Working Lives Research Institute

We’ve had another busy two months here at WLRI and have plenty to report. Firstly, we bring you some new photos in our gallery page from our ongoing work on port-based seafarers’ welfare workers, and a related seminar on trade union internationalism. We also provide updates on the ongoing FRA project on trade unions fighting racism, which hit its first milestone in May, and on the end of the PIQUE project, with a final conference on ‘The impact of privatisation of public services’. In addition, we highlight three upcoming events this summer -- a workshop on ‘Warning: restructuring can seriously damage your health’, another on ‘Innovative approaches to workforce ageing’, and a book launch of 'Comrade or Brother' by Mary Davis. Our expanding teaching programme has also hit two important milestones: the first celebration of CPD students graduating in Union Learning, and the launch of a new Professional Doctorate in Researching Work. Finally, we introduce two new members of our staff.

Sonia McKay and Steve Jefferys submitted a 30,000 word Interim Report of a European-wide survey in Vienna to the Fundamental Rights Agency on Tuesday 12 May 2009.

This study is researching the awareness among Europe’s trade unions and employers of the 2000 Racial Equality Directive outlawing discrimination on grounds of race or ethnicity (see here for more). It graphically estimates the state of awareness throughout Europe and raises several issues about the effectiveness of the Directive.

Read the full story here

Our very own Professor Mary Davis is launching the second, revised and updated edition of the 'critical and iconoclastic' 'Comrade or Brother? A History of the British Labour Movement'.

Jim Fryth, Labour History Review: "This book is ideal for its purpose. I only wish it had been available in the decades when I was teaching trade union courses."

Manchester TUC Newsletter: "At last a readable and accessible general history of the labour movement... Highly recommended."

See here for details of the book launch and go here for more comment and details on how to buy this book in advance direct from Pluto.

The first cohort of students in the Certificate in Continuing Professional Development in Union Learning (CPD) graduate in June. A celebration event will see seven students completing their learning leaving six to continue onto the next module in October when they will be joined by new students.

The course was supported by the University’s Development Fund and we are delighted that it is now proving to be successful. It was designed in consultation with trade unions and aimed to locate union learning within wider union organising and bargaining agendas as well as the history and tradition of trade union education.

Read the full story here

Part 1 of the catalogue of the Labour Research Department archive has now been completed and is available on the TUC Library Collections website. The PDF file is at www.londonmet.ac.uk/library/m40330_3.pdf and covers the institutional papers.

It is hoped that Part 2, covering documents produced by other organisations, will be completed in the summer.

A new Source Note to our housing collections has also been circulated to the University’s Cities Institute and other relevant departments. The Note can be found on our website (pdf download).

The Working Lives Research Institute is hosting a one-day seminar on the effects on workers’ health of restructuring on Monday 6th July in Central London. The seminar is a continuation of the 12 month HIRES restructuring project, the final publication of which can be found here (pdf download).

Read the full story here

WLRI is hosting a European Conference/Workshop on ‘Innovative Approaches to Workforce Ageing’. The conference will take place in the Women’s Library from 9.30 - 16.30 and is centred around preliminary results based on a two-year-ESF Article 6 funded project: ESF6 CIA - (see also www.esf6cia.eu). It presents a unique opportunity for employers, managers, trade unionists, researchers and all interested in the management of demographic change to exchange good practices and debate key issues.

Read the full story here