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Collective bargaining and flexibility: Ireland

by Joseph Wallace & Noreen Clifford

Contents

Foreword

I. Flexibility: Concept, types and model

A. Introduction
B. Definitions and types of flexibility
C. Reasons for the adoption of flexibility
D. The flexibile firm model
E. Collective bargaining and flexibility
F. Methodologies adopted

 

II. The types of flexibility introduced

A. Changes in working time flexibility
B. Changes in the use of flexible employment contracts
C. Work organization: Changes to the specification of jobs
D.
Reward management
E.
Unionization: Changes in the utilization of various flexible arrangements
F.
Reasons for use of non-standard contracts
G. General conclusion


III. The positions of the social partners on flexibility

A. Introduction
B. Social partnership 1987-1997
C. Government policies
D.
The position of employers
E.
Government as employer
F.
The position of workers' organizations -- trade unions


IV. The types of flexibility introduced

A. Introduction: pressures for flexibility
B. The contract of employment and the common law system in Ireland
C. Legislation: The background
D.
Atypical workers and legislation
E.
Collective bargaining and employers' unilateral action as a means of introducing flexibility


V. The types of flexibility introduced

A. Level of collective bargaining
B. Differences between sectors
C. The public sector
D.
Formal versus informal bargaining and collective versus individual agreements at the workplace
E.
Articulation between collective bargaining and consultation or participative processes


VI. The types of flexibility introduced

A. Introduction
B. The institutional arrangements in Ireland
C. Case-studies


VII. Conclusion

VIII. Bibliography

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Updated by BC. Approved by MR. Last update: 10 August 2000.