The Precariat: The New Dangerous Class

Date: 17^th January 2012

Time: 12-2:30pm

Location: Room 1, 5^th Floor, Congress House

Lunch Provided

An opportunity to hear Professor Guy Standing discuss his book – “The Precariat”. 

The seminar will present the “Precariat” – an emerging class, comprising the rapidly growing number of people facing lives of insecurity, moving in and out of jobs that give little meaning to their lives.

“Every progressive movement has been built on the anger, needs and aspirations of the emerging major class. Today that is the precariat. The protests spreading across the world are manifestations of the precariat taking shape.”

Guy Standing, The Guardian, June 1 2011

Guy Standing’s policy response to the precariat includes a Basic Income – the core of the proposal is that every legal resident of a country or community, children as well as adults, should be provided with a modest monthly income. There is growing interest in the trade union movement in a Basic Income and the discussants’ responses to Guy Standing will concentrate on this issue.

“Guy Standing is a world-renowned expert on work and human security. Currently Professor of Economic Security at the University of Bath, he was previously Director of the Socio-Economic Security Programme of the International Labour Organisation, where he worked for 30 years.”

 “Prof Ruth Lister is the Honorary President of the Child Poverty Action Group, Emeritus Professor of Social Policy at Loughborough University and a Labour member of the House of Lords. She has an outstanding reputation as an academic and as a campaigner against poverty.

“Karen Jennings is UNISON’s Assistant General Secretary for negotiations, bargaining and equalities. She was previously UNISON’s senior national negotiator for health.”