Working Lives Research Institute
German research institute the Freidrich Ebert Stiftung have published a report by WLRI's Nick Clark and Professor Jane Hardy of Hertfordshire University to mark the opening up of the whole EU labour market to workers from the 8 eastern European states who joined in May 2004. At that time, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Sweden were the only states to open their labour markets to workers from the new EU member states. This new study analyses the public debate in Great Britain, the impact on labour markets as well as the implications for welfare and overall economic and societal effects. Particular emphasis is given to the role of trade unions and their responses to the new members and workers.