PCG Newsletter - 10th Jan 2002 - 02/02 - Funds for case law & JR

In this issue:

• Appeal for funds to support case law
• JR Real Life Meetings

Appeal for funds to support case law and JR

Members will be aware that on 21 December 2001 the Court of Appeal rejected PCG�s judicial review of IR35.

PCG now has two ways to continue the legal battle against IR35.
1) Fight individual status cases to establish case law precedents that contractors are self-employed for the purposes of IR35.
2) Appeal the judicial review to the House of Lords and European Court of Justice.

PCG would like to pursue both strategies. However both routes will require significant new funding from members. Looking carefully at the prospects of success, we believe the case law strategy, combined with client education and changes in the contract market, has a better prospect of success for most of our members, and if funds are limited the case law route must now take precedence.

We require �350,000 to fund the case law strategy, and �350,000 to take the judicial review to the European Court of Justice.

We are asking members to fund BOTH the case law strategy and pursuing the judicial review through to Europe. Donations to the fund will be earmarked first for case law and secondly for the judicial review. If we receive donations of �350k AND pledges of another �350k by 20 January we will commit to following both strategies. However if we fall short of that target we will use the funds raised entirely for case law and we will not pursue the judicial review any further.

This is a lot of money, but we have done it before. In March 2000 PCG set a target of �500,000 in pledges and reached it in only three days. At the time PCG had only 4,000 members, whereas today we are now 14,000.

IR35 is still unfair and unworkable legislation, and PCG is still committed to establishing that our members are not 'disguised employees'. Will you continue the battle?

It is your business at stake, your PCG, your money, your decision.

For more details see the PCG Noticeboard http://www.pcg.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=Notice-407&p;=0&v;=c&s;=5

Pledges and payments can be made online. For background info: http://www.pcg.org.uk/members/legal/legalpledge.html

Link straight to pledge system: http://www.pcg.org.uk/scripts/members/pledge/pledge.pl

regards,

Gareth Williams
Deputy Chairman

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REGIONAL NEWS
Real Life Meetings

For the latest information and to start a local group see http://www.pcg.org.uk/threads/wwwthreads.pl?a=l&f;=meet

To promote your local meet through the newsletter � email [email protected] with REGIONS in the subject matter, details of the event and a name and email contact point/or phone number for further information.

Basingstoke
* * * * * * *
Tuesday 8th January, 7:30pm
Hogs Head (plus curry afterwards)
NOTE: Thames Valley meetings put back by one week.

Farnborough
* * * * * * *
Wednesday 16th January
Prince of Wales
Time: from 7:30

Glos/Wilts/Worcs
* * * * * * *
Time: 7.30
Date Wednesday 16th January
Venue: Golden Heart, Nettleton
Contact: Susie Haigh

Newcastle upon Tyne
* * * * * * *
Tuesday 22nd January
Venue: The next meeting will be in the Carriage pub (Archbold Terrace - 2 minutes from Jesmond Metro station)
Time: 7.30pm

Peterborough
* * * * * * *
Place :Paul Pry
Date : Wednesday 23rd January
Time : 8pm onwards

Herts
* * * * * * *
Date: Thursday 24th January 2002
Time: 7:30 pm onwards
Venue: The White Horse, Mill Lane, Welwyn

Please follow this link to Real Life meetings to get involved http://www.pcg.org.uk/threads/wwwthreads.pl?a=l&f;=meet

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