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Trade unions and the real Living Wage: survey evidence from the UK

Author

Listed:
  • Edmund Heery
  • Deborah Hann
  • David Nash

Abstract

This article uses evidence from a survey of accredited Living Wage Employers to examine the extent to which trade unions have supported, campaigned for and been involved in the introduction of the voluntary or ‘real’ Living Wage in the UK. It reports that while unions tended to view the adoption of the Living Wage favourably and to support its introduction they typically were not heavily involved either in the initial decision to adopt the standard or in its implementation. This pattern of findings, it is suggested, is consistent with the union response to corporate social responsibility initiatives and provides only limited support for the commonly argued position that ‘economic justice’ movements provide fertile ground for the development of union‐community coalitions.

Suggested Citation

  • Edmund Heery & Deborah Hann & David Nash, 2018. "Trade unions and the real Living Wage: survey evidence from the UK," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(4), pages 319-335, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:indrel:v:49:y:2018:i:4:p:319-335
    DOI: 10.1111/irj.12224
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Geraint Harvey & Andy Hodder & Stephen Brammer, 2017. "Trade union participation in CSR deliberation: an evaluation," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(1), pages 42-55, January.
    2. Ana Lopes & Timothy Hall, 2015. "Organising migrant workers: the living wage campaign at the University of East London," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(3), pages 208-221, May.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Tony Dobbins & Peter Prowse, 2024. "Moral Economy and the Ethics of the Real Living Wage in UK Football Clubs," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 195(2), pages 299-314, November.
    3. Tim Schaitberger, 2025. "Minimum or Living Wage? Framing Effects on Preferences and Expectations," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 63(2), pages 249-265, June.
    4. Mathew Johnson & Aristea Koukiadaki & Damian Grimshaw, 2019. "The Living Wage in the UK: testing the limits of soft regulation?," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 25(3), pages 319-333, August.
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    6. Ian Clark, 2019. "The British Home Stores pension scheme: privatised looting?," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(4), pages 331-347, July.

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