THE IMPACT OF STATE PAY POLICY AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING STRUCTURE ON THE CHARACTER OF INDUSTRIAL CONFLICT

Abstract

In this paper we have argued that the reasons for the unusually high level of unofficial strike action in Ireland has little to do with the nature of the industrial relations system, or with any deep‐seated historical ideological conflict among the principal interest groups. Rather it was the marked departure in public policy in relation to pay and collective bargaining that were the principal causes of high proportions of unofficial strikes. Our basic view about unofficial strikes is that they arise because of the presence of some structural rigidity, which, in turn, results from the nature of the bargaining structure. For example, an extended period of centralized pay bargaining leads to a stiffening of local employer‐employee relationships and procedures which, previously in a decentralized structure, were more flexible and less strict and precise in their formulation and application. This change in the bargaining structure leads to increased levels of unofficial action for a variety of reasons, which are discussed in the paper. There are also other contextual and structural factors which may influence or intensify levels of unofficial action: the type of work in which people are engaged, the strike issue, sector ownership, industry, trade union, and firm size.

Citation

Kelly, A. and Brannick, T. (1990), "THE IMPACT OF STATE PAY POLICY AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING STRUCTURE ON THE CHARACTER OF INDUSTRIAL CONFLICT", International Journal of Conflict Management, Vol. 1 No. 2, pp. 175-190. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb022679