Employer-Employee Relations Continued

Last updated May 2, 2023 Edit

• Business

• Make employee views known to management
• Help strengthen both management’s and employee’s understanding of workplace issues and other matters affecting the business
• Help create an atmosphere of mutual trust between employees and management and therefore improve workplace relations

• Support with equal pay

• Fair pay/ living wage

• Legal support

• Job security

• Improved pensions

• Maternity leave

• General rights protection

• Protect and improve the real incomes of their members

• Provide or improve job security

• Protect workers against unfair dismissal and other issues relating to employment legislation

• Lobby for better working conditions

• Offer a range of other work-related services including support for people claiming compensation for injuries sustained in a job.

• Represent and protect interests of employees

• Negotiate on behalf of the employees with the employer

• Negotiating with trade unions (ideally a single union) saves time and cost rather than dealing with all employees individually
• Unions are part of the communication process between the business and employees
• Employee morale and motivation may be improved if they know that their interests are being protected by a union.
• The trade union can be a supportive partner in helping a business undergo significant change.

• Decline in employment in manufacturing (where union membership is traditionally high)
• Increased employment in the service sector (e.g., retail) where unions are less well established
• Growth in the number of small firms which do not to recognise or need trade unions
• Significant growth in flexible working (part-time, temporary seasonal)—where employees see less need for union protection
• Improved employee involvement in the workplace—so less perceived need for collective bargaining

Business