BUIRA 70th Anniversary Conference 2020 Postponed Until Next Year.

Unfortuantly, we've had to postpone BUIRA 70th Anniversary Conference 2020 until next year. Manchester have kindly already offered to host us again in 2021 for what we're sure will be an amazing conference! 

We'd like to thank everyone for their great abstracts our all the speakers who agreed to give plenaries. This year's conference would've been the biggest since our records begin, and we hope that you'll attend next year.

We also hope that we might be able to do a smaller event in the autumn to celebrate BUIRA's 70th year. We'll keep you posted on these developments. 

Until then stay safe and soldiarity

19th March 2020

Capital and Class Symposium 'Emerging forms of worker collectivism among the precariat'

16th March 2020

WES 2020 CALL FOR PAPERS

Have you submitted your abstract for the Work, Employment and Society Conference 2020?  If not, abstract submission will close on Friday, 27 March 2020.
https://www.britsoc.co.uk/events/key-bsa-events/bsa-work-employment-and-society-conference-2020/
Dramatic changes in the dynamics of work have fragmented the fabric of people’s lives, impacting on health, relationships and communities; for many, destroying the self-efficacy and social connections that extend dignity and a sense of citizenship.  

It is against this backdrop that the Work, Employment and Society Conference 2020 (WES 2020) takes place in Cardiff, Wales. As the birthplace of the NHS, and with a long history of political and worker activism, Wales provides the perfect setting to reconnect, reactivate and reimagine the sociality of work. 

WES 2020 invites discussion about the dignity of people at work; and how work and employment affects people’s lives, health, relationships and sense of citizenship.   

Alongside paper presentations, reflecting the venue, we call for short films, art-work, photographic displays, music and theatrical performances that ignite the senses and (maybe) show work in a different light. The stages, screens and walls of the venue are open to imagination, and the trying out of something new.

Also, new for WES 2020, we invite ‘On the Front Line’ presentations. The aim is to hear the ‘voice of the worker’ and their experiences of work and employment. This might involve workers as co-authors or co-presenters, or workers might be embodied within the presentation; through audio, photograph, art, film or other creative means.

We also welcome suggestions for Special Sessions or events on any topic that matters for work and the lives of workers. The topic should relate to the Aims and Scope of the journal Work, Employment and Society and the conference theme: this might involve staging a debate on a controversial topic, challenging orthodoxy or highlighting a misunderstood concept or practice.

Abstract submission deadline:  Friday, 27 March 2020

Please note: In order to submit an abstract, you will be required to create an account on the BSA website first.  You do not have to hold BSA membership in order to submit an abstract.  If you already have an existing account on the BSA website, please use those credentials to login. Please contact the BSA Membership Team if you experience any difficulties.

16th March 2020

PhD Scholarship: Work & Employment Relations (broadly defined)

PhD Scholarship: Work & Employment Relations (broadly defined)

University of Limerick - Kemmy Business School

https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/BZI514/phd-scholarship-work-and-employment-relations-broadly-defined

Applications are invited for a full-time 4 year PhD scholarship commencing Sep/Oct 2020 in the area of work and employment relations, to be supervised by Professor Tony Dundon. The candidate will develop their specific proposal and areas of interest include, but not limited to: new technology and skills; the role of trade unions and union organising in the gig-economy; employment and digital labour platforms; social dialogue and worker voice for freelance/digital platform workers; and/or questions of employment regulation under new modes of capitalism.

Literatures of interest to candidates may include those that question the many claims about the future of work destroying jobs (see Spencer, 2017); the re-shaping of skill and labour power (see Thompson, 2019); the role of the state in (de)regulating worker rights (see Bales et al, 2018; Taylor,  2019); digital labour platform types (see Howcroft and Bergvall-Kareborn, 2019); labour market precarity (Rubery et al, 2019); emerging questions of voice yet also how employees are coerced into ‘silence’ (see Hickland et al, 2020); and a re-evaluation of disciplinary boundaries to study and examine such developments in the field of employment and HRM (see Godard, 2014; Dundon and  Rafferty, 2018; Budd, 2020; Kaufman, 2020). References available here

Applications are invited from candidates with Degrees / Master’s degrees that have a knowledge base in industrial relations, labour process, sociology of work, labour law, heterodox economics, critical management, human resources, social psychology, and/or employment regulation.

The scholarship will cover EU level fees and a stipend of €1,000 per month for years one to four on a full time basis. Scholarship holders are expected to undertake a limited amount of formative academic duties in addition to pursuing their doctoral studies.

Application Procedure

Applicants should hold a minimum 2.1 first degree and preferably a Masters qualification in a relevant discipline area and have a strong interest in the areas of work and employment studies described above. Applicants should submit the following:

• A completed application form (downloaded here)
• A 2000 word research proposal (e.g. research questions/aims, literature review, methodology, potential research impacts)
• a full CV, including the names and addresses of two referees

Applications should be sent by email to: Rebecca Gachet, Kemmy Business School, rebecca.gachet@ul.ie

Shortlisted candidates may be invited to interview.

Informal inquires may be made to Professor Tony Dundon (tony.dundon@ul.ie)

Closing date for receipt of applications is 5 pm on Friday, May 1^st 2020.

16th March 2020

CANCELLATION: Work and Equalities Institute Third Annual Lecture

Restrictions on international travel have meant that our speaker, Professor Fang Lee Cooke, is no longer able to join us on Tuesday 24^th March. With this in mind we have taken the decision to cancel the WEI annual lecture, with a view to rescheduling later in the year.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused and we will be in touch once we have confirmed a new date. 

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us at WEI@manchester.ac.uk

16th March 2020

postponement of CENTRAL LONDON BUIRA SEMINAR: Higher education, marketisation, REF/TEF & employment relations

For further details and to reserve a place, contact Linda Clarke (clarkel@wmin.ac.uk)

16th March 2020

Lectureships at Essex Business School

16th March 2020

BUIRA endorsement of BSA statement on UCU industrial action

BUIRA endorses BSA statement on UCU industrial action. BUIRA would like to extend our support to and endorse the statement published by the British Sociological Association on 18th February 2020. Read the BSA statement here https://es.britsoc.co.uk/bsa-statement-on-strike-action-2/

BUIRA supports members who are affected by the forthcoming UCU strike action. Like the BSA, BUIRA will honour the digital picket line, and not tweet, retweet or send promotional emails during the strike period (20th February-20th March inclusive).

19th February 2020

DATE CHANGE BUIRA IR History Assessing the ILO Friday 6th March

PLEASE NOTE: CHANGE OF DATE AND TIME!

Due to the UCU strike, this seminar has been rescheduled to Friday 6^th March

BUIRA History of Industrial Relations Study Group

Assessing the ILO and its history, with

Professor Marcel van der Linden (International Institute of Social History) and

Dr Rebecca Gumbrell-McCormick (Birkbeck College)

Friday 6 March 2020, 10.30am-12.30pm followed by buffet lunch

Room C279, University of Westminster Business School, 35 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5LS (opposite Madame Tussauds, nearly opposite Baker Street tube)

For further details or to reserve a place, please email Michael Gold (m.gold@rhul.ac.uk) or Linda Clarke (clarkel@wmin.ac.uk).

Programme:

10.15-10.30: tea/coffee and biscuits

10.30: Welcome: Michael Gold and Linda Clarke (Chairs) followed by:

Marcel van der Linden:  The ILO: a critical appraisal after one hundred years

The question I want to raise is straightforward: How can we appraise the record of the ILO since its founding in 1919? What are the results and future prospects of its efforts? Is the organization truly inconsequential, a "90-pound weakling,” a "toothless tiger," as critics have argued?  These questions are difficult to answer. Not only because of the variegated history of the ILO, rife with ongoing controversies, but also because the literature on the subject is overwhelming.  I will argue that the first half century of the ILO consisted of “fat years”, in which regulating the global labour market achieved limited but clear progress, and that the second half century was a time of “lean years”, when the ILO accomplished less. I will illustrate this by showing how the relative attainments from the period until around 1970 were subsequently weakened. Unless it manages to reinvent itself in the near future, the organization is now in danger of further marginalization.

Rebecca Gumbrell-McCormick: The ILO and the International Labour Movement

The international labour movement has played a major role in working within the ILO structures, promoting the adoption of new international labour standards, and pushing for their full implementation. The international trade union bodies, which were instrumental in the founding of the ILO in 1919, have helped to shape it and provide it with reliable interlocutors. Drawing on previous work on the ITUC and the international labour movement more generally, Rebecca will focus on the role of the ITUC and its associated bodies (including the GUFs) in a) the development of new labour standards, focusing particularly on the Domestic Workers’ Convention, b) on its role in the resolution of the long-running conflict over the right to strike, and c) on the broader issue of the relations between the two bodies: have the international trade unions become overly dependent, even symbiotic, with the ILO, and what are the differing views within the global labour movement on these relations? Should they be changed, in the light of a new, more independent and campaigning approach to the global labour movement?

6pm: Close (followed by drinks until 6.00pm)

The speakers:

Marcel van der Linden is Honorary Fellow and former Research Director of the International Institute of Social History (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences),

Rebecca Gumbrell-McCormick is a senior lecturer in the Department of Management, Birkbeck College, University of London

Followed by buffet lunch.

18th February 2020

Researching the future of work and equality in uncertain times

18th February 2020

13th Equality, Diversity and Inclusion International Conference 6 - 8 July 2020

14th February 2020

ILR Review’s latest issue honours a former president of BUIRA’s US sister (Labor & Employment Relations Association): Professor David Lipsky of Cornell University.

• Editorial Essay: Introduction to a Special Issue on Conflict and Its Resolution in the Changing World of Work: Honoring Professor David Lipsky, Harry C. Katz, Guest Editor [open access]

14th February 2020

Building your research profile and career planning

10th February 2020

BUIRA History of Industrial Relations Study Group: Assessing the ILO and its history

Assessing the ILO and its history, with

Professor Marcel van der Linden (International Institute of Social History) and

Dr Rebecca Gumbrell-McCormick (Birkbeck College)

Thursday 5 March 2020, 4.00-6.00pm

Room C379, University of Westminster Business School, 35 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5LS (opposite Madame Tussauds, nearly opposite Baker Street tube)

For further details or to reserve a place, please email Michael Gold (m.gold@rhul.ac.uk) or Linda Clarke (clarkel@wmin.ac.uk).

Programme:

3.30-3.50pm: Tea/ coffee/ refreshments

3.50-4.00: Welcome: Michael Gold and Linda Clarke (Chairs)

Marcel van der Linden:  The ILO: a critical appraisal after one hundred years

The question I want to raise is straightforward: How can we appraise the record of the ILO since its founding in 1919? What are the results and future prospects of its efforts? Is the organization truly inconsequential, a "90-pound weakling,” a "toothless tiger," as critics have argued?  These questions are difficult to answer. Not only because of the variegated history of the ILO, rife with ongoing controversies, but also because the literature on the subject is overwhelming.  I will argue that the first half century of the ILO consisted of “fat years”, in which regulating the global labour market achieved limited but clear progress, and that the second half century was a time of “lean years”, when the ILO accomplished less. I will illustrate this by showing how the relative attainments from the period until around 1970 were subsequently weakened. Unless it manages to reinvent itself in the near future, the organization is now in danger of further marginalization.

Rebecca Gumbrell-McCormick: The ILO and the International Labour Movement

The international labour movement has played a major role in working within the ILO structures, promoting the adoption of new international labour standards, and pushing for their full implementation. The international trade union bodies, which were instrumental in the founding of the ILO in 1919, have helped to shape it and provide it with reliable interlocutors. Drawing on previous work on the ITUC and the international labour movement more generally, Rebecca will focus on the role of the ITUC and its associated bodies (including the GUFs) in a) the development of new labour standards, focusing particularly on the Domestic Workers’ Convention, b) on its role in the resolution of the long-running conflict over the right to strike, and c) on the broader issue of the relations between the two bodies: have the international trade unions become overly dependent, even symbiotic, with the ILO, and what are the differing views within the global labour movement on these relations? Should they be changed, in the light of a new, more independent and campaigning approach to the global labour movement?

6pm: Close (followed by drinks until 6.00pm)

The speakers:

Marcel van der Linden is Honorary Fellow and former Research Director of the International Institute of Social History (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences),

Rebecca Gumbrell-McCormick is a senior lecturer in the Department of Management, Birkbeck College, University of London.

10th February 2020

Final Day for Submission of BUIRA Conference Abstracts

27th January 2020

Member discount: Exploring Trade Union Identities, Union Identity, Niche Identity and the Problem of Organizing the Unorganized’ by Bob Smale

Use discount code RSETU20 on Bristol University Press website (below) to benefit from a 25% discount on your purchase of the new publication by Bob Smale, ‘Exploring Trade Union Identities, Union Identity, Niche Identity and the Problem of Organizing the Unorganized’. The code expires 07/02/2020.

Please note that this code is only for use of BUIRA MEMBERS IN THIS LISTING and not for wider circulation (including social media, mailing lists and booksellers). The discount code referenced is intended for individual purchase via Bristol University Press website only, and is for use by the attendees of special events or close colleagues and friends. Please do let us know if you have any questions or queries on the above.

Use your discount code at: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/exploring-trade-union-identities

About the book: The labour market has changed over recent decades and so have trade unions with mergers, rebrandings, dissolutions and new unions being formed. The question is, how well positioned are unions to organize the unorganized? With more than three quarters of UK workers unrepresented, the growth of precarious employment and the gig economy this topical new book reports up-to-date research on union identities and what is termed ‘niche unionism’, while raising critical questions for the future.

27th January 2020

MIDLANDS LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS SOCIETY (MLERS) Meetings

We are pleased to welcome the following speakers to the MLERS series

6:30-8pm, 11th February 2020

The British Dietetic Association, 3rd Floor, Interchange Place, 151-165 Edmund St, Birmingham B3 2TA (near Snow Hill Station)

Davide Pero, University of Nottingham

Indie Unionism, Organizing and Labour Renewal: Learning from Precarious Migrant Workers’

This paper examines the organizing practices of indie unions – the emerging grassroots unions co-led by precarious migrant workers. It draws on an embedded actor-centred approach involving extensive multi-sited ethnography. The paper shows how workers normally considered unorganizable by the established unions can build lasting solidarity and associational power and obtain material and non-material rewards in the context of precarity, scarce economic resources and a hostile environment. Here, I argue that the organization of workers into ‘communities of struggle’ geared towards mobilization facilitates their empowerment, effectiveness and social integration. The paper contributes to labour mobilization theory by redefining the concept of organizing in inclusionary terms, so that the collective industrial agency of precarious and migrant workers organizing outside the established unions can be adequately recognized and accounted for.

6:30pm-8pm, 10th March 2020

The British Dietetic Association, 3rd Floor, Interchange Place, 151-165 Edmund St, Birmingham B3 2TA (near Snow Hill Station)

Marek Korczynski

‘The Art of Labor Organizing: Participatory Art and Migrant Domestic Workers’ Self-Organizing in London’

There has been an upsurge of interest regarding how actors engage with art within organizational processes.  However, scholars have tended not to study the role of art within contemporary collective labor organizing.  This paper focuses on how participatory art may support flat, participative labour organizing, particularly among marginalized, relatively powerless workers.  We present an ethnographic account of how art practices are deeply embedded within the flat organizing processes of Justice For Domestic Workers, a self-organizing group of migrant domestic workers in London.  We reflect on this case to theorise the art of flat organizing, an ideal type of a set of participatory art practices that are compatible with and supportive of flat labour organizing.

27th January 2020

1 Week Left to Submit BUIRA Conference Abstracts

One week to go until the call for papers closes!

BUIRA 70th Anniversary Conference 2020: The past, present and future of industrial relations and the politics of work

30th June to 2nd July 2020

Extended Deadline for submission of abstracts: Monday, 27^th January 2020

Plenary Speakers:

Judy Wajcman http://www.lse.ac.uk/sociology/people/judy-wajcman

Anne McBride https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/a.mcbride.html

Gail Hebson https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/gail.hebson.html

Jane Holgate https://business.leeds.ac.uk/research-ceric/staff/521/jane-holgate

Sian Moore https://www.gre.ac.uk/people/rep/faculty-of-business/sian-moore

Kirsty Newsome https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/management/staff/kirsty_newsome/index

Jean Jenkins https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/people/view/610450-jenkins-jean

Call for papers 

BUIRA turning 70 presents a good opportunity to reflect on the past, present and future of industrial relations. Despite facing recent challenges, the field of industrial relations continues to be a vital topic of academic and practitioner enquiry. Issues that have long been central within the study of industrial relations, such as pay, collective bargaining, rights at work, employee representation, national and transnational forms of regulation, health and safety, job (in)security, precarity, and workplace conflict are highly prominent within many current political and academic debates. Understanding the politics of work, grounded in a critical social science tradition, is crucial for academics and policy makers alike.  

IR continues to face a tough institutional environment. In the university, ‘HRM’ and ‘people and work’ has overtaken ‘industrial relations’ in the nomenclature of courses and modules. Within organisations and workplaces, trade unions continue to struggle to maintain a presence and voice for workers. While many university departments may nevertheless offer critical perspectives on work and employment, there is concern that the way ‘HRM’ is taught in some business schools may lack a sufficient diversity of perspectives and critical engagement with hegemonic neoliberalism. This in turn could lead to a potential ‘immiseration’ of the subject matter, and an inability to prevent or address trends such as the spread of precarious work, and the growing problem of in-work poverty (Dundon and Rafferty, 2018). At the same time, IR scholarship is often accused of being theoretically weak, suffering from a descriptive, and institutional bias, i.e. focusing on the dwindling institutions of trade unions and collective bargaining (Kelly, 1998). 

Where are we now? How have we got here, and what should the future of the field look like? Reflecting on historical developments in industrial relations is crucial in order to ground and contextualise current developments in the world of work. History matters in helping us to understand the changing nature of industrial relations, and yet is often overlooked in modern accounts of work relations. It is also important to reflect on pressing current issues such as the impact of austerity and the crisis in an increasingly financialised world. What have been their consequences for public sector industrial relations? What is the impact of patterns of precarious work and non-standard employment relationships on the changing nature of work and employment, skills and the quality of work? Across all of these questions, issues of social class, equality and diversity remain more relevant than ever before. Looking to the future, one key question concerns the extent to which unions can play an active role with social movements to tackle climate breakdown. 

We welcome empirical (both quantitative and qualitative), analytical, conceptual and methodological papers that concern any area of industrial relations, or fields cognate to industrial relations. We would particularly appreciate submissions from early career researchers and doctoral students. Papers concerning topics under the following headings will be particularly welcome:

• Reflections and challenges for Equality and Diversity, and challenging the gender pay gap
• The consequences of new technology, digitalisation and the growth of platforms for work and industrial relations
• Climate breakdown and industrial relations
• Comparative industrial relations
• Political economy of work (e.g. austerity, financialisation, fragmentation, flexibilisation and inequality)
• New forms of collective action in the workplace, and new agents of resistance
• The rise of populism/nationalism and industrial relations

Submission details

Abstracts of papers should be submitted here:

 https://bham.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0iYSk4W03DvrkDr 

Abstracts should be a maximum of 500 words in length and cover the following headings:

•         Brief outline
•         Methodology
•         Key findings
•         References

Extended Deadline for submission of abstracts: Monday, 27^th January 2020

All abstracts are refereed anonymously by BUIRA Executive Committee members.

Conference fee £200 full and £100 PhD 

References

Dundon T and Rafferty A (2018) The (potential) demise of HRM? Human Resource Management Journal 28(3): 377– 391.

Kelly J (1998) Rethinking Industrial Relations: Mobilisation, Collectivism and Long Waves. London: Routledge

20th January 2020

Fully-Funded ESRC PhD 'Collaborative Studentship - Living Wage Wales: Exploring the drivers to and barriers against the growth of the Living Wage Standard in the Wales (in collaboration with Citizens Cymru Wales)

Project Description

20th January 2020

Plenary speakers announced for BUIRA 70th Anniversary Conference 2020

We are pleased to announce the plenary speakers for the 'BUIRA 70th Anniversary Conference 2020: the past, present and future of industrial relations and the politics of work' will be:

Judy Wacjman http://www.lse.ac.uk/sociology/people/judy-wajcman

Anne McBride https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/a.mcbride.html

Gail Hebson https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/gail.hebson.html

Jane Holegate https://business.leeds.ac.uk/research-ceric/staff/521/jane-holgate

Sian Moore https://www.gre.ac.uk/people/rep/faculty-of-business/sian-moore

Kirsty Newsome https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/management/staff/kirsty_newsome/index

Jean Jenkins https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/people/view/610450-jenkins-jean

See the call for papers here: https://www.buira.net/conference/13

Abstract deadline: Monday, 27^th January 2020.

17th January 2020

Lecturer in Sociology Brunel University London - Department of Social & Political Sciences

13th January 2020

New publication: ‘Exploring Trade Union Identities, Union Identity, Niche Identity and the Problem of Organizing the Unorganized’ by Bob Smale was published last week by Bristol University Press.

The labour market has changed over recent decades and so have trade unions with mergers, rebrandings, dissolutions and new unions being formed. The question is, how well positioned are unions to organize the unorganized? With more than three quarters of UK workers unrepresented, the growth of precarious employment and the gig economy this topical new book reports up-to-date research on union identities and what is termed ‘niche unionism’, while raising critical questions for the future.

For further information go to: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/exploring-trade-union-identities

13th January 2020

Ideas in Employment Relations Research Call for Papers for Special Issue Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society New Extended Deadline: February 12, 2020!

Ideas in Employment Relations Research Call for Papers for Special Issue Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society

New Extended Deadline: February 12, 2020!

 Guest editors

Martin B. Carstensen (Copenhagen Business School): mbc.ioa@cbs.dk

Christian Lyhne Ibsen (Michigan State University): ibsenchr@msu.edu

Vivien Schmidt (Boston University): vschmidt@bu.edu

Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society has issued a call for papers for a special issue on ‘Ideas in Employment Relations Research’.

Please be advised that the deadline for long abstracts for this special issue has been extended to February 12, 2020 – full details are available at the following link:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/pb-assets/assets/1468232x/EXTENSION%20IR_Call%20for%20Papers_Ideas%20in%20Employment%20Relations%20Research-1578684488783.pdf

Best wishes

Martin B. Carstensen, Vivien Schmidt and Christian Lyhne Ibsen

13th January 2020

In case you missed it DEADLINE EXTENDED to 27th Jan for BUIRA Conference Abstracts

Abstract Deadline Extended for BUIRA Conference to Monday, 27^th January 2020.

Call for papers

BUIRA 70th Anniversary Conference 2020: The past, present and future of industrial relations and the politics of work

Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester

30th June to 2nd July 2020

Call for papers 

BUIRA turning 70 presents a good opportunity to reflect on the past, present and future of industrial relations. Despite facing recent challenges, the field of industrial relations continues to be a vital topic of academic and practitioner enquiry. Issues that have long been central within the study of industrial relations, such as pay, collective bargaining, rights at work, employee representation, national and transnational forms of regulation, health and safety, job (in)security, precarity, and workplace conflict are highly prominent within many current political and academic debates. Understanding the politics of work, grounded in a critical social science tradition, is crucial for academics and policy makers alike.  

IR continues to face a tough institutional environment. In the university, ‘HRM’ and ‘people and work’ has overtaken ‘industrial relations’ in the nomenclature of courses and modules. Within organisations and workplaces, trade unions continue to struggle to maintain a presence and voice for workers. While many university departments may nevertheless offer critical perspectives on work and employment, there is concern that the way ‘HRM’ is taught in some business schools may lack a sufficient diversity of perspectives and critical engagement with hegemonic neoliberalism. This in turn could lead to a potential ‘immiseration’ of the subject matter, and an inability to prevent or address trends such as the spread of precarious work, and the growing problem of in-work poverty (Dundon and Rafferty, 2018). At the same time, IR scholarship is often accused of being theoretically weak, suffering from a descriptive, and institutional bias, i.e. focusing on the dwindling institutions of trade unions and collective bargaining (Kelly, 1998). 

Where are we now? How have we got here, and what should the future of the field look like? Reflecting on historical developments in industrial relations is crucial in order to ground and contextualise current developments in the world of work. History matters in helping us to understand the changing nature of industrial relations, and yet is often overlooked in modern accounts of work relations. It is also important to reflect on pressing current issues such as the impact of austerity and the crisis in an increasingly financialised world. What have been their consequences for public sector industrial relations? What is the impact of patterns of precarious work and non-standard employment relationships on the changing nature of work and employment, skills and the quality of work? Across all of these questions, issues of social class, equality and diversity remain more relevant than ever before. Looking to the future, one key question concerns the extent to which unions can play an active role with social movements to tackle climate breakdown. 

We welcome empirical (both quantitative and qualitative), analytical, conceptual and methodological papers that concern any area of industrial relations, or fields cognate to industrial relations. We would particularly appreciate submissions from early career researchers and doctoral students. Papers concerning topics under the following headings will be particularly welcome:

• Reflections and challenges for Equality and Diversity, and challenging the gender pay gap
• The consequences of new technology, digitalisation and the growth of platforms for work and industrial relations
• Climate breakdown and industrial relations
• Comparative industrial relations
• Political economy of work (e.g. austerity, financialisation, fragmentation, flexibilisation and inequality)
• New forms of collective action in the workplace, and new agents of resistance
• The rise of populism/nationalism and industrial relations

Submission details

Abstracts of papers should be submitted here:

 https://bham.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0iYSk4W03DvrkDr 

Abstracts should be a maximum of 500 words in length and cover the following headings:

•         Brief outline
•         Methodology
•         Key findings
•         References

Extended Deadline for submission of abstracts: Monday, 27^th January 2020

All abstracts are refereed anonymously by BUIRA Executive Committee members.

Conference fee £200 full and £100 PhD 

References

Dundon T and Rafferty A (2018) The (potential) demise of HRM? Human Resource Management Journal 28(3): 377– 391.

Kelly J (1998) Rethinking Industrial Relations: Mobilisation, Collectivism and Long Waves. London: Routledge

13th January 2020

BUIRA Conference Deadline Extended 27 January

BUIRA 70th Anniversary Conference 2020: The past, present and future of industrial relations and the politics of work

30th June to 2nd July 2020

https://www.buira.net/conference/13

Call for papers

BUIRA turning 70 presents a good opportunity to reflect on the past, present and future of industrial relations. Despite facing recent challenges, the field of industrial relations continues to be a vital topic of academic and practitioner enquiry. Issues that have long been central within the study of industrial relations, such as pay, collective bargaining, rights at work, employee representation, national and transnational forms of regulation, health and safety, job (in)security, precarity, and workplace conflict are highly prominent within many current political and academic debates. Understanding the politics of work, grounded in a critical social science tradition, is crucial for academics and policy makers alike.  

IR continues to face a tough institutional environment. In the university, ‘HRM’ and ‘people and work’ has overtaken ‘industrial relations’ in the nomenclature of courses and modules. Within organisations and workplaces, trade unions continue to struggle to maintain a presence and voice for workers. While many university departments may nevertheless offer critical perspectives on work and employment, there is concern that the way ‘HRM’ is taught in some business schools may lack a sufficient diversity of perspectives and critical engagement with hegemonic neoliberalism. This in turn could lead to a potential ‘immiseration’ of the subject matter, and an inability to prevent or address trends such as the spread of precarious work, and the growing problem of in-work poverty (Dundon and Rafferty, 2018). At the same time, IR scholarship is often accused of being theoretically weak, suffering from a descriptive, and institutional bias, i.e. focusing on the dwindling institutions of trade unions and collective bargaining (Kelly, 1998). 

Where are we now? How have we got here, and what should the future of the field look like? Reflecting on historical developments in industrial relations is crucial in order to ground and contextualise current developments in the world of work. History matters in helping us to understand the changing nature of industrial relations, and yet is often overlooked in modern accounts of work relations. It is also important to reflect on pressing current issues such as the impact of austerity and the crisis in an increasingly financialised world. What have been their consequences for public sector industrial relations? What is the impact of patterns of precarious work and non-standard employment relationships on the changing nature of work and employment, skills and the quality of work? Across all of these questions, issues of social class, equality and diversity remain more relevant than ever before. Looking to the future, one key question concerns the extent to which unions can play an active role with social movements to tackle climate breakdown. 

We welcome empirical (both quantitative and qualitative), analytical, conceptual and methodological papers that concern any area of industrial relations, or fields cognate to industrial relations. We would particularly appreciate submissions from early career researchers and doctoral students. Papers concerning topics under the following headings will be particularly welcome:

• Reflections and challenges for Equality and Diversity, and challenging the gender pay gap
• The consequences of new technology, digitalisation and the growth of platforms for work and industrial relations
• Climate breakdown and industrial relations
• Comparative industrial relations
• Political economy of work (e.g. austerity, financialisation, fragmentation, flexibilisation and inequality)
• New forms of collective action in the workplace, and new agents of resistance
• The rise of populism/nationalism and industrial relations

Submission details

Abstracts of papers should be submitted here:

 https://bham.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0iYSk4W03DvrkDr 

Abstracts should be a maximum of 500 words in length and cover the following headings:

•         Brief outline
•         Methodology
•         Key findings
•         References

Extended Deadline for submission of abstracts: Monday, 27^th January 2020

All abstracts are refereed anonymously by BUIRA Executive Committee members.

Conference fee £200 full and £100 PhD 

References

Dundon T and Rafferty A (2018) The (potential) demise of HRM? Human Resource Management Journal 28(3): 377– 391.

Kelly J (1998) Rethinking Industrial Relations: Mobilisation, Collectivism and Long Waves. London: Routledge

Further Information

Full details are available here.

10th January 2020

CENTRAL LONDON BUIRA SEMINAR: Digitalisation, employment and industrial relations

Prof Birgit Mahnkopf (Berlin School of Economics and Law) The future of work in the era of ´digital capitalism´. Digitalization and its impact on employment, workers and industrial relations

Dr Kim Moody (University of Westminster) The ‘logistics revolution’ of the 21^st century as a material aspect of digital capitalism

 Friday 31 January 2020, 10.30am – 12.30pm, followed by buffet lunch

University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5LS

(opposite Madame Tussauds and nearly opposite Baker Street tube)
Room L195

For further details and to reserve a place, contact Linda Clarke (clarkel@wmin.ac.uk)

This regular monthly seminar is focused on the urgent question of the impact of digitalisation on employment and industrial relations, often regarded as the 4^th wave of the industrial revolution, and we are fortunate to have two expert speakers.

Birgit Mahnkopf is a German industrial sociologist and a retired professor of European Politics at Berlin School of Economics and Law Berlin. She has published broadly on issues such as: economic, social and political dimensions of globalization; political economy of European integration; social-ecological transition; sociology of work and industrial relations. Drawing on her discussion paper (No 01/2019 for the Euro Memorandum Group (‘The ‘4^th wave of industrial revolution’ – a promise blind to social consequences, power and ecological impact in the era of ‘digital capitalism’’), she will talk about the newest wave of automation when it will be possible to produce (even) more (useless) commodities with less people, which will increase structural unemployment at least in some, and likely in many, countries and lead to further pressure of wages. The presentation attempts to subject the ongoing digitalization hype, especially how far digitalization can be linked to societal goals in favour of workers, to a critical assessment.

Kim Moody (University of Westminster) was a founder of Labor Notes in the US and is the author of several books on labour and politics, the most recent being On New Terrain: How Capital is Reshaping the Battleground of Class War (Haymarket Books, 2017). His discussion will draw primarily on two recent publicatons: “Labour and the Contradictory Logic of Logistics” Work Organisation, Labour & Globalisation 13(1) (2019): 79-95; “High Tech, Low Growth: Robots and the Future of Work” Historical Materialism, 26(4) (2018): 3-34. He will discuss the rapid rise of the new dynamics of logistics driven by the increased centrality of time in global competition and enabled by new technology. This ‘logistics revolution’ has changed the way millions of people work, who does the work and where, the nature of the workplace, and the impact on workers, communities and the environment. Driven by capital’s inherent need for expansion and ‘time-based competition’ and guided by ICT, contemporary logistics is altering the built environment through the creation of giant ‘logistics clusters’, changing the composition of the working class and the nature of work, and intensifying climate change. Can the labour and social movement meet these challenges?

This seminar is an opportunity to air and discuss these issues in an open forum and consider their implications for industrial relations. Anyone interested is welcome to attend this event. These meetings can be full though so, if you would like to attend and to help forecast catering provision, please Contact: Professor Linda Clarke,  clarkel@wmin.ac.uk or 020350 66528

10th January 2020

1 year post-doc fellowship (€1,600 net/month) at Scuola Normale Superiore, Florence

10th January 2020

Manchester Industrial Relations Society - Dr Phoebe Moore: ‘Work, Technology and What Counts: Surveillance and Monitoring and Worker Responses.’

10th January 2020

BUIRA Conference Fee Announced

We've been working hard with the Manchester organising team to keep BUIRA Conference fee as low as possible. We are pleased to announce that the fee for the 

BUIRA 70th Anniversary Conference 2020: The past, present and future of industrial relations and the politics of work

at Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester will be £200 full / £100 PhD

See the call for papers here: https://www.buira.org/conference/13

https://www.buira.org/conference/13

10th January 2020

ESRC PhD Studentship: Job Quality and Fairness in UK and Welsh Workplaces (Cardiff University)

ESRC PhD Studentship:

Job Quality and Fairness in UK and Welsh Workplaces (Cardiff University)

Despite growing affluence, research evidence suggests that the quality of work is declining.  Survey evidence suggests that work is becoming more intense, task discretion declining, insecurity rising and employee involvement falling.  One of the great challenges facing researchers is how to reconcile growing prosperity and falling hours at work with the growth of poor quality jobs.  This PhD studentship will do this through an examination of the Skills and Employment Survey series (led by Professor Alan Felstead of the School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University) together with qualitative work carried out in Welsh workplaces (following the work of Professor Jonathan Morris of Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University). This ESRC PhD studentship is also offered in collaboration with ACAS Wales and South West of England with whom Morris and Felstead have developed strong links.

We welcome applications for both full and part-time study, and studentships are available as either ‘1+3’ (i.e. one full time year of research training Masters followed by three years of full-time Doctoral study, or the part-time equivalent), or ‘+3’ (i.e. three years of full-time doctoral study or its part-time equivalent), depending on the needs of the applicant. 

For more information, go to: https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/wales-esrc-dtp-phd-collaborative-studentship-fair-work-job-quality-and-fairness-in-uk-and-welsh-workplaces-in-collaboration-with-acas-wales-and-south-west-of-england/?p116529

2nd January 2020

Critique of Institute of Employment Rights: Sectoral Collective Bargaining, POLITICAL QUARTERLY

This public policy piece in Political Quarterly (Early View) on the future of British employee voice might be of wider IR interest. It's the published version of arguments I presented to a History & Policy Trade Union and Employment Forum, at Warwick University Modern Records Centre on 27 April 2018 and to the 2019 BUIRA conference, Newcastle, 2 July.

Industrial Relations and the Limits of the State: Can a left Labour Government resurrect comprehensive Sectoral Collective Bargaining and restore trade union power?

Abstract

Since 2017 the British Labour Party has proposed mandatory Sectoral Collective Bargaining (SCB) as a comprehensive strategy to rebuild trade union voice across the entire economy. The intellectual roots lie in the Institute of Employment Rights (IER), Manifesto for Labour Law (2016). First, this article explains the core IER approach, questioning: its feasibility given current low levels of union membership and bargaining coverage; and whether it would produce the stable and productive economy promised. Second, the central  body develops four social science objections to this state-driven approach centred on: Industrial Relations History; Political Sociology; Economics; and Political Philosophy. The Conclusion argues that while stronger voluntary trade unions could help, it's neither practicable nor desirable for the state to impose a trade union, single-channel approach to employee voice. Instead, a ‘mixed economy of voice’ is proposed, perhaps including statutory wages councils, which speaks directly to all employees - union or non-union - and wins broader political, employer and public support.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1467-923X.12788

19th December 2019

Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship: Work, Labour and Climate Change, Centre for Employment Relations, Innovation and Change (CERIC)

Are you an ambitious researcher looking for your next challenge?  Do you have a research background in employment or industrial relations, industrial sociology or other fields related to work and employment? Do you have an interest in action to protect the enviroment and mitigate climate change? Do you want to further your career in one of the UK’s leading research intensive Universities?

The Centre for Employment Relations Innovation and Change (CERIC) is a leading research centre investigating the changing nature of work and employment and employment relations. It houses a critical mass of internationally regarded researchers that produce intellectually challenging work with genuine policy and practitioner impact. CERIC is looking for a research fellow to support Dr. Vera Trappmann and Dr. Jo Cutter in their research on work, the labour movement and climate change mitigation. 

This research is focused on the political economy and comparative industrial relations systems that shape the labour movement’s responses to climate change. You will support this work through undetaking reviews of relevant academic and policy literature; contribute significantly to the set up and delivery of a programme of qualitative research interviews and the design and testing of a new survey survey tool for trade union members.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Dr Jo Cutter 

Tel: +44 (0)113 343 0202; email: j.cutter@leeds.ac.uk

Or

Dr Vera Trappmann

Tel: +44 (0)113 343 1119; email: v.trappmann@leeds.ac.uk

19th December 2019

Missed the UCU ballot threshold? Download this guide to achieving a high participation union!

Missed the ballot threshold? Download this guide to achieving a high participation union!

This is a little out of date but might still be of interest 

https://actionnetwork.org/forms/sign-up-to-download-the-guide/?fbclid=IwAR3vUbcQho_W1BRCNOeZecBsjtlX1D08VlLtRnJGrFdVLAidoO8_mP9YrkQ

6th December 2019

Three PhDs at Sheffield Business School with scholarships

Study With Scholarships at the Sheffield Business School (SBS)

A PhD in SBS offers you a brilliant opportunity to develop your research skills and knowledge to create a real impact either in academia, public sector, private sector or as an entrepreneur.

At Sheffield Business School we have a vibrant international community of research students, academics and support staff, and a 30-year history of delivering high-quality postgraduate research that places a strong emphasis on close supervision and support.

Join us in our search for new thinking because:

We have extensive expertise in creating new knowledge and applying business research to solve real world problems

You will be supervised by a vibrant community of academics who are driven by the discovery of new knowledge

Your research will be conducted alongside a diverse community of doctoral researchers from the globe who bring a wealth of international experience

Our reputation for excellence is recognised through our high-quality research training and the support we offer our doctoral students

Sheffield Business School is committed to providing you with an outstanding student experience in a collegiate environment

About SBS

Sheffield Business School is one of the largest such institutions in the UK, with over 200 academic staff. As a result, the school’s research covers a wide spectrum of disciplines, ranging from finance and accounting, management, strategy, marketing, economics, international business and human resource management, hospitality, tourism, events management, food and nutrition.

Research undertaken at Sheffield Business School is largely shaped by the University's Creating Knowledge strategy, which sets out the following ambitions:

We will be recognised internationally for research which has real social, economic and cultural impact

We will identify and seize opportunities to lead in new and emerging areas

We will apply research to enrich students' learning and work with others to ensure translation into practice

In Sheffield Business School our research supports two overarching themes which are The Experience Economy and Social and Cooperative Economy. We welcome applications from prospective PhD students to undertake research that contributes to this agenda.

The Experience Economy covers a broad range of research interests linked to both the experience economy and the related area of customer experience management, focusing on the design, delivery and development of consumer experiences in a range of leisure, recreation, events, hospitality and tourism contexts. Research within this theme spans the breadth of the consumer experience process in various product markets. It includes a variety of service management issues and is also concerned with the employee workplace experience and the associated functional management issues.

Social and Cooperative Economy - Sheffield Business School is a leading centre of research into alternative forms of business organisation, notably social enterprise, through which businesses combine commercial objectives with the achievement of social aims such as environmental improvement or support for vulnerable groups in society. In particular SBS and our partners have pioneered the development of the Fair Shares model, which focuses on the democratic involvement of all stakeholders and the distribution of rewards on a fair and equitable basis.

How to apply

Anyone can apply for a PhD scholarship. However you would need to meet the standard Programme application entry requirements (see below). All applicants wishing to be considered for a PhD scholarship need to submit by the closing date (12 noon on Monday 2nd March 2020) the following documents (see below) by email to sbsdoctorates@shu.ac.uk.
Please indicate clearly in the body of your email that you would like to be considered for a SBS PhD scholarship.

We require the following documents for your application:

-a fully completed Sheffield Hallam University application form.

-a detailed research proposal (4-6 sides of A4 in length). All submitted research proposals will be uploaded to Turnitin to assess their originality.

-a transcript of marks from your highest qualification (we require a dissertation mark of 60 or higher).

-a copy of your award certificate from your highest qualification.

-two references, both of which must be recent letters on headed notepaper or the reference form found within the University application form (one of which should ideally be from an academic source). Referees can submit their references electronically by scanning and emailing the original documents direct to us from their own email address, but these must be on headed notepaper or the official form.

English Language proficiency evidence - Where English is not your first language, you must show evidence of English language ability to the following minimum level of proficiency. You must provide evidence of either a current IELTS score of 7.0 overall (with all component marks of 6.5 or higher and preferably Academic IELTS); or a current TOEFL test with an overall score of 100 internet based (with a minimum component score of 23 in listening and reading, 26 in writing and 22 in speaking) or SHU TESOL English Language qualification – final overall grade of A (with all components graded at B or higher) or a recognised equivalent testing system.  Please note that your test score must be current, i.e. within the last two years.

Funding amount

A generous and comprehensive package is offered. This funding is for 3 year full-time PhD study. Our SBS PhD Scholarship covers tuition which is equal to the Home/EU fee. This includes a stipend at Research Council UK levels (this is currently £15,009 for 2019/20) per annum plus Home/EU tuition fees (£4,330 in 2019/20). For international students, a top up tuition fee of approximately £8,200 per year is required.

Selection process

Successful applicants will be required to attend an interview where you will be asked to discuss your research proposal. Interview panel members will include the PhD Programme Leader, a prospective Director of Studies and a representative from the SBS Creating Knowledge Board. All applicants wishing to be considered for a PhD scholarship need to submit all their documents by e-mail on 12 noon on Monday 2nd March 2020 to sbsdoctorates@shu.ac.uk. Interview dates are provisionally scheduled for week commencing 20th April 2020.

Areas of study

We are seeking PhD scholarship applications for 3 year funded full-time study with proposed theoretical and managerial implications in one of our department

Service Sector Management (SSM)

Management

Further information

If you have any queries about full-time PhD Scholarships in SBS please contact:

Dr. Alisha Ali 
PhD Programme Leader 
Sheffield Business School 
Sheffield Hallam University 
Alisha.Ali@shu.ac.uk 
Tel: 0114 225 4593

Deadline is 2 noon on Monday 2nd March 2020) the following documents (see below) by email to sbsdoctorates@shu.ac.uk.

Find a PhD: https://www.findaphd.com/phds/programme/sheffield-business-school-phd-scholarships/?p4325 

SHU’s Website: https://www.shu.ac.uk/research/degrees/phd-scholarships/sheffield-business-school-phd-scholarships

6th December 2019

Scottish Labour History - vol 54, 2019

The contents of the newly publish, 2019 journal, include:

John Foster, Kenny MacAskill and Rory Scothorne: symposium on the Jimmy Reid biography by McKinlay and Knox

Ewan Gibbs & Jim Phillips: Remembering the Auchengaich mining disaster

Alan McKinlay, John Boyle & William Knox: Unionising BSR in East Kilbride, 1969

Rory Stride: Women, Work & Deindustrialisation: the case of James Templeton & Son, Glasgow, 1960-81

Adam McInnes: Deindustrialisation and Gordon Brown's approach to devolution in Scotland

Ian Gasse: The 1905 Dumfries Bakers' Strike

Please see https://www.scottishlabourhistorysociety.scot/ for details on access and subscriptions to Scottish Labour History.

6th December 2019

Open letter in support of the Labour Party's labour law reforms

If you are interested in signing the below letter  please let me know by return email by 12 pm on Thursday manoj.dias-abey@bristol.ac.uk Dr. Manoj Dias-Abey, Lecturer in Law, University of Bristol

Britain’s labour laws are in desperate need of reform. Working people are increasingly engaged in work that pays poorly, is insecure, and contains few avenues of redress if they are treated unfairly by their employers. In-work poverty is at a record high. In the large majority of families in poverty (60%) there is at least one person in work. The current government boasts about record low unemployment figures whilst at the same time it fails to protect workers from poverty pay and insecurity.

Evidence shows that collective bargaining helps to improve productivity and secure stable and well-paying jobs. In 1979, over 80% of UK workers were covered by collective agreements, but today that figure is less than 20%. The decline in collective bargaining was hastened by waves of anti-union legislation that began in the 1980s.  Today, British trade union laws are some of the most restrictive in the Western world.

The Labour Party’s 2019 manifesto proposes significant labour law reform, explaining: “[w]ork should provide a decent life for all, guaranteeing not just dignity and respect in the workplace, but also the income and leisure time to allow for a fulfilling life outside it.” We believe that this vision is backed up by a credible plan of action.

Labour will support the introduction of sectoral collective bargaining to set minimum terms and conditions covering all workers in UK sectors. Enterprise-based collective bargaining will be boosted so that employers and workers can negotiate agreements suited to the needs of their workplace. Labour will introduce a real “living wage” and require employers to replace zero-hour contracts with minimum hours contracts based on a new right to regular hours. It will ensure the full range of employment protections are available to all workers from day one of employment and it will create a properly resourced government agency to proactively enforce these rights. Race and gender pay equality will be achieved by making the state responsible for enforcing equal pay legislation and by requiring employers to publicly report on pay disparities for BAME workers.

Labour will also introduce several important corporate governance reforms for large businesses, such as worker representatives on boards and the creation of “inclusive ownership funds”, which have the potential to radically democratise the economy.

Collectively, we have spent many decades studying labour law and industrial relations in the United Kingdom. We believe that the Labour Party is the only party with a transformative plan to create jobs that offer security, fair pay and dignity at work as well as an economy that works for the many. 

Yours sincerely,

3rd December 2019

Ideas in Employment Relations Research Call for Papers for Special Issue Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society

Ideas in Employment Relations Research Call for Papers for Special Issue Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society

We are currently accepting long abstracts for this Special Issue – full details are available at the following link:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/pb-assets/assets/1468232x/IR_Call%20for%20Papers_Ideas%20in%20Employment%20Relations%20Research-1572620793003.pdf

Ideas in Employment Relations Research

Call for Papers for Special Issue

Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society

Guest editors

Martin B. Carstensen (Copenhagen Business School): mbc.ioa@cbs.dk

Christian Lyhne Ibsen (Michigan State University): ibsenchr@msu.edu

Vivien Schmidt (Boston University): vschmidt@bu.edu 

We look forward to receive your long abstracts by January 15, 2020. 

Best wishes

Martin B. Carstensen, Vivien Schmidt and Christian Lyhne Ibsen

13th November 2019

CIPD Applied Research Conference

CIPD Applied Research Conference 

We are delighted to announce that tickets are now on sale for the CIPD Applied Research Conference (ARC)! The conference, taking place in Dublin City University (DCU) St Patrick’s Campus, Ireland, on 22-23 January 2020, explores cutting-edge research into work, employment and people management. 

ARC is CIPD’s annual meeting place to discuss cutting edge research into work, employment and people management. It holds a unique place in strengthening links between academic research and HR practice, focusing on the applications of research insights to organisational life and labour markets.

This year’s conference, in partnership with DCU Business School, will see the CIPD Applied Research Conference held in Ireland for the first time, further expanding our research and impact, while giving practitioners, researchers, and keen learners, the opportunity to gain insights, apply learnings, and network in one of Ireland’s most dynamic universities.

Registration for the CIPD Applied Research Conference 2020 is now open, and the fees for attending are as follows:

• Standard tickets £80/€93 + VAT
• Student tickets £55/€64 + VAT

For full details on the programme, themes, location and everything else, make sure to click https://www.cipd.co.uk/learn/events-networks/applied-research-conference

We look forward to seeing you there!

13th November 2019

CREW seminar Nov 27th November on Four day working week

Dear Colleagues,

A reminder about our exciting CREW seminar on The four day working week on 27^th Nov at Hamilton House. All welcome!

A future Labour government is committed to implement a four day working week with no loss of pay. This is also the Trades Union Congress (TUC) policy. As Stephen Hawking predicted we need to think carefully about how the potential benefits of automation and artificial intelligence are shared in society. Reductions in working time has been seen to have a positive impact on the environment and integral to challenging climate change, as well as the possibility of shared child and eldercare and benefits for mental and physical health.

Yet, how do we move towards a 4 day week? This seminar hears from Professor Andre Spicer on the wider benefits and the introduction of ‘an infrastructure of conviviality’. It reflects on the experience of trade union campaigns to cut the working week, but also hears from employers who have already introduced a 4 day week, their experiences and the outcomes for their business.

Come along and find out more, as it may be that exciting times lie ahead of us!

The Four-day working week – possibilities and implications

Wednesday 27th November 2019

TIME: 15.00 – 17.30

VENUE:  Room HH103, Hamilton House, Park Vista, Greenwich    SE10 9LZ

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/crew-seminar-four-day-working-week-tickets-78414613219

13th November 2019

BUIRA 2020 Conference - Call for papers

BUIRA 70th Anniversary Conference 2020

The past, present and future of industrial relations and the politics of work

Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester,

30th June to 2nd July 2020

Call for papers

BUIRA turning 70 presents a good opportunity to reflect on the past, present and future of industrial relations. Despite facing recent challenges, the field of industrial relations continues to be a vital topic of academic and practitioner enquiry. Issues that have long been central within the study of industrial relations, such as pay, collective bargaining, rights at work, employee representation, national and transnational forms of regulation, health and safety, job (in)security, precarity, and workplace conflict are highly prominent within many current political and academic debates. Understanding the politics of work, grounded in a critical social science tradition, is crucial for academics and policy makers alike. 

IR continues to face a tough institutional environment. In the university, ‘HRM’ and ‘people and work’ has overtaken ‘industrial relations’ in the nomenclature of courses and modules. Within organisations and workplaces, trade unions continue to struggle to maintain a presence and voice for workers. While many university departments may nevertheless offer critical perspectives on work and employment, there is concern that the way ‘HRM’ is taught in some business schools may lack a sufficient diversity of perspectives and critical engagement with hegemonic neoliberalism. This in turn could lead to a potential ‘immiseration’ of the subject matter, and an inability to prevent or address trends such as the spread of precarious work, and the growing problem of in-work poverty (Dundon and Rafferty, 2018). At the same time, IR scholarship is often accused of being theoretically weak, suffering from a descriptive, and institutional bias, i.e. focusing on the dwindling institutions of trade unions and collective bargaining (Kelly, 1998). 

Where are we now? How have we got here, and what should the future of the field look like? Reflecting on historical developments in industrial relations is crucial in order to ground and contextualise current developments in the world of work. History matters in helping us to understand the changing nature of industrial relations, and yet is often overlooked in modern accounts of work relations. It is also important to reflect on pressing current issues such as the impact of austerity and the crisis in an increasingly financialised world. What have been their consequences for public sector industrial relations? What is the impact of patterns of precarious work and non-standard employment relationships on the changing nature of work and employment, skills and the quality of work? Across all of these questions, issues of social class, equality and diversity remain more relevant than ever before. Looking to the future, one key question concerns the extent to which unions can play an active role with social movements to tackle climate breakdown.

We welcome empirical (both quantitative and qualitative), analytical, conceptual and methodological papers that concern any area of industrial relations, or fields cognate to industrial relations. We would particularly appreciate submissions from early career researchers and doctoral students. Papers concerning topics under the following headings will be particularly welcome:

• Reflections and challenges for Equality and Diversity, and challenging the gender pay gap
• The consequences of new technology, digitalisation and the growth of platforms for work and industrial relations
• Climate breakdown and industrial relations
• Comparative industrial relations
• Political economy of work (e.g. austerity, financialisation, fragmentation, flexibilisation and inequality)
• New forms of collective action in the workplace, and new agents of resistance
• The rise of populism/nationalism and industrial relations

Submission details

Abstracts of papers should be submitted here:

 https://bham.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0iYSk4W03DvrkDr 

Abstracts should be a maximum of 500 words in length and cover the following headings:

•         Brief outline
•         Methodology
•         Key findings
•         References

Deadline for submission of abstracts: Monday, 13^th January 2020

All abstracts are refereed anonymously by BUIRA Executive Committee members.

References

Dundon T and Rafferty A (2018) The (potential) demise of HRM? Human Resource Management Journal 28(3): 377– 391.

Kelly J (1998) Rethinking Industrial Relations: Mobilisation, Collectivism and Long Waves. London: Routledge. 

4th November 2019

Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University Lecturer/ Senior Lecturer in Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management

31st October 2019

IER Free Book: Brexit and Workers' Rights

On 23 June 2016, the United Kingdom held a referendum on whether to remain in or leave the European Union. The result was 51.9% of voters voting to leave. Two things were immediately clear. First, the negotiations would be a very complex, technical, and politically charged affair. Second, the UK would face tough choices and would not be allowed to ‘cherry-pick’ the terms of the Brexit arrangements.

About this book https://www.ier.org.uk/publications/brexit-and-workers-rights

Now, on the brink of the third deadline for a Brexit deal, two leading UK academics consider the possible implications of a ‘no-deal Brexit’ for UK workers’ rights. They conclude that the process and the post-Brexit architecture will be owned and determined by the political party in power at the time of Brexit and they pose two alternative scenarios.

Either the future could deliver a relentless process of ossification, stagnation and erosion of UK labour rights led by politicians traditionally hostile to workers’ rights. Or, the UK could not only protect those UK rights already on the statute book but could resist the tendencies of the European Commission to decentralise collective bargaining arrangements and deregulate employment protection legislation.

31st October 2019

Research position for a part-time fieldworker in Scotland for a project about regulation in the care sector.

The post is  part time and for a year. It might suit someone just finishing up their thesis, or it would suit a post-grad person who has an understanding of how social care works or an interest in improving job quality  https://jobs.kent.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?ref=SS-137-19

31st October 2019

BUIRA Nominations Appointed Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences

 Professor Peter Ackers, Professor John Kelly and Professor Jill Rubery have been appointed Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences. All three were nominated by BUIRA as academics who have made a significant contribution to the social sciences.  

The Academy of Social Sciences is the national academy of academics, learned societies and practitioners in the social sciences. Its mission is to promote social science in the United Kingdom for the public benefit. https://www.acss.org.uk/introduction/

The Academy is composed of 1335 individual Fellows, 43 Learned Societies and a number of affiliates, together representing nearly 90,000 social scientists. Fellows are distinguished scholars and practitioners from academia and the public and private sectors. Most Learned Societies in the social sciences in the UK are represented within the Academy. The Academy also sponsors the Campaign for Social Science.

31st October 2019

Consultation: BUIRA Code of Practice

Please send us feedback on the below suggested BUIRA Code of Practice. 

BUIRA Code of Practice

Introduction 

The British Universities Industrial Relations Association (BUIRA) is devoted to increasing scholarly and professional knowledge about the present and future of Industrial Relations. BUIRA promotes the use of this knowledge to improve the work lives of individuals through critical debate that influences public dialogue about Industrial Relations, Employment Relations, Sociology of Work and Employment and cognate fields such as HRM. At the core of its activities, BUIRA places the rights and well-being of its members and those it comes into contact with, embracing a collegiate, welcoming and inclusive environment where members’ civil and human rights and their freedom of inquiry and expression in research, teaching, and publication are respected and protected. 

This Code of Practice puts forward (1) principles that underlie the professional responsibilities and conduct of BUIRA members, and (2) enforced ethical standards that apply to BUIRA members in official roles in the association and to those participating in BUIRA-sponsored activities. BUIRA members perform many roles, acting as researchers, educators, administrators, supervisors, commentators, activists and social interventionists who maintain a personal and professional lifelong commitment to ethical standards of behaviour, and encouraging those they come in contact with, such as colleagues, students, supervisees, collaborators, professional contacts, employees and employers, to behave ethically.

 The Code of Practice is structured in three main sections: General Principles, Professional Principles, and Ethical Standards. A separate document, a “Policy and procedure for handling claims and violations related to the BUIRA Code of Practice” accompanies the present document.

 General Principles

 These general principles serve as aspirational guidelines for the members of BUIRA in matters pertaining ethical conduct. The general principles upon which BUIRA is built are:

• Responsibility: Members of BUIRA uphold professional standards of conduct, clarify their professional roles and obligations, accept appropriate responsibility for their behaviour, and seek to manage conflicts of interest that could lead to exploitation or harm. They are aware of their professional and scientific responsibilities to society and to the specific communities they belong to and engage with as part of their work.

Integrity: Members of BUIRA promote accuracy, honesty, and truthfulness in the research, teaching, and practice of their profession. They strive to conduct themselves with dignity, fairness, and care in all their contacts and relationships with peers, students, professional contacts and the community at large.

Respect: Members of BUIRA establish relationships of trust with those with whom they work. They respect the dignity and worth of all people and the rights of individuals to privacy, confidentiality, and self-determination. They are aware of and respect cultural, individual, and role differences, including those based on gender identity, race, ethnicity, disability, age or youth, culture, nationality, religion, political persuasion, sexual orientation, real or suspected status with regards to AIDS/HIV, language, socioeconomic status, and subordinate status; and they are mindful of these factors when working with all people. They are committed to providing academic and professional work environments that are free of harassment (sexual or otherwise) and all forms of intimidation and exploitation (sexual or otherwise).

Professional Principles

BUIRA’s professional principles aim to support the professional interactions of colleagues within BUIRA and the Industrial and Employment Relations field more broadly. The professional principles of BUIRA will impact on members’ research, scholarship, teaching, mentoring and professional development activities.

We have two major responsibilities:

1. To the advancement of Industrial and Employment Relations knowledge

1. To commit to rigorous research that is planned, recorded, stored, analysed, reported and published with rigour
2. To ensure research results are not misleading and research is carried out in line with RCUK’s ethics policy and local institutions’ ethical procedures
3. To ensure participants’ freedom and dignity are respected
4. To ensure anonymity and confidentiality of research participants are maintained at all times.
5. To secure informed consent from participants at all times
6. To encourage timely dissemination of research findings with supportive and constructive feedback from peers
7. To manage projects and collaborations efficiently and effectively
8. To seek impact activities to encourage industrial and employment relations research to impact government policy and management practice
9. To encourage the dissemination of results and improve the exchange of information between academics and those in practice
10. To never engage in plagiarism and should plagiarism be suspected, to report it to the relevant body(ies) concerned.
11. To ensure that authorship credit reflects the professional or scientific contribution to a piece of work

3. To the BUIRA community and broader professional environment

1. To encourage meaningful exchange of ideas that invites counter/opposing views in a supportive and collegiate manner
2. To commit to the development of BUIRA through engaging in and contributing to BUIRA activities
3. To show commitment to the professional standards of BUIRA as included in this document as well as other policy documents
4. To treat all members of BUIRA and the wider Industrial and Employment Relations community with dignity and respect, demonstrating a collegiate attitude at all times.

Ethical Standards

Members of BUIRA must conduct themselves in line with the highest ethical standards. These standards are to be adhered to in all professional activities, including when interacting with other members of BUIRA and in their conduct of official roles in BUIRA.

BUIRA members must commit to the exclusion of the following:

1. Discrimination on the grounds of any individual characteristic (e.g. gender identity, race, ethnicity, disability, age or youth, culture, nationality, religion, political persuasion, sexual orientation, marital status, real or suspected status with regards to AIDS/HIV, disability, language, socioeconomic status, and subordinate status)
2. Any behaviours or acts that violate a person’s dignity. BUIRA regards the following as specific but not exhaustive examples of acts and behaviours that it deems to violate a person’s dignity:

• Physical contact ranging from unnecessary and unwelcome touching to serious assault.
• Intimidating behaviour, either physical or non-physical
• Verbal and written harassment through jokes, offensive language, gossip and slander, letters and electronic communication
• Visual display of offensive material
• Isolating, ostracising or marginalising a person
• Pressure/coercion into participation or relinquishing membership of political/religious groups
• Intrusion by pestering, spying or following.

1. Words or actions which seek to demean another person or persons (this includes language that frames a conversation or exchange in credentialist terms, within power structures or perceived hierarchical distances)
2. Any behaviours or acts that cause intimidation, humiliation, ridicule, offence or loss of privacy.
3. Exploitative relationships between those of the same grade or between individuals of different grades.
4. Destructive behaviour that seeks to undermine or otherwise harm any other person.
5. Activities that involve conflicts of interest. Should any conflict of interest arise, individuals must declare such conflict of interest.

Subscribing to the Code of Practice

On joining BUIRA, members agree to comply, promote and enforce the contents of this Code of Practice, which exemplifies the highest ethical ideals of professional conduct of the profession. BUIRA members are responsible for:

1. Familiarising themselves with the Code of Practice: Lack of awareness or misunderstanding of an ethical standard is not, in itself, a defence against inappropriate or unethical conduct.

2. Confronting ethical issues: Any violation of the Code of Practice should be reported to BUIRA’s Ethics Officer. If any member is unsure where a violation of the Code of Practice has been committed, they should consult with BUIRA’s Ethics Officer.

3. Treating all parties fairly in any dispute over violations to the Code of Practice: BUIRA members do not discriminate against a person on the basis of their having made an ethical claim or having been the subject of a claim. This consideration does not preclude taking action based upon the outcome of a claim.

4. Reporting ethical violations of others: If a BUIRA member has substantial reason to believe that there has been a violation of the Code of Practice by another BUIRA member, they should attempt to resolve the issue by bringing it to the attention of that individual. If an informal resolution appears appropriate or possible, or members seek advice about how to proceed, they may contact the BUIRA Ethics Officer for guidance.

5. Avoiding making improper claims: BUIRA members do not file or encourage the filing of claims that are frivolous and are intended to harm an alleged violator.

Policy and procedure for handling claims related to the BUIRA Code of Practice

Introduction

This document outlines the policy and procedures to deal with matters associated with the violation of the BUIRA Code of Practice. The policy and procedures are intended to reinforce the highest standards of professional ethical practice and behaviour through a process that is fair, procedurally just, and effective. This policy and procedures should be formally reviewed every four years and, if necessary, in accordance with any changes deemed necessary by the Ethics Committee. All recommended changes are approved by BUIRA’s Executive Board.

Principles

The policy and procedures are guided by the following eight principles:

1. Predictability - Each individual claim is handled in a consistent, orderly, fair, and just manner.

2. Transparency - The BUIRA Code of Practice and the Policy and Procedures for Handling Claims of Ethical Standards Violations are made available to all members. Charges and responses are made known to the parties, and decisions are explained and documented.

3. Professionalism - Each case is handled on the basis of good will and with a belief that there is no malicious intent on the part of anyone involved.

4. Impartiality - All parties are treated equally and impartially.

5. Democracy - Both parties have voice and must be given the opportunity to be heard. The process includes checks and balances.

6. Confidentiality - The process is confidential; but, within the process all individuals involved, their claims, and responses are known to each other.

7. Efficiency - A commitment is made to resolve issues swiftly, allowing proper time for quality deliberation.

8. Education - The process is intended to be educational with regard to ethics and appropriate professional practice for all parties involved.

Role, Scope and Responsibilities

The implementation of this policy and procedures is the responsibility of BUIRA members who are appointed and elected to the various roles as detailed in this document. Members involved in enforcing BUIRA’s policy and procedures have an obligation to act in an unbiased manner, to work expeditiously, to safeguard the confidentiality of any adjudication process, and to follow the procedures established to protect the rights of all individuals involved. In addition, each member is expected to act only to uphold the Ethical Standards of the Code of Practice while keeping in mind the principles that guide this policy and procedures.

There are two different dimensions to handling claims related to the BUIRA Code of Practice: (a) education, information and guidance, and (b) application and maintenance of policy and procedure for handling claims related to the BUIRA Code of Practice

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Education, information and guidance to members

Education, information and guidance to membership about Ethical Standards related to the BUIRA Code of Practice is the responsibility of the Ethics Officer.

Ethics Officer Role

The Ethics Officer role is a single position of expert member elected by the BUIRA membership. The role has a term of 3 years and is elected outside of the stewardship cycle. The role is open to re-election only for an additional term. Having served one term, if not seeking re-election individuals shall not be eligible to serve again in the role for a period of 2 years. Having served 2 terms (e.g. including re-election), individuals shall not be eligible to serve again for a period of 5 years.

The responsibilities of the Ethics Officer are, as follows:

1. Point of contact for BUIRA members on ethics inquiries
2. Provides expert advice on ethics matters to BUIRA members
3. Provides policy and strategy advice to the Ethics Committee
4. Provides informal counselling and referrals to individuals on ethics matter
5. Educates individuals about the Code of Practice and the Policy and Procedures for handling claims related to the BUIRA Code of Practice
6. Receives and processes requests for interpretations of the Code of Practice.
7. Screens inquiries to assess whether the matter meets criteria for filing a claim. The Ethics Officer makes no judgments on the merit of a claim, but rather explains the process for filing a claim and provides forms and materials.
8. Notifies the Chair of the Ethics Committee if a claim may be forthcoming
9. Discusses claims of alleged violations to the Code of Practice with members
10. Maintains timely communication with individuals involved in a claim about the status of the claim.
11. Maintains records of ethics inquiries and claims
12. Maintains historical records of all ethics-claim procedures
13. Serves as liaison to legal counsel where appropriate
14. Coordinates appointments of roles to the Ethics Committee
15. In a case where the Ethics Officer is a party related to the claim, has a relationship with any party in the dispute or is conflicted, he/she shall recuse himself/herself and the Chair of the Ethics Committee Chair shall make an appointment of a different expert member to fill the role. In the event that a violation is proven, the Ethics Officer will be removed from the role with immediate effect and the member appointed by the Chair of the Ethics Committee will serve for the remaining of the tenure of the outgoing Ethics Officer.

Application and maintenance of policy and procedure for handling claims related to the BUIRA Code of Practice

Application and maintenance of the policy and procedure for handling claims related to the BUIRA Code of Practice are the responsibility of the Ethics Committee and the Ethics Appeals Committee.

Ethics Committee

The Ethics Committee is an enforcement committee, comprised of two members of the BUIRA Executive Board appointed by the BUIRA President (one of whom will act as Chair of the Ethics Committee), and three elected BUIRA members. All members except the Ethics Office serve for a period of 1 year. The roles are not open for consecutive re-election. Having served, individuals shall not be eligible to serve again in the same role for a period of 2 years.

The responsibilities of the Ethics Committee are, as follows:

1. Proposes new ethics-related initiatives
2. Reviews and recommends changes to the Code and the Policy and Procedures
3. Reports to BUIRA Executive Board on ethics committee meetings
4. Prepares summaries of decisions regarding ethical questions for the purpose of educating BUIRA members (Note: Summaries may be anonymised, published and distributed to the membership when the BUIRA Executive believes doing so constitutes an opportunity to educate members).
5. Explains adjudication procedures; receives and processes claims of alleged violations of the Code of Practice that have passed screening by the Ethics Officer
6. Compiles an objective, impartial, and factual account of the claim in question, and makes the best possible recommendation for the case. In taking action, the committee shall do so only for just cause and shall only take the degree of disciplinary action that is reasonable. The Ethics Committee engages in this procedures adhering to the guiding principles of predictability, transparency, professionalism, impartiality, democracy, confidentiality, efficiency and education.
7. In a case where any member of the Ethics Committee is a party related to the claim, has a relationship with any party in the claim or is conflicted, the individual shall recuse themselves from all deliberations and votes and the Ethics Committee Chair shall appoint a replacement so that the Ethics Committee shall fulfil its responsibilities. If this is the case of the Chair of the Ethics Committee, the Chair shall recuse themselves from all deliberations and votes and the President of BUIRA shall appoint a replacement so that the Ethics Committee shall fulfil its responsibilities.

Chair of the Ethics Committee

The Chair of the Ethics Committee is a single position undertaken of one of the two members of the BUIRA Executive Board appointed by the BUIRA President to be part of the Ethics Committee. The role has a term of 1 year. The role is not open to re-appointment. Having served one term, if not seeking re-election individuals shall not be eligible to serve again in the role for a period of 1 year. Having served twice, individuals shall not be eligible to serve again for a period of 5 years.

The responsibilities of the Chair of the Ethics Committee are, as follows:

1. Convenes the Ethics Committee when a claim is received
2. Presides over all adjudication processes
3. Issues the final written decision to all parties, including to the Ethics Officer and the BUIRA Executive Board
4. Confers with the BUIRA Executive Board on behalf of the Ethics Committee where appropriate
5. Reports to the BUIRA Executive Board on behalf of the Ethics Committee

Ethics Appeals Panel

In cases where individuals involved in a claim want to appeal the outcome of their claim, this will be dealt with by an Independent panel assembled to hear appeals. The Ethics Appeals Panel will be comprised by a Chair and two members appointed by the President of BUIRA. The panel is assembled to settle appeals on a case-by-case basis. This means that the term begins and ends with each case.

The responsibilities of the Ethics Appeals Panel are, as follows:

1. Reviews the claim and recommendation in an objective, impartial, and factual manner
2. Assesses the fairness of the outcome in view of the facts of the claim.

The Ethics Appeal Panel engages in these procedures adhering to the guiding principles of predictability, transparency, professionalism, impartiality, democracy, confidentiality, efficiency and education.

Operating Procedures

1. Quorum and voting - The quorum is constituted by all members of the Ethics Committee. Decisions shall be by two-thirds vote of members of the Ethics Committee. Members of the Ethics Committee are not allowed to send representatives to deliberate on their behalf. Votes on claims can be undertaken by post, by e-mail, or by voice (e.g. conference call, skype, etc). In the event that a member of the Ethics Committee has to recuse themselves from a claim, the BUIRA President shall temporarily appoint a replacement.

2. Conflicts of interest - If an individual involved in a claim challenges the composition of the Ethics Committee or the Ethics Appeal Committee, it is the responsibility of the individual to inform the President of BUIRA, in writing, before the decision is made or any appeals process begins. Challenges can be made for the following reasons: alleged bias, prejudice or conflict of interest. Notwithstanding the previous, members of the Ethics Committee or the Ethics Appeal Committee shall be vigilant in assessing their own impartiality, as well as any questionable appearances due to relationships, and shall take appropriate action to eliminate any impression of impropriety.

3. Means for handling claims - Three principal means for handling claims are telephone consultations, e-mail, and written communication. Final decisions must be completed in hardcopy.

4. Confidentiality - At the point of original suspicion or informal query, members are urged to avoid public disclosure of the situation. Once a formal claim is filed with the Ethics Officer, parties involved shall avoid public disclosure and discussion of the claim in order to respect the dignity and right to privacy of all involved. Breach of this requirement may be construed as malicious and may result in dismissal of the claim by the Chair of the Ethics Committee as it, in itself, represents a violation of the Code of Practice. Throughout the process, the Ethics Officer, the Ethics Committee or the Ethics Appeal Committee, and any parties involved are all expected to respect the confidentiality of the process as well as its outcome. Communication to parties outside the process is inappropriate and will be deemed a violation of due process.

5. Use of counsel/legal advisor - Proceedings undertaken by the Ethics Committee or and Ethics Appeals Panel are not legal proceeds and are closed to legal counsel of all parties.

6. Informal protocols and queries - In all cases, BUIRA members are first encouraged to resolve claims directly and informally with the other individual(s) involved. If informal resolution is not possible, the individual making the claim has the option to file a formal claim. The Chair of the Ethics Committee shall also assess whether informal resolution is possible at the point in the process where the response is received and both parties have provided complete information.

7. Amendment - The Policy and Procedures for handling claims of ethical-standards violations may be amended by a vote of the BUIRA Executive Board, following a recommendation by the Ethics Committee, the Ethics Officer and or an Ethics Appeals Panel. All changes (regardless of the nature) must be communicated to NUIRA members through BUIRA outlets (e.g. BUIRA newsletter, website, AGM, etc.).

8. Time limits for the filing of formal claims - Claims regarding research must be filed within 3 years of the alleged incident. Claims regarding personal conduct must be filed within 6 months of the alleged incident. Claims regarding financial or other matters must be filed within 18 months of the alleged incident. The Ethics Officer may accept formal claims outside of the above time frames under exceptional circumstances.

9. Timelines - The Ethics Officer, the chair of the Ethics Committee or the Chair of an Ethics Appeals Panel may, at their discretion, accept documentation submitted late, and may also delay or postpone review of a case for good cause. Additionally, individuals involved in a claim may request that the Ethics Committee delay or postpone its review of a case for good cause if done so in writing. Otherwise all timelines for submission and response must be adhered to for matters to be resolved efficiently and in good faith.

10. Notice of legal action - If individuals involved in a claim know of any legal action (civil or criminal) related to the claim, they are required to notify the Ethics Committee. In the event of any legal action, all activity will be suspended until the conclusion of the legal action. At the conclusion of legal action it is the responsibility of the individual raising a claim to re-initiate the process with BUIRA, if desired, by notifying the Chair of the Ethics Committee.

11. Filing of formal records - Final written reports must be filed formally by the Chair of the Ethics Committee and the outcome must be shared with the Ethics Officer. A copy of the report, with all names or identifying marks removed from the report, may be made available to the Ethics Committee for the purpose of learning and improvement of processes.

Processes

Screening of Inquiries

1. All inquiries are screened by the Ethics Officer. The Ethics Officer discusses the incident with the individual to assess preliminarily if:
2. The incident occurred within the domain of a BUIRA activity
3. The incident is covered under the Ethical Standards of the Code of Practice
4. The claim is being filed within the specified time limits.

2. If YES to all of the above, the Ethics Officer sends a claim pack to the individual to initiate a formal claim. The pack includes an Ethics Claim Form, a copy of the Code of Practice, and a copy of this policy and procedures document.

3. If NO to any of the above, the Ethics Officer informs the individual that the matter is not subject to BUIRA processes and counsels the individual for educational purposes, if the individual so wishes.

4. The Ethics Officer notifies the Chair of the Ethics Committee that a claim may be forthcoming.

5. Alleged violations of the General and Professional Principles of the Code of Practice, that are non-enforceable aspirations, will not be considered.

Eligibility to File Claims

1. After initial screening by the Ethics Officer, the Ethics Committee will receive claims that BUIRA members have violated one or more sections of the Ethical

Standards of the Code of Practice from the following individuals:

1. Any member who has reason to believe that a BUIRA member has violated the Ethical Standards of the BUIRA Code of Practice
2. The Chair of the Ethics Committee on behalf of the BUIRA membership, when the Chair has reason to believe, through information received by the Committee, that BUIRA members have violated the BUIRA Code of Practice
3. Non-members (e.g. collaborators, professional contacts, service providers, etc.) under specific circumstances having to do with their involvement in BUIRA activities.

2. If possible, individuals should attempt to resolve claims directly with other members before filing ethical claims.

Filing of Formal Claims

1. All formal claims are received by the Chair of the Ethics Committee.

2. Only written claims will be considered. Oral and anonymous claims are not permitted.

3. Claims must be filed within the specified time limits. Individuals eligible to file claims must:
4. Complete and sign an Ethics Claim Form that includes the name of the individual making the claim, name of the member involved in an alleged violation, details of the alleged violation and names and contact information for any other individuals who have knowledge of the facts involving or related to the claim. The form must be signed by the individual making the claim in order for the claim to be examined.
5. Include a brief supporting statement with evidence of how the member violated the referenced ethical standards. The burden of proof is on the person making the claim.
6. Supply any pertinent supporting documents.

4. If a claim has been filed by a BUIRA member against a non-member, the non-member will be asked if they wish to participate in the process. If no, the Ethics Committee, based on the claim received from a member, will investigate the matter and take action commensurate with the degree of involvement of the non-member with BUIRA. If yes, the process will go forward as it would for a member.

Preliminary screening of formal claim by Ethics Officer

1. The Ethics Officer receives and screens the claim to assess preliminarily if:
2. The Claim Form is signed and filled out completely, accurately, and is accompanied by supporting materials.
3. The claim is covered under the Ethical Standards of the Code of Practice and may be a violation of a specific Standard that is referenced on the Claim Form
4. The claim has been filed within the specified time limits.

2. If YES to all of the above, the Ethics Officer notifies the Chair of the Ethics Committee and sends a copy of the Claim Form and supporting documentation.

3. If NO to any of the above, the Ethics Officer contacts the individual to:
4. Inform them that the forms and materials are not in conformance with the requirements and must be resubmitted for consideration
5. Inform them that the claim is not subject to adjudication by the Ethics Committee, or
6. Provide counselling for educational purposes, if the individual so wishes.

Preliminary screening of formal claim by the Chair of the Ethics Committee

1. The Chair of the Ethics Committee receives the screened claim and any supporting documentation from the Ethics Officer.

2. The Chair of the Ethics Committee screens the claim to determine preliminarily if:
3. The claim is a matter of education or a matter of potential violation
4. The claim, if proven, has sufficient grounds to warrant a violation of the Ethical Standards in the Code of Practice
5. The claim is not trivial
6. There is sufficient evidence to proceed

3. The Chair of the Ethics Committee verifies the specific standard that has been violated and any additional subsets of the Ethical Standards if not included on the Ethics Claim Form.

4. After initial screening by the Chair of the Ethics Committee, if the claim exhibits sufficient grounds to warrant a violation, the Chair sends a formal notice of claim to the individual involved in the alleged violation and notifies the Ethics Committee that a claim will be processed

5. If the claim does not show sufficient ground s to warrant a violation, the Chair of the Ethics Committee notifies the individual making the claim that the matter is dismissed. The Chair of the Ethics Committee places the claim and dismissal action on file and asks the Ethics Officer to record this.

Notice of claim, informal resolution, and investigation

1. Every formal claim not dismissed or deferred by the Chair of the Ethics Committee is promptly communicated to the individual involved in the alleged violation. This individual must be referred to as “Respondent” in all documentation.

2. The Chair of the Ethics Committee sends the Respondent a copy of the formal claim via tracked post (signed-for) alongside a copy of this policy and procedures document, the Code of Practice and any evidence/documents submitted in support of the claim.

3. The Respondent has 30 days from the date of receipt of the claim to respond to the Chair of the Ethics Committee. The Respondent is asked to provide a written response addressing the section(s) of the Ethical Standard(s) of the BUIRA Code of Practice they have allegedly violated and may also submit any evidence and documents they wish to be considered by the Ethics Committee in reviewing the claim.

4. If a Respondent fails to respond to the claim within the time allowed or does not respond to the inquiry in a suitable manner, the Chair of the Ethics Committee can forward the matter directly to the Ethics Committee to decide the matter without participation by the Respondent.

5. Once the Chair of the Ethics Committee receives the response, a copy is shared with the individual making the complaint (“The Complainant”). For transparency of the process, the parties involved and the Ethics Committee members will become known to each other. The parties may be asked by the Ethics Committee to provide additional information in writing that also will be shared.

6. The Chair of the Ethics Committee will ask the Complainant and Respondent if they would like to resolve the matter informally before the process of reviewing and decision begins. If not, the case moves forward. If the Complainant and Respondent both agree to discontinue the claim process, the Ethics Committee Chair will accept the withdrawal and consider the case dismissed.

7. If the case moves forward, the Chair of the Ethics Committee convenes the Ethics Committee to start the formal process. If a member of the committee is unavailable, the BUIRA President shall appoint a replacement to participate in the process to its completion.

8. The Ethics Committee receives from the Chair the signed Claim Form and supporting documentation, and the signed response from the Respondent and supporting documentation.

9. Within a timescale of 60 days, the Ethics Committee will dismiss, defer, or deliberate the case; request or allow additional information from either or both parties to be presented; and render a final written decision.

10. If the case is dismissed or deferred, the Complainant and Respondent are notified in writing of the reasons for dismissal or deferral. A claim can be dismissed by the Ethics Committee if the Respondent agrees to the fact that ethical negligence occurred and is willing to immediately take corrective action deemed sufficient by the Ethics Committee

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Final decision

1. The Ethics Committee renders a final, written decision within 60 days from the start of the review process that is initiated when the Chair of the Ethics Committee forwards the claim, response, and all documents to the full committee.

2. The written decision includes findings of fact and conclusions as to whether a violation occurred as alleged in the claim, along with the ruling and/or sanctions. If no violation was proven, the Ethics Committee report recommends dismissal of the claim. The Chair of the Ethics Committee notifies both the Respondent and Complainant regarding the outcome of the claim and notice of final decision. The Chair then forwards a copy of the report both to the Complainant and Respondent. All final-decision reports are filed with the Chair of the Ethics Committee.

3. If the Ethics Committee dismisses the claim, the dismissal is noted in the final decision.

4. If the Ethics Committee renders a decision of violation of an Ethical Standard, the Ethics Committee may impose corrective action with or without sanctions. Corrective action can include educational requirements or other actions as may be necessary to remedy a violation or protect the interests of BUIRA.

5. Possible sanctions may include, but are not limited to:
6. Private reprimand: For ethics violations not likely to cause harm to another person or to the profession.
7. Public reprimand: For ethics violations that have been distributed or made visible to the public. The ethics violation is not likely to cause harm to another person but may harm the profession. Any public reprimand should take care not to undermine an individual’s dignity and focus on reiterating BUIRA’s position to promoting and upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct.
8. Denial of BUIRA privileges: For violations likely to cause harm to individuals and/or the profession it may be deemed appropriate to, for example, ban an individual from attending a BUIRA event.
9. Termination of membership: For violations likely to cause substantial harm to another person or to the profession or those that are of sufficient gravity to warrant such action.

6. Reinstatement: Persons whose membership has been terminated may apply for reinstatement after three years of notice of the final decision. Reinstatement requires a 2/3 vote of the Ethics Committee.

7. The penalties for failing to fulfil either corrective actions or sanctions in a satisfactory manner may result in automatic suspension of membership until the requirement(s) is met

8. A copy of the Ethics Committee report, with all names or identifying marks removed from the report, may be made available to the members of the BUIRA Executive for the purpose of learning and improvement of processes.

Notices of decisions

The decisions and decisions both of the Chair of the Ethics Committee (in the case of deferrals and dismissals) and of the Ethics Committee (in the case of dismissals and decisions of ethical violations), are subject to notice in the Ethics Committee report.

Notice of Appeal

1. If a Respondent or Complainant wants to contest the decision of the Ethics Committee, an appeal may be initiated within 30 days of the dated decision letter. The individual, known as the “Appellant,” must contact the Ethics Officer to request an appeal. The Ethics Officer screens the request for Appeal and sends an Appeals Form to the Appellant. The Appellant submits a complete and signed Appeals Form, along with a supporting statement to the Ethics Officer. Only written appeals will be considered.

2. Appeals to the Ethics Officer are only permitted on the basis of decisions and/or sanctions. Appeals are not allowed for dismissals or on matters of due process by the Ethics Committee.

3. The filing of an appeal automatically stays the implementation of the final decision by the Ethics Committee until the appeal is resolved.

4. Once the Ethics Officer receives the completed Ethics Appeal Form with supporting documentation, the Ethics Officer has to confer with the BUIRA President to determine if the Ethics Appeal Panel should be formed.

5. If NO, the appeal is dismissed.

6. If YES, the BUIRA President will assemble an independent Ethics Appeal Panel comprised of three BUIRA members with no ties to the prior process or to the Complainant or Respondent. This panel will follow the same process as the Ethics Committee, as outlined above. The Ethics Appeal Panel will use the prior documentation, including the notice of decision, to inform its process. The appealing party can submit additional documentation if necessary. The appeals process must conclude within 60 days, with a written decision and report.

7. The decision by the Ethics Appeal Panel is final, and limited to upholding the decision; upholding the decision but altering sanctions; or reversing the decision.

Filing of decided cases

A completed file containing all forms and supporting documents is forwarded to the Ethics Officer by the Chair of the Ethics Committee or the Chair of the Ethics Appeal Committee for confidential and encrypted storage at the close of a case. Any records will be kept and maintained in accordance with GDPR legislation.

31st October 2019

University of Birmingham Lecturer/Senior Lecturer - Work and Organisations

We have a vacancy for a Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in the Organisation, Work and Employment group in Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham. Applications in the area of HRM/Employment Relations welcomed. Deadline is 1/12/19

https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/BWC153/lecturer-senior-lecturer-in-work-and-organisation-teaching-and-research-38029

31st October 2019

CENTRAL LONDON BUIRA SEMINAR

A Just Transition? trade unions and climate change

Dr Béla Galgóczi (European Trade Union Institute) Two faces of a Just Transition: challenges for trade unions in addressing climate change’

Alana Dave (International Transport Federation) Towards a social model of public transport – ITF global strategy and policy

Friday 29 November 2019, 10.30am – 12.30pm, followed by buffet lunch

University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5LS

(opposite Madame Tussauds and nearly opposite Baker Street tube)
Room tbc

For further details and to reserve a place, contact Linda Clarke (clarkel@wmin.ac.uk)

This regular monthly seminar is focused on the urgent question of climate change and how this is and can be addressed by trade unions.

Béla Galgóczi has been working as senior research officer at the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI), Brussels since April 2003. His main research fields over the years have been capital and labour mobility in the EU, third country migration and income convergence. His current research focus is a just transition towards a carbon neutral economy, focussing on fair labour market transitions in carbon intensive sectors and regions. Béla will speak about the two faces of a just transition towards a net-zero carbon economy, drawing lessons from two carbon-intensive sectors, coal-based energy generation and the automobile industry, and regarding just transition not as an abstract concept but a real practice in real workplaces. While decarbonisation itself is a common objective, concrete transitions take place in work environments that are, farther on, determined by the capital-labour relationship with conflicts of interest during the transition. This is where the role of trade unions and social dialogue is key. The cases presented will demonstrate major differences between the two sectors in both the nature and the magnitude of the challenge, as well as in the applied practices and the role of actors.

Béla has a degree in electronical engineering (Budapest Technical University), in sociology (University of Sciences Budapest) with post-graduate studies in political science (University of Amsterdam) and a Ph.D. in economics (Hungarian Academy of Sciences).

Alana Dave is Urban Transport Director at the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), based in London. Alana leads the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) global programme on public transport, which includes a number of strategic projects on labour impacts and workers issues. She is responsible for the development of a trade union public transport policy to further decent work, social and climate justice and gender equality and represents the ITF in external relationships with political decision makers and public transport employers. Alana will present the ITF’s Our Public Transport programme and how it links current issues in the sector with a long-term vision of a pro-public democratic model of public transport. Alan was the education officer of the ITF from 2002 and has a long history in trade union education. She was previously the director of International Labour Research and Information Group in South Africa and projects officer of the International Federation of Workers’ Education Associations, for which she has been an executive board member since 2012.

This seminar is an opportunity to air and discuss these issues in an open forum and consider their implications for industrial relations. Anyone interested is welcome to attend this event. These meetings can be full though so, if you would like to attend and to help forecast catering provision, please Contact: Professor Linda Clarke,  clarkel@wmin.ac.uk or 020350 66528 and if you would like to attend subsequent London BUIRA seminars including:

31^st January 2020, Digitalisation, employment and industrial relations, with Prof Birgit Mahnkopf (Berlin School of Economics and Law) on The future of work in the era of ´digital capitalism´: Promises of digitalization and its impact on employment, workers and industrial relations, and Dr Kim Moody on The ‘logistics revolution’ of the 21^st century as a material aspect of digital capitalism

Room C281

27^th March 2020, Higher education, marketisation, RF/TEF and employment relations, with Prof Dorothy Bishop (University of Oxford) on REF and TEF: are they useful?" and Dr Olga Kuznetsova (Manchester Metropolitan University’ on Employee relations in marketizing universities

Room: C385

16th October 2019

MLERS: ‘Beyond ideology: comparing confrontational union responses to restructuring in France‘

We’re very excited that the November meeting of the ‘Midlands Labour Employment Relations Society’ (MLERS) will be taking place on Tuesday 12^th November 2019 18:00 – 20:00 (talk starts at 18:30) at the Birmingham & Midlands Institute (5 min walk form New Street Station).

Please register for free here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/november-midlands-labour-employment-relations-society-meeting-tickets-77030102109

‘Beyond ideology: comparing confrontational union responses to restructuring in France‘ 

Ruth Reaney, London School of Economics, Genevieve Coderre-LaPalme, University of Birmingham 

For several decades, workplace restructuring has been a central feature of a shift towards market-driven employment relations in both the public and private sectors in France (Beaujolin-Bellet and Schmidt 2012). Within this challenging environment, local unions have responded to workplace restructuring in various ways. Whilst ‘cooperative’ strategies such as concession bargaining and the negotiation of social plans are common responses to this type of restructuring, some unions have employed more ‘confrontational’ strategies such as political mobilisation to prompt negotiations about alternative plans (Pulignano and Stewart 2013; Marginson and Meardi 2009; Foster and Scott 1998; Jalette and Hebdon 2012; Greer et al 2013). Under what conditions do unions adopt a confrontational approach? While external circumstances (Frege and Kelly 2003; Jalette and Hebdon 2012; Martinez-Lucio and Stuart 2005) and power resources (Levesque and Murray 2005; Murray et al 2010) help shape the opportunities and threats which unions see in their environment, internal ideology and identity are also considered to be key factors in shaping and sustaining union strategy (Bacon and Blyton 2004; Levesque and Murray 2010; Hodder and Edwards 2015; Hyman 2001). 

In examining local unions’ choices to engage confrontational responses to restructuring, this paper compares case studies of ‘critical restructuring incidents’ in two of the country’s most unionised sectors, public healthcare and automobile manufacturing. In doing so, it extends understanding of unions’ tactical choices in responding to restructuring, thereby offering insight into the extent to which internal and external factors shape trade union strategic choice.

Findings from the study indicate that inter- and intra-union variation in strategy across and within cases is explained by the interplay which occurs between ideology and resources. Whereas some unions in the cases had confrontational responses because this forms part of their usual repertoire of action and general union identity, others opted for a confrontational response to ensure their access to resource in the future. Unions which are generally considered in the literature to be “non-militant” engaged in confrontational action in instances where it was deemed the best way to protect their legitimacy and power within the organisation and in the eyes of employees. Patterns within the case findings therefore suggest that unions’ responses to restructuring, although ostensibly similar, are motivated by various external and internal factors, demonstrating that union strategic choice is neither determined by external factors nor professed union ideology. Thus, restructuring poses strategic dilemmas for unions, forcing them to navigate the process by balancing union identity with membership and workforce preferences.

Ruth Reaney is an LSE Fellow in the Department of Management with research interests in work and employment. Her current research concerns trade union response to decreasing institutional security, with specific focus on the French labour movement.

Genevieve Coderre-LaPalme is a Lecturer in Employment Relations at Birmingham Business School. Her research so far has focused on comparative industrial relations, in particular trade union strategies towards restructuring. She is also developing research around employment, stratification and disability. 

Details on how to join MLERS and future meetings can be found on our website

16th October 2019

Time's Willy Brown obituary

Professor William Brown obituary

Academic whose work on industrial relations led to the minimum wage and who took Arthur Scargill, the miners’ leader, to task

The drive for a national minimum wage in Britain owed much to Willy Brown’s childhood ability to talk his way out of trouble. Brown, who according to his brother Henry was “a social chameleon”, came from an academic family and in time turned his negotiating skills into an economics professorship that focused on how wages should be set.

The minimum wage first hit the statute book in 1604 when James I passed an Act Fixing a Minimum Wage for textile workers. It was scrapped in the 19th century, but Tony Blair seized on the idea when he became prime minister in 1997. He created the Low Pay Commission (LPC), of which Brown was a founder member.

In the 1960s Brown had worked for the Wilson government’s Prices and Incomes Board, an early attempt to regulate the economy. After being appointed to the University of Warwick he put a strong emphasis on case-study research, but found that policymakers were not much impressed with case studies because they thought there was only limited scope to generalise from them into political solutions. So he started the Workplace Employment Relations Study, a regular exercise that he eventually persuaded the government to fund and which continued until only a few years ago.

Brown used his survey techniques to research the effects of raising the minimum wage on employment, prices, inflation, exports and imports. “It was Willy who laid down the modus operandi of the LPC,” Sir George Bain, its first chairman, said, “treating the national minimum wage as an empirical rather than theoretical question.”

The balding and bespectacled Brown rejected theoretical economics in favour of a more practical approach. It may also have better suited his sociable temperament, which inclined him to linger over a pint or three in the pub after work. New acquaintances were often taken off guard when his soft tone of voice gave way to a sudden, loud laugh that lit up his crinkly eyes.

Yet he did not suffer fools. It was at one of the university’s regular management-union seminars in 1984, when Arthur Scargill, the leader of the National Union of Mineworkers, was in the throes of the miners’ strike, that Brown bared his intellectual teeth.

Bain, then the chairman of Warwick Business School, said: “I remember Willy cross-examining Scargill in a forensic way, exposing how shallow his tactics were. He thought he was just a fraud and a sham, leading the miners to disaster.” Brown, a Labour Party member since the 1950s, would have been naturally sympathetic to a well-argued union case. “He got along well with most people, including union leaders,” Bain said. “But he didn’t bother to get along with shits.”

William Arthur Brown was born in Oxford in 1945 to Joan (née Taylor) and Arthur Brown (obituary, April 9, 2003), an economist and fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, who soon after his son’s birth was appointed pro-vice chancellor at the University of Leeds.

The family had a large house in an acre of garden, much of it woodland, on the edge of the Meanwood valley north of Leeds. William (known as Willy) wrote: “The garden gave us considerable freedom from parental supervision. We were free to climb trees and dig dens — and later learn more constructive skills such as use of axes, bow saws and scythes. As they grew older, our parents beat a careful strategic retreat with the garden, allowing it to become ever more jungle-like.”

There was no television in the house, but the sound of The Goon Show and the American humourist Tom Lehrer floating out of the radio was acceptable. The family had an extensive family library, with Chambers’s Encyclopaedia to answer impossible questions from small boys. Holidays started on the Settle-to-Carlisle railway line, followed by two weeks in a hotel near Loweswater in the northwest Lake District near Crummock Water. However, Willy was pitchforked into adult reality aged 14 when his eldest brother, John, died in a climbing accident in the Swiss Alps.

“Willy was the brightest of us boys,” Henry said. “He could certainly think on his feet, and he had a real sense of mischief.” A scholarship boy, he breezed through Leeds Grammar School on his way to Wadham College, Oxford. There he read PPE and fell under the influence of Hugh Clegg, who taught Brown about real ale and took him to the National Board for Prices and Incomes. In 1968 Brown moved to the University of Warwick and then, in 1985, to Wolfson College, Cambridge, where he was the Montague Burton professor of industrial relations for 27 years. He was appointed to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) in 1998.

Yet even the knottiest problems Brown had to disentangle at Acas paled into insignificance compared with the potential pitfalls he faced at home: Brown had two pairs of stepdaughters with the same names.

He first married Kim, who had daughters Rachel and Sarah from her marriage to his friend Nick Hewitt at the University of Warwick. After his ten-year marriage to Kim ended in 2003 (it was not formally dissolved until ten years later) he partnered with Jackie Scott and they were married in 2017. She was a colleague at Cambridge, where she was head of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences and is now retired. She had two daughters, also called Rachel and Sarah. “It was a bit tricky, but he always said he wanted four daughters,” Jackie said.

Rachel Hewitt is a writer who lectures in creative writing at the University of Newcastle. Her sister Sarah was until recently a housing officer in Lewes, East Sussex. Jackie’s daughter Sarah Goodwin was a financial officer for the National Trust. Rachel Scott has worked in non- government organisations helping refugees and asylum seekers in Canada and the UK.

From 2000 Brown was master of Darwin College, Cambridge, for 12 years, but he maintained his links with Yorkshire. Henry said: “Willy and I, and many family and friends, shared a strong attachment to a remote family cottage in Middlesmoor on a steep green hillside, anchored by a stocky church and a tall stand of sycamores, in the Yorkshire Dales.” The brothers laboured to renovate the cottage in the 1970s, turning it into a spiritual home and base for energetic moorland walks, in Willy’s case punctuated by reciting huge chunks of Wordsworth and Shakespeare from memory, with a varied stock of ribald verses and limericks that often ignited that explosive laugh.

In retirement Brown and Jackie moved to Hinxton in Cambridgeshire, where he would be entranced by the Red Arrows circling the Hinxton church spire before flying over the Duxford air show, with Lancasters, Spitfires and other aircraft that had been part of his childhood. He entered local politics, using his arbitration skills to take the rough edges off commercial property development plans.

While busy with a large garden, Brown still had time for writing. As well as dozens of academic papers, he wrote several significant books on the modern workplace and the changing face of industrial relations. To those he added, two years ago, The Emerging Industrial Relations of China.

“I can see a parallel in the intellectual stance of our father,” Henry said. “Sceptical of theories and models, and happy to struggle with awkward data to make sense of the world. They were both determined that policy based on that understanding can make the world a better place.”

William Brown, CBE, professor of industrial relations, was born on April 22, 1945. He died of acute aortic dissection on August 1, 2019, aged 74

16th October 2019

Abstract Deadline Extended: Disrupting technology: contextualising continuity and change in technology, work and employment

• The state, regulation and new technology
• Historical research on the introduction of new technologies of work
• Management, resistance, organization, and technology
• Occupations, skills, professions, and technology
• Inequalities (race, gender, (dis)ability) and technology
• Methods for studying work and technology – towards a research agenda

16th October 2019

'Handbook of the Politics of Labour, Work and Employment' (ed. Gregor Gall) now published by Edward Elgar

16th October 2019

Book Series “Trade Unionism: Changing Contexts And Shifting Paradigms”

Book Series “Trade Unionism: Changing Contexts And Shifting Paradigms”  Series Editors:  Andy Hodder and Miguel Martinez Lucio

Proposals are invited for books and research monographs in the area of trade unionism. The series focuses on trade unions in terms of a range of relevant changes and developments internally and in relation to the social, economic and political environment. The series is an attempt to provide a space, not just for established academics, but for emerging commentators and researchers.

The aim of the series is to present a series of interventions that are thorough and well-grounded in terms of their analysis but that are also innovative and provocative in terms of their impact on debates and reflections on worker organisation and representation. We aim is to provide a more innovative space and variety of voices engaging with regards to the debate on and within trade unionism. To this extent, we also welcome books that involve discussants, roundtables and conference presentations and not just standard monographs and edited collections, although these latter forms will constitute the core of the series. All texts in the series will publish in paperback after 18 months of hardback sale.

 Further information: https://books.emeraldinsight.com/page/series-detail/trade-unionism-changing-contexts-and-shifting-paradigms/

16th October 2019

Moving forward in 2020, Unions 21 and bridging the gap with academics

‘Moving forward in 2020, Unions 21 wants to be more effective at bridging the gap between the academic and union community, enabling the sharing of best practices, learning and projects.

16th October 2019

William Arthur (Willy) Brown, 22 April 1945 – 1 August 2019

It is with great sadness that we convey the news that Emeritus Professor Willy Brown passed away unexpectedly on Thursday evening at his home near Cambridge.

Willy’s achievements in the industrial relations and labour economics fields were exceptional. For many decades Willy was an eminent scholar in these fields, not only in the United Kingdom but also internationally. He was arguably one of the most influential academics of his generation in both research and policy formulation. 

Willy was Emeritus Master of Darwin College and Emeritus Professor of Industrial Relations at the University of Cambridge. He was previously the Director of the Industrial Relations Research Unit at the University of Warwick, which gained an international reputation for excellence and influence under his leadership, before becoming the Montague Burton Professor of Industrial Relations at the University of Cambridge from 1985 to his retirement in 2012. 

Willy provided academic leadership through various senior administrative roles at Cambridge. He also served as President of the British Universities Industrial Relations Association from 1986 to 1989 and as a member of the Executive of the International Labour and Employment Relations Association (formerly the International Industrial Relations Association) from 1989 to 1995.

Willy held a number of significant government appointments in the UK including foundation member of the Low Pay Commission from 1997-2007 and as a senior member of the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service Council and Panel of Arbitrators.

Willy was the author of many seminal journal articles and books including Piecework Bargaining (1973), The Changing Contours of British Industrial Relations (1981), The Evolution of the Modern Workplace (2009) and The Emerging Industrial Relations of China (2017). In 2002 he was made Commander of the British Empire for services to employment relations.

Willy was an Honorary Professor at Renmin University in Beijing and was instrumental in bringing together international and Chinese scholars to examine developments in Chinese employment relations. In 2015 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Sydney in recognition of his significant contributions to industrial relations scholarship and policy in Australia and internationally.

Notwithstanding Willy’s considerable academic accomplishments, his greatest impact may have been through his personal connections and friendships. Willy strived to make the world not only a better place but also a fairer place. In this respect he lived by example. Willy was a truly magnificent person with a unique capacity to speak with anyone on equal terms. He was so selfless, so humble, so generous, and so kind. Willy was greatly loved and will be sorely missed.

- Willy’s former doctoral students

4th August 2019

Executive committee election results

Elections to the two vacant places on the BUIRA Executive Committee took place at the association's Annual General Meeting earlier this month in Newcastle. 

Eleanor Kirk (University of Glasgow) and  Yvonne Rueckert (Portsmouth University).

21st July 2019

Change in BUIRA Stewardship Team

Following a successful conference hosted at Newcastle University, we're pleased to announce that a team from the University of Birmingham have become the BUIRA Stewards.

Many thanks to Jo McBride, Ana Lopes, Stewart Johnstone, Stephen Procter and Michael Brooks for their hard work running the association.

The Birmingham team is as follows:

Tony Dobbins  – President

David J Bailey – Membership Officer

Genevieve Coderre-LaPalme – Events and Conference Officer

Andy Hodder – Secretary

Paul Lewis – Treasurer

Alex Wood – Communications Officer

21st July 2019