Current state of industrial relations in Britain

The impact on an individual employer of some new development in Britain’s industrial relations.

Current state of industrial relations

Definition of industrial relationsClassification of the unionsBackground and movements of the unions

Industrial relations means the relations between labor and management

The labor,at all levels, engage with The labor,at all levels, engage with recognized unions in a partnership that recognized unions in a partnership that allows open and honest dialogue with the allows open and honest dialogue with the aim of agreement with the management.aim of agreement with the management.

Background and movement of the unions The trade unions were first formed in early stage The trade unions were first formed in early stage

of the Industrial Revolution .They represent the of the Industrial Revolution .They represent the members interest.They ask for higher members interest.They ask for higher payment,better working condition equal treatment payment,better working condition equal treatment and better welfare services.and better welfare services.

Trade unions negotiate with employers by mean Trade unions negotiate with employers by mean of “collective bargaining”,to improve pay,working of “collective bargaining”,to improve pay,working condition and job security.condition and job security.

Workers also join strikes asking for their rights.Workers also join strikes asking for their rights.

The classifications of the unionsfour types of unions

General unions

Craft unions

Industrial unions

White collar unions

Represent workers in a range of industriesRepresent workers from a group of industries who share a particular skill Represent workers in a particular industry whatever their skill

Represent non-manual workers,as well as providing educational services and legal assistance

1970s were the special time that strikes happened frequently in Britain.Economy crisis happened in Britain . Inflation,shortage of goods that workers can afford make their lives suffering.As you can see from this picture ;high rate of laid off,bad living condition aroused the strikes.The government had no strong,democratic policy to control this situation.so things got even worse.

Government has become more involved in industrial relations

At the late of 1970s,when Thatcher became the premiere minister of Britain,the government carry out a strong policy to weaken the power of the unions.

In recent yeas,the government has become more involved in industrial relations.the Advisory ,Conciliation and Arbitration Service ,founded in 1975 ,was set up to encourage more collective bargaining agreements and to offer help and advise to unions and employers when negotiation break down.

We can see from this picture.With the government’s flexible policy,less strikes and stoppages happened in Britain

nowadays.

The impact on an individual employer of some new development in Britain’s industrial relations

New style agreement These are important recent development in

Britain’s industrial relations.this agreement between unions and management operate on the principle of there being one union to represent the workers,and an agreement that any dispute which cannot be settled by the unions and the management will be decided by an independent third party or arbitrator.the union agrees not to use strikes in such disputes.

The influence of this style—Nissan (car manufactures)

Pay rises reflect increases in productivity Only one trade union exist in the Sunderland factory. The car plant was set up in an area of the country which

was new to car manufacture.this means that many of the old-fashioned ideals and attitudes to the job did not exist among the workplace at Sunderland.

All workers wear similar overalls and eat at the same canteen.

Workers work in groups. Any benefits or peaks are available to all workers and not

just to the senior positions.

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