Independent collective representation: Providing effectiveness, fairness, and democracy in the employment relationship

Daryl D'Art, Thomas Turner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Protection against arbitrary management action has always been a concern of employees. Enlightened managerialism has been one approach to addressing these concerns. This approach is compromised by the conflicts of interest that characterize the employment relationship in a market system. We argue in this paper that independent collective representation functions to protect employees while leaving the employer with sufficient freedom to manage. Trade unions, as a counter weight to the exercise of absolute managerial power, complement a pluralist democratic system. The exercise of absolute power, the absence of accountability and countervailing checks and balances, are foreign to any democratic polity. At enterprise level, trade unions manage the ongoing tensions and conflicts between democratic humanistic values and market values.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)169-181
Number of pages13
JournalEmployee Responsibilities and Rights Journal
Volume15
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2003

Keywords

  • Democracy
  • Employee protection
  • Management
  • Trade union representation

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