This essay, on the debate about labour shortages, immigration and high pay, was my Observer column this week. It was published 10 October 2021, under the headline “Blame the erosion of trade union power, not migrants, for poor wages”. Employers use migrants to try to drive down wages. The reasons for low pay and productivity in Britain have little to do with immigration. The best way to prevent employers exploiting migrants is not by restricting immigration. These three claims may seem contradictory. […]

Categories: Britain, Class, Race & Immigration • Tags: boris johnson, britannia unchained, dagenham sewing machinists strike, equal pay, european union, ford, immigration, inequality, low pay, made in dagenham, productivity, strikes, tories, trade unions, women workers, working class