Chapter 6--Employee Relations

Question 1

Employer

Answer 1

For legal purposes:

• Exercises control over employees
• has responsibility for payment of wages
• holds the power to dismiss employees.

Question 2

Employee

Answer 2

Is a worker under an employer. Controls:

• the location of the workplace
• the way in which the work is performed
• the degree of supervision involved.

Question 3

Employee relations

Answer 3

Refers to the total interaction that occurs between an employer and the employee in regard to the establishment of conditions of employment.

Question 4

Trade unions

Answer 4

Are organisation’s formed by employees in an industry, trade or occupation to represent them in efforts to improve wages and the working conditions of their members.

Question 5

Employer associations

Answer 5

Are organisation’s that represent and assist employer groups.

Question 6

Log of claims

Answer 6

Is a list of demands made by workers against their employers. These demands cover specific wages and conditions. Employers may also serve a counter-log of claims on the union.

Question 7

Peak Union body

Answer 7

Are state bodies who represent unions in courts and tribunals and in dealings with government, big organisation’s.

Question 8

Award

Answer 8

Is a legally binding agreement that sets out minimum wages and conditions for a group of employees

Question 9

Collective bargaining agreement.

Answer 9

Involves determining the terms and conditions of employment through direct negotiation between unions and employees.

Question 10

Wage indexation

Answer 10

Is a process whereby wage increases are given by a tribunal in national wage cases, in line with increases in the cost of living.

Question 11

Enterprise bargaining

Answer 11

Is the process of directly negotiating wages and employment conditions between employers and employees at the enterprise level.

Question 12

Centralised system

Answer 12

When decisions are made up the top and decided by awards only

Question 13

Decentralised system

Answer 13

When the decisions are made by employers/employees rather then government.

Question 14

Conciliation

Answer 14

Occurs when a third party participates in the resolution of a dispute and attempts to help resolve the differences through discussion.

Question 15

Arbitration

Answer 15

Occurs when a ‘judge’ or a panel of “judges” hears both arguments in a dispute in a more formal court-like setting and determines the outcome.

Question 16

Collective/enterprise agreement

Answer 16

Is a negotiated agreement between an employer and a union or a group of employees.

Question 17

Common law individual contract

Answer 17

Covers those employees who are not under any award or collective enterprise agreements.

Question 18

Conflict

Answer 18

Refers to disputes, disagreements or dissatisfaction between individuals and groups.

Question 19

Strike

Answer 19

Occurs when employees withdraw their labour for a period of time in pursuit of improvements in their employment conditions.

Question 20

Lockout

Answer 20

Occurs when employers close the workplace for a period of time as a means of applying pressure to employees during a period of industrial conflict.

Question 21

Green bans

Answer 21

Are bans imposed by trade unions on any development that is considered harmful to the environment or an area of historical significance.

Question 22

Protected industrial action

Answer 22

Refers to action taken by either party to a dispute that has been approved by the fair work commission.

Question 23

Unprotected industrial action

Answer 23

Refers to action that has not been approved by the fair work commission

Question 24

Negotiation

Answer 24

Is a method of resolving disputes whereby discussions between the parties result in a compromise and a formal or informal agreement about a dispute.

Question 25

Mediation

Answer 25

Is the confidential discussion of issues in a non-threatening environment in the presence of a neutral, objective third party. Many organisation’s now specify mediation as a first step in their dispute resolution or grievance procedures.

Question 26

Grievance procedures

Answer 26

Provides an orderly system whereby the employee and employer can resolve matters relating to complaints about, wages, hours, working conditions or disciplinary action.