Chapter 6 - Definitions

Question 1

What are employee relations?

Answer 1

Refers to the total interaction that occurs between employer (and their reps) and the employee (and their reps) in regard to establishment of conditions of employment

Question 2

What is an employer? - stakeholders in organisation

Answer 2

an employer, for legal purposes:

• exercises control over employees
• has responsibility for payment of wages
• Holds power to dismiss employees

Question 3

What is an employee? - stake holders in organisation

Answer 3

an employee works under an employers control. Control may involve:

• the location of the workplace
• the way in which the work is performed
• degree of supervision involved

Question 4

What are trade unions?

Answer 4

organisations formed by employees in an industry, trade or occupation to rep them in efforts to improve wages and working conditions of their members

Question 5

What are employer associations?

Answer 5

organisations that represent and assist employer groups

Question 6

What is a log of claims?

Answer 6

a list of demands made by workers against their employees. These cover specific wages and conditions. Employers may serve a counter-log of claims on the union

Question 7

What is a centralised system?

Answer 7

one in which central tribunals decide wages and employment conditions of all employees

Question 8

what is a decentralised system?

Answer 8

direct negotiations occur between an employer and individual or groups of employees or their reps

Question 9

What is a collective/enterprise agreement?

Answer 9

a negotiated agreement between an employer and a union or a group of employees that sets min wages and conditions for a group of employees within particular workplace

Question 10

What is a common law individual (employment) contract?

Answer 10

covers those employees who are not under any award or collective/enterprise agreements

Question 11

what is conflict?

Answer 11

disagreements or dissatisfaction between individuals and/or groups

Question 12

What is a strike?

Answer 12

withdrawal of labour by employees

Question 13

What is lockout?

Answer 13

refusal by employers to allow employees to work

Question 14

what is protected industrial action?

Answer 14

action taken by either party to a dispute that has been approved by the Fair Work Commission

Question 15

What is unprotected industrial action?

Answer 15

action that has not been approved by the Fair Work Commission

Question 16

what is negotiation?

Answer 16

a method of dispute resolution where discussions between the parties result in a compromise and a formal or informal agreement

Question 17

what is mediation?

Answer 17

method of dispute resolution using a third party to help the parties reach a resolution. Mediators do not make suggestions, but help parties feel able to negotiate for themselves.

Question 18

what is a grievance procedure?

Answer 18

provides an orderly system where employee and employer can resolve matters relating to complaints

Question 19

What is conciliation?

Answer 19

method of dispute resolution using third party to help them reach a solution. Third party can make suggestions, but does not make the decision

Question 20

What is arbitration?

Answer 20

method of dispute resolution where a third party (arbitrator) listens to both sides of the dispute and makes a legally binding decision

Question 21

What is an Award?

Answer 21

a legally binding agreement that sets out minimum wages and conditions for a group of employees

Question 22

What are industry wide awards?

Answer 22

sets minimum wages and working conditions for an industry or occupation

Question 23

What is an individual agreement?`

Answer 23

sets minimum wages and working conditions for a single individual

Question 24

What are green bans?

Answer 24

are bans imposed by trade unions on any development that is considered harmful to the environment
or an area of historical significance.