Editor's Note: As prices grow, so does the need for fair work

As earnings are still ahead of inflation, one of the questions that is often put to trade unionists is whether a business or the 'economy' as a whole can afford fair pay and conditions.

In answering that question, it is going to become increasingly important in the months ahead that trade unions keep pressing the case that good pay and conditions fuels successful companies, and does not hinder them.

Our feature (p19) presents the findings of a survey that explores one of the objectives of the government's Make Work Pay plan to improve the quality and security of work: to introduce day one rights against unfair dismissal.

In a survey of probation practices, our trade union contacts portray a worrying picture of probation that is unfair and sometimes exploitative. It can be used to justify dismissing someone on a whim or for other spurious reasons. As inflation increases and earnings growth weakens, we need more security at work not less.