LABOUR RELATIONS(industrial relations)
Work relations at the place of work
Job satisfaction comes from
getting on with others at work:
a) with fellow employees (colleagues)
b) with management
People - the most important resource - the most costly resource
Conflicts:
a) the employers want to minimise wage costs
b) the employees want to achieve higher pay
TRADE UNIONSrepresent people at work
Common interests:
- regulate the relations between employers and employees- protect the interest of their members
Workers pay a small subscription to employ skilled officials to act on their behalf
Employers negotiate with representatives rather than all the workers
TRADE UNION AIMS improve wages/working conditions reduce working hours
protect full employment
fight for job security (against unfair dismissal) provide benefits for those who are sick, retired, on strike (social security schemes: sickness, unemployment, pensions)
participate in company decision processes
OPTIONS?
TRADE UNIONS PROVIDE
a) Collective bargaining
(talks between representatives of employees and employers)
b) Restrictive methods
(industrial action)
FORMS OF INDUSTRIAL ACTION
1. STRIKE
a) official (with union approval, strike is paid from
funds contributed by members)
b) unofficial – wildcat (without union backing)
2. OVERTIME BAN - workers refuse to work additional hours
3. WORK TO RULE - work according to the company
rulebook, work is slowed
4. GO SLOW – deliberate reduction in the rate of production,
work at a slower pace, fall in output
5. PICKETING – occupy the premises, protest outside the
entrance to a building in order to stoppeople from entering
6. BLACKING – refuse to move machines
TRADE UNION MEMBERSHIP (in decline)
Laws have reduced the power of unions (deregulated markets)
Fewer people work in manufacturing (the highest union membership rate)
More firms refuse to recognise and negotiate with trade unions
Future????
Match up the following verbs and nouns:
1. go a) on behalf of workers
2. join b) industrial action
3. picket c) in decision making
4. reinstate d) a union
5. take e) a worker
6. act f) with management
7. improve g) wage costs
8. get on h) a factory
9. participate i) working conditions
10. minimize j) on strike
HW: RB: p.42, 43
Fill in the words below:part-time, hours, deregulation, unionized, labour, conditions, unskilled, wages
Manuel and service industry workers are often organized in _________ unions, which attempt to ensure fair ___________,reasonable working ____________ and safe working________________. As a result of _______________, workingconditions have worsened, leading to the creation of a great many casual, ______________, _________ jobs done by non-________________workers.
(Ian MacKenzie: English for Business Studies, Second Edition)
1. Watch the video clip and answer the question: Why does Barack Obama believe in unions?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ3ibE6LtEE&feature=watch-vrec
2. Why is it difficult to organize trade unions in the States?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm953Vozp3w&feature=related