Industrial Relations

Question 1

What are the factors leading to industrial disputes?

Answer 1

Disputes over pay; changes to working conditions; redundancy; new technology; demarcation issues; trade union recognition; unfair dismissal; discrimination.

Question 2

What types of pay claims can employees make?

Answer 2

Cost of living (inflation); comparability; productivity; relativity.

Question 3

What are non-legislative solutions to industrial disputes?

Answer 3

Meet and talk; negotiation; conciliation; arbitration.

Question 4

What does ‘meet and talk’ involve?

Answer 4

Discuss, clarify, communicate issues around dispute.

Question 5

What is negotiation in the context of industrial disputes?

Answer 5

Offers, counter-offers, compromise to reach a solution.

Question 6

What is conciliation?

Answer 6

Unbiased third party encourages parties to listen to each other.

Question 7

What is arbitration?

Answer 7

Unbiased third party listens to parties then offers a solution.

Question 8

What is the Industrial Relations Act 1990?

Answer 8

It covers trade disputes, employment or non-employment of a worker/discrimination.

Question 9

What is required for a secret ballot under the Industrial Relations Act 1990?

Answer 9

Confidential vote, majority needed, seven days’ notice to employer.

Question 10

What is primary picketing?

Answer 10

Peaceful protests outside workplace with placards.

Question 11

What is secondary picketing?

Answer 11

Protests outside another workplace frustrating resolution.

Question 12

What is immunity in the context of industrial action?

Answer 12

If action is official/sanctioned, employer cannot sue employees.

Question 13

What types of industrial action are legal?

Answer 13

Official strike; work-to-rule; overtime ban; token stoppage.

Question 14

What is an official strike?

Answer 14

Employees do not enter their workplace and do not do any work.

Question 15

What is work-to-rule?

Answer 15

Do exact jobs written in their contract, without any flexibility.

Question 16

What is an overtime ban?

Answer 16

Workers refuse to work extra hours outside contract hours.

Question 17

What is a token stoppage?

Answer 17

Brief stoppage of work, carries threat of further action.

Question 18

What does the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977-2015 cover?

Answer 18

Fair dismissal, steps for dismissal, unfair dismissal, redress for unfair dismissal.

Question 19

What are the steps for dismissal under the Unfair Dismissals Act?

Answer 19

1. Counselling; 2. Formal verbal warning; 3. Written warning; 4. Inform of dismissal in writing; 5. Offer right of appeal.

Question 20

What constitutes unfair dismissal?

Answer 20

Steps not followed; insufficient evidence; discrimination; constructive dismissal.

Question 21

What are the redress options for unfair dismissal?

Answer 21

Reinstatement; re-engagement; compensation (up to two years’ pay).

Question 22

What does the Employment Equality Act 1998-2015 address?

Answer 22

Employment discrimination and illegal advertising.

Question 23

What are the steps to take if facing employment discrimination?

Answer 23

Talk it out; third party; use WRC (conciliation/advice); WRC adjudication.

Question 24

What services does the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) provide?

Answer 24

Advisory service, conciliation service, mediation service, adjudication services, inspection services.

Question 25

What is the role of the Labour Court?

Answer 25

Investigates complaints as a court of last resort, arbitration, codes of practice, registers agreements.