State as a common form of labour relations system

State as a common form of labour relations system

Labor relations process

The government is an important participant in the labor relations process as it affects the public personally, economically and politically (Kapoor, 2003, pp 405-409). For example, in Philadelphia, court officials, prison guards, sanitation workers, transit workers, fire fighters and police officers are considered as government employees. This list might not be exhaustive, but it elaborates the importance of public sector labor relations to the citizens. Most of the population living there are affected and benefit from these services daily.

The second impact of public sector labor relations is economical. Judging by the long list of public sector employee jobs will make one realize that “labor costs may be 70% of a city's budget,” a very large figure. The fiscal impact of labor has made it a fact that spending too much in this field will cause the bankruptcy of a city (NLRB, 2013, pp.n.d).

Public sector labor relations also impact the public politically. Public sector unions are not 'politically helpless' but they are at a great disadvantage when their terms and conditions of employment are decided through majority will (Valempini, 2013, pp.n.d).

Bargaining with the Union

Preparation for negotiation or pre negotiation preparations should start with the completion of many steps designed to develop negotiating strategy. These steps include; the review of previous negotiations; review of operating experience during the life of the last contract; consideration of the unit for bargaining; generating data; looking at the industry; and the development of employers strategy (lynn, 2002, pp.n.d).

Reviewing the previous negotiations and their positive and negative outcomes including timing, tactics, gains and concessions often provides the best learning experience. It also helps in providing the best prediction of future behavior on part of the union (AFL-CIO, 2013, pp.n.d). Along with the written or oral commitments made since the last contract and prior negotiations, side agreements or settlement agreements should also be considered and reviewed.

One other major step for preparing for negotiation is generating data. Anyone who has negotiated contracts knows the importance and significance of generating accurate data in respect to benefits and wages to develop successful results and outcome (NLRB, 2013, pp.n.d). The comparison of the data generated and the estimates made during the previous negotiation contract will provide the team with the test of its costing techniques. If large differences are generated, techniques should be modified. The analysis of the data generated should provide a summary of the economic provisions of the current contract for quick referencing during the negotiation.

Historical Context

For the purpose of this assignment I have selected Canada to discuss and analyze the key laws which affect the labor relations. The province of Quebic (French Canada) has the greater influence particularly on legal traditions, economic, and social factors which do not resemble with rest of the North America. Canada witness large number of immigrants' workers every year, this can be analyzed from the growth in the labor market of the Canada in ...