How is the role of trade unions improving employee relations in Ireland?
825925
There are good points and bad points. The only good thing here in McDonalds employees here have the opportunity to join a union and McDonalds hate it!!!
97069
What can a union offer school bus drivers? \n  (listed in no particular order)\n\n- protection from arbitrary firing\n- standard rules for pay raises\n- small pay increase that did cover cost of dues\n- gave the district a new reasons to "consider" a contractor for services (which would have resulted in no union jobs and a pay cut and loss of benifits, etc)\n- more rigid enforcement of rules - no exceptions\n- fosters an "us vs them" climate both in driver vs management & pro-union driver vs other drivers instead of a "we are in this together" feeling\n- gives the group in power (pro-union) all the power in the union. Those who were not 110% behind the union will have little voice. This is good or bad depending on which group you are in.\n\nBottom line - it's a crap shoot. It depends on what your specific issues are in your specific department.
652084
I completely agree...\nIt will however benefit some people (The Rich employers) and encourage more small business activity. Hard working labourers will lack the bargaining power to demand their working rights and condition on the otherhand it will not have such an effect on skilled (professional) workers since they are in a better position to ultilise the new bargaining changes. It is the average working familes that will suffer and I can sympathise  since it is their job security that they depend so much on to put food on the table and to maintain a family. At the end of the day, Our Govt could not give too rats about the average working family. Howard wants to make the unskilled labour market more fexible to compete with international competition eg China, india etc. But as Australians, our way of life is to give everyone a fair go and we will never accept the unethical standards in Asia just to be competitive. We already had a great IR system it had integrity and stood within our moral grounds.\nThe only need for Change is a change of Govt!!
806413
IR, or Industrial Relations, law are the body of laws, administrative rulings, and precedents which addresses the legal rights of, and restrictions on, workers and their organizations. As such, it mediates many aspects of the relationship between trade unions, employers and employees. In some countries (such as Canada), employment laws related to unionised workplaces are differentiated from those relating to particular individuals. In most countries however, no such distinction is made. The labour movement has been instrumental in the enacting of laws protecting labour rights in the 19th and 20th centuries.
1085079
you could talk about the progression of employee rights in the work place and reference the beginning of workers unions.  Or you could compare the rights of entry level positions to the rights of those in corporate or more professional postions.
1144318
The problem is major major, let me say again MAJOR, propaganda against a union. I used to work for IBM as an engineer (not even affected by a union btw being salaried) and man even if someone was accused of using the 'U' word, they were somehow mysteriously fired.\n\nIf anyone even mentions a union the propaganda KINGS come out in full force. \n\nI wish there would be a massive union spread throughout this country. It would save the good parts of this declining capitalist society.
1149711
Unionization from a management perspective is something that makes life more complicated. One of the good things that unions do is they fight so that the balance of wealth is more even (in that you don't have a ton of minimum wage employees with a CEO making billions). \nExamples:\nWalmart - employees paid next to nothing, CEO making billions, no unionization\nGM - employees paid reasonable wages, CEO still making a ton, but not quite so much, strong union\n\nIn essence, unions exist to force management to offer reasonable salary/benefits/working conditions for its employees. There isn't really a positive consequence for management... only for workers. If the management is reasonable though, there will be no need for a union - and there are companies like that.
874792
Many businesses would thrive better if employees were treated kindly but firmly and praised for their efforts when they do well. Taught that any insubordination or bad manners will not be tolerated. Monthly meetings would be a good idea. Also an open invitation to discuss any problems or to welcome new ideas.
587756
The union believes that it can extort resources from a company.  It plays off of people's emotions but doesn't address true economics.  Below is link to their web site, encouraging teachers to instruct our children to become good socialists.\n\nIn spite of the automotive industry, the airline industry, the steel industry, the failed school system(teacher's union), people still believe that a union is the way to go.
102908
Thats the problem with non union. (don't get me wrong...I am not for Unions in general) Yes, they can. Something simular happened to me at my job. Now, you could organize a 'strike' if everyone is in favor. The owners will take notice and might make a change. If you could get everyone together to complain you have a better chance to change it back. \n\nPower in numbers.
197932
That is your right to do so. However, union members have a little more security with strike formats b/c they a clause(in some unions) allowing to do so without fear of losing thier job.
746556
I found that it usually how you treat and deal with people which results in how they act toward you.  It helps to be friendly and  polite. \n\nDepending on the situtation, some workers will  see you as an impedance or worse as a threat to their job.   Others considered their behaviour as being professional.
576660
You need to draw a distinction when giving opinions on the situation in Ireland, as there are two very different situations in place. The Republic of Ireland is a democratic independent country for nearly 80 years, while Northern Ireland is still part of the UK. The history of both states has been very different since the 1920's, when the partition of the country was introduced.\n\nIn the Republic of Ireland, things were very tough, right up to the 1990's, with widespread emigration, high unemployment and very low income per capita. It was a poor country, often referred to as the "sick man of Europe". It was primarily an agricultural country, and the Catholic Church had huge prominence in the country, because the government did not have the resources to invest in schools and hospitals. The only thing it did have going for it was a good education system. But since the 1990's things have improved significantly. EU membership and massive inward investment, particularly from US IT companies and healthcare companies, propelled Ireland from the bottom of the league right to the top. It is now one of the richest countries in Europe, and huge amounts of money are being spent on bringing the infrastructure up to date. The Catholic church's influence has declined greatly and the country is at full employment. Most people in Ireland look at the country primarily from an economic perspective. Politically it is very stable and democratic, with no major conflicts and issues internally or with other countries. Most issues these days tend to be economic and how to cope with the demands of an increasing economy. \n\nNorthern Ireland was set up as a kind of British enclave, on the lines of a Protestant state for a Protestant people, notwithstanding the fact that it had a sizable Catholic population in its midst. Demands for greater Catholic civil rights in  the 1960's lead to riots and eventually the onset of the Troubles where the IRA decided to fight Britain using guerrilla warfare tactics. 3500 dead people later, the IRA decided to call it quits, and now things have begun to normalise in Northern Ireland. It's a much more peaceful place with an economy that is beginning to find its own feet. However huge scars still exist - Catholics and Protestants are still very divided, and it will probably take generations for these old divisions to be properly sorted out. The real issue for Northern Ireland nowadays is how the two communities can reach an accomodation with each other, and how the political leaders in the region can take full ownership over their own local problems. Re-integration with the rest of Ireland is a long way down the road. Nobody, except the most hardline, want to go back to the bad old days of the Troubles.
927217
Firstly does your bf own the company or is he a worker?\n\nSecondly unions are legal and allowed to sign up members. However this sounds like it goes a little far, unless your bf has done something like cross a picket line , then he better know he's not going to be liked or respected and that's why he's being called a rat and a scab.  As for the other man is he really an illegal allien?  Then INS could come in and send him back .\n\nYou know unionism only grows when the employees sense that management is not dealing with them fairly and respecing the work they do.  When people do not feel valued or respected or acknowledged for their contributions then they become angry and push back in the only way they know how as a group.\n\nUnions are not all demons nor is management always the enemy however if that's how management and union posture themselves then there won't be any kind of labour peace.
1027062
Check Intel, who has extensive offices in Ireland.\nhttp://www.interviewat.com/intel
168297
First of all, ask your boss.\nThen, I may seek help from the labour union.
305172
For the employer, there aren't any pros.  Employers are much better off bargaining with individual employees.  For the employees, collective bargaining gives the employees power to bargain for wages, benefits, and working conditions.  The pros are better wages, benefits, and working conditions than they would have otherwise.  For the employees, the con is having to pay union dues.