Topic 5 Flashcards
(40 cards)
what are the employment relationship precursors?
-level of economic development- industrialisation
-market capitalism
-political power balance
-dominant political ideology
what are the contingent factors?
-increased inequality
-weakening trade unions
-reduced social welfare coverage
-shift in power towards capital
-dual labour markets, e.g. gig economy, zero contracts
what is industrial action?
any temporary suspension of normal working arrangements in order to express a grievance or enforce a demand
what is collective bargaining?
the process through which agreement on pay, working conditions, procedures and other negotiable issues are reached between organised employees and management representatives
what are trade unions?
continuous association of wage earners for the purpose of maintaining and improving the conditions of their working lives
what are employer associations?
Formal groups of employers set up to defend, represent or advise affiliated employers and to strengthen their position in society at large with respect to labour matters as distinct from
commercial matters.
what makes people join Unions?
-reward motive (benefits outweigh costs of membership)
-collective motive (power in numbers)
-social motive (peer pressure to join in)
what makes people not join a Union?
-Don’t feel the need
-Individualism
-Mobility
-Negotiating power
-Protective legislation
-Ignorance & suspicion
-Fear of employer’s reaction
what are the alternatives to trade unions?
-individual bargaining
-work-based, in-house staff associations
what are the underlying principles of trade unionism?
-Union actions and policies are based on the democratic decisions of a well informed membership.
-Workers need unions as much today as at any time in the past.
-Unions must retain the right to withdraw labour as a legitimate means of pursuing demands.
-Bad employers who treat workers badly have to be confronted, exposed and forced to change their behaviour
-Unions must be able to adapt their strategies and methods to changing circumstances
who is the shop steward?
an employee who is accepted by management and the union as the lay
representative of the union and it’s members, with responsibility to act on
their behalf in industrial relations matters at the organisation level.
what are the tasks of the shop steward?
-Recruit new members
-Collect subscriptions?
-Negotiate with management
-Channel of communication between members and union
-Defend and enhance interests of member
what are the current challenges facing trade unions?
-Covid 19 fall-out
-Worker pay/low pay
-Sick pay
-Working from home/remote working
-Inequality
-Post pandemic recovery
- Global recession
what are employer associations?
Formal groups of employers set up to defend, represent or advise affiliated employers and to strengthen their position in society at large with respect to labour matters as distinct from commercial matters.
what are the employers objectives in industrial relations?
-Preservation and consolidation of private enterprise system
-Maximise organisational effectiveness and returns for shareholders
-Effective use of human resources
-Control & authority in decision making
-Good management – employee
relations
what is IBEC?
national umbrella organisation for business and employers Ireland
what are IBEC’s priorities?
- Influence for Impact
- Innovation
- People, Process & Technology
- International Reach
- Growth and Scale 20
what are IBEC’s key challenges?
-Covid19
-Sustaining Business
-Re-opening the economy
-Post C19 [Reboot and Reimagine]
-Brexit fall-out
what are the frameworks shaping employee relations?
-organisational framework
-institutional framework
-legal framework
-employment relationship
how does organisational framework shape employee relations?
-Nature of business
-Ownership
-Type of workers
-Relevant markets
-Structure, history, values
-Style of management (HR Function)
-Union/non-union
-Culture
how does legal framework shape Employee relations?
-Purpose of the law
-Contract of employment
-Voluntarism V Regulation
-Multiple pieces of employment legislation
-Limitations of the law
how does institutional framework affect employee relations?
-Representative bodies (such as Trade Unions & Employer Associations)
-State-funded institutions (e.g. Workplace
Relations Commission)
-State
-European Union
what is the role of the state in ER?
-Director
-Controller of the Economy
-Employer
-Regulator
-Peace-maker
-Partner
-All determined by State ideology & objectives
what are the states objectives?
-High employment
-Financial stability & managing national balance sheet
-Facilitating exports, imports & FDI
-Social goals such as peace, justice, equality
