Institute of Employment Rights

IER is an independent network of academics & experts in employment law & trade union rights. We provide briefings, regular publications & organise conferences.

[Institute of Employment Rights @IERUK]

Unions want commitments on jobs, pay & outsourcing, as train companies transfer to public ownership.

GTR – which includes Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express, transferred into public ownership as of Sunday 31st May: https://t.co/zlqQNqoeQ4

[Institute of Employment Rights @IERUK]

👉 @RMTunion calls for insourcing of all railway staff following GTR nationalisation

Rail union demands all Govia Thameslink Railway staff be brought into direct employment: https://t.co/q0h7qaEiph

[Institute of Employment Rights @IERUK]

.@pcs_union calls on the NI Executive to move forward with the #GoodJobs Bill. At the power-sharing Executive meeting on last Thurs, the DUP blocked the bill, preventing it from going to the floor of the NI Assembly as an agreed Executive Bill, for debate: https://t.co/uGAHyYVH9e

[Institute of Employment Rights @IERUK]

UK trade union membership rises to 6.6m - an increase of 192,000 in 2025. Although a far cry from 1979, when membership peaked at 13.2m, this modest increase will be seen as a sign of renewed interest in trade unions in difficult economic times. https://t.co/IExhZM7tHX

[Institute of Employment Rights @IERUK]

You can now listen to episode 2 of the IER's podcast 'Working Life' on the 'Right to Strike' with Lord John Hendy KC and Professor Tonia Novitz, both of whom contributed to key submissions made before the ICJ in this landmark ruling.

https://t.co/sy6HqCaYAi

[Institute of Employment Rights @IERUK]

The ICJ yesterday affirmed that workers have the right to strike under the ILO's Freedom of Association treaty signed ⁠by 158 countries, including the UK. An historic ruling which recognises the right to strike is inherent to freedom of association.
https://t.co/vN17dlZkoa

[Institute of Employment Rights @IERUK]

“For generations, working people have understood a simple truth: The freedom to join a union means nothing if you cannot withhold your labor when bosses refuse to listen. Now, the world’s highest court has affirmed that truth,” says Jeffrey Vogt, director of the @ILAW_Network

[Institute of Employment Rights @IERUK]

The Zero Hours Provisions of the Employment Rights Act: Diversionary Tactics?

The provisions do not - and do not even purport to - guarantee workers a reasonable working schedule argues Zoe Adams of King's College, Cambridge: https://t.co/dD7L87wn1D

[Institute of Employment Rights @IERUK]

On Tuesday, the @WORCrights published a brand new report, ‘Employment Tribunals in crisis: The blind spot in the ‘New Deal for Working People’. Our Chair, John Hendy KC, spoke at the launch. Please have a read of this comprehensive & important document: https://t.co/2GhY4e3YQ5

[Institute of Employment Rights @IERUK]

Unfair dismissal claims face five-year delay as tribunal backlog grows:

Unprecedented employment tribunal service delays in England and Wales mean people bringing unfair dismissal claims are waiting up to five years for their case to be heard: https://t.co/W7YwyvNigL

[Institute of Employment Rights @IERUK]

Back in Brighton exhibiting with @pcs_union and already having some brilliant conversations with delegates about employment rights. Come and say hello, have a chat, and pick up our latest work.

[Institute of Employment Rights @IERUK]

We can overcome obstacles’ – PCS General Secretary Fran Heathcote

@FranHeathcote addresses opening of @pcs_union conference with reasons for optimism despite the issues facing our members and the country: https://t.co/GHjnGUQpdA

[Institute of Employment Rights @IERUK]

He says: ‘the proliferation of individual employment rights came one by one, and has grown with the recent ERA 2025… but all the statutory employment rights in the world will not guarantee a rise in the standards of living nor guarantee a voice for workers at work’

[Institute of Employment Rights @IERUK]

IER chairperson Lord John Hendy KC speaking now @pcs_union Culture Conference ahead of national conference tomorrow. A fantastic discussion on industrial action!

[Institute of Employment Rights @IERUK]

Towards a second Employment Rights Bill - by Steve Gillan, general secretary, @POAUnion.

A second wave of legislation is vital to restore the fundamental right to strike and end the exploitation of prison officers: https://t.co/tYVESsck84

[Institute of Employment Rights @IERUK]

The launch event for @WORCrights’ report on Employment Tribunals, with the @TBIJ , Stephen Daws (Free Representation Unit), Matthew Taylor and IER Chair Lord John Hendy KC takes place tomorrow (Tuesday May 19th) at 3pm. You can reserve a spot here: https://t.co/WIHzRPgUEz

[Institute of Employment Rights @IERUK]

‘Employment Tribunals in crisis: the blind spot in the New Deal for Working People’, by @WORCrights finds that there are over 65k open cases awaiting resolution, the highest backlog since records began in 2017 & a staggering 43% increase in just 12 months. https://t.co/2GhY4e3YQ5

[Institute of Employment Rights @IERUK]

One in seven UK workers have experienced a ‘clear violation’ of their basic employment rights.

“Widespread & pervasive rights violations” have harmed workers across all employment sectors, a @ucl report commissioned by the Fair Work Agency, has stated: https://t.co/fRRz9xRLRs

[Institute of Employment Rights @IERUK]

Labour Law Highlights 2025-26 is now out. The IER’s regular team of barristers from @OldSqChambers guides readers through recent key court decisions. This bumper edition, edited by Nicola Newbegin and Madeline Stanley charts a dynamic two years: https://t.co/f061ztlKUp

[Institute of Employment Rights @IERUK]

Ban on justice worker strikes contributing to ‘dangerous erosion’ of workplace conditions, unions warn.

Ban has directly contributed to a deterioration in prison officer pay, conditions, morale, and retention say @POAUnion & @GMB_union: https://t.co/iCV4Edjarm