1. 1 The impact of migrant workers on the functioning of labour markets and industrial relations Dr. Steve French Centre for Employment Policy and Equalities Keele University

2. 2 Aims and objectives of series: reporting research  Aim to disseminate most recent (empirical) research on migrant workers in UK in relation to labour market and industrial relations  Sectors: health, financial services, construction, agriculture, hospitality and other ‘migrant dense’ industries  Themes: health and safety, education and training, legal regulation and enforcement, employment agencies, trade unions and statutory and voluntary support, public policy

3. 3 Aims and objectives of series: future trajectories  Aim to assess the impact of recession upon current and future migration in the UK and its impact upon industrial relations and public policy examining:  current patterns of migration into and out of UK  managerial strategies within workplaces and trade union and workers’ responses  political tensions inherent within public discourse on migration

4. 4 Aims and objectives of series: the need for theory  Concern at the lack of theoretical development within subject in relation to migration, arising in part from the practitioner oriented focus of recent migration research:  The absence of political economy?  Failure to link recent migration to historical patterns of migration and previous industrial relations research  Need for more robust comparative industrial relations research

5. 5 Aims and objectives of series: the need for methodology  Concern at the fragmented nature and limitations of research into migration :  The use and limitations of quantitative data sources aligned with the dismissal of ‘anecdotal’ qualitative research  The fragmentation of research into particular groups or occupations which hides interactions within and between different migrant groups  The limits of traditional case study industrial relations research and the use of alternative research methods

6. 6 Aims and objectives of series: political impact  To put industrial relations research at the centre of contemporary research into migration  A network of academics to develop (more theoretically and methodologically) robust projects by examining multi- disciplinary approaches to migration  Extend opportunities to career young researchers to develop contacts, consider theoretical and methodological issues and to present research  Develop and extend links between researchers and practitioners to help inform public policy  Research outputs