Procedures to Deal with Disputes

Joining a union Types of dispute Types of industrial action Resolving a dispute

employer and employee rights and responsibilities, including procedures to deal with disputes and addressing industrial disputes and health and safety issues in relation to the organisation in question.

Types of Trade Union

Craft Unions supports skilled craftsmen, e.g. Musicians Union Industrial Unions grew from traditional heavy industrial e.g. Union of Shop, Distribution Workers (USDAW) General Unions usually semi-skilled and unskilled workers e.g. GMB White Collar Unions people working in clerical jobs e.g. UNISON

Why Unions?

To provide a valuable communication link between management and the workforce Individual employees do not need to negotiate A strong union may encourage management to take workers needs seriously

What is a dispute?

Disciplinary disputes Grievance disputes Industrial disputes

These can be collective or individual!

Industrial Action
Overtime bans members refuse to work overtime

Go-slow Carry out work slower than normal Picketing Members stand outside the firm

Sit-ins Members occupy buildings to publicise their protest

Work-to-rule Members follow their job description

Strikes Members withdraw their labour

How do you resolve a dispute?

Internally Disciplinary procedure Grievance procedure
Externally Employment tribunal ACAS European Court of Justice

Task: What would you advise?

An able male employee, who has worked for a company for 12 years, has never been promoted, whereas several female colleagues with far less service have been. An employee has complained because he has been placed in the same section of the factory as his ex-wife.

What have you learnt

Employees can join a union to look their needs. Three main types of dispute:

Disciplinary Grievance Industrial

There are different types of industrial action There are internal and external ways to resolve a dispute