Human Resources II: Industrial Relations

Question 1

Trade association

Fachverband

Answer 1

Organisation set up by firms in a particular industry for the purpose of protecting the interests of its members and representing them in negotiations with the government, trade unions or other associations.

Question 2

Trade union 
(Gewerkschaft)

Answer 2

Voluntary associations of EMPLOYEES created for the purpose of protecting the interests of all members, especially vis-a-vis their employers (wages, working hours and conditions etc). If necessary, they take industrial actions (strike) and may provide educational and welfare services to their members; they can also support individual politicians or political parties.

Question 3

White-collar union

Answer 3

A working class that is known for earning high average salaries and not performing manual labor at their jobs. White collar workers historically have been the “shirt and tie” set, defined by office jobs.

Question 4

Strike

Streik

Answer 4

The stoppage of work as a protest by workers against low wages, poor working conditions, redundancies etc. It is a labour’s most powerful weapon in an industrial dispute.

Question 5

Wildcat

Answer 5

Also called an unofficial strike; it has not been endorsed by the relevant trade union.

Question 6

Work-to-rule

Dienst nach “Vorschrift”

Answer 6

The employees remain at work, but slow down operations and relate to the exact quantity of pcs they need to produce per day. It is a safe way of putting pressure on an employer, for it does not constitute a breach of the contract.

Question 7

Lock-out

Aussperrung von Arbeitern

Answer 7

The closing down of a firm in order to prevent employees from performing their work; usually happens to retailiate against a strike by locking out the workers who are !! not !! protesting.

Question 8

Wage

Lohn

Answer 8

The income derived from dependent employment of a BLUE-COLLAR EMPLOYEE. White-collar employees get a salary.

Question 9

Wage systems

Lohnformen

Answer 9

Wages are paid by time (TIME RATES - specific number of hours) or by piece (PIECE RATES - specific number of output produced in a given period of time).

Question 10

Industrial relations

Arbeitgeber-Arbeitnehmer Beziehungen

Answer 10

The relation between the two sides of industry, labour and management; between employers’ associations and trade unions.