Media
The IER publishes several expert-led reports each year and has an extensive network of academics and lawyers available for comment.
Please contact Sarah Glenister with any press enquiries or to arrange interviews or media appearances with any of our academic or legal experts.
Press releases
IER experts to hold free seminar on new trade union rights Bill
Experts from the Institute of Employment Rights (IER) will hold a free seminar on the new Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Bill on Tu
IER launches free seminar on govt failings over Covid health and safety
The IER will hold a free-to-attend seminar on the government and HSE's response Covid-19 in the workplace at 10am on Tuesday 30 March 2021.
UK government downplaying Covid-19 workplace risk, report warns
The risk of Covid-19 transmission in the workplace remains significant and is being dangerously downplayed by the UK government's light-touch approach
IER experts submit fair recovery plan to Labour Party policy forum
IER experts have submitted 41 recommendations to transform the world of work.
Research: UK’s attitude to health and safety among the worst in Europe
The UK’s commitment to ILO health and safety standards exceeds only that of Romania and Estonia among all EU Member States.
Over 11 million workers may face destitution due to gaps in the government’s Coronavirus income protection plans
Analysis by Lord John Hendy QC finds that over 11 million people could face significant financial hardship during the current crisis.
New report reveals how the UK has fallen foul of international labour law
IER has published an expert-led analysis of the international laws to which the government to conform.
New report offers practical advice on protecting workers from dismissal over social media posts
A new report offers practical advice to trade unions seeking to protect their workers from dismissal over the content of their social media posts.
IER launches new proposals to end job insecurity and low pay
Independent think tank the Institute of Employment Rights (IER) will launch a comprehensive package of labour law proposals - Rolling out the Manifesto for Labour Law - on Sunday 09 September at TUC Congress.
New report recommends public inquiry into blacklisting scandal & criminal sanctions for blacklisters
14 December 2017A new report published by independent think tank the Institute of Employment Rights recommends a public inquiry is conducted into the blacklisting scandal, and sets out a Manifesto Against Blacklisting, proposing changes to the law, including criminal sanctions for employers operating blacklists.
Study: Exploitation of care workers demands action on sectoral collective bargaining
04 October 2017
A new report from think tank The Institute of Employment Rights, authored by a Cardiff University expert on labour standards in care work, concludes that establishing a sectoral collective bargaining process to negotiate workers' pay and conditions in the social care industry is the best way to prevent the exploitation of carers and improve the quality of care for service users.
Shadow Chancellor: IER Manifesto will inform future Labour policy
30 June 2016
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has said that the Institute of Employment Rights' Manifesto for Labour Law will be used as a blueprint for future Labour policy.
Protect the Right to Strike. New video clip by Keith Ewing and John Hendy
As the government attempts to rush through the unnecessary and unpopular Trade Union Bill, the IER and the Campaign for Trade Union Freedom have released a new YouTube clip and two new publications to inform the debate. In the video, Professor Keith Ewing and John Hendy QC explain the content and expose the purpose of the Bill.
PRESS RELEASE: The mythology of business
21 August 2015
A new publication, “The Mythology of Business”, has been released by the Institute of Employment Rights (IER). It dispels some of the myths surrounding business and its supposed benefits.
The publication is authored by David Whyte, Professor of Socio-legal studies at the University of Liverpool, and released in conjunction with the Centre for Labour and Social Studies (CLASS).
Pre Trade Union Bill analysis
15 July 2015
The Trade Union Bill will have its first reading in the House of Commons today (15 July 2015), when the full extent of the government’s vindictive attack on trade unions and their members will be revealed
NEW: You Tube clip of Ewing & Hendy
18 February 2015
It’s official. UK workers need a pay rise. Thank you Mr Cameron for your belated words of wisdom!
But Cameron’s outburst is no more than the Bullingdon Boy’s equivalent of saying, ‘let them eat cake’. Cameron is so far removed from the people he allegedly represents that he cannot see the problems let alone the solutions.
Press Release: Specialist think tank to discuss alternative agenda for labour law.
For immediate release
03 February 2015
The Institute of Employment Rights has brought together a high profile platform of policy makers, trade union leaders and labour lawyers to discuss an alternative, progressive agenda on labour law.
NUJ backs new Collective Bargaining Manifesto
For immediate release
30 October 2013
The NUJ has confirmed its official support for the Institute of Employment Rights' (IER) Collective Bargaining Manifesto, making it the 14th major union to support the new policy proposals.
Bectu, AEP, POA become latest unions to get behind the manifesto for collective bargaining
For immediate release
24 October 2013
The number of unions officially backing the Institute of Employment Rights' Manifesto for Collective Bargaining has grown to 13 following the addition of media and entertainment union BECTU, the Association of Educational Psychologists (AEP) and the Professional Trades union for Prison, Correctional & Secure Psychiatric Workers (POA).
ASLEF becomes tenth union to back IER Manifesto for Collective Bargaining
For immediate release
11 October 2013
Railway union ASLEF has announced its official support for the Institute of Employment Rights' (IER's) latest package of policy proposals Reconstruction after Crisis: a manifesto for collective bargaining. This makes the organisation the tenth union to give the manifesto their backing, including Unite, Unison, GMB, NUT, PCS, CWU, UCU, RMT and ATL.
Think tank offers policy proposals on zero-hours contracts
For Immediate Release
18 September 2013
Following Business Secretary Vince Cable's announcement this week that a consultation will be launched into zero-hours contracts, the Institute of Employment Rights (IER) published policy proposals that aim to eradicate the exploitation of workers while retaining a degree of flexibility for businesses.
Unions back alternative growth strategy to be launched at TUC Congress
23 August 2013
The Institute of Employment Rights (IER) will launch a policy proposal for an alternative growth strategy at the TUC Congress this year.
Workers are integral to saving the flailing construction industry – so why not let them have a voice?
16 January 2013
Yesterday (15 January 2013), Minister for Construction and Tory MP Michael Fallon announced the launch of an 18-member advisory council, which has been developed by Government Chief Construction Adviser Peter Hansford in order to look at ways to help the flailing construction industry get back on its feet.
G4S costs the taxpayer millions by failing to respect workers’ rights
25 July 2012
The IER asks why G4S tried to fill 10,400 roles with a deal so poor for workers that Locog does not even expect the guards to turn up for duty.
Controlling Fat Cat Pay
20 June 2012
Statutory places for worker reps on remuneration committees would be a far more effective way to control executive pay, says IER.
Ellesmere Port: Success or Sacrifice?
18 May 2012
The IER notes that the Ellesmere Port deal came at a cost.
Why are train drivers male and white? Union asks.
16 May 2012
Train drivers are a colourful group of people. But that doesn't extend to race or gender, according to a report released today at the ASLEF conference. Only about 4.2% of the grade ASLEF represents are women and a mere 4.9% come from ethnic minorities.
Govt risks repeat of Liverpool crane collapse with promises of deregulation
On the very day two construction companies were found guilty of causing serious injury to the operator of a crane that collapsed in the centre of Liverpool, the government pledged to undermine the law that brought them to justice.
The Institute of Employment Rights (IER) is warning that the coalition’s supposed aim to ‘cut red tape’ could put thousands of workers in danger of injury and disease in the name of populist politics and tabloid myths that have no bearing on reality.
What price justice? Too dear for you!
04 March 2012
As the misnamed Ministry of Justice considers responses to its consultation paper on charging fees in employment tribunals, IER notes that a cursory glance at the state of British employment rights and trade union freedoms highlights the extent to which access to justice is systematically being shut down for British workers.
Recent press releases from the Institute
You will find below a list of all the latest press releases from the Institute of Employment Rights, covering our publications, consultation responses, briefings and events.
If you need any further information please contact Carolyn Jones on 0151 207 5265.
IER Reaction to Government Axing of One Third of HSE Workplace Inspections
9 March 2011
Unannounced workplace inspections could be reduced by a third from 2011–12 onwards, according to a leaked letter obtained by the BBC’s File on 4 programme. An IER Briefing by Steve Tombs and David Whyte sets out the danger of deregulating health and safety.
IER Chair John Hendy QC on BBC Radio 4
6 January 2011
In a programme hosted by broadcaster Clive Anderson, the Chair of the Institute, John Hendy QC, is joined by David Reed QC, Sir Thomas Morrison and Bronwyn McKenna of Unison as they discuss how the law controls the actions of trades unions and employers during industrial disputes.
Press Release: Minimum Wage Freeze Would Make No Sense
14 October 2010
The Institute of Employment Rights (IER) has warned against any freeze in the minimum wage, claiming that such a move would be both economically and morally unjustifiable.
IER director Carolyn Jones explained that failing to increase the minimum wage – which currently stands at £5.93 an hour for over-21s – in line with inflation would deter some workers from spending their money at Britain’s retail outlets.
IER Health and Safety Report on Left Foot Forward
7 October 2010
The authors of IER’s recent report rebutting the myth of health and safety gone mad, have updated their comments on Left Foot Forward in response to statements by Cameron and Young.
IER Parliamentary Launch – Ruined Lives: Blacklisting in the UK Construction Industry
20 October 2009
MPs To Increase Efforts To Strengthen Blacklisting Measures
A group of Labour MPs have agreed to work with construction union UCATT to pressurise the Government to strengthen the draft regulations designed to outlaw blacklisting.
The MPs agreed to take this action at the parliamentary launch on 20th October 2009 of Ruined Lives: Blacklisting in the UK Construction Industry an academic report which reveals that the Government’s proposed anti-blacklisting regulations are inadequate.