Course summary

Year 1 (Certificate of Higher Education, CertHE)

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.

Economy and Society

This module is intended to complement the other first term module (Introduction to Industrial Relations) and provide elements of an economic framework against which the remaining subject matter of the programme can be situated. Basic micro-economic concepts such as scarcity, choice and efficiency will be examined, along with macro-concepts such as the price level, unemployment, and productivity. It is split into three parts, focussing on resource-use, incomes and their distribution, and the role of market and state.

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.

Labour 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

Labour Economics

The module aims to provide you with a grounding in the main contemporary and competing theories of labour economics. In particular, emphasis is placed on developing your understanding of how the dynamics of internal and external labour markets are influenced by the interests and actions of the social partners.

You are given the opportunity to use a range of statistical and primary source material to contextualise, frame and analyse a variety of contemporary labour economic issues such as unemployment, discrimination, incomes policy and the minimum wage, pay and productivity, labour market segmentation and flexibility.

Extensive use is made of case studies and small group work on problem solving to ensure a strong empirical emphasis in the students learning process.

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

Year 2

The Historical Development of Trade Unions: National and international

This module traces the development of trade unionism in the UK from the industrial revolution to the present day. Emphasis is given to identifying the key social, economic and political factors that have shaped the structures and practices of trade unionism from the time of the industrial revolution to the present day.

As well as studying the development of trade unionism in the UK, the origins and development of international trade union bodies are central elements in this module.

The importance of the roles played by unions in advancing the position of women workers and the low paid in the 19th and 20th Centuries is assessed. If you are a non-UK based student you will have the opportunity in seminar presentations and written assignments to trace the development of trade unionism in your particular country.

Introductory Economics

This module provides you with a basic grounding of the key theoretical concepts used in the study of industrial economics. Strong emphasis is placed on real world illustrations to provide both clarification and a critique of the application of the theories covered.

The module equips you with an understanding of the way in which economic, political and social forces interact to shape the basic structure and functions of a typical market economy. The module covers three broad themes, namely:

• Market structures, competitive forms and economies of scale
• The theory of the firm
• Public ownership, privatization and globalisation

Each theme covered is examined from a theoretical and empirical perspective using established and emerging theory and evidence. Case studies of particular sectors e.g. the automotive industry and the utility sector, are used extensively to illustrate contemporary issues and to provide a ‘real world’ test for competing theoretical perspectives.

Throughout the module a global perspective is adopted with considerable emphasis on comparative international experience and the policy issues that arise.

Labour Economics

This module covers the analysis of both internal and external labour markets. You will focus on the factors affecting both the supply of and demand for labour with emphasis on the policy implications for employers, unions and governments.

The module aims to provide you with a grounding in the main contemporary and competing theories of labour economics. In particular, attention is given to ensure you develop an understanding of how the dynamics of internal and external labour markets are influenced by the interests and actions of the social partners.

The effect of unions on wage levels and productivity will be considered here as will the development of international labour markets. You are given the opportunity to use a range of statistical and primary source material to contextualise, frame and analyse a variety of contemporary labour economic issues.

Applied Labour Relations: Contemporary and Developmental Issues for Trade Unions

This module provides an empirical link to the Labour Economics module. As an applied module it enables you to assess the ways and means with which trade unions deal with contemporary issues such as diversity, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality and age.

You will be encouraged to develop and apply an analytical framework to enable a rigorous evaluation of the policies and practice that trade unions, employers and government have in place to promote equality at the workplace. The effectiveness of legislation is assessed along with the outcomes of collective agreements. Leading edge case studies are used to enable students to assess best practice in the fields covered.

Work, Organisation and the Management of Change

The primacy of ‘Taylorist’ systems of mass production have increasingly been challenged by the development of more knowledge-based approaches to the organisation of work such as socio-technical systems theory. It is, moreover, widely recognised that organisations that make the best use of knowledge and competence tend to be the most successful.

Yet Tayloristic forms of work organisation have proved to be durable, resurfacing in the economically effective ‘lean’ production approaches to manufacturing pioneered in the Japanese automobile industry and spreading to white collar jobs exemplified by ‘call centres’- the new ‘factories’ of IT.

During this module you will be introduced to a range of theories concerning the organisation of work. You will be encouraged to evaluate competing approaches typified by lean organisation and socio technical systems theory. Attention is given to the role of trade unions as change agents at the contemporary workplace and particular attention is given to understanding the global implications of differing models of work organisation.

Linked with the questions raised by systems of work organisation the module also takes you through the basic theories associated with the management of change drawing upon case studies to test the effectiveness of classical and contemporary thinking in this field.

Globalisation and International Trade Unionism

This module explores the concept of ‘globalisation’ and examines the implications for trade unions. Union responses to the de-location and relocation of manufacturing and service sectors are assessed from both national and international perspectives.

The role of International union bodies such as the ICFTU and Global Union Federations in their struggle to promote and secure core labour values and decent employment standards throughout the world are considered as are the constraints upon the development of international trade union activity.

A number of themes such as ‘offshoring’ and the increasing use of child labour will be used to ground this analysis in the real world. Case studies of international trade union strategies to curb exploitation such as the International Transport Federation’s ’Flags of Convenience’ campaign are used to evaluate the potential of co-ordinated trade union action.

Year 3

Managing the International Political Economy

This module takes the analysis of globalisation which has been developed in previous terms into the real politik of international institutions such as the IMF, World Bank, UN and WTO.

It considers the effectiveness of these organisations in terms of the development models used, e.g. structural adjustment programmes and considers the role played by both national and international trade union bodies in promoting democratic governance.

The development of new approaches to the regulation of world trade, e.g. the concept of social clauses will be assessed as will the implications of the rise of geo-political trading blocs a such as NAFTA and the EU.

National case studies of structural adjustment processes and outcomes are used to demonstrate the potential and limitations of what has been the dominant strategy of the World Bank and IMF. Recent developments in the co-ordination of debt relief will also be covered.

Trade Unions and Sustainable Economic Development

In the light of mounting evidence and a growing consensus amongst the scientific community, it is clear that the most important challenges faced by our society concern the future of the environment and the carrying capacity of our planet.

Accordingly, the debate over sustainable economic development has latterly intensified and moved to centre stage of the political economy. Nevertheless, the debate and consequent political consensus is mired with controversy and crippled with indecision, exemplified by the failure of some nations to ratify the Kyoto protocol.

This module provides a link with the analysis of globalisation carried out in other parts of the programme and extends the critical study of the real politik that drives the actions (and inactions) of nation states and international bodies. It centres on the dilemmas and challenges that the search for sustainability poses for the trade union movement.

The objective is to enable students to form a balanced view of the threats to the environment and the options for action that are available to social partners, governments, international bodies and individual citizens.

Research Methods

This module introduces you to both research methods and basic statistical tests. It serves as a key platform for the independent research project that you will undertake in the following term. Methods cover the design of a research project, quantitative and qualitative approaches to research and how to design appropriate research instruments.

You are shown how to use SPSS to process data. A key part of the module requires you to write the research proposal for the research project you will be undertaking in your final term.

International Labour Regulation

This module complements and extends the module on the Management of the International Economy studied in the previous term. It focuses on the workings of the International Labour Office (ILO) and the EU.

You are given a critique of the ILO’s structure and key policies insofar as they relate to the international regulation of labour. The voluntarist nature of the ILO is examined along with the effectiveness of its system of conventions and in particular the ‘core labour standards’. The role of trade unions through the workers group at the ILO is evaluated.

By contrast, the module assesses the more overtly legislative approach adopted by the EU in its attempts to provide a ‘Pan European’ framework of labour regulation. The role and influence of trade unions at national, European and global level are reviewed and critically evaluated.

Independent Research Project (double module)

An independent research project provides both a challenge and an opportunity to you: a challenge in that it requires you to produce a longer, more sustained and complex piece of writing that utilises an analytical framework and appropriate research methods and an opportunity in that it offers you the chance to research more thoroughly and write at greater length with some originality on a subject or issue agreed with the supervisor in the previous term.

Past experience at Ruskin has shown that students respond very well to these challenges. Many of our past students who have written research projects whilst at Ruskin have attested to the powerful learning effects and real sense of achievement they gained from this process. The number of books, pamphlets and journal articles that started life as Ruskin student projects is further proof of the quality that can be achieved.

The aim here is to provide you with a personal supervisor and peer group support through weekly project forums to enable the development and completion of a project linked to the subject matter covered during the ILTUS course.

Subject Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed the course you will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge and critical awareness of the key institutions, contexts and issues that characterise the governance of the international political economy
• Show critical knowledge of the structural adjustment programmes used by the IMF and World Bank
• Recognise and evaluate the challenges that the concept and practice of sustainable economic development poses for the structure and practices of trade unions at national and international level
• Show critical understanding of the role and function of trade unions concerning the international regulation of labour standards
• Evaluate the role played by trade union bodies in the promotion of democratic governance at both national, regional and international levels
• Show knowledge and competence in selecting and using basic research techniques to support an independent research project research
• Understand and be able to produce a research proposal and a research project.

Creative and Cognitive Skills

Having successfully completed the course you will be able to:

• Analyse data, argument and perspective in a systematic and objective manner
• Research, evaluate and present information from a range of sources
• Analyse and interpret established and emerging theories and ideas in the fields covered
• Write reports and assignments using a scholarly apparatus of bibliography and referencing

Key Skills

Having successfully completed this course you will be able to:

• Effectively communicate information, ideas and argument in both written and oral forms.
• Use IT resources in support of course work and seminar presentations
• Frame a research proposal and carry out basic research using appropriate methods and techniques
• Handle statistical data from a variety of sources
• Work co-operatively in a group within classes and seminars and share responsibility for presentations and group activity
• Work independently and manage your own learning