Meardi, Guglielmo, Martín, Antonio and Riera, Mariona Lozano. (2012) Constructing uncertainty : unions and migrant labour in construction in Spain and the UK. Journal of Industrial Relations, Vol.54 (No.1). pp. 5-21. ISSN 0022-1856

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Abstract

The article provides a conceptualization of the link between recent migration flows and labour market uncertainty through the analysis of a critical example, the construction sector (characterized by economic volatility, worker mobility, employment insecurity, safety risk) in the UK and Spain (countries with large immigration, flexible labour markets and volatile construction sectors). Transnational labour mobility can be seen as a structural response to recent European dilemmas over how to combine flexibility and security, through the creation of a hyper-flexible buffer of migrant workers who, being disposable in case of downturn, can carry most of the uncertainty burden without causing political problems. This raises two issues: the social sustainability of such segmentation, in particular with regard to occupational health and safety; and the role organized labour can have, in particular in organizing such workers. The issues are analysed through labour market statistics and interviews with unionists, migrant organization representatives, employers and employment policy officers in both countries.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Labor market -- Great Britain, Labor market -- Spain, Great Britain -- Emigration and immigration, Spain -- Emigration and immigration, Construction industry -- Great Britain, Construction industry -- Spain, Labor mobility
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of Industrial Relations
Publisher:	Sage Publications Ltd.
ISSN:	0022-1856
Date:	February 2012
Volume:	Vol.54
Number:	No.1
Page Range:	pp. 5-21
Identification Number:	10.1177/0022185611432388
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/44889

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