Media

The IER publishes several expert-led reports each year and has an extensive network of academics and lawyers available for comment.

Please contact Ben Sellers with any press enquiries or to arrange interviews or media appearances with any of our academic or legal experts.

Press releases

“Seismic shift” needed in migrant workers’ rights

IER report calls for new regime to respect and protect migrant and local labour

The Strikes (Minimum Services Levels) Act 2023

The IER publishes a new briefing on the Strikes (Minimum Services Levels) Act, as the trade union movement meets to fight the anti-strike laws

Working for Climate Justice: trade unions in the front line against climate change

A ground-breaking conference is taking place, exploring ‘green bargaining’ strategies for trade unions in the context of climate crisis.

93% of workers in manufacturing industries want a shorter working week

A new report by the Institute of Employment Rights (IER) shows workers want a shorter working week with no loss of pay

Labour’s Fair Pay Agreements policy “wise and progressive”

Experts at the independent think tank, the Institute of Employment Rights, welcome today's Labour Party proposal for Fair Pay Agreements.

Bill to abolish insecure work gains cross-party support; passes into Committee stage

The Status of Workers Bill was supported by Crossbench, Conservative, Green and Labour Party peers in the House of Lords today.

Bill to abolish insecure work to be debated in Lords

The Status of Workers Bill has its second reading in the House of Lords today, Friday 10 September 2021.

“Devil will be in the detail” of Labour Party’s ‘new deal for working people’

The IER welcomes the Labour Party's continued commitment to trade union rights, but warns that careful policymaking is critical to its success.

New Bill will abolish insecure work

The Status of Workers Bill was introduced to the House of Lords today.

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.

TUC 2015 Fringe Meeting

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.