Showing papers in "Industrial Relations Journal in 1996"
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the meaning of empowerment and the implementation of specific initiatives and suggested empowerment has limitations and tensions including little power dissemination, close control over employees, poor prospects of extra remuneration and job insecurity.
Abstract: Given the widespread introduction of empowerment within the UK, this article examines meanings of the concept and the implementation of specific initiatives. From a study of thirteen organisations it is suggested empowerment has limitations and tensions including little power dissemination, close control over employees, poor prospects of extra remuneration and job insecurity.
153 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the impact of post-1978 economic reforms on the Chinese labour-management system on the main sectors of employment (state, collective, private and joint ventures) is systematically discussed.
Abstract: In this article, the impact of the post-1978 economic reforms on the Chinese labour-management system on the main sectors of employment (state, collective, private and joint ventures) is systematically discussed. The author concludes that as greater enterprise autonomy becomes more common, the labour-management system will evolve into a more ‘marketised’ hybrid form albeit ‘with Chinese characteristics’.
59 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that because these new reforms have been accompanied by significant shifts in both Italy's political system and the unions' own organisation, they stand a better chance of succeeding than previous reform projects.
Abstract: Since the early 1990s, major reform efforts aimed at reducing industrial conflict, rationalising public sector labour relations, restructuring collective bargaining arrangements, and re-establishing tripartite ‘con-certation’ have transformed Italian industrial relations. This article argues that because these new reforms have been accompanied by significant shifts in both Italy's political system and the unions’ own organisation, they stand a better chance of succeeding than previous reform projects.
48 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that in spite of Spanish high unemployment and economic re-structuring, union membership in Spain increased significantly from 1986 to 1993, and that the effect of democratic consolidation, as well as complex union dynamics in the labour market, generate this recovery that challenges, to some extent, the pessimistic union decline thesis.
Abstract: Examining newly available figures, this article argues that in spite of Spanish high unemployment and economic re-structuring, union membership in Spain increased significantly from 1986 to 1993. The effect of democratic consolidation, as well as complex union dynamics in the labour market, generate this recovery that challenges, to some extent, the pessimistic union decline thesis.
46 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors highlight the need for a broader conceptual framework for understanding training provision and bargaining arrangements in the context of the printing industry, and propose an extended literature review and case study evidence from the print industry.
Abstract: The training debate has suffered from a tendency to over-state the consensual nature of skill formation. This position is challenged through an extended literature review and case study evidence from the printing industry. The article highlights the need for a broader conceptual framework for understanding training provision and bargaining arrangements
37 citations
TL;DR: The authors provided national data on the extent and characteristics of homeworking in Britain in the mid-1990s, by providing data from the National Statistics Institute (NSI) and the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Abstract: Previously published research on homeworking in Britain has been locally specific or dated. Yet this form of working is an area of current policy-making concern. By providing national data on the extent and characteristics of homeworking in Britain in the mid-1990s, this article aims to plug the gap.
33 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss emergent global trends and current Asian realities, and highlight lessons from the Asian experience, and the implications for the future in South and Southeast Asia.
Abstract: This article outlines the close relationship between economic development and industrial relations in South and Southeast Asia. After an examination of key industrial relations features, the authors discuss emergent global trends and current Asian realities, and highlight lessons from the Asian experience, and the implications for the future.
31 citations
TL;DR: This paper found that women are less likely to participate in union meetings than men, which seems largely attributable to women's lower favourability to trade unions, although women are as likely as men to believe in the principles of trade unionism.
Abstract: This article attempts to establish the main determinants of an employee's involvement in trade unionism, and to explain the male/female differential in union participation. Women, especially parttime workers, are less likely to participate in union meetings than men, which seems largely attributable to women's lower favourability to trade unions, although women are as likely as men to believe in the principles of trade unionism.
24 citations
TL;DR: The authors argue that the control of labour continues to pose a challenge to management in Japanese manufacturing transplants, arguing that there is no absence of worker resistance stemming either from high levels of employee commitment or from extensive control systems.
Abstract: Studies of British-based Japanese manufacturing companies often assume an absence of worker resistance stemming either from high levels of employee commitment or from extensive control systems. This article, based on three case studies of Japanese manufacturing transplants, disputes this assumption, arguing that the control of labour continues to pose a challenge to management
20 citations
TL;DR: The authors examined the differential impact of post-Communist restructuring on industrial and employee relations in the Czech Republic and East Germany and found that the post-communist system of industrial relations and personnel management in the two countries had different characteristics.
Abstract: This article examines the differential impact of post Communist restructuring on industrial and employee relations in the Czech Republic and East Germany. It reviews the pre and post Communist systems of industrial relations and personnel management in the two countries and draws on original survey data to examine how this influences employee relations at organisation level.
20 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors focus on the relationship between merger propensity and success in British trade unions and find that more unions seek merger than achieve it; most mergers in the period are accounted for by few unions, but some merger discussions are protracted and the determinants of propensity are distinct from those of success.
Abstract: This article focuses on the relationship between merger propensity and merger success in British trade unions. Using survey data it reveals that more unions seek merger than achieve it; most mergers in the period are accounted for by few unions. However, some merger discussions are protracted and the determinants of propensity are distinct from those of success.
TL;DR: Although strikes on the waterfront are now rare, the Liverpool dock dispute is indicative of how deregulation of the dockland labour market has compelled operators to cut ever more deeply into labour costs, and casualise the employment relationship as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Although strikes on the waterfront are now rare, the Liverpool dock dispute is indicative of how deregulation of the dockland labour market has compelled operators to cut ever more deeply into labour costs, and casualise the employment relationship. This has had an adverse effect on port performance and undermines the ability of employers to compete effectively.
TL;DR: A recent study in the steel industry included an attitude survey at a plant previously studied in the 1950s, showing that despite massive changes at the plant, various important similarities are evident in the two studies as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: In workplace studies, there are few examples of researchers returning to previously studied sites. A recent study in the steel industry included an attitude survey at a plant previously studied in the 1950s. Despite massive changes at the plant, various important similarities are evident in the two studies. In part, these are seen to reflect the continuing influence of occupational identities and structures on steelworkers’ attitudes.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors combine central concepts of individualisation and trade union democracy with empirical results from Swedish and mainly Danish surveys to analyze how the tendencies towards individualisation in the membership affects union democracy.
Abstract: Combining central concepts of individualisation and trade union democracy with empirical results from Swedish and mainly Danish surveys, this article analyses how the tendencies towards individualisation in the membership affects union democracy. The analysis indicates that the individualisation affects union democracy negatively. However individualisation is a relative concept.
TL;DR: The decision to transform capital ownership in Central and Eastern Europe is proving, in its practical application, to be both a controversial and lengthy process as mentioned in this paper, and the main features and the consequences of its implementation for the social partners and the industrial relations system.
Abstract: The decision to transform capital ownership in Central and Eastern Europe is proving, in its practical application, to be both a controversial and lengthy process. In examining privatisation this article considers its main features and the consequences of its implementation for the social partners and the industrial relations system.
Abstract: Here the authors assess the status of labour development in Africa. The continental constraints of the political context and overall environment of the employment relationships are discussed. They conclude that the longer term role of African unions should be facilitated by greater tripartite concertation and government flexibility.
TL;DR: In this paper, the shop stewards of the 1990s display remarkable stability in their influence and role when compared to earlier surveys, while the unions suffered during the 1980s, but how has this affected the lynchpin of workplace industrial relations, the shop steward?
Abstract: Evidence suggests that the unions suffered badly during the 1980s, but how has this affected the lynch-pin of workplace industrial relations, the shop steward? The evidence of this research is that the shop stewards of the 1990s display remarkable stability in their influence and role when compared to earlier surveys.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the "old unions", "new unions", and the still dominant role of the state in IR, and show how contemporary IR includes changes towards arrangements that are more typical of industrialised market economies (IMEs).
Abstract: Here the authors discuss the ‘old unions’, the ‘new unions’ and the still dominant role of the state. They show how contemporary IR includes changes towards arrangements that are more typical of industrialised market economies (IMEs); nevertheless, there are significant continuities with past patterns, and divergences from IMEs’ arrangements.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the provision of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, special attention being given to the employment and industrial relations aspects of the Act, focusing on the issues raised for practitioners and for those with disabilities claiming protection under the Act.
Abstract: This article examines the provision of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, special attention being given to the employment and industrial relations aspects of the Act. Emphasis is placed on the issues raised for practitioners and for those with disabilities claiming protection under the Act.
TL;DR: Hong Kong is often viewed as having achieved an advanced level of economic development without substantial movement towards industrial democracy as discussed by the authors, and some progress towards democratisation of employment relations has been taking place although unevenly.
Abstract: Hong Kong is often viewed as having achieved an advanced level of economic development without substantial movement towards industrial democracy. We argue that some progress towards democratisation of employment relations has been taking place although unevenly and attempt to explain why this is the case.
TL;DR: Within the context of the transformation of capitalist society in the last third of the twentieth century, a decline in the relative importance of manufacturing both in terms of GDP and employment, changes in the conception of work as mental rather than manual and in the types of interaction between capital and labour - labour relations systems in the twenty-first century will be very different from those prevailing today as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Within the context of the transformation of capitalist society in the last third of the twentieth century–a decline in the relative importance of manufacturing both in terms of GDP and employment, changes in the conception of work as mental rather than manual and in the types of interaction between capital and labour - labour relations systems in the twenty-first century will be very different from those prevailing today.
TL;DR: This article examined the variation in union responses to restructuring initiatives in the Mexican automobile industry and found that militant responses were more likely to occur in unions characterised by internal democracy and autonomy from Mexico's state-corporatist labour confederations.
Abstract: This article examines the variation in union responses to restructuring initiatives in the Mexican automobile industry. The research indicates that militant responses were more likely to occur in unions characterised by internal democracy and autonomy from Mexico's state-corporatist labour confederations.
TL;DR: Employee participation has commonly been seen, in US conditions, as in potential conflict with the maintenance and development of collective bargaining as discussed by the authors, and since labor law seeks to protect the collective bargaining rights of employees, an important current debate is concerned with to what extent, if at all, the law needs to be changed to encourage employee participation schemes without weakening this protection.
Abstract: Employee participation has commonly been seen, in US conditions, as in potential conflict with the maintenance and development of collective bargaining. Since labor law seeks to protect the collective bargaining rights of employees, an important current debate is concerned with to what extent, if at all, the law needs to be changed to encourage employee participation schemes without weakening this protection.
TL;DR: The Independent Miners' Union was unable to realise its initial promise, while the successors of the official unions began a complicated process of union renewal in the early 1990s as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The emergence of alternative unions in the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, suggested that new forms of unionism were developing. However, in the coalfields, the Independent Miners’ Union was unable to realise its initial promise, while the successors of the official unions began a complicated process of union renewal. This has laid the foundation for some form of reunification between the two types of unions.