scholarly journals Mapping the Industrial Relations System of Samoa: An  Assessment of Industrial Democracy and Employee Participation in Employment Relations Decisions in a Pacific Island Nation.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Patricia Ah Chong-Fruean
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Relations ◽  
National Level ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Employee Participation ◽  
Industrial Democracy ◽  
Employment Relations ◽  
Systems Model ◽  
The Government ◽  
Rule Making

<p>This thesis maps out the industrial relations system of Samoa with specific emphasis on industrial democracy and employee participation in the making of rules and decisions affecting worker's employment. The thesis outlines the impacts of the environmental contexts, social, political, legal and economic, of Samoan society on the scope and nature of industrial relations in Samoa. Using data collected through face-to-face interviews, workshop observation and the analysis of various secondary documents that include for example, the study of industrial relations in the South Pacific nations by Prasad, Hince, & Snell (2003) and several country reports and national policies on employment relations, the thesis utilises Dunlop's (1958) systems model of industrial relations to describe the employer, employee and state relationship within the system and their varying roles in the determination of workplace rules.  Dunlop's systems model enables the researcher to identify a strong link between the industrial relations system and the social institutions of Samoan society that are structured around the fa'asamoa (Samoan customs and traditions) and the fa'amatai (chiefly) systems of social justice and traditional rule making. Dunlop's model (which suggests that the 'rule' is the fundamental goal of an industrial relations system) enables identification of the prevailing processes that employer, employee, state and their representing agencies use to determine the rules in the Samoan workplace. It suggests that while the worker (union) is considered to be one of the key actors' in the establishment of workplace rules, the nature and scope of union participation and influence on industrial relations decisions in Samoa do not reflect this: in the sense that unions play virtually no role in Samoa's industrial relations system. The thesis also attempts to uncover the 'shared ideology' that prescribes and defines the actors' roles, prestige, power and influence on the process of rule making in Samoa's IR system.  In doing so it finds that Samoan government is the dominant player in industrial relations in the sense that the government can unilaterally make decisions and rules regarding employment relations both at the organisational and national level, without the involvement of employers and workers. While employee participation in employment decisions is clearly affected by economic, technological and market constraints, other factors relating to the culturally nuanced concepts of 'respect', 'loyalty' and 'trust' toward those who hold significant power and authority appear to be predominant influences in the determination of rules in all facets of Samoan society. This particular condition of the Samoan system of industrial relations is explained with reference to Dunlop's notion of 'shared ideology' and the 'locus and distribution of power' within wider society.</p>

scholarly journals Mapping the Industrial Relations System of Samoa: An  Assessment of Industrial Democracy and Employee Participation in Employment Relations Decisions in a Pacific Island Nation.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Patricia Ah Chong-Fruean
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Relations ◽  
National Level ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Employee Participation ◽  
Industrial Democracy ◽  
Employment Relations ◽  
Systems Model ◽  
The Government ◽  
Rule Making

<p>This thesis maps out the industrial relations system of Samoa with specific emphasis on industrial democracy and employee participation in the making of rules and decisions affecting worker's employment. The thesis outlines the impacts of the environmental contexts, social, political, legal and economic, of Samoan society on the scope and nature of industrial relations in Samoa. Using data collected through face-to-face interviews, workshop observation and the analysis of various secondary documents that include for example, the study of industrial relations in the South Pacific nations by Prasad, Hince, & Snell (2003) and several country reports and national policies on employment relations, the thesis utilises Dunlop's (1958) systems model of industrial relations to describe the employer, employee and state relationship within the system and their varying roles in the determination of workplace rules.  Dunlop's systems model enables the researcher to identify a strong link between the industrial relations system and the social institutions of Samoan society that are structured around the fa'asamoa (Samoan customs and traditions) and the fa'amatai (chiefly) systems of social justice and traditional rule making. Dunlop's model (which suggests that the 'rule' is the fundamental goal of an industrial relations system) enables identification of the prevailing processes that employer, employee, state and their representing agencies use to determine the rules in the Samoan workplace. It suggests that while the worker (union) is considered to be one of the key actors' in the establishment of workplace rules, the nature and scope of union participation and influence on industrial relations decisions in Samoa do not reflect this: in the sense that unions play virtually no role in Samoa's industrial relations system. The thesis also attempts to uncover the 'shared ideology' that prescribes and defines the actors' roles, prestige, power and influence on the process of rule making in Samoa's IR system.  In doing so it finds that Samoan government is the dominant player in industrial relations in the sense that the government can unilaterally make decisions and rules regarding employment relations both at the organisational and national level, without the involvement of employers and workers. While employee participation in employment decisions is clearly affected by economic, technological and market constraints, other factors relating to the culturally nuanced concepts of 'respect', 'loyalty' and 'trust' toward those who hold significant power and authority appear to be predominant influences in the determination of rules in all facets of Samoan society. This particular condition of the Samoan system of industrial relations is explained with reference to Dunlop's notion of 'shared ideology' and the 'locus and distribution of power' within wider society.</p>

Ever-Widening Ripples: The Impact of Specialist Industrial Tribunals on Management Practice

1994 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 285-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Thornthwaite
Keyword(s):  
Management Practice ◽  
Industrial Relations ◽  
Employment Relations ◽  
Employment Decisions ◽  
Public Role ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

While conciliation and arbitration tribunals have been at the forefront of Austral ian research on industrial relations institutions, numerous specialist tribunals enforcing individual workers' rights in employment have been virtually hidden from view. This paper examines the role of two such tribunals in New South Wales, the Government and Related Employees' Appeal Tribunal and the Equal Opportu nity Tribunal. It argues that although their most direct and public role is to resolve individuals' grievances, equally significant is the contribution of these agencies to the detailed regulation of employment relations and hence the increasing sophisti cation of labour management in public sector organizations since the late 1970s, and the institutionalization of management prerogatives and conflicts over an increasingly wide range of employment decisions.

Alexander C. Pathy,Waterfront Blues: Labour Strife at the Port of Montreal, 1960–1978. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2004. ix + 328 pp. $53.00 cloth.

2005 ◽  
Vol 68 ◽  
pp. 144-146
Author(s):  
Colin J. Davis
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Relations ◽  
Quebec City ◽  
Employment Relations ◽  
Maritime Economy ◽  
University Of Toronto ◽  
Loading And Unloading ◽  
The Government ◽  
Technological Improvements ◽  
Two Sides

In this autobiographical account of labor relations on the Montreal waterfront, Alexander C. Pathy gives an insider account of the volatile relationship between shippers and longshoremen. Pathy worked as a lawyer and then official of the influential Maritime Employers Association (MEA). The MEA was in the forefront in changing employment relations to better fit the introduction of technological changes brought on by containerization. As in most ports around the world, the introduction of containerization was riven with challenge and controversy. The Port of Montreal, and the lesser ports of Quebec City and Trois-Rivieres, shared this common experience. According to Pathy up to 1960 the respective ports had seen little strife. Indeed, it would seem that the relations between the two sides had been relatively amicable. This would change once ship owners and stevedores embarked on a rationalization scheme to make the loading and unloading of cargo that much more efficient and speedier. Beginning in 1960, negotiations became increasingly heated and hostile. Not least was the problem of language. In what could be best described as mutual ignorance the employers negotiated in English, while the union representatives, reflecting the membership, spoke in French. It was no wonder that misunderstandings could occur because of poor translation. But according to Pathy more than language, the principal point of conflict was perception. Each side brought to the table mutual suspicion and hostility. The problem Pathy contends was, “Each party did not see its glass half full but half empty.”(40) Therefore, negotiations over gang size, technological improvements, hiring methods, and union jurisdiction all became major issues of contention. Adding to the complexity of the situation was the role of Canadian government. Canadian industrial relations law gave the government a vital stake in the negotiations. Just as important, as both official and wildcat strikes broke out, the government scrambled to stabilize the situation as ships were diverted to US ports. The loss of trade and thereby revenue was seen as a critical impairment to the maritime economy.

Developments in Worker Participation in New Zealand

1979 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
David F. Smith
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Collective Bargaining ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Marked Effect ◽  
Industrial Relations ◽  
Industrial Democracy ◽  
International Debate ◽  
Worker Participation ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Government

Industrial democracy and worker participation have become important topics for international debate, with developments taking place in many countries. Despite its former reputation for advances in the social field, little has been heard about developments in worker participation in New Zealand. The aim of the present paper is to report and assess such developments whilst placing these within the context of developments in industrial relations in that country. The strong reliance upon legal arrangements and government intervention in industrial relations matters have had a marked effect upon the development of the industrial relations system in New Zealand. Yet, despite this tradition of legalism, successive governments remain singularly reluctant to legislate in the field of worker participation. Recent initiatives by employers have been strongly unitary in nature, whilst the trade unions appear to be concentrating their efforts upon extending the scope of collective bargaining, an opportunity afforded to them due to recent changes in the law. The present Government's wish that voluntary arrangements between employers and trade unions will eventuate to cover worker participation seems less than pragmatic, since employers, unions and the Government itself differ so fundamentally upon what constitutes worker participation, and the forms it might take.

scholarly journals An Examination of the Determination of Medical Capacity under a National Health Insurance Program

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. 1206
Author(s):  
Yi-Tui Chen
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Theoretical Analysis ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
National Level ◽  
Medical Expenditure ◽  
Private Goods ◽  
Insurance Program ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

This paper examines the capacity determination factors of medical services at a national level through the analysis of a mathematical model that maximizes social welfare, which consists of the consumption of private goods and the medical capacity provided by the society. A sensitivity analysis is conducted to investigate the impact of these factors on the medical capacity provided. Furthermore, a case example based on the data provided by the government is presented to discuss the results derived from the theoretical analysis. The results of the sensitivity analysis indicate that individual disposable income, the medical expenditure for each treatment, the level of premium payments, and substitution parameters have a positive impact on medical capacity, while the medical costs and preference parameter negatively affect medical capacity. The results of the correlation analysis based on the data of the case example are consistent with the findings of the theoretical analysis.

scholarly journals Divergent Paths: Civil Service Employment Relations in Australia and Canada

2005 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 566-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Gurdon
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Civil Service ◽  
Employee Involvement ◽  
Industrial Relations ◽  
Employment Relations ◽  
General Philosophy ◽  
The Government ◽  
Distribution Of Power ◽  
Service Employment

This article describes the legislated strengthening of employee involvement in decision-making within the federal civil service in Australia. While the quite distinct differences between the two industrial relations Systems must be recognized, particularly the resulting distribution of power between the government as employer and its employees, aspects of the general philosophy underlying the Australian model may find some useful applications as the Canadian public sector Systems continues to evolve.

scholarly journals International Homogenization or the Persistence of National Practices?

2006 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Webster ◽  
Geoffrey Wood ◽  
Michael Brookes
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Relations ◽  
National Level ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
Employment Relations ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
External Market ◽  
Colonial Era ◽  
Know How ◽  
Market Pressures ◽  
The Relationship

This paper is the first systematic attempt to provide an overview of industrial relations practices at firm level in Mozambique. Through a nationwide survey of firms, the paper assesses the extent to which specific sets of practices are associated with particular regions, and/or sectors, and explores the relationship between IR practice and national institutional realities. The survey revealed that informalism and autocratic managerialism characterize the practice of employment relations. But it would be mistaken to assume a convergence towards a global systematic archetype of low wage/low skill/low security of tenure set of practices. Instead, the authors conclude, contemporary Mozambique employment relations are an example of external market pressures being channelled and moulded by the persistence of national level realities that stretch back to the colonial era. In the absence of effective institutional mechanisms, familiar conventions are likely to persist because people know how these work in practice.

scholarly journals The Evolution of Industrial Democracy in a Small-Island Economy, Mauritius

2014 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
pp. 39-47
Author(s):  
Nirmal Kumar Betchoo
Keyword(s):  
Trade Unions ◽  
Industrial Relations ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Small Island ◽  
Employee Relations ◽  
Industrial Democracy ◽  
Employment Relations ◽  
The Public ◽  
Employee Protection ◽  
The Indian Ocean

This research work concerns an evaluation of the Employment Relations Act 2008, ERA 2008, from its inception in 2008 up to the present date. Considered as a major revolution in industrial relations, the legislation has met with mitigated results. Firstly, trade unions have contested the legislation in terms of loopholes and inadequacies concerning employee protection. Secondly, the public including people at work are not fully knowledgeable of the legislation because of its complexities and numerous issues that are addressed but not looked into. The assessment of the ERA is seen from the perspectives of employee relations whereby it addresses better the pluralistic perspective since Mauritius, a small-island economy in the Indian Ocean, has maintained its cultural identity of democracy and alongside industrial democracy. The research emphasises that through amendments to the legislation, it is seen that employee relations must sound and dynamic to maintain the concept of industrial democracy and see that employees are better off with the ERA 2008 since it replaced the former Industrial Relations Act (1973).

scholarly journals Problematic field of studying public trust in Russia: content analysis of scientific publications

2021 ◽  
pp. 42-55
Author(s):  
Elena Vladimirovna Trutenko ◽  
Andrei Aleksandrovich Linchenko
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Social Trust ◽  
Social Research ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Public Trust ◽  
Russian Society ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Society Application ◽  
The Government

This article is dedicated to the analysis of evolution of research practices and approaches of the Russian scholars towards the problem of trust in Russian society, as well as determination of the key trends and specificity of social trust/distrust in the Russian society. Application of the methodology of content analysis allows analyzing the dynamics of domestic publications, as well as revealing the most relevant vectors of psychological, economic and social research. The most cited publications that outline the key trends in the transformation of public trust in modern Russia are determined. The author observes not only the shift in focus of study of the problem of trust from political to socioeconomic and informational contexts, but also significant differentiation in examination of various aspects of public trust. The novelty of this research lies in detection and classification of the relevant trends in the transformation of public trust in Russia. Public trust alongside public distrust in the government manifest as the basic factor in relation to other socioeconomic and cultural institutions. At the same time, there author observes low differentiation between the images of trust and distrust among&nbsp; Russian population, low level of both interpersonal and institutional trust, as well as tendency towards using the images of the Soviet past as the markers of trust or distrust in the existing social institutions. A disposition towards increase of the role of social networks in the development of the images of trust or distrust is revealed.

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