting ready for these changes by introducing policies to protect staff at both ends of the age spectrum and ensure that the valuable skills, knowledge and experience that older staff bring to education are not frittered away.

Tackling age discrimination (Word doc) is a simple leaflet outlining steps that members and branches can take to tackle these issues.

NATFHE has produced a trail-blazing policy document on age discrimination, Challenging Age Discrimination (PDF file) which is aimed at branch secretaries and equality activists, and will be helpful to union members with an interest in the subject. It puts a series of bargaining arguments, explaining the state of the law, the obligations on employers, and the positions that members should try to obtain.

Eldercare - Guidance for Branches is another useful NATFHE publication. This is not available in electronic form but can be ordered from Despatch Dept, NATFHE, 27 Britannia Street, London WCIX 9JP.

NATFHE is trying to secure national agreements with the employers in FE and HE against age discrimination. A model policy can be found, starting on page 21 of Challenging Age Discrimination (PDF file), that employers in colleges and universities should adopt. It covers best working practice to make sure that age discrimination is avoided.

For the latest information on the government's position see Age discrimination: update on the right to work past 65 (Word doc).

NATFHE is one of 20 unions campaigning jointly against government plans to reduce pension rights. See our pensions campaign page for more information.

The EU Employment Equality Directive (PDF file) defines a set of principles that offer EU citizens a common minimum level of legal protection against discrimination on grounds of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Age Concern

Age Positive

Campaign Against Age Discrimination in Employment

Employers Forum on Age

Equality Challenge Unit

National Pensioners Convention

NATFHE toolkits provide advice for branches and links to other sources of information. Anyone seeking specific advice in respect of the issues covered by this toolkit should consult their branch officers in the first instance, who in turn may need to take advice from NATFHE regional officials. Important time limits often apply; for further information about these or if you are seeking to pursue a legal claim on the issues covered in this toolkit, you should not rely on the toolkit alone but should seek additional advice from the union.