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Nine Years of New Labour: Neoliberalism and Workers’ Rights

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  • Paul Smith
  • Gary Morton

Abstract

Since it was first elected in 1997, a large Commons majority won in three general elections and a benign economic environment have combined to give New Labour the authority and opportunity to implement its programme for industrial relations and employment law. This paper offers an appraisal of New Labour’s neoliberalism, and its relevance for understanding the scope and limits of its reform of employment law. The conclusion calls for a campaign to restore and extend trade union rights as a prerequisite for safeguarding workers’ interests within the labour market, employment relationship and society.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul Smith & Gary Morton, 2006. "Nine Years of New Labour: Neoliberalism and Workers’ Rights," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 44(3), pages 401-420, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:brjirl:v:44:y:2006:i:3:p:401-420
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8543.2006.00506.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Towers, Brian, 1997. "The Representation Gap: Change and Reform in the British and American Workplace," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198289463.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Alan Hall & Rebecca Hall & Nicole Bernhardt, 2022. "Dealing with ‘vulnerable workers’ in precarious employment: Front-line constraints and strategies in employment standards enforcement," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 43(1), pages 469-494, February.
    3. Janis Bailey & Keith Townsend & Edwina Luck, 2009. "WorkChoices, ImageChoices and the marketing of new industrial relations legislation," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 23(2), pages 285-304, June.
    4. Orestis Papadopoulos & Marti Lopez‐Andreu & Mandi Jamalian, 2021. "Violation and lack of awareness of employment rights in the United Kingdom's hotel industry: Isolation, fragmentation and barriers to labour enforcement," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(4), pages 315-330, July.
    5. Anna Pollert & Andy Charlwood, 2009. "The vulnerable worker in Britain and problems at work," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 23(2), pages 343-362, June.
    6. Ian Cunningham & Philip James & Alina Baluch, 2022. "The influence of ‘soft’ fair work regulation on union recovery: A case of re‐recognition in the Scottish voluntary social care sector," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(3), pages 261-277, May.
    7. Melanie Simms, 2015. "Accounting for Greenfield Union Organizing Outcomes," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 53(3), pages 397-422, September.
    8. Denise Currie & Paul Teague, 2016. "Economic Citizenship and Workplace Conflict in Anglo-American Industrial Relations Systems," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 54(2), pages 358-384, June.

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