Trouble on the shop floor
Publication date: 6 February 2020
Abstract
Supplementary materials
The case is supported with a teaching note, discussion questions and suggested responses to those as well as verbatim transcripts from interviews conducted with managers and others for purposes of a research project after the strike had ended. Teaching Notes are available for educators only.
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes are as follows: students will be able to critique the approach to collective bargaining of both the company and the union in the case and suggest alternative approaches; identify the steps the company could take to both deal with the aftermath of the strike and develop preventive measures for the future; and advise the company on a series of questions it needs advice on.
Case overview/synopsis
A violent strike erupted after failed wage negotiations. It laid bare deep divisions between African and non-African employees and between permanent employees and those appointed as temporary employees only. It also revealed the mindsets of people on both sides of the conflict, as well as several errors made by management in the manner in which they viewed the role of the union and failed to build strong relations with employees on the shop floor.
Complexity academic level
The case is suitable for students at honours or masters level in conflict studies, dispute resolution, employment relations, human resource management and negotiation.
Subject code
CSS 6: Human resource management.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Disclaimer. This case is written solely for educational purposes and is not intended to represent successful or unsuccessful managerial decision-making. The authors may have disguised names; financial and other recognisable information to protect confidentiality.
Citation
Jordaan, B. and Cillié, G. (2020), "Trouble on the shop floor", , Vol. 10 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/EEMCS-06-2019-0153
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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