Industrial_Relations and Trade Unions

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Working Life

Industrial Relations

Prepared by Gillian Feighery, SHS, Tullamore Co. Offaly


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Is the relationship which exists between

employers and employees.

It is most important that this relationshipis good.


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Good Industrial

Relations Lead To:Discussions taking place on an ongoing

basis

Disputes over wages, working

conditions and promotion can be settled

without a strike


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Poor Industrial Relations

Disputes and strikes

Loss of pay for employees

Loss of profits for employers

Unhappy workers looking for new jobs


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Trade Unions

An organisation formed by workers to

protect the interests of their members.


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Functions of a Trade

UnionProtect the rights of their members

Negotiate wages and salaries

Negotiate work conditions

Represent members at National Pay

Agreements


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Benefits of joining a

Trade unionHigher standard of living for members-

better wages and conditions

Greater job security if union is powerful

Increased bargaining power, one voice

for all worker

Protection against discrimination or

unfair dismissal


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Types of Trade Unions

Industrial Unions: members work in the

same industry eg banking (IBOA) or

nursing,(INO Irish Nurses Organisation)Craft Unions: members belong to a

particular trade and have served an

apprenticeship eg Brick andStonelayers Trade union


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Types of Trade Unions

White Collar Unions: members are

usually professional eg teachers unions

ASTI, TUI, INTOGeneral Unions: members come from a

variety of occupations eg SIPTU

(Services, Industrial, Professional andTechnical Union)


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Shop Steward

Is the local union representative and is electedby members for a term of 1 to 5 years

Main Duties

1. Recruit new members

2. Act as a link between members and union

headquarters3. Negotiate with an employer on behalf of

members


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Irish Congress of Trade

Unions(ICTU)Voluntary body made up of members for all

trade unions

1. It provides one voice for all member unions2. Nominates people to the Labour Court and

the Labour Relations Commission

3.Consulted by the government on all mattersof national interest eg employment, social

welfare, taxation, wages


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Irish Business &

Employers

Confederation (IBEC)

Represents all employers in

negotiations with trade unions and thegovernment

It gives a voice to members on all

aspects of industrial relations.


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Disputes

PAY

EXTRA PAY FOR WORK DONE

WORKING CONDITIONS

SAFER WORK AREAS

e.g. CLASS SIZES, HOLIDAYS.


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DISMISSAL OF WORKERS

ENSURING THAT EMPLOYEES ARE

FAIRLY DISMISSED

REDUNDANCY

WHAT EMPLOYEES ARE LAID OFF FIRST-LAST IN FIRST OUT (LIFO)

DEMARCATION

ONLY DOING THE WORK ONE ISEMPLOYED AND QUALIFIED TO DO


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INDUSTRIAL ACTION BY

UNIONSWork to rule: where employees will only dothe exact work they were employed to do

Go Slow: where employees do their work butdo so as slowly as possible

Overtime ban: where employees refuse todo any overtime required by their employer

Strike: where workers stop working andplace a picket on the employer. If the strike isofficial it will have the backing of the unionand the ICTU


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How to Resolve an

Industrial Dispute1. Workers and the supervisor discuss

the problem.

2. The shop steward and HRM discussthe problem.

3. A top union official and management

discuss the problem.


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4. Conciliation: A 3rd party eg Labour

Relations Commission, brings both

parties together.5. Arbitration A 3rd party such as the

Labour Court is asked to make a

decision, which the disputing partiesmust agree to.


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Functions of Labour

Relations CommissionConciliation Service: parties are

brought together, and are encouraged

to come up with a settlementthemselves.

Advisory Service: LRC offers advice to

employers and employees on Industrialrelations matters


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It appoints Rights Commissioners.

Investigates disputes concerning

individual workers or small group ofworkers

It appoints equality officers.

Investigates disputes on issues ofequality and discrimination in the

workplace.


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Labour Court:

Functions

Is a court of last resort and final appeal

Investigates disputes that cannot be

settled

Registers employment agreements


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Conciliation

A 3rd party/ LRC or mediator brings both

sides of a dispute together and helps

them find a resolutionThe proposal of the conciliator is not

binding in industrial relations


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Arbitration

Both parties to a dispute agree in

advance to the decision of a 3rd party.

e.g. Labour court.


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National Wage

AgreementIs a pay agreement between the social

partners eg ICTU (workers), IBEC

(employers) and the Government.It is binding on all employers and

employees in the country.


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Local Wage Agreement

When each employer negotiates with their

own employees on pay and conditions.


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Equal Opportunities

EmployerIt is illegal to discriminate on the

grounds of marital status, gender, family

status, religious belief, age, disability.Race, membership of traveller

community, sexual orientation

There must be equal pay for men andwomen


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Recap and Review

Industrial relations

Trade Unions and Shop Steward

ICTUIBEC

Causes of Industrial Relations Disputes

Industrial ActionResolving a Dispute

Equal Opportunities

Industrial_Relations and Trade Unions

Documents

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