Globalisation as a driver of employment precariousness? the labour market status of UK auto workers four years after plant closure

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Work Organisation, Labour and Globalisation

Volume 6, Issue 2

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Globalisation as a driver of employment precariousness? the labour market status of UK auto workers four years after plant closure

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Author(s): David Bailey , Alex De Ruyter

Publication date (Print): Autumn 2012

Journal: Work Organisation, Labour and Globalisation

Publisher: Pluto Journals

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Abstract

In a context of globalisation and structural change, manufacturing workers in developed countries have been vulnerable to plant closure. This article presents the findings of a longitudinal survey examining the labour market status of ex-auto workers, formerly employed by MG Rover, four years after plant closure. In particular, issues of employment precariousness in terms of employment destinations are considered. The findings suggest that a majority of workers had found employment by April 2008. However, the subsequent experience of economic downturn had left most facing a fragile future on the labour market, suggesting a need for policy measures that go beyond reliance on a flexible labour market to address the inequities faced by workers in such situations.

Content

Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (doi): 10.13169

Journal ID (publisher-id): workorgalaboglob

Title: Work Organisation, Labour and Globalisation

Publisher: Pluto Journals

ISSN (Print): 1745641X

ISSN (Electronic): 17456428

Publication date (Print): Autumn 2012

Volume: 6

Issue: 2

Pages: 153-167

Article

Publisher ID: workorgalaboglob.6.2.0153

DOI: 10.13169/workorgalaboglob.6.2.0153

SO-VID: 31bfd6d6-3a9a-4ee1-b0aa-f16e35d130f2

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All content is freely available without charge to users or their institutions. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal without asking prior permission of the publisher or the author. Articles published in the journal are distributed under a http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

History

ScienceOpen disciplines: Sociology,Labor law,Political science,Labor & Demographic economics,Political economics

References

Abbott, B. (2006) ‘Determining the significance of the citizens' advice bureau as an industrial relations actor’ Employee Relations , 28 (5):435–48.
Ackroyd, S. & S. Procter (1998) ‘British Manufacturing Organisation and Workplace Industrial Relations: Some Attributes of the New Flexible Firm’ British Journal of Industrial Relations , 36 (2):163–83.
Armstrong, K., D. Bailey, A. De Ruyter, M. Mahdon & H. Thomas (2008) ‘The Impact of Plant Closures on Workers: a Comparison of MG Rover in the UK and Mitsubishi in Australia’ Policy Studies , 29 (3):343–55.
Bailey, D & A. De Ruyter (2007) ‘Globalisation, Economic Freedom and Strategic Decision-Making: A Role for Industrial Policy?’, Policy Studies , 28 (4):383–98.
Bailey, D & S. MacNeill (2008) ‘The Rover Task Force: A Case Study in Proactive and Reactive Policy Intervention?’, Regional Science Policy and Practice, 1 (1):1–16.
Bailey, D., C. Chapain, M. Mahdon & R. Fauth (2008) ‘Life after Longbridge: Three Years on. Pathways to Re-employment in a Restructuring Economy’ , London: The Work Foundation.
Bailey, D., S. Kobayashi & S. MacNeill (2008) ‘Rover and Out? Globalisation, the West Midlands Auto Cluster and the end of MG Rover’, Policy Studies , 29 (3):267–79.
Bailey, D., A. De Ruyter & C. Chapain (2012) ‘Employment outcomes and plant closures in a post-industrial city: an analysis of the labour market status of MG Rover workers three years on’, Urban Studies , 2012, 49 (7):1595–1612.
BIS (2011) ‘Agency Workers Regulations: Guidance’, May 2011, Department for Business Innovation and Skills, London. Accessed at http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/employment-matters/docs/a/11–949-agency-workers-regulations-guidance.pdf August 21st 2012
Bosch, G. (2004) ‘Towards a New Standard Employment Relationship in Western Europe’ British Journal of Industrial Relations , 42 (4):617–36.
Burgess, J. & I. Campbell (1998) ‘The Nature and Dimensions of Precarious Employment in Australia’ Labour and Industry , 8 (3):5–22.
Chapain C. & A. Murie (2008) ‘The impact of factory closure on local communities and economies: the case of the MG Rover Longbridge closure in Birmingham’ Policy Studies , 29 (3):305–17.
Davidov, G. (2004) ‘Joint Employer Status in Triangular Employment Relations’, British Journal of Industrial Relations , 42 (4):727–46.
De Ruyter, A. (2004) ‘Temporary Agency Work in the EU: an Overview’ in J. Burgess and J. Connell (eds.) International Perspectives on Temporary Agency Work , London: Routledge.
De Ruyter, A., D. Bailey, D., G. Bentley & C. Chapain (2009) ‘Precariousness of employment and regional disparities: an analysis of the labour market status of MG Rover workers 3 years after closure’ Paper presented at the Regional Studies Association Annual Conference, Leuven. April 2009.
De Ruyter, A. & J. Burgess (2003) ‘Growing Labour Insecurity in Australia and the UK in the Midst of Jobs Growth: Beware the Anglo-Saxon Model!’ European Journal of Industrial Relations , 9 (2):223–43.
Croucher, R. and G. White (2007) ‘Enforcing a National Minimum Wage’, Policy Studies , 28 (2):145–61.
Forde, C. & G. Slater (2006) ‘The nature and experience of agency working in Britain: what are the challenges of human resource management?’, Personnel Review , 35 (2):141–57.
Forde, C. & G. Slater (2005) ‘Agency working in Britain: character, consequences and regulation’, British Journal of Industrial Relations , 43 (2):249–71.
Forde, C., G. Slater & F. Green (2008) ‘Agency working in the UK: What do we know?’ Leeds: Leeds University Business School, Centre for Employment Relations Innovation & Change (CERIC), Policy Report #2.
Guardian (2008) ‘At last, the party of social justics has woken up’. Accessed on November 26, 2008 from: See http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/nov/25/pre-budget-report-economy1.
Jones, R., H. Kierzkowski & C. Lurong (2005) ‘What does evidence tell us about fragmentation and outsourcing?’ International Review of Economics and Finance , 14 (3):305–16.
Larkin, K. (2009) ‘Public Sector Cities: Trouble Ahead' . London: Centre for Cities.
Lonsdale, C., K. Hoque, I. Kirkpatrick & A. De Ruyter (2010) ‘Supplier Behaviour and Public Contracting: A Warning from the UK Agency Nursing Market’ Public Administration , 88 (3):800–18.
Nolan, P. (2004) ‘Editorial: Shaping the future: the political economy of work and employment’ Industrial Relations Journal , 35 (5):378–87.
Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2012) ‘EMP01: Full time, part-time and temporary workers’. Accessed on September 4, 2012 from: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lms/labour-market-statistics/august-2012/index-of-data-tables.html#tab-Employment-tables
Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2009) ‘Trade Union Membership 2008’ Department of Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
Organisation for European Co-operation and Development (OECD) (1994) ‘The OECD Jobs Strategy’ Paris.
Peck, J. & N. Theodore (2007) ‘Flexible recession: the temporary staffing industry and mediated work in the United States’ Cambridge Journal of Economics , 31: 171–92.
Pike, A. (2005) ‘Building a Geographical Political Economy of Closure: The Case of R&DCo in North East England’ Antipode : 37 (1):93–115.
Pike, A. (2002) ‘Task Force and the Organisation of Economic Development: The Case of the North East Region of England' . Discussion Paper 02/3. Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies, University of Newcastle upon Tyne.
REC (2009) ‘Campaign Briefing: Recognising the Value of Temporary Work’ , Recruitment and Employment Confederation.
Spencer, K., A. Taylor, B. Smith, J. Mawson, N. Flynn & R. Batley (1986) ‘Crisis in the Industrial Heartlands: a Study of the West Midlands.’ Oxford: Clarendon.
Standing, G. (1997) ‘Globalisation, Flexibility and Insecurity’ European Journal of Industrial Relations , 3 (1):7–37.
Tailby, S. (2009) ‘Globalisation, recession and employment impacts in South West England’ Centre for Employment Studies and Research (CESR) Research Paper. University of the West of England, Bristol.
Waring, P., A. De Ruyter & J. Burgess (2006) ‘The Australian Fair Pay Commission: Rationale, Operation, Antecedents and Implications’ Economic and Labour Relations Review , 16 (2):127–46.

Comments

Comment on this article

[1] Abbott, B. (2006) ‘Determining the significance of the citizens' advice bureau as an industrial relations actor’ Employee Relations , 28 (5):435–48.

[2] Ackroyd, S. & S. Procter (1998) ‘British Manufacturing Organisation and Workplace Industrial Relations: Some Attributes of the New Flexible Firm’ British Journal of Industrial Relations , 36 (2):163–83.

[3] Armstrong, K., D. Bailey, A. De Ruyter, M. Mahdon & H. Thomas (2008) ‘The Impact of Plant Closures on Workers: a Comparison of MG Rover in the UK and Mitsubishi in Australia’ Policy Studies , 29 (3):343–55.

[4] Bailey, D & A. De Ruyter (2007) ‘Globalisation, Economic Freedom and Strategic Decision-Making: A Role for Industrial Policy?’, Policy Studies , 28 (4):383–98.

[5] Bailey, D & S. MacNeill (2008) ‘The Rover Task Force: A Case Study in Proactive and Reactive Policy Intervention?’, Regional Science Policy and Practice, 1 (1):1–16.

[6] Bailey, D., C. Chapain, M. Mahdon & R. Fauth (2008) ‘Life after Longbridge: Three Years on. Pathways to Re-employment in a Restructuring Economy’ , London: The Work Foundation.

[7] Bailey, D., S. Kobayashi & S. MacNeill (2008) ‘Rover and Out? Globalisation, the West Midlands Auto Cluster and the end of MG Rover’, Policy Studies , 29 (3):267–79.

[8] Bailey, D., A. De Ruyter & C. Chapain (2012) ‘Employment outcomes and plant closures in a post-industrial city: an analysis of the labour market status of MG Rover workers three years on’, Urban Studies , 2012, 49 (7):1595–1612.

[9] BIS (2011) ‘Agency Workers Regulations: Guidance’, May 2011, Department for Business Innovation and Skills, London. Accessed at http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/employment-matters/docs/a/11–949-agency-workers-regulations-guidance.pdf August 21st 2012

[10] Bosch, G. (2004) ‘Towards a New Standard Employment Relationship in Western Europe’ British Journal of Industrial Relations , 42 (4):617–36.

[11] Burgess, J. & I. Campbell (1998) ‘The Nature and Dimensions of Precarious Employment in Australia’ Labour and Industry , 8 (3):5–22.

[12] Chapain C. & A. Murie (2008) ‘The impact of factory closure on local communities and economies: the case of the MG Rover Longbridge closure in Birmingham’ Policy Studies , 29 (3):305–17.

[13] Davidov, G. (2004) ‘Joint Employer Status in Triangular Employment Relations’, British Journal of Industrial Relations , 42 (4):727–46.

[14] De Ruyter, A. (2004) ‘Temporary Agency Work in the EU: an Overview’ in J. Burgess and J. Connell (eds.) International Perspectives on Temporary Agency Work , London: Routledge.

[15] De Ruyter, A., D. Bailey, D., G. Bentley & C. Chapain (2009) ‘Precariousness of employment and regional disparities: an analysis of the labour market status of MG Rover workers 3 years after closure’ Paper presented at the Regional Studies Association Annual Conference, Leuven. April 2009.

[16] De Ruyter, A. & J. Burgess (2003) ‘Growing Labour Insecurity in Australia and the UK in the Midst of Jobs Growth: Beware the Anglo-Saxon Model!’ European Journal of Industrial Relations , 9 (2):223–43.

[17] Croucher, R. and G. White (2007) ‘Enforcing a National Minimum Wage’, Policy Studies , 28 (2):145–61.

[18] Forde, C. & G. Slater (2006) ‘The nature and experience of agency working in Britain: what are the challenges of human resource management?’, Personnel Review , 35 (2):141–57.

[19] Forde, C. & G. Slater (2005) ‘Agency working in Britain: character, consequences and regulation’, British Journal of Industrial Relations , 43 (2):249–71.

[20] Forde, C., G. Slater & F. Green (2008) ‘Agency working in the UK: What do we know?’ Leeds: Leeds University Business School, Centre for Employment Relations Innovation & Change (CERIC), Policy Report #2.

[21] Guardian (2008) ‘At last, the party of social justics has woken up’. Accessed on November 26, 2008 from: See http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/nov/25/pre-budget-report-economy1.

[22] Jones, R., H. Kierzkowski & C. Lurong (2005) ‘What does evidence tell us about fragmentation and outsourcing?’ International Review of Economics and Finance , 14 (3):305–16.

[23] Larkin, K. (2009) ‘Public Sector Cities: Trouble Ahead' . London: Centre for Cities.

[24] Lonsdale, C., K. Hoque, I. Kirkpatrick & A. De Ruyter (2010) ‘Supplier Behaviour and Public Contracting: A Warning from the UK Agency Nursing Market’ Public Administration , 88 (3):800–18.

[25] Nolan, P. (2004) ‘Editorial: Shaping the future: the political economy of work and employment’ Industrial Relations Journal , 35 (5):378–87.

[26] Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2012) ‘EMP01: Full time, part-time and temporary workers’. Accessed on September 4, 2012 from: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lms/labour-market-statistics/august-2012/index-of-data-tables.html#tab-Employment-tables

[27] Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2009) ‘Trade Union Membership 2008’ Department of Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

[28] Organisation for European Co-operation and Development (OECD) (1994) ‘The OECD Jobs Strategy’ Paris.

[29] Peck, J. & N. Theodore (2007) ‘Flexible recession: the temporary staffing industry and mediated work in the United States’ Cambridge Journal of Economics , 31: 171–92.

[30] Pike, A. (2005) ‘Building a Geographical Political Economy of Closure: The Case of R&DCo in North East England’ Antipode : 37 (1):93–115.

[31] Pike, A. (2002) ‘Task Force and the Organisation of Economic Development: The Case of the North East Region of England' . Discussion Paper 02/3. Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies, University of Newcastle upon Tyne.

[32] REC (2009) ‘Campaign Briefing: Recognising the Value of Temporary Work’ , Recruitment and Employment Confederation.

[33] Spencer, K., A. Taylor, B. Smith, J. Mawson, N. Flynn & R. Batley (1986) ‘Crisis in the Industrial Heartlands: a Study of the West Midlands.’ Oxford: Clarendon.

[34] Standing, G. (1997) ‘Globalisation, Flexibility and Insecurity’ European Journal of Industrial Relations , 3 (1):7–37.

[35] Tailby, S. (2009) ‘Globalisation, recession and employment impacts in South West England’ Centre for Employment Studies and Research (CESR) Research Paper. University of the West of England, Bristol.

[36] Waring, P., A. De Ruyter & J. Burgess (2006) ‘The Australian Fair Pay Commission: Rationale, Operation, Antecedents and Implications’ Economic and Labour Relations Review , 16 (2):127–46.