1st Edition

Employment Relations under Coalition Government The UK Experience, 2010-2015

Edited By Steve Williams, Peter Scott Copyright 2016
    292 Pages
    by Routledge

    292 Pages
    by Routledge

    Drawing on a wide range of up-to-date research, Employment Relations under Coalition Government critically examines developments in UK employment relations during the period of Conservative-Liberal Democrat government between 2010 and 2015, against the background of the 2007-08 financial crisis, subsequent economic recession and in the context of the primacy accorded to neo-liberal austerity. Contributions cover a series of important and relevant topics in a rigorous, yet accessible manner: labour market change and the rise of zero-hours contracts and other forms of precarious employment; policy development relating to young people’s employment; the coalition’s welfare-to-work agenda; its programme of employment law reform and its approach to workplace equality and health and safety; labour migration; the experience of the trade unions under the coalition and their responses; and developments in employment relations in the public services.

    This book addresses the broader issues relating to the coalition period, such as the implications of political and regulatory change for employment relations, including the greater devolution of powers to Scotland and Wales, and locates UK developments in comparative perspective. The book concludes with an assessment of the prospects for employment relations in the aftermath of the May 2015 Conservatives election victory.

    Part 1: Introduction

    1. The UK Coalition Government 2010-15: An Overview

    Steve Williams and Peter Scott

    Part 2: The Coalition’s Economic, Employment and Labour Market Reforms

    2. Economic Policy and Employment under the Coalition Government

    Enda Hannon

    3. The Coalition’s Youth Employment Policies: Addressing a Structural Challenge?

    Melanie Simms, Sophie Gamwell, and Benjamin Hopkins

    4. Welfare-to-work Policy under the Coalition

    Steve Williams and Peter Scott

    Part 3: Employment Relations under the Coalition

    5. The Coalition Government and the Lifting of the Floor of Individual Employment Rights

    Roger Welch

    6. Equality and Diversity at Work under the Coalition

    Simonetta Manfredi

    7. Protecting Life and Death under the Coalition

    Phil James

    8. Tightening the Grip: The Coalition Government and Migrant Workers

    Alex Balch

    9. Plus ça change: The Coalition Government and Trade Unions

    Steve French and Andy Hodder

    Part 4: Reforming the State

    10. The Coalition Government and Employment Relations in the Public Services

    Peter Scott and Steve Williams

    11. Deciphering the Coalition’s Big Society: Issues and Challenges for Work and Employment Relations

    Brian Abbott

    Part 5: The Coalition and Employment Relations: Perspectives and Prospects

    12. Employment Relations under Coalition Government in Perspective

    Steve Williams and Peter Scott

    13. Employment Relations under Coalition government: Reflections, Legacy and Prospects

    Steve Williams, Peter Scott, and Roger Welch

    Biography

    Steve Williams is Reader in Employment Relations at the University of Portsmouth, UK.

    Peter Scott is Senior Lecturer in Employment Relations at the University of Portsmouth, UK.