Preface

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.13169/instemplrighj.4.0.0003
• Published date: 01 January 2021
• Date: 01 January 2021
• Pages: 3-3
• Author: Carolyn Jones

Preface

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Welcome to the fourth edition of the IER Journal, produced in association

with Pluto Journals.

The main theme of this edition focuses on Brexit and its implications for

workers’ rights and health and safety protections in the United Kingdom. We

also comment on the crucial role trade unions play in resisting attempts to

undermine those rights.

On 23 June 2016, the United Kingdom held a referendum on whether to remain in

or leave the European Union. The result was that 51.9% of voters voted to leave. In

the first of our three pieces, two leading UK academics consider the implications of

Brexit for the United Kingdom. Written before Brexit took place, the authors pre-

sent two possible post-Brexit scenarios depending on the outcome of political

choices made at the general election. In December 2019 a majority Conservative

government was elected under the slogan ‘get Brexit done’. Developments since

suggest our authors were correct to warn that the implications of Brexit would very

much depend on who owned and implemented the terms of the final agreement.

Our second article continues the theme of Brexit, focusing on the uncertainty sur-

rounding the status of protective health and safety regulations in a post-Brexit

Britain. Commenting on the pressing need to abide by collectively recognised

international health and safety standards, the authors examine those treaties that

help govern our workplaces and the fundamental benchmarks they established.

They note that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) is the single most

important organisation charged with developing global legal standards for work-

place rights and they warn against those standards being negotiated away in

future trade deals.

The third and final piece in this journal highlights the recognised role trade unions

play in protecting workers’ interests. Noting that public support for trade unions

in the UK has been consistently high over the last 40 years, the authors highlight

the role collective bargaining by robust trade unions play in achieving economic

equality and in influencing the delivery of public services such as education,

healthcare, housing, pensions and social security for all working people.

We very much hope you enjoy this edition of the IER Journal.

Carolyn Jones

Director

Preface