Certificate of Higher Education in International Labour and Trade Union Studies

Modules Studied

Year 1

Introduction to Industrial Relations

The module is intended to familiarise you with the system of industrial relations in the UK. It provides a critical awareness of the main academic approaches to the study of industrial relations and highlights developments within academic debate on the subject.

At the same time, a central aim is to ensure practical aspects are strongly emphasised using current research and consultancy material generated by the course tutors covering areas such as collective bargaining, social partnership, equal opportunities, pay and grading systems, workplace health and safety, work organisation and conflict resolution. The intention is to provide a balanced view that enables you to comprehend both the theory and practice of industrial relations.

This module is particularly appropriate if you have experience of trade union and labour movement activity or have experience of the management of industrial relations. It provides a general introduction to the main issues, theories and practices that characterise contemporary industrial relations.

Introduction to the English Legal System

On completion of this module you will know about sources and major types of law and gain an understanding of how law is made through case law and by statute. You will learn about the English court and Tribunal system, appreciate the doctrine of judicial precedent and understand its key concepts.

You will also gain an insight into the process of how statutes are created and examine how they are applied using the rules of statutory interpretation. You will develop a critical understanding of the Civil and Criminal Justice systems, access to justice and legal personnel.

You will develop an understanding and overview of human rights and the Human Rights Act 1998. The most recent reforms will be critically analysed. Within the course there are visits to the Bodleian law library and local courts, as well as a tour of Parliament.

Applied Industrial relations: Performance Analysis and the Theories and Practice of Negotiation

The main objective of this module is to explore two central issues which are highly influential on the practice and direction of labour relations at enterprise, sectoral and national level. How organizations measure and record their financial performance can be both complex and problematic (for example, the recent Enron scandal) whilst competing theories and practices concerning the best way to ensure a ‘true and fair view’ of an organization are plentiful.

This module introduces you to the main approaches and legal requirements concerning company accounting. Using detailed case studies drawn from the consultancy work of the tutors involved, you are shown the internal systems used by organizations to plan and run the business.

The second part of the module deals with the models and practices of collective bargaining. Working from the classical framework laid out by Walton and McKersie, the module works through a series of UK case studies both to test the durability of the Walton and McKersie model and to suggest some modifications and additions to the theory.

Since the tutors involved are active in supporting a range of trade unions in collective bargaining, you will be able to track and evaluate certain current bargaining situations.

Employment Law

On completion of this module you should be able to:

Distinguish between a contract of service and contract for services
Recognise and distinguish between terms and conditions in employment contracts and consequences of a breach by either party
Understand the rules relating to sex and racial discrimination, and explicate the provisions of the pending legislation on religious and age discrimination
Discern the distinctions between wrongful dismissal and unfair dismissal
Appreciate the legal, economic and social aspects of labour law

Anti-Discrimination Law

On completion of this module you will understand anti-discrimination law in respect of race, gender, disability, age, religion and sexuality. You will understand the legal process and procedure for pursuing legal remedies to discrimination and acquire knowledge and working understanding of relevant case law.

You will also acquire knowledge and understanding of the application of civil and human rights to this area of law, and acquire knowledge and understanding of race inquiries and their relevance to study of the social and economic context of exploring legal definitions and remedies to racism. The links with European Union law and Employment law in relation to anti-discrimination law are strong themes within this course.

Comparative European and International Industrial Relations

This module is ideal if you are interested in European and international comparisons, both practical and theoretical, of industrial relations systems and outcomes.

It is particularly appropriate if you have trade union or management experience in the field of industrial relations and if you wish to familiarise yourself with the systems and experiences of a range of developed and developing countries. As a third term core module it provides a useful follow on to the introductory module on industrial relations offered in term one.

This module aims to build comparative knowledge and understanding of the dominant influences that have shaped and differentiated contemporary industrial relations frameworks and outcomes across a range of developed and developing countries.

Using a common analytical framework you will be encouraged to examine and compare the specific regulatory orientations, actor systems, procedures and institutions inherent in the management of industrial relations at national level. You will study at least two countries other than that of your own country.

The course provides an opportunity to integrate the practical experience and insights of UK based students with those of students from other countries. In particular, this enables attention to be given to the management of industrial relations in developing countries and to the ‘transition’ economies countries of eastern and central Europe.

A central aim of the module is to demonstrate how differing systems of industrial relations deal with major contemporary challenges and issues such as:

Changes in the sources and structures of power amongst the social partners
Economic globalisation
European integration
Inequality and discrimination within the labour market
Multi-national company strategies and international labour organisations
The industrial relations consequences of structural adjustment programmes
Forms of employee representation and the functional analysis of these
Sources of conflict and methods of conflict resolution
Distinction and comparison of legalistic and voluntarist approaches to the regulation of labour relations
Problems of transitional economies in Eastern and Central Europe and of EU enlargement

Subject Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed the course you will be able to:

Recognise the key concepts, theories and models that can be found in the general area of study
Recognise the nature of the economic, political and social interactions which characterise labour relations
Use key statistical source material pertaining specifically to labour relations
Draw critical comparisons and use scientific methods to test and elaborate hypotheses