Chapter 48

Question 1

What is a trade union

Answer 1

This is a organisation of employees that seek to protect and improve interests of members this is done by negotiating on e.g. pay, work conditions,

Also members pay a subscription ever month

Question 2

What support can members get off trade unions

Answer 2

Free legal advice on redundancy
Harassment
Dismissal

Question 3

At a national level what do unions have

Answer 3

Full time salaried employees working at permanent headquarters
Governing body is union executive

Question 4

At a local level what do unions have

Answer 4

The union representatives are elected from workforce in the business and allowed to take time off from work to take part in trade union activities at

Question 5

what is a trade union congress

Answer 5

many trade unions are affiliated to this and it is an organisation which brings british union together to draw up policies

Question 6

What does a TUC promote

Answer 6

A partnership defining as employers and trade union working together to achieve goals such as fairness and competitiveness

Question 7

define union recognition

Answer 7

this is where employees who recognise a union agree to negotiate with it over pay and conditions

Question 8

what does a trade union now have to do

Answer 8

1. give notice on the intention of striking
2. offer members secret ballet otherwise it’s a breach of the law

Question 9

what is trade unionism like today ?

Answer 9

-30 years ago 1/2 of the workforce were unionised now only 27% are.
- fewer than 6m belong to a union
-younger male manual workers are more unlikely to join a union due to the rise of part time work and zero hours contracts

Question 10

define collective bargaining

Answer 10

where a union negotiates over pay and conditions

Question 11

what is a no strike deal

Answer 11

this is a change in trade union activity where a union gives up the right to strike

Question 12

if a union signs a deal what benefit would they have ?

Answer 12

-regular communication
-system of employee participation
-committment from managers to agree training

Question 13

define work to rule

Answer 13

employees do exactly what’s stated in the contract, no more

Question 14

what is CBI

Answer 14

this is the confederation of the british industry in which provides information to mmeebrs, government or policies issues that are directly affecting the business

Question 15

define employee participation

Answer 15

this is where employees have the ability to participate in the decision making process

Question 16

benefits to a business of employee participation

Answer 16

• increased levels of motivstion
• improved quality of decision making
• better communication

Question 17

what is a quality circle

Answer 17

these are regular short meetings of a group of employees during work hours. its objective is to discuss and resolve work problems so that managers can gain awareness.

Question 18

what is the work council

Answer 18

this is a formal meeting between the manager and the employees in a facotry to discuss the pay and work conditions. however it only applies to companies with 1000+ employees including at least 150 in 2 european states

Question 19

what do the european work council give a right to

Answer 19

give right to employees rights to info and consultation of a companies decision.

Question 20

what does a consultation depend on

Answer 20

• whether or not it’s genuine
• if the process is driven from the top
• employees accepting their views won’t always be accepted or acted on

Question 21

what are principles that will be useful when unions and managers negotiate

Answer 21

1. meetings should be at a convenient time
2. both parties should be able to submit agenda items for discussion
3. chairman must make sure no one dominates over one another

Question 22

what is industrial action

Answer 22

this is measures that can be taken by a union to put pressure on management over a decision

Question 23

whwhat could a failure to rsolve a dispute resolve in

Answer 23

• strike action- financial consequences will be met and they won’t be paid as they’ve gone in breach of their contract
• work to rule- they start and stop work at the stated time there’s no goodwill

-refusing to work overtime

Question 24

what is ACAS

Answer 24

this is the advisory concilation and abitration service which gives advice on industrial action offering services and avoiding conflicts. they try and persuade 1 party to see anothers view and it they agree it provides an arbitration

Question 25

examples of information ACAS share

Answer 25

1. appraisals
2. age discrimination
3. recruitment
4. redundency

Question 26

what is mediation

Answer 26

this is what’s provided if ACAS doesn’t work and it sorts out disagreements without going to court. it gets carried by the phone and then the mediator brings parties in together and a meeting is formed to reach an agreement and solve problems

Question 27

what happens if mediation fails

Answer 27

it is the end of the matter unless both parties will for ACAS to arbitrate, however this will only happen for serious matters e.g. unfair dismissal.