IR – DIFFERENT APPROACHES

IR – DIFFERENT APPROACHES

SYSTEMS MODEL (Dunlop’s approach)

An industrial relations system at any one time in its

development is regarded as comprised of certain actors,
certain contents, an ideology, which binds the industrial
relations system together, and a body of rules created to
govern the actors at the workplace and work community.

Actors
A hierarchy of managers and their representatives in
supervision
A hierarchy of workers and any spokesmen
Specialized government agencies

contd…2.
 IR – DIFFERENT APPROACHES (CONTD.)
Environment
Technical characteristics of the work place and work community
(Manufacturing/Service)

Market or budgetary constraints, which impinge on actors

(Competitive/Monopoly)

Locus and distribution of power in the larger society (Who holds power)

The system is bound by

Ideology or understanding(s) shared by all the actors, and
Rules are established (Rules : Procedural rules / Substantive rules)
The establishment of these procedures and rules is the centre of attention
in an Industrial Relations System (IRS)
IRS is a network of rules which governs workplace and work
community
 PLURALIST APPROACH

Not unitary
More than one centre of power.
How are these rules made?
“The rules of the system are determined through the rule
making process of collective bargaining which is a political
institution involving a power relationship between the
employers and employees.” – A Flanders

IR is the study of institutions of job regulation

 Structural Contradictions Perspective

IR part of total social relations and is determined by relations of

production (ownership)
Capitalist enterprises PROFIT EXPLOITATION
builds CONFLICT
(between actual producers and the owners)
Those who actually produce want to CHANGE
Therefore Struggle for control
IR is the study of processes of control over work relations
 In brief

SYSTEMS MODEL:

IRS is a network of rules which governs the workplace and

work community

PLURALIST APPROACH :

IR is the study of institutions of job regulation

STRUCTURAL CONTRADICTIONS PERSPECTIVE :

IR is the study of processes of control over work relations

 Criticism
SYSTEMS MODEL
-Concentrates on the structures of the system ignoring the
processes within it
-Emphasizing the stability of IRS rather than the conflict and
dissidence within them
-No account is given on how the inputs into the system are
converted into outputs
PLURALIST APPROACH
-Diverts attention from the structures of power and
interests, and the economic, technological and political
dynamics of the broader society
-Stress on institutions – loose sight of real people who are
involved (contd..2.)
 Criticism (contd.)

STRUCTURAL CONTRADICTIONS PERSPECTIVE

-Concerns with the transformation of society as a whole,

which need not concern workers (or Trade Unions)
who should essentially be involved in reforming the
system of industrial government