Case Study - 5
Breaking The Bargaining Pattern
Gilson steel is a local fabricating and supply firm. Situated in open country, far from the large steel making centers. The firm has been in business many years. About the third of employees have worked in the organization for more than ten years. Top management would like to get away from the current practice in which negotiations on wage matters and fringes follow the pattern. The firm’s president feels that industry – wide bargaining tends to divorce employees from the firm. He thinks they feel that their employer is a combination of U.S steel and bethlem steel instead of Gilson. He argues that the local firm which has prospered can do better by employees than is possible in national pattern. He says that the local conditions should be considered. His basic objection to current practice, however, is his conviction that it tends to divorce its employees from local employer. The labor relations manager has been urged to try negotiating terms at variance with the national pattern.
Answer the following questions: ·
- What theory and policy do you read into the president’s suggestion? ·
- How will his ideas fit into the existing pattern of public union policy? ·
- Can you suggest a promising innovative approach?
Case Study - 5
Breaking The Bargaining Pattern
Gilson steel is a local fabricating and supply firm. Situated in open country, far from the large steel making centers. The firm has been in business many years. About the third of employees have worked in the organization for more than ten years. Top management would like to get away from the current practice in which negotiations on wage matters and fringes follow the pattern. The firm’s president feels that industry – wide bargaining tends to divorce employees from the firm. He thinks they feel that their employer is a combination of U.S steel and bethlem steel instead of Gilson. He argues that the local firm which has prospered can do better by employees than is possible in national pattern. He says that the local conditions should be considered. His basic objection to current practice, however, is his conviction that it tends to divorce its employees from local employer. The labor relations manager has been urged to try negotiating terms at variance with the national pattern.
Answer the following questions: ·
- What theory and policy do you read into the president’s suggestion? ·
- How will his ideas fit into the existing pattern of public union policy? ·
- Can you suggest a promising innovative approach?
