Updated 10:36am 11 February 2012:

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Kevin Rowan

Kevin Rowan

Kevin Rowan column

A report from the North-East Regional Information Partnership this month highlighted the need for some quite radical policy decisions to be taken quickly if the North-East is not to be disadvantaged by the population dynamics highlighted in Demographic Change.Read

Kevin Rowan column

Tomorrow trade union representatives from all over the UK will lobby their Members of Parliament and Ministers over the Government's radical and forthright public sector reform agenda.Read

Kevin Rowan column

The Working Time Regulations introduced a statutory entitlement to paid holidays. For the first time, full-time workers would be entitled to a minimum of 20 days' paid leave, part-time workers enjoying pro-rata benefits.Read

Kevin Rowan column

The Regional Economic Strategy rightly focuses on the importance of good leadership in driving forward success.Read

Kevin Rowan

When Sandy Leitch published his report, Skills in the Global Economy, the initial reaction for many was a gasp.Read

Kevin Rowan column

Maximising the benefits and minimising the consequences of globalisation is the inherent lingua franca of the current government.Read

Kevin Rowan column

The introduction of a smoking ban in all workplaces and enclosed public spaces should be recognised as one of the most significant interventions that any government could make in the interests of public health.Read

Kevin Rowan

The labour market in the UK is essentially organic and dynamic, the world moves on, economies move with it and labour markets must respond accordingly.Read

Kevin Rowan column

The decision last week to preserve UK's opt-out of the European Union's Working Time Regulations was more about political posturing than a necessary protection of economic interests.Read

Kevin Rowan column

Fewer injuries but are workplaces safer? Last week it was announced the number of major injuries to employees was down almost 2,000 on the previous year to 28,605, a fall of about 6%.Read

Kevin Rowan column

Uefa, the governing body of European football, is rightly being praised for its "tough stance" in banning Nikola Mijailovic of Wisla Krakow for five matches for racially abusing Blackburn's South African forward Benni McCarthy.Read

Kevin Rowan

"if it ain't broke, don't fix it" - an old and well-known adage. One that isn't applied very often by those in Government, at all levels.Read

Kevin Rowan column

There have been some interesting expressions of the views of business in the media recently.Read

Kevin Rowan column

From next summer all workplaces and enclosed public spaces will need to be `smoke-free' to comply with new regulations under the Health Act 2006.Read

Kevin Rowan column

Yesterday, regulations came into force making discrimination on the grounds of age unlawful.Read

Kevin Rowan column

This is the time of year many people refer to as the "silly season", when people from all kinds of organisations say things that are patently ridiculous just to grab a headline.Read

Kevin Rowan column

Most people are now back at work after enjoying their annual break in the sun, feeling refreshed. There's little doubt workers able to enjoy a significant break from work feel benefits from it, and are evidently more enthusiastic and productive at work.Read

Kevin Rowan column

Today marks the start of the 138th Annual Trades Union Congress gathering.Read

Kevin Rowan column

I get invited to all kinds of awards dinners, celebration events and the like (I know, it's really tough!) Last month, the Learning and Skills Councils Awards final was held in Hardwick Hall, following semi-final events in Yarm and in Newcastle.Read

Kevin Rowan column

Earlier this month, we saw royal assent being given to the Health Bill, now the Health Act, which includes a wide range of measures including one which will have a dramatic affect on the North-East, a comprehensive ban on smoking in all workplaces, including pubs and clubs.Read

Author Profile

Kevin Rowan is regional secretary of Northern TUC and also writes a weekly column for The Journal covering all major business issues affecting the North East. Kevin was formerly the regional organiser of the GMB where he was been involved in a series of campaigning issues. He was brought up in Cumbria and studied government and public policy at Northumbria University.

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