About Industrial Relations
Industrial relations is a field of study that concentrates on employment relationships between management and workers. In fact, it is often referred to as employment relations because non-industrial employment relationships are an important factor. As part of the social sciences, industrial relations attempts to understand relationships throughout industry employment and its institutions. Three perspectives of industrial relations are pluralist, unitarist and radical.
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History
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Industrial relations stems back to the industrial revolution, when employment relationships created a free labor market and organizations needed many wage workers. Problems arose due to the enormous changes in social and economic relationships. John R. Commons institutionalized the study of industrial relations in the early 1920s---the main concern was avoiding similar labor and employment problems of the industrial revolution. FDR's New Deal created and implemented that strict legislation to protect workers and management.
Significance
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Industry relations, now a scholarly subject, has formed many theories and impacted the complex relationships that form industry standards and practices. Scholars study the diversity in institutional employment and management. They concentrate on power structures, unions, mechanisms that ensure a fair workplace, public policy that affects employment relations ad organizational behavior. Industrial relations consists of principles about works and management, particularly striving for labor as commodity as long as workers are receiving basic human rights.
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Pluralist Theory
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This is the most studied perspective. The pluralist theory holds that organization is made of powerful sub-groups, such as unions and management. The role of management enforces and controls less, but still holds the power through persuasion. Unions, therefore, are considered legitimate representatives over the regular employees and conflicts in relationships are dealt with bargaining.
Unitarist Theory
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This idealist theory concludes that the industrial relationship is one equal unit. Management and managerial staff all share common duties and purposes---striving for complete cooperation and fairness. All employees are expected to be loyal and those in managerial positions apply the standards and expectations of workers. Unions are unnecessary since the loyalty lies between the managerial staff and the workers. Every aspect of the day-to-day employment relationship is considered mutually beneficial and exclusive.
Radical Theory
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This view holds that a capitalist society divides the best interests between the management and the workers. Inequalities in economic status, social status and the use of powers are huge factors under scrutiny. These inequalities are seen as directly attributed to the nature of capitalism. Conflict is considered inevitable and unions are the natural response to avoid complete exploitation.
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References
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