What were the main effects of the 1979-1997 Conservative governments’ reforms to collective labour law and what distinguishes the approach taken by the current Labour administration?
Collective Labour Law: The Impact of 'New' Labour What were the main effects of the 1979-1997 Conservative governments' reforms to collective labour law and what distinguishes the approach taken by the current Labour administration? In order to answer this question "collective labour law" must be explained and defined so the effects of each government can be focussed in the appropriate area. This essay will then move on to examine the situation prior to 1979 so as to assess the extent of the Conservative administrations' impact of collective labour law at that time, a type of 'before and after' measurement. Having done this, the emphasis will switch to examining Thatcherite and Conservative ideology hoping therefore to explain the mechanics of the legislation that the Tories then introduced. It's effects will then be assessed. After this point this essay will turn it's attention to Labour Party ideology, in order to use it as a means of putting into context the legislation which the party has introduced, this will then be assessed in greater detail. The link between 'New' Labour's administration and the European influence will also be examined at this point in the essay, and how this has impacted on British collective labour law. A summary will then be given and all conclusions will be drawn together in order to answer the set question. Brown (1993) said, "It is
Arthur Scargill
Arthur Scargill and Orgreave Coking Plant Arthur Scargill was the head of the National Union of Miners (NUM). He started strike action by the miners over increased pit closures. This was Britain's most bitter and bloody industrial dispute of the 20th century. Arthur Scargill was a Marxist Yorkshireman and anticipated that the government may start closing more and more pits. So three years earlier in 1981 Arthur Scargill held a ballot in which its 66,000 members of the Yorkshire NUM were asked if they would take strike action if any pit was threatened with closure "unless on the grounds of exhaustion" This was the foundation for a countrywide strike without the need for National Ballot. The final push for the strike to take place was when it was announced that the Yorkshire pit, Cortonwood, was only the first in a wide ranging programme that would result in 20 pit closures and job losses for over 20,000 miners. And so on 5th March 1984 miners all over Yorkshire took strike action. The bloodiest battle between the police and the pickets happened at the Orgreave coking plant in May 1984. Arthur Scargill employed his tactic to prevent the coke produced to reach the Scunthorpe steel works. On May 5th 1984, Arthur Scargill amassed the largest picket of the strike so far with at least five thousand miners gathered outside the Orgreave coking plant near Sheffield. Arthur
This paper explores the history of government, employee and employer associations and their effects and influence on the employment relationship in Australia. It also considers how these stakeholders may influence the relationship in the future.
This paper explores the history of government, employee and employer associations and their effects and influence on the employment relationship in Australia. It also considers how these stakeholders may influence the relationship in the future. Industrial relations involves a number of "actors" including employees and their unions, employers and their associations and the governments that make regulations governing the employment relationship. It is closely entwined with political, economic and social forces (Stone, 1995). It is the key actors in this relationship that shape the macro economic and social conditions under which employers and employees must conduct their relationship. The role of the government, or the State, in this relationship is important as it establishes substantive rules for the workplace (such as leave and working hours), sets out procedural rules to limit ways in which employers and employees conduct their bargaining and disputes, and determines policies on such matters as income, employment, inflation and tariff protection (Deery and Plowman, 1988). The 'State' is characterised by a number of permanent political institutions comprising parliaments (to pass laws), governments (to implement and administer laws) and judiciaries (to ensure the laws are applied correctly). The 'State' also encompasses a myriad of political and administrative apparatus
Women in World War One - Describe the employment opportunities of women in Britainat the outbreak of the war?
Women in World War One ) Describe the employment opportunities of women in Britain at the outbreak of the war? At the outbreak of the war in 1914 women were involved a great deal in several areas of production and services. Women stayed enthusiastic to support most war efforts and nearly 5,900,000 women were employed in Britain, some for the very first time. As job opportunities for women did seem to open up in Britain it was all limited as they had to work in bad conditions, low pay and having to accept the fact that the men were being paid mare. Employment opportunities opened up in the fields of Domestic Services, Textiles and Sweated trades. The war also opened up opportunities for high qualified women and women in the armed forces as many organizations such as the Voluntary Aid Detachments (VAD) and The First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY) were started for the first time which increased potential opportunities for women. Similarly organizations were set up such as the 'Work for Women fund' which helped women who were made redundant before the war to get there jobs back during the outbreak. Domestic services attracted young girls because the school leaving age was 12 and no formal education was required for the jobs as most of the work was manual. It employed one person in every eight which was a significant ratio at the time it was one of the few jobs that employed large
What is the influence of women social workers in the United States labor movement?
4129511 - What is the influence of women social workers in the United States labor movement? The existence of a union in a workplace is often the difference between a good job and a bad one. It's the difference between a decent and a low standard of living. The existence of a union in a workplace means that you don't have to work in constant fear of your boss, and if you are disciplined or fired, there's the grievance and arbitration process. In essence, being a member of a union means you have some power in the workplace. Unions were formed and workers continue to join unions to this day for a number of reasons: dangerous working conditions, low wages, no benefits and general abuse at the hands of the employer. As unions grew, so did the creation of laws to protect all workers, such as health and safety acts, pensions, workers' compensation, employment standards and labour relations acts. It did not matter if you worked in the public or private sector, in unionized or non-unionized workplace-all wage earners benefited from gains made by unions. The face of the American labor movement in its heyday was that of a burly man, a trucker or assembly-line worker, joining with his brothers to fight for better wages and safety standards. Labor's ranks have dwindled over the years as America's manufacturing base has eroded and companies have tightened reins on their employees.
To what extent has British employment relations changed since 1980?
Employment Relations HM3022 Assignment By Adam Tilston Reg No 00302568 Nature and Context of Employment Relations . To what extent has British employment relations changed since 1980? In 1979, Margaret Thatcher and her new Conservative party were voted in as the party to change Britain. A seventeen-year span running from 1979 to 1997 saw two Prime Ministers at the helm of a major change in Employment Relations. Mrs Thatcher believed that Britain should go back to the "Golden Years", where there was high production and employers ruled with an iron fist. Britain was in a poor state, their were strikes after strikes after strikes and the Conservative party had ways of dealing with these problems, dissolve some of the power trade unions had, and hand this power back to employers. This started the ball rolling for continuous decline in Trade Union membership to name one feature of change. The Government wanted to reduce Trade Union power and also reduce employees statutory rights. These changes that were brought about by the Conservative party of the 1980's, were said to be "frequent and controversial". These emphases have had a great effect on Employment Relations, especially on the labour market. Mrs Thatcher believed that the Trade Unions held too many cards and measures had to be taken to tip the scales in favour of the employers. Rose (2001) quotes this as "
Trade Union
Trade Union A trade union is a group of workers who join together in order to protect their own interests and to be more powerful when negotiating with their employers. Without the influence of unions, workers may not have any voice or power. The primary purpose of a union is to maintain and advance the wage rates and working conditions of members, and to defend and promote a fair and safe working environment Trade unions exist because an individual worker has very little power to influence decisions that are made about his or her job. By joining together with other workers, there is more chance of having a voice and influence Types Of Trade Union There are four main types of trade unions: . General Unions. These are for skilled and unskilled workers performing different jobs in different industries (e.g. cleaners, clerical staff, transport workers). 2. Industrial unions. These are for different workers in the same industry (e.g. the National Union of Miners (N.U.M), covering workers at all levels in the hierarchy). 3. Craft Unions. These are fairly small unions for skilled workers, performing the same or similar work in different industries (e.g. musicians). 4. White-collar Unions. These are for 'white-collar' (or professional) workers who perform the same or similar tasks in different industries (e.g. teachers, scientists). Aims Of Trade Union Trade unions have a
Trade Unions
Trade Unions Trade unions are organisations that represent people at work. Their purpose is to protect and improve people's pay and conditions of employment. They also campaign for laws and policies, which will benefit working people. Trade unions exist because an individual worker has very little power to influence decisions that are made about his or her job. By joining together with other workers, there is more chance of having a voice and influence. All sorts of jobs and industries are covered by trade unions. Some unions represent people who do a particular job or work in a specific industry - for example, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), as its name suggests, represents journalists, and the Union for Finance Staff (UNIFI) is made up of people who do different jobs in the financial sector. Other unions include a mixture of people in different jobs and sectors. The biggest unions in Britain are the GMB, UNISON and the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU), they represent people working in a range of different occupations and industries in the public and private sectors. Often this is because unions have merged with other unions so that they can increase their membership and their influence. Trade unions are democratic organisations, which are accountable to their members for their policies and actions. Unions are normally modelled on the following
How far was the development of trade union rights hindered by divisions within the American trade union movements 1865-1980?
How far was the development of trade union rights hindered by divisions within the American trade union movements 1865-1980? Throughout the twentieth century, running parallel to the struggle for civil rights in politics, education and many other aspects of life was the fight for rights in labour and labour relations. Workers had very little or no rights when working in America in the early to mid 1800's; however, by the twentieth century this had changed for the better, with women and the ethnic minorities' position greatly strengthened. Unfortunately, in the l970's and 1980's the trade union movement and ultimately membership had decreased drastically in popularity with the new breed of workers either choosing or being persuaded to reject organized labour. The nature and composition of the workforce was itself significant. From the 1830's, many industries depended on unskilled immigrant labour. This was increasingly cheap and plentiful; even more so following the end of slavery in 1863 many blacks entered the industrial workforce. This now multicultural workforce which included Europeans was critical, as workers were divided by language, religion, and were treated with hostility and suspicion by white, native born Americans. Both the immigrant and white workforce refused to work with the blacks. These divisions impeded the development of unity and solidarity that labour
There are two broad opposing frames of reference on the role of trade unions:
There are two broad opposing frames of reference on the role of trade unions: The Unitary perspective To talk of unitary frame of reference is to refer to a way of thinking, a mind set of assumptions, attitudes, values and practises relating to management and organisational membership. This perspective is based on the assumption that in order to achieve success, members of any given organisation, despite their different roles, must share the same goals, objectives and values. The unitary perspective finds expression through the implementation of mission statements and measures success through the actual achievement of set objectives. Workers are considered to be loyal, and the prerogative of management is accepted as parental, and in everyone's best interests. Management should be the one focus or loyalty. "Any business must mould a true team and weld individuals efforts into a common effort. Each member of the enterprise contribute something different, but they must all contribute towards a common goal. Their efforts must all pull in the same direction, without friction, without necessary duplication or effort." DRUCKER The involvement of unions may undermine management authority and divide loyalties. Trade unions may be seen as a useful channel of communication, but are no longer strictly necessary, and is seen as counterproductive in offering support to potentially