Industrial Relations Conflict Flashcards
Explain Industrial relations
Industrial relations refers to the relationship between employers and employees. Industrial relations can be good or bad.
Give four causes of industrial relations conflict
- Low pay
- Poor working conditions
- Redundancies
- Promotions (those who did not get promoted get annoyed)
Give four reasons employees may claim a pay rise
Comparibility claim
Relativity Claim
Productivity Claim
Cost of Living Claim
Explain what a trade union is with an example
An interest group that represents employees views and interests. Employees pay an annual subscription fee to join a union
Ex: TUI (Teacher’s Union of Ireland)
Explain comparability claim
Employees asks for a pay rise because other employees doing similar work got one
Explain relativity Claim
In some cases the pay of certain employees is linked to that of other employees in a different industry eg TD’s and civil servants
Explain Productivity Claim
Increase in pay as a result of increased work or responsibility
Explain Cost of Living Claim
Pay rise because they can’t afford to live on their current wage.
Give four benefit of joining a trade union
Better pay and working conditions
Representation
Protects member’s interests
Publicity
Explain Better Pay and working conditions as a benefit of joining a trade union
Unions negotiate with employers on behalf of it’s members for improved wages and working conditions
Explain Representation as a benefit of joining a trade union
If an employee has a dispute with their employer the trade union will take up their case and represent them in talks
Explain protects members interests as a benefit of joining a trade union
Trade union fight to protect the rights of it’s members
Explain publicity as a benefit of joining a trade union
The trade Union will publicise the case of any dispute with employers and put the employee’s side forward.
Explain the shop steward and their functions
The spokesperson elected by employees as their official representative in the workplace. They:
Recruit new members
Represent members in negotiations in the workplace
Keep members informed of union news
Informs head office of member’s concern.
What does ICTU stand for
Irish Congress of Trade Unions
What is the ICTU (brief intro and definition)
The ICTU is an interest group representing almost all of the Trade Unions in Ireland. It is an ‘umbrella body’ which speaks on behalf of the majority of the Irish trade union movement.
Explain four functions of the ICTU
Give permission for all out strikes - If all workers in business want to strike
Settles dispute between unions- mediate in the dispute
Provides training to unions- train shop stewards and other officials in skills needed to run union right
Promotes the cause of the trade union movement. - puts forward arguments of workers -win public support, also makes submissions to Minister for finance to get something in budget for working people
Explain negotiation
Negotiation is the process of bargaining to try to reach a mutually acceptable solution to conflict.
First step is direct negotiations between employee and employer
Employee may be represented by Trade union and the employer by management.
Each side sets out it’s position, what they think is the problem and their ideal solution and they discuss to try to reach a compromise.
Collective agreement occurs when both sides agree on deal
Explain negotiation’s Collective agreement.
Collective agreement is when both parties agree on a deal but this deal is not legally binding.
Explain Conciliation
The two parties in a dispute ask a neutral independent outsider (conciliator) to help them solve their problem.
Conciliator encourages both sides to talk to reach a mutually acceptable, negotiated solution
Acts as a facilitator - offers advice in search of solution
Conciliator has no power to tell parties what to do.
Explain Arbitration
Employer and employee ask a neutral independent person (arbitrator) to investigate dispute and make a ruling to solve the problem
Arbitrator listens to both sides, investigates dispute and gives a judgement on how conflict should be solved
Employer and employee agree in advance to accept ruling or not.
Both sides must obey ruling if chosen to.
Explain binding arbitration
Accepting the arbitrators rule in advance
Give all of the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act 1990
Trade dispute Secret ballot and One week's notice Primary Picketing Secondary Picketing Immunity
Define a trade dispute under the provision trade dispute of the Industrial Relations Act 1990
A dispute between an employer and employee in connection with the employment or non- employment of employees and the conditions of the job
Give five legitimate trade disputes under the provision trade dispute of the Industrial Relations Act 1990
Pay and conditions of employment Dismissal or suspension of employee Employer refusal to recognise a union Discrimination Duties required of employees
Give three illegal trade disputes under the provision trade dispute of the Industrial Relations Act 1990
Disputes over ‘closed shop’ agreements- one union to join
Political issues
Disputes over how the business should be run.
Explain Secret Ballot and one week’s notice as a provision of the industrial relations act 1990
Before going on strike, Trade Unions and employees must:
Hold a secret ballot which results in a majority vote.
Give the employer one week’s notice of the strike
Secret ballot ensures employees are not intimidated to vote
Get permission from the ICTU
Explain Primary picketing as a provision of the industrial relations act 1990
Primary picketing involves the employees peacefully protesting outside their employers business premises walking around outside it. They may carry placards.
Explain secondary picketing as a provision of the industrial relations act 1990
Involves employers protesting outside another employers business premises. They can only do this if the other employer is helping their boss break the strike. If this is not the case it is illegal.
Explain Immunity as a provision of the industrial relations act 1990
If the correct procedures for a strike are followed employees cannot be sued by their employer for loss of earnings during a legitimate trade dispute. They cannot be arrested or moved by Gardaí either when picketing peacefully and legitimately