The (im)balance of power: Can workers in precarious sectors exert influence over pay and conditions?

Collective bargaining has long been crucial to worker power in Britain. But after decades of union decline, a collective voice is increasingly rare leaving workers to assert themselves individually in the workplace instead. But in reality, many workers in low-paid and precarious sectors such as hospitality, cleaning and warehousing – the focus of new Resolution Foundation research – feel they have little to no influence over the decisions that impact them, including on pay and hours. How does the power balance between firms and workers play out in low-paid and precarious sectors? How have the key ways workers exert power changed? And what does this mean for wider labour market conditions and dynamism? The Resolution Foundation is hosting an event to debate and answer these questions. Following a presentation of research featuring a new survey and qualitative interviews with Organise members in precarious sectors of the economy, we will hear from leading experts on how power is experienced at the bottom of the labour market, and the implications for employers and policy makers. The event will be open for people to physically attend, alongside being broadcast via YouTube and the Resolution Foundation website. Viewers will be able to submit questions to the panel before and during the event via Slido.