Working Life
Industrial Relations
Prepared by Gillian Feighery, SHS, Tullamore Co. Offaly
Industrial Relations
Is the relationship which exists between
employers and employees.
It is most important that this relationship
is good.
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
Poor Industrial Relations
Disputes and strikes
Loss of pay for employees
Loss of profits for employers
Unhappy workers looking for new jobs
Trade Unions
An organisation formed by workers to
protect the interests of their members.
Functions of a Trade
Union
Protect the rights of their members
Negotiate wages and salaries
Negotiate work conditions
Represent members at National Pay
Agreements
Benefits of joining a
Trade union
Higher standard of living for membersbetter wages and conditions
Greater job security if union is powerful
Increased bargaining power, one voice
for all worker
Protection against discrimination or
unfair dismissal
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 and
Stonelayers Trade union
Types of Trade Unions
White Collar Unions: members are
usually professional eg teachers unions
ASTI, TUI, INTO
General Unions: members come from a
variety of occupations eg SIPTU
(Services, Industrial, Professional and
Technical Union)
Shop Steward
Is the local union representative and is elected
by members for a term of 1 to 5 years
1.
2.
3.
Main Duties
Recruit new members
Act as a link between members and union
headquarters
Negotiate with an employer on behalf of
members
Irish Congress of Trade
Unions(ICTU)
Voluntary body made up of members for all
trade unions
1. It provides one voice for all member unions
2. Nominates people to the Labour Court and
the Labour Relations Commission
3. Consulted by the government on all matters
of national interest eg employment, social
welfare, taxation, wages
Irish Business &
Employers
Confederation (IBEC)
Represents all employers in
negotiations with trade unions and the
government
It gives a voice to members on all
aspects of industrial relations.
Industrial Relations
Disputes
PAY
EXTRA PAY FOR WORK DONE
WORKING CONDITIONS
SAFER WORK AREAS
e.g. CLASS SIZES, HOLIDAYS….
DISMISSAL OF WORKERS
ENSURING THAT EMPLOYEES ARE
FAIRLY DISMISSED
REDUNDANCY
WHAT EMPLOYEES ARE LAID OFF FIRSTLAST IN FIRST OUT (LIFO)
DEMARCATION
ONLY DOING THE WORK ONE IS
EMPLOYED AND QUALIFIED TO DO
INDUSTRIAL ACTION BY
UNIONS
Work to rule: where employees will only do
the exact work they were employed to do
Go Slow: where employees do their work but
do so as slowly as possible
Overtime ban: where employees refuse to
do any overtime required by their employer
Strike: where workers stop working and
place a picket on the employer. If the strike is
official it will have the backing of the union
and the ICTU
How to Resolve an
Industrial Dispute
1. Workers and the supervisor discuss
the problem.
2. The shop steward and HRM discuss
the problem.
3. A top union official and management
discuss the problem.
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 parties
must agree to.
Functions of Labour
Relations Commission
Conciliation Service: parties are
brought together, and are encouraged
to come up with a settlement
themselves.
Advisory Service: LRC offers advice to
employers and employees on Industrial
relations matters
It appoints Rights Commissioners.
Investigates disputes concerning
individual workers or small group of
workers
It appoints equality officers.
Investigates disputes on issues of
equality and discrimination in the
workplace.
Labour Court:
Functions
Is a court of last resort and final appeal
Investigates disputes that cannot be
settled
Registers employment agreements
Conciliation
A 3rd party/ LRC or mediator brings both
sides of a dispute together and helps
them find a resolution
The proposal of the conciliator is not
binding in industrial relations
Arbitration
Both parties to a dispute agree in
advance to the decision of a 3rd party.
e.g. Labour court.
National Wage
Agreement
Is 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.
Local Wage Agreement
When each employer negotiates with their
own employees on pay and conditions.
Equal Opportunities
Employer
It 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 and
women
Recap and Review
Industrial relations
Trade Unions and Shop Steward
ICTU
IBEC
Causes of Industrial Relations Disputes
Industrial Action
Resolving a Dispute
Equal Opportunities