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