LABOUR RELATIONS (industrial relations) Work relations at the place of work,Job satisfaction comes from getting on with others at work: a) with fellow employees (colleagues) b) with management,People - the most important resource - the most costly resource,Conflicts: the employers want to minimise wage costs the employees want to achieve higher pay,TRADE UNIONS represent people at work,Common interests: - regulate the relations between employers and employees - protect the interest of their members Workers pay a small subscription to employ skilled officials to act on their behalf Employers negotiate with representatives rather than all the workers,TRADE UNION AIMS,improve wages/working conditions reduce working hours protect full employment fight for job security (against unfair dismissal) provide benefits for those who are sick, retired, on strike (social security schemes: sickness, unemployment, pensions) participate in company decision processes,OPTIONS?,TRADE UNIONS PROVIDE,Collective bargaining (talks between representatives of employees and employers) Restrictive methods (industrial action),FORMS OF INDUSTRIAL ACTION,STRIKE a) official (with union approval, strike is paid from funds contributed by members) b) unofficial wildcat (without union backing),2. OVERTIME BAN - workers refuse to work additional hours 3. WORK TO RULE - work according to the company rulebook, work is slowed 4. GO SLOW deliberate reduction in the rate of production, work at a slower pace, fall in output 5. PICKETING occupy the premises, protest outside the entrance to a building in order to stop people from entering 6. BLACKING refuse to move machines,TRADE UNION MEMBERSHIP (in decline),Laws have reduced the power of unions (deregulated markets) Fewer people work in manufacturing (the highest union membership rate) More firms refuse to recognise and negotiate with trade unions,Future?,Match up the following verbs and nouns:,go a) on behalf of workers join b) industrial action picket c) in decision making reinstate d) a union take e) a worker act f) with management improve g) wage costs get on h) a factory participate i) working conditions minimize j) on strike,HW: RB: p.42, 43,Fill in the words below: part-time, hours, deregulation, unionized, labour, conditions, unskilled, wages Manuel and service industry workers are often organized in _ unions, which attempt to ensure fair _, reasonable working _ and safe working _. As a result of _, working conditions have worsened, leading to the creation of a great many casual, _, _ jobs done by non- _workers. (Ian MacKenzie: English for Business Studies, Second Edition),Watch the video clip and answer the question: Why does Barack Obama believe in unions? http:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ3ibE6LtEE&feature=watch-vrec 2. Why is it difficult to organize trade unions in the States? http:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm953Vozp3w&feature=related,