Chapter 26 - Industrial Relations Flashcards
Industrial relations
Refers to the relationship that exists between employers and employees in a particular workplace
What are the benefits of a good industrial relationship to the employer?
○Workers won’t go on strike because problems will be solved quickly. So the firm won’t lose money or customers
○The employees will be happy in their work and happy workers work harder, leading to higher profits
○The firm will have a good name among the general public so sales and profits will increase
What are the benefits of a good industrial relationship to the employee?
○Workers won’t have to go on strike because problems will be solved quickly so the employees won’t lose wages or their job
○The employees will be happy in their work and their will be a good atmosphere in the work place
○The firm will have a good name among the general public and employee morale will increase
Trade union
An organisation of workers whose main objectives are to protect the jobs of their members and improve their pay and working conditions
What are the functions of a trade union?
○Protect the jobs of its members
○Try to improve members working conditions
○Try to increase members’ pay
○Stand up for members if they are involved in a trade dispute with their employer and try to solve this problem
What are the four types of trade unions in Ireland?
- Craft Unions
- Industrial Unions
- General Unions
- Professional (White-Collar) Unions
What are craft unions?
Members of these unions usually have a particular trade, craft or skill, such as an electrician or a carpenter
Give two examples of Craft Unions
○The Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU)
○The National Union of Sheet Metal Workers in Ireland
What are industrial unions?
Unions whose member all work in the same industry. They are popular in Europe but not so common in Ireland
Give an example of an Industrial Union
Irish Bank Officials Association (IBOA)
What are general unions?
Unions whose members come from many different industries. They tend to be very large
Give two examples of General Unions
○Services, Industrial, Professional & Technical Union (SIPTU)
○Irish Municipal Public & Civil Trade Union (IMPACT)
What are professional (white-collar) unions?
Unions whose members have professional qualifications or work in the service industry
Give two examples of Professional (White-Collar) Unions
○The Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI)
○The National Union of Journalists (NUJ)
Shop Steward
Person elected by the trade union members to represent them in the workplace
What are the main functions of the shop steward?
►Encourage workers to join the trade union
►Collect trade union membership fee
►Help workers solve problems they may have with their employer
►Give information from the head office to the members