Local bargaining in industrial relations with special reference to South Africa

[摘要] ENGLISH SUMMARY: This analysis of local bargaining is primarily theoreticaland conceptual in nature re and done in four r main parts. Thefirst part deals with different theoretical perspectives onindustrial relations and the role each perspective assignsto collective bargaining and trade unions. The nature andvarious elements of collective bargaining are explored inmore detail in order to arrive at a definition of localbargaining.In Part Two, the structures through which local bargaininghas historically been conducted in South African industrialrelations are discussed. This is done against the backdropof an analysis of local bargaining as it has evolved in theindustrial relations systems of the following countries:Great Britain, Japan, West Germany and the United States ofAmerica. Tendencies towards more decentralised bargainingare also identified in those countries hitherto known fortheir highly centralised bargaining structures.In Part Three, the factors underlying the development andestablishment of local bargaining within the South Africanindustrial relations context are explored. The role ofmacro-economic factors, government policy and labourlegislation is analysed within the context of the history oflabour unions, employer organisations and bargainingpatterns. It is argued that the link between these sociopoliticaland economic factors and the establishment oflocal bargaining is not necessarily simple and direct butthat these factors more often relate to local bargaining viathe intervening variables of ·the attitudes and power ofbargaining parties conditioned by perceptions of vestedinterests. In addition to the abovementioned environmentalconsiderations, the conditions pertaining to a specificenterprise, plant or shop floor situation and the manner inwhich these factors relate to the establishment of local bargaining are analysed. These variables include labourpower, labour organisation, leadership, management attitudeand policy as well as management structure.In Part Four, the most important implications of localBargaining for the power relationship betweenemployers/management and workers are assessed. These areseen to be the challenge that local bargaining representsfor so-called managerial rights and prerogatives and theextent to which it presents workers with a means toparticipate in management decision-making and to gain somemeasure of control over their work lives. In all of this,the Industrial Court is seen to play a crucial role in thecontext of local bargaining being conducted betweenespecially black workers and employers/management withinSouth African establishments.In conclusion, the extent to which the establishment andextension of local bargaining in South African industrialrelations corresponds with trends elsewhere while retainingits unique character and role, is assessed.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University