Industrial Relations Conflicts Flashcards
Define the term: Industrial Relations
Refers to the relationship between employers and employees.
List the causes of Industrial Relation Conflicts
- Low pay
2 .Poor working conditions - Redundancies
4 .Promotions
5 .Discrimination
Pay Claims: Comparability Claim
Employees ask for a pay rise because other employees doing similar work get one.
E.g. Luas drivers got a pay rise in 2016, and then Dublin Bus drivers asked for a similar pay rise
Pay Claims: Relativity Claim
Sometimes the pay of certain employees is linked to the pay of other employees, even though they do totally different jobs.
E.g. If civil servants get a pay rise civil servants will ask for one too.
Pay Claims: Productivity Claims
Employees ask for a pay rise to compensate them for having to work harder or cope with changes introduced by the employer.
Pay Claims: Cost of Living Claims
Employees ask for a pay rise because they can’t afford to live on the wages they get.
E.g. SIPTU secures a pay rise for teachers to keep pace with inflation
Define and List: Non-Legislative Methods of Industrial Relations Conflict
Solving conflict using the law or a legal organisation set up under the law.
-Negotiation
-Conciliation
-Arbitration
Define: Negotiation
A bargain or compromise to reach a mutually acceptable solution to the conflict.
Both employer and employees sit down together to discuss the issue. The employee is represented by their trade union. Each side sets out its position and state what they think the problem is and how they want to solve it and try to reach a mutually acceptable agreement which may involve compromise. When both sides agree on a deal it is called collective agreement
Negotiation: Define Trade Unions
interest groups that represent and protect their members views and interests. Employees pay an annual subscription to join the union and access the benefits of being in a trade union
E.g. SIPTU - Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union
Negotiation: List the Benefits of Trade Union Membership
1.) Unions fight to get Better Pay & working conditions for members. Unions have professional negotiators who bargain with employers on behalf of the union members, which may result in a better deal for the employee.
2.) A union will negotiate and represent during a dispute with an employer on behalf of the employee and pay any legal bills necessary.
3.) Unions fight to protect members interests e.g. holidays, and fight to keep their members jobs. If job loss does occur the union will fight to get the best redundancy pay possible.
Negotiation: Define Shop Steward
An official union representative elected by members in the workplace
Negotiation: Functions of a Shop Steward
- Recruits new members for the union
- Represent members in negotiations with management
- Reports members concerns to unions head-office
- Reports to members with information with unions head office
Negotiation: Define ICTU
- Irish Congress of Trade Unions
- An interest group representing almost all trade unions in Ireland
Negotiation: Functions of ICTU - Permission for Strike
If all workers in a business want to go on strike, they need permission from ICTU.
E.g. If Ryanair pilots from various unions want to go on strike they need permission from ICTU
Negotiation: Functions of ICTU - Settle Disputes Between Unions
If two unions are having a dispute, ICTU will mediate in the dispute to help them communicate their differences
Negotiation: Functions of ICTU - Provide Training to Unions
ICTU will train shop stewards and other union officials in the skills they need to run a union properly E.g. negotiation skills
Negotiation: Functions of ICTU - Promotes the cause of the trade union movement
ICTU uses pr techniques to put forward the arguments of workers to win public support.
Define: Conciliation
Asking an independent outsider called a conciliator who acts as a facilitator to help solve a dispute. The conciliator does not tell them what to do. It helps guide parties to resolution.
Define: Arbitration
When an employer and employees ask for a neutral and independent person called and arbitrator to investigate the dispute and make a ruling.
The arbitrator listens to both sides argument, investigates the dispute and gives her judgement on the solution of the dispute.
It both parties agree to the arbitrators ruling in advance, this is called binding arbitration.
Define and List: Legislative Methods of Industrial Relations Conflict
Solving conflict using the law or a legal organisation set up under the law.
- Industrial Relations Act 1990
- Workplace Relations Commission
- Labour Court
- Unfair Dismissals Act 1977/2007
- Employment Equality Act 1998-2015
Define: Trade Dispute
A dispute between an employer and employees in connection with the employment or non- employment of employees and the terms and conditions of their job
Industrial Relations Act 1990: Legitimate Trade Dispute Reasons - Pay and working conditions
Employees are entitled to take industrial action if they’re arguing with their employer about wages, overtime rates, number of holidays and working conditions
Industrial Relations Act 1990: Legitimate Trade Dispute Reasons - Dismissal or suspension of an employee
Employees are entitled to take industrial action if they disagree with their employer about a employee getting layed off or suspended
Industrial Relations Act 1990: Legitimate Trade Dispute Reasons - Trade union recognition
Employees are entitled to take industrial action if their employer wont speak to their trade union
