Employer/ employee relations Flashcards
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Trade Union
A organised association of workers often in a particular industry
Examples of trade union activity
Train strikes July 2022 - pay/job cuts
Teaching strikes January 2023
Post strikes November/December 2022 - pay/changes to terms e.g.weekend working
NHS strikes Late 2022/early 2023 - pay
Boarder force strikes Christmas 2022 - pay
Driving instructor strikes Late 2022 - pay / Covid protection
British Gas Early 2022 - pay / fire & rehire
Collective bargaining
negotiation of wages and other conditions of employment with a employer by an organized body of employees (trade union).
Benefits of being a part of a trade union
Negotiate better pay.
Negotiate better working conditions.
Negotiate things like more holidays or improved health and safety.
Provide training for new skills.
Give general advice and support.
Gives support with grievances.
Retail discounts.
The main functions of a trade union
Protect and improve the real incomes of their members.
Provide or improve job security.
Protect workers against unfair dismissal and other issues relating to employment legislation.
Lobby for better working conditions.
Offer a range of other work-related services including support for people claiming compensation for injuries sustained in a job.
Benefits of trade unionism to a employer
Negotiating with trade unions (ideally a single union) saves time and cost rather than dealing with all employees individually.
Employee morale and motivation may be improved if they know that their interests are being protected by a union.
The trade union can be a supportive partner in helping a business undergo significant change.
Reasons why trade union membership has decreased
Decline in employment in manufacturing (where union membership is traditionally strong) and an increase in employment in the service sector (e.g. retail) where unions are less well established.
Growth in the number of small firms which tend not to recognise (or need) trade unions.
Significant growth in flexible working (part-time, temporary, seasonal), employees see less need for union protection.
Improved employee involvement in the workplace, this means a lower need for collective bargaining.
The impact of the decline in trade union membership on workers
A impact may be that unions now have significantly less power and influence to determine pay and conditions than twenty years ago, although in some industries (postal workers, railway worker, fire fighters, NHS and prison officers) unions are still prepared to exert their “industrial muscle”.
Do business need to recognise trade unions?
Under UK law employers must recognise a trade union in pay and employment discussions when a majority of the workforce want to be represented and has voted for it. But there is little evidence that union members secure any significant wage “mark-up” or greater job protection than people in non-union jobs.
Disadvantages of trade union membership to a business:
Increase in wages will lead to higher costs for the business.
Will take a while to implement changes.
Less competitive as increase in prices due to wage increase & slower to implement changes.
Different types of industrial actions trade unions may take
Strike action (short & all-out)
Work to rule
Go slow
Overtime ban
Go slow
This is when workers slow down the speed of their work.
Working to rule
This is when employees only carry out the tasks that are outlined in their contract. So many jobs must be done in a company that the contract cannot cover them all.
Short strike
A strike is when workers refuse to work. A short strike lasts less than a day
All-out strike
Workers on an all-out strike form a ‘picket line’ outside their place of work. This is a protest that draws attention to the workers’ problems with their employer. Strikes damage employers’ profits, future orders and reputations.
