Industrial Relations & Collective Bargaining Problems
The effective management of industrial relations is reliant on a successful collective bargaining process, whereby, an agreement is reached between an employer and the employees' union regarding the terms and conditions of the workplace. When an agreement cannot be reached, industrial conflict can arise, which can result in lower productivity and outright work stoppages that may require the intervention of an outside arbitrator.
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Industrial Relations
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Industrial relations refers to the analysis and management of workplace relationships between an employer and its employees, primarily those workers who are represented by a union. The collective bargaining process often determines whether relations between an employer and its workers remain favorable or not.
Demands
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During the collective bargaining process employees and employers present their respective demands. Some of the issues often discussed include wages, working conditions, benefits and management policy.
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Actions
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When problems arise during collective bargaining and negotiations fail to reach an agreement, one side may elect to take action as a means to secure its demands. Employees may continue to work but collectively "go-slow," to reduce productivity, or they might decide to strike and shut down production altogether. Employers may try to have their demands met by "locking out" their employees from the workplace.
Resolutions
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According to the International Training Centre, when negotiations fail and industrial conflict ensues, disputes can be solved through conciliation or mediation, or by third-party adjudication as a last resort.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit workers image by mangia from Fotolia.com
