[IER] Trade Unions and Economic Inequality

[Carolyn Jones]

Trade Unions and Economic Inequality: 

A new publication from IER and CLASS


 


Dear IER Supporter,

With executive pay now at up to 144 times that of average employees, the
issue of economic equality is more relevant than ever.  In their new book
Trade Unions and Economic Inequality
<http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/trade-unions-and-economic-inequality>
Lydia Hayes and Tonia Novitz underline the crucial role of trade unions in
creating a more equal society.

The authors begin by recoding the consistent popularity of trade unions. And
yet, despite this popularity, trade union membership has declined and the
number of workers who currently have their terms and conditions of work
negotiated by a trade union has fallen dramatically.

According to the authors, this decline has been shaped by trade union laws
which inhibit trade union recruitment, activity and collective bargaining.
Attacks on trade union activities by politicians and misrepresentation in
the media has fuelled the decline.

The result has been a dramatic increase in levels of economic inequality,
reflected in the fact that income differences between top earners and those
on the lowest wages are now higher than at any time since records began.

According to the report, as reflected in many of the statistics and graphs
provided, there is an historic link between strong trade unionism and more
equal societies. Without trade unions, the realities of working life mean
that individual workers are under pressure to simply accept the pay and
conditions that an employer presents to them.

In an effort to re-boost the role of trade unions in society, the authors
conclude with a 6 point policy programme aimed at ensuring that trade unions
are once again at the heart of economic, social and industrial policy in the
UK.

"Writing in clear and accessible terms, Hayes and Novitz explain the central
role of trade unions in closing the inequality gap, and in particular the
need to rebuild collective bargaining arrangements that will give trade
unions an opportunity to speak more loudly on behalf of the dispossessed" -
John Hendy QC and Professor Keith Ewing 

 <http://www.ier.org.uk/publications/trade-unions-and-economic-inequality>
Trade unions and economic inequality is available to read and purchase here

             




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