We hope to provide the labour movement with the information and history needed to develop an alternative and more equitable framework of labour law. British working people have suffered for too long from some of the worst terms and conditions, and fewer rights and freedoms at work, in the world. By providing comparative information and details of internationally accepted standards we hope to improve this situation
John Hendy QC, Chair of the Institute of Employment Rights

The Institute of Employment Rights was established in February 1989. It is an independent organisation acting as a focal point for the spread of new ideas in the field of labour law. In 1994 the Institute became a registered charity.

Members of the Institute include:

• the general secretaries of most of the trade unions in the UK
• an impressive selection of labour law academics
• legal practitioners who specialise in representing unions and their members.

Members meet once a year to give direction to the work of the Institute. The day-to-day affairs are managed by an executive committee which is elected by the members.

The Institute is funded by donations and subscription fees, sales of publications and seminar receipts.

The Institute itself is a small organisation. The work is commissioned on a voluntary basis and reflects the views of the authors. Our aim is to provide a wide variety of high quality publications which we hope will stimulate debate and analysis about employment law policies and legal developments in industrial relations.

The results of the work of the Institute are published in booklets available for sale or through annual subscription. The Institute also provides short articles (free of legal jargon) for trade union journals and other popular publications. It organises seminars on topics of particular importance and holds occasional lectures.