The IER is delighted to launch our new podcast. In this 6-part series, our labour law experts will be dissecting the new employment legislation brought forward ...
Does Labour's Employment Rights Bill Deliver on Sectoral Bargaining?
"This is the first realistic chance we've had to revise the industrial relations structure of this country since Mrs. Thatcher came to power in 1979." - Lord John Hendy KCWill the Employment Rights Bill improve pay and conditions for British workers?Leading labour law experts Lord John Hendy KC and Prof. Keith Ewing address the absence of sectoral collective bargaining from the Labour government’s new Employment Rights Bill.These two industrial relations law heavyweights argue that the Bill leaves UK workers vulnerable to exploitation from companies hostile to collective agreements."The minimum wage is the ceiling, and there's nothing above it." - Professor Keith EwingThey expound Britain’s historical sectoral bargaining arrangements, their evisceration under Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and the urgent need to reinstate trade union powers to negotiate effectively across entire industries.Hosted by Institute of Employment Rights Director, James Harrison.Topics & Questions:Sectoral Bargaining: Why is it crucial for improving wages and working conditions?Legislative Limitations: Does the Bill adequately address the need for sectoral bargaining?Government Responsibility: Should the government take a more active role in promoting sectoral collective bargaining?Chapters:00:04 Welcome02:16 Sectoral Collective Bargaining: Why It Matters05:19 Britain's Low Collective Coverage06:50 Minsters Control Bargaining08:39 Stable Labour Costs And Higher Tax Revenues11:28 Now Or Never For Collective Bargaining14:16 US Vs European Model16:27 Successful Economies Use Sectoral Bargaining19:43 Recognition Procedures: A Fatal Weakness24:51 The Outlook for Terms And Conditions28:49 Thank You For Joining UsTakeaways:Sectoral collective bargaining is essential for achieving fair wages, better working conditions, and a more equitable society.The Employment Rights Bill misses a generational opportunity to strengthen workers' rights by failing to adequately support sectoral bargaining.Without reform, the UK risks continued wage stagnation and deteriorating working conditions.Credits:The IER podcast is sponsored by Thompsons Solicitors.For Thompsons resources and advice on Trade Union law visit thompsonstradeunion.lawThis podcast is produced for IER by Creative Kin.To find out more, visit creativekin.co.uk/ierRecorded at Creative Kin's London studios.Studio Producer and Editor: Jason CaffreyTheme Music: Daniel Jorgensen
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29:43
Fire and Rehire: Labour's Broken Promise?
Unmasking the weaknesses in Labour's plan to tackle fire and rehire and zero-hours contracts."This is not ending fire and rehire, this is facilitating fire and rehire." - Professor Keith EwingIn this episode of the Institute of Employment Rights podcast, we delve into the Labour Party's proposed Employment Rights Bill with labour law experts Professor Keith Ewing and Neil Todd.Topics discussed:Zero-hours contracts: Do the bill's provisions offer genuine job security and prevent exploitation for workers on these contracts?Fire and rehire: Does the bill truly ban this practice or does it inadvertently provide a roadmap for employers to continue using it?Loopholes and limitations: Ewing and Todd highlight potential weaknesses in the bill, including vague definitions, limited enforcement mechanisms, and a lack of compensation for workers who lose their jobs due to fire and rehire.International examples: The episode explores how other countries, like Australia, have successfully tackled fire and rehire and what lessons the UK can learn.The role of unions: The experts emphasize the need for stronger unions and greater worker involvement in decision-making processes to prevent exploitative practices.Key takeaways:While the Employment Rights Bill offers some positive steps, it falls short of providing comprehensive protection for workers.Stronger enforcement mechanisms, clearer definitions, and greater union involvement are crucial to ensure fair labour practices.The UK can learn from international examples to create a more robust and equitable legal framework for workers.Chapters:00:35 Welcome01:28 The Rise of Zero-Hours Contracts: A Backward Step for Workers12:05 Fire and Rehire: Lessons from the P&O Scandal18:33 Accountability and Remedy: Where the Bill falls short22:41 Employment Law Long View: Historical and International Perspectives29:19 Empowering Unions: The foundation of Workers' Rights Protection30:00 Thank YouCredits:The IER podcast is sponsored by Thompsons Solicitors.For Thompsons resources and advice on Trade Union law visit thompsonstradeunion.lawThis podcast is produced for IER by Creative Kin.To find out more, visit creativekin.co.uk/ierRecorded at Creative Kin's London studios.Studio Producer and Editor: Jason CaffreyTheme Music: Daniel Jorgensen
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30:53
Laws Fit For Workplace Equality
"Having a Proactive duty on employers to keep their workplace free of sexual harassment is, in principle, a very good step forward.The way in which it's formulated is that the employer must take on all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment, and the key issue is what are all those reasonable steps?"In the sixth episode of the Institute of Employment Rights podcast, equality and discrimination experts Professor Sandy Fredman and Dr. Joe Atkinson analyse the Labour Party's proposed changes to equality legislation and their impact on workers through the Employment Rights Bill, the Equality Race and Disability Bill, and other forthcoming legislation.The discussion, hosted by IER director James Harrison, covers new proactive duties on employers to prevent sexual harassment, the implications of extending paternity leave, the impact of mandatory pay gap reporting for ethnicity and disability, and the socioeconomic duty on public bodies.The episode also explores the challenges posed by AI in the workplace, including the need for regulatory measures to ensure compliance with employment laws and equality standards. Chapters;00:00 Welcome07:33 Equality Action Plans10:25 Including outsourced workers in pay gap reporting12:52 Changes to paternal leave23:12 AI and equality in the workplace28:05 Socio-economic duty - will it finally be enacted?32:59 Thank you for joining the debate Credits:The IER podcast is sponsored by Thompsons Solicitors.For Thompsons resources and advice on Trade Union law visit thompsonstradeunion.lawThis podcast is produced for IER by Creative Kin.To find out more, visit creativekin.co.uk.Recorded at Creative Kin's London studios.Studio Producer and Editor: Jason CaffreyTheme Music: Daniel Jorgensen
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34:23
Worker Status, Worker Rights: Closing The Gaps In The Employment Rights Bill
Will the Employment Rights Bill 2024 pave the way to reform of employment status for workers? Or will it leave open a trap door for worker rights to fall through?Institute of Employment Rights Director James Harrison examines the gaps in the Labour Party's Employment Rights Bill with Keith Ewing, Professor of Public Law at King's College London, and Nicola Countouris, Professor of Labour Law at University College London.These distinguished experts explore the troubled issue of employment status and delve into the significant elements of the bill aimed at improving workers' rights.They examine the urgency of implementing new rights, the concept of day one rights and the value of probationary periods for new hires.Digging into zero-hour contracts, the potential for employee coercion, and the impact of sectoral collective bargaining on wages and inequality, James, Keith and Nicola shed light on the bill’s potential impact on workers and the challenges it faces in addressing systemic problems within the employment landscape.Chapters00:00 Worker Status, Worker Rights: Closing The Gaps In The Employment Rights Bill00:01 Welcome01:33 Five Questions The Bill Must Address03:27 Protecting Workers from Unfair Dismissal06:22 Day One Rights In Perspective09:01 Probation Periods And Short-term Contracts10:18 Why Worker Status Needs Reform16:27 A Two-Part Framework for Employment Status18:00 Case Study: Supreme Court Ruling On Deliveroo Riders22:19 Zero Hours Contracts: People As Commodities26:15 Lord Hendy's Status Of Workers Bill28:12 Collective Bargaining Beyond The Adult Social Care Sector29:42 Thank You for ListeningCredits:The IER podcast is supported by Thompsons Solicitors.This podcast is produced for IER by Creative Kin.To find out more, visit creativekin.co.uk/ierRecorded at Creative Kin's London studios.Studio Producer and Editor: Jason CaffreyTheme Music: Daniel Jorgensen
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30:39
Getting The Bill Right: Lessons From Legislation Past
How can the experience of prior legislation help get the best out of Labour's new Employment Rights Bill? And will the Care Sector be the new flag-bearer for improved terms and conditions?Carolyn Jones, Senior Vice President of the Institute of Employment Rights, leads a detailed discussion on Labour's new Employment Rights Bill.Joined by IER Vice President Professor Lydia Hayes and Executive Committee member Sarah Veale, the panel examines past legislative experiences, challenges in drafting effective employment laws, and the need for precise legal wording.Special focus is given to the radical shift towards sectoral collective bargaining in adult social care. Emphasis is given to the importance of union involvement, addressing systemic issues like unequal pay and the pitfalls of zero-hour contracts.Despite challenges, new legislative consultations provide hope for fairer employment practices.The show closes with a call to reinforce workers' power through unions, balancing collective and individual rights.About The Institute of Employment RightsThe IER aims to develop modern employment laws and offers publications, briefings, and conference papers.Supporters can subscribe and receive newsletters at www.ier.org.uk.Episode Chapters:00:00Â Getting The Bill Right: Lessons From Legislation Past00:47Â Introduction04:31Â Why Legal Language Matters05:42Â Balancing The Long View06:32Â Anticipating Problems With The New Bill07:59Â Rights For Part-Time Workers09:58Â How Employers Are Responding12:04Â Looking Forward: The Care Work Sector14:46Â Collective Bargaining In Adult Social Care16:18Â A New Voice For Care Workers?20:03Â Care work: A Marginalised Bellwether23:50Â Balancing Individual Vs Collective Rights29:45Â ConclusionCredits:The IER podcast is sponsored by Thompsons Solicitors.For Thompsons resources and advice on Trade Union law visit thompsonstradeunion.law.This podcast is produced for IER by Creative Kin.To find out more, visit creativekin.co.uk.Recorded at Creative Kin's London studios.Studio Producer and Editor: Jason CaffreyTheme Music: Daniel Jorgensen
The IER is delighted to launch our new podcast. In this 6-part series, our labour law experts will be dissecting the new employment legislation brought forward by Sir Keir Starmer's Labour government.As many of our readers will know, the IER have been informing the debate on improving and strengthening labour laws for workers over the last 30 years. This body of work (undertaken on a voluntary basis by our labour law academics and lawyers) provided the blueprint for Labour's green paper on employment rights, New Deal for Workers document, their National Policy Forum document, and now their 'Making Work Pay' proposals, which are being brought to life by the Government's proposed Employment Rights Bill. Join us, as our experts consider how the proposals in the Bill measure up, and as we highlight the pitfalls and the possibilities the Bill may pose for the UK's 33 million workers.The IER Podcast is kindly supported by Thompsons Solicitors.
UK