People - Industrial Action

Question 1

Define Industrial action

Answer 1

Taken when employees are unhappy with their working environment, terms and conditions or their working relationship with employers.

Question 2

Name and describe the impacts of 5 methods of Industrial action

Answer 2

1. Sit-in - Employees occupy their workplace to prevent any work being done
   → Production halted, customers will go to the competition
2. Overtime ban - Employees will only work contracted hours
   → Deadlines may not be met
3. Work to rule - Employees will only carry out duties on their contract of employment
4. Go slow - Employees complete their tasks at a slower pace
   → Customers lost as orders produced late
5. Strike - Employees skip work and protest outside their building
   → Can lead to bad reputation for the business = fall in shares

Question 3

Give 3 impacts industrial action has on the employee

Answer 3

• Damaged relations between the employer and employee
• Leads to stress and worry
• No pay received for taking industrial action

Question 4

Give 3 impacts industrial action has on the employer

Answer 4

• Production can stop or slow → business gets a bad reputation
• Customers lost to competitors
• Image of the business is damaged

Question 5

Describe 3 ways industrial action can be avoided

Answer 5

• Consulting with employees, involving them in decision-making
• Appraisal system - employees and employers have a one to one about the employee’s job
• Following the terms and conditions of each employee’s contract

Question 6

Define a Trade Union and their roles

Answer 6

Organisations that employees can join to enable them to have a collective voice (employees must pay to have their help)

Roles
* Negotiating better pay and conditions
* Getting involved with the resolution of disputes
* Provides legal and financial support for members