GLOSSARY OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AND RELATED TERMS
| Forword
I. The parties and institutions
A. Workers and their organizations
B. Employers and their organizations
C. Relations between the parties
D. Other related terms
II. Processes and outcomes
A. Processes
1. Bargaining
2. Workplace cooperation
3. Grievance and dispute resolution
a. Third-party intervention
B. Outcomes
1. Contractual issues
2. Earnings and related matters
3. Working conditions
4. Termination of employment
C. Miscellaneous
III. Enterprise performance issues
IV. Miscellaneous
Index |
The promotion of sound and constructive industrial relations is one of the core activities of the International Labour Organization. One of the requirements for this is to ensure that the parties know what industrial relations is. The aim of this glossary is to help constituents to obtain a better understanding of the terms and concepts used in industrial relations, and, in so doing, provide them with a more solid basis for social dialogue and negotiation.
Considering the importance of the document, I would strongly recommend that the constituents translate it into their national language and widely distribute it, particularly to members of worker and employer organizations.
The text of the glossary has been prepared by Mr. David Macdonald, Senior Specialist on Industrial Relations, and Ms. Caroline Vandenabeele, Associate Expert on Labour Law and Industrial Relations, of the ILO East Asia Multidisciplinary Advisory Team.
W.R. Simpson Director ILO East Asia Multidisciplinary Advisory Team (ILO/EASMAT)
Bangkok
September 1996
This glossary defines a range of common industrial relations terms. Its objective is to provide a basic introduction to such terms for persons who are relatively unfamiliar with industrial relations, particularly as it operates in a market-oriented economy.
The glossary in not intended to be an exhaustive list. Nor does it present a definite position of the ILO on each term. How particular terms are defined and applied varies from country to country, and the definitions presented here will have to be read with that in mind. In case of difference between the text of this glossary and any definition in an ILO Convention or Recommendation, preference should be given to the latter.
The terms compiled in the glossary have been classified into a number of categories corresponding to the main elements of an industrial relations system - the parties and institutions, and the processes and outcomes. This is to provide a guide to how a term is used in its context. Whenever it was possible to classify a particular term in more than one category, the most appropriate category was chosen. An alphabetical index at the end of the glossary will facilitate locating particular terms.
The glossary is the result of the joint efforts of a number of colleagues, and special thanks are due to Messrs L.R. Heron, S.R. de Silva and S.E. Sterner for their ideas and suggestions.
We hope the reader will find the glossary useful. Any suggestions as to how it might be amended over time to improve its usefulness are welcome.
David Macdonald and Caroline Vandenabeele
Labour Protection and Relations Cluster
ILO East Asia Multidisciplinary Advisory Team
(ILO/EASMAT)
Bangkok September 1996
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