EMPLOYEE RELATIONS

Formal relationship between employers and employees.

Employee Relations may involve representatives rather than individuals.

TRADE UNIONS

There to represent the interest of employees, who are members.

Deal with pay negotiations, dismissal, redundancy, contracts.

Different trade unions exist for different types of work e.g. EIS for teachers

One good thing about being in a Union is that they undertake COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

If workers were to try to get a pay rise individually, they would stand no chance.

But the TU will act on behalf of all their members, which gives them more negotiating powers.

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) represents member Unions.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS Represents professional occupations e.g. doctors,

the Police.

Act like a TU sometimes but also may set standards and qualifications you must have to belong to the profession.

E.g. the British Medial Association insists on certain qualifications before you can become a member.

EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATIONS These are there to represent the interests of

companies in employee relations and offers members certain services.

This could include lobbying government to lower tax, produce product and market research, be the public relations voice for an industry, give negotiating teams to meet with TU.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has members that represents a number of industries.

ACAS

Stands for Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

ACAS is called in when employers and employees cannot read agreement.

They offer:

Advice – to employers, employees and TUs on legislation, contracts

Conciliation – come into a dispute and try and get parties to agree

Arbitration – ACAS will be asked to come in, listen to both sides of the argument and make a decision which both sides agree to accept.

POSTIVE EMPLOYEE RELATIONS

Achieved by:

Negotiation – employers and employees discuss matter and try to come to an agreement. Needs compromise on both sides.

Consultation – when change is to happen, employers should consult with employees. This will make workers less resistance and good relations will continue.

Arbitration – independent arbiter comes in to make a discuss.

EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT

Works Councils

Group made up of equal number of employees and managers. Discuss suggestions for change or discuss changes already in place.

Worker Directors

Elected by colleagues to sit on the Board of Directors to give employee views.

TASK

Examine the following websites, taking notes on what each does for their members and in terms of Employee Relations.

www.eis.org.uk www.tuc.org.uk www.cbi.org.uk www.acas.org.uk