2.6 Industrial/ employee relations

Question 1

Negotation

Answer 1

A bargaining process between two or more parties, each with its own viewpoints, and seeks to find common ground, reach agreements and resolve conflict.

Question 2

Collective barganing

Answer 2

The process by which wages and conditions of employment are negotiated between employers, or associations of employers and workers’ organisations.

Question 3

Trade union

Answer 3

An organization of workers members who unite to protect their rights and well-being in the workplace.

Question 4

Methods used by employees to achieve individual and group objectives:

Answer 4

• negotiations
• go slow
• work to rule
• overtime bans
• strikes

Question 5

Negotiations

Answer 5

A bargaining process whereby separate parties attempt to achieve a mutually acceptable outcome, i.e. a win-win situation.

Question 6

Go slow

Answer 6

Employees deliberately work slower, reducing productivity and output.

Question 7

Work to rule

Answer 7

Employees follow rules and procedures to the letter.

Question 8

Overtime bans

Answer 8

Workers refuse to do overtime. In some industries, such as transport, this is extremely disruptive as overtime is required to offer acceptable service levels.

Question 9

Strikes

Answer 9

Employees withdraw their labour and refuse to work in response to the breakdown of collective bargaining. A strike may be:
- for a fixed period e.g. one-day
- rolling (a sequence of strikes)
- full-time, until the dispute is resolved.

Question 10

Methods used by employers to achieve individual and group objectives

Answer 10

• negotiations
• threat of redundancies
• changes of contract
• closure
• lock-outs

Question 11

Sources of conflict in the workplace

Answer 11

• poor communication
• personality-based conflict
• needs and wants
• power and control
• redundancy
• change
• values, beliefs and attitudes
• emotional differences
• power abuse

Question 12

Types of conflict resolution

Answer 12

• Single-union agreement
• No-strike agreements
• Conciliation and arbitration
• Employee participation and industrial democracy

Question 13

Conciliation and arbitration

Answer 13

A process whereby the two parties involved in a dispute agree to use the services of an independent mediator to help in the negotiations.

Question 14

Single-union agreement

Answer 14

Refers to an organization agreeing to participate in collective bargaining with a sole trade union that represents the workers.

Question 15

No-strike agreements

Answer 15

A method of conflict resolution involving members of a labour union agreeing not to strike as a form of industrial action.

Question 16

Employee participation and industrial democracy

Answer 16

Employee participation is a generic term for all forms of employee involvement in decision-making.

Question 17

Reasons for resistance to change in the workplace

Answer 17

• fear of failure
• self-interest – losing something of value
• misinformation – false beliefs about the need for change
• low tolerance – lack of trust