Employment Relations under Coalition Government The UK Experience, 2010-2015 Routledge Research in Employment Relations Series

Drawing on a wide range of up-to-date research, Employment Relations under Coalition Government critically examines developments in UK employment relations during the period of Conservative-Liberal Democrat government between 2010 and 2015, against the background of the 2007-08 financial crisis, subsequent economic recession and in the context of the primacy accorded to neo-liberal austerity. Contributions cover a series of important and relevant topics in a rigorous, yet accessible manner: labour market change and the rise of zero-hours contracts and other forms of precarious employment; policy development relating to young people?s employment; the coalition?s welfare-to-work agenda; its programme of employment law reform and its approach to workplace equality and health and safety; labour migration; the experience of the trade unions under the coalition and their responses; and developments in employment relations in the public services.

This book addresses the broader issues relating to the coalition period, such as the implications of political and regulatory change for employment relations, including the greater devolution of powers to Scotland and Wales, and locates UK developments in comparative perspective. The book concludes with an assessment of the prospects for employment relations in the aftermath of the May 2015 Conservatives election victory.

Part 1: Introduction

1. The UK Coalition Government 2010-15: An Overview

Steve Williams and Peter Scott

Part 2: The Coalition’s Economic, Employment and Labour Market Reforms

2. Economic Policy and Employment under the Coalition Government

Enda Hannon

3. The Coalition’s Youth Employment Policies: Addressing a Structural Challenge?

Melanie Simms, Sophie Gamwell, and Benjamin Hopkins

4. Welfare-to-work Policy under the Coalition

Steve Williams and Peter Scott

Part 3: Employment Relations under the Coalition

5. The Coalition Government and the Lifting of the Floor of Individual Employment Rights

Roger Welch

6. Equality and Diversity at Work under the Coalition

Simonetta Manfredi

7. Protecting Life and Death under the Coalition

Phil James

8. Tightening the Grip: The Coalition Government and Migrant Workers

Alex Balch

9. Plus ça change: The Coalition Government and Trade Unions

Steve French and Andy Hodder

Part 4: Reforming the State

10. The Coalition Government and Employment Relations in the Public Services

Peter Scott and Steve Williams

11. Deciphering the Coalition’s Big Society: Issues and Challenges for Work and Employment Relations

Brian Abbott

Part 5: The Coalition and Employment Relations: Perspectives and Prospects

12. Employment Relations under Coalition Government in Perspective

Steve Williams and Peter Scott

13. Employment Relations under Coalition government: Reflections, Legacy and Prospects

Steve Williams, Peter Scott, and Roger Welch

Steve Williams is Reader in Employment Relations at the University of Portsmouth, UK.

Peter Scott is Senior Lecturer in Employment Relations at the University of Portsmouth, UK.