3 Industrial Relations Conflicts Flashcards
Define Industrial relations
Industrial relations refers to the relationship between employers and employees. Industrial relations in a business can be good or bad
Main causes of industrial relations conflicts
-Low pay
-Poor working conditions
-Redundancies
-Promotions
List the four different pay claims
-Comparability Claim
-Relativity Claim
-Productivity Claim
-Cost of Living Claim
Whats a comparability claim
Employees ask for a pay rise because other employees doing similar work got one,
Eg:Luas drivers got a pay rise so Dublin Bus drivers wanted a similar one
Whats a relativity claim
Sometimes the pay of certain employees is linked to the pay of other employees even tho they do totally different jobs
Eg: a TDs salary is linked to that of the civil service, so if civil servants get a pay rise TDs will ask for one
Whats a productivity claim
Employees ask for a pay rise to compensate them for having to work harder or cope with changes introduced by the employer
Whats acost of living claim
Employees ask for a pay rise because they cant afford to live on the wages they get, the prices of goods and services they buy are increasing due to inflation
What are the 3 non legislative methods of solving industrial relations conflicts
1.Negotiation
2.Conciliation
3.Arbitration
Explain Negotiation
Non legislative method
-Process of bargaining to try ro reach a mutually acceptable solution to the conflict
Employees may be represented by their trade union,employer may be represented by management.They try reach a solution if both agree on a deal its called a COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT
May need to comprimise
Not legally binding
Explain conciliation
Two parties agree that a third party (conciliator) help them to solve the dispute.She acts as a facilitator. She does not tel them what to do. It is not binding
Explain arbitration
Employer and employee ask a neutral,independent person (arbitrator) to investigate the dispute and make a ruling like a judge to solve the problem. She tells them what to do.
If they agree to accept in advance,before hearing the ruling, its called binding arbitration,both sides will obey the ruling no matter what it is
List the 5 legislative methods
1 Industrial relations act 1990
2.Workplace Relations Commission
3.Labour Court
4.Unfair dismissals act 1977/2007
5.Employment equality act 1988-2015
Whats a trade union
An interest group that represents employees views and interests
E.g SIPTU (services,industrial,professional and tevhnical union)
Whats a shop steward
Spokesperson elected by employees as their official union representative
Shop steward functions
(a) Recruit new members for the union
(b) Represent members in negotiations with management
(c) Keep members up to date with information from union head office
(d) Inform union head office of members concerns
