Union Policy and Union Democracy

Abstract

The central argument so far can be briefly summarised: the study of industrial relations is in essence a study of processes of control over work relations. The employment relationship — which is encapsulated in the terms of the ‘free’ contract of employment — gives overriding authority in day-to-day work relations to the employer and to his or her managerial agents. The concentrated economic power of capital, buttresed by the various sanctions of the law, lies at the root of this right of managerial initiative through which the employer commands while workers are expected to obey. Hence there exists a ‘natural’ structure of one-way control over production and thus over the work activities of ordinary employees.