Employee relations practice: policy and skills
Ms Carol Fox and Dr Julian Teicher
6 points * Two 1-hour lectures per week and one 1-hour tutorial per week * First semester * Clayton * Prerequisite: MGC2410 or MGC2420
Objectives On completion of this subject students should possess fundamental skills for effective functioning as an industrial relations practitioner; understand the contemporary public policy framework underpinning the practice of industrial relations and human resources management; be able to communicate effectively in both oral and written form in order to give effect to the knowledge and skills acquired in this unit; understand the links between policy development and industrial relations practice.
Synopsis This course comprises two parts: 1) employee relations skills - principles and practice: this part consists of theories and principles relating to negotiation and advocacy and exercises in award and agreement interpretation; grievance and disciplinary disputes; interest dispute negotiation; case preparation and presentation. The focus on skills is undertaken in conjunction with a consideration of concepts and principles underlying the practice. 2) policy issues: analysis of a number of contemporary public policy issues in industrial relations drawing in part on concepts and theories introduced in MGC2410 and MGC2420. The public policy issues to be considered include productivity bargaining, unfair dismissals, individual bargaining, enterprise flexibility agreements and union democracy.
Assessment Written (assignment 3000 words): 30% * Tutorial paper and participation: 20% * Examination (2 hours): 50%
Prescribed texts
Holdsworth W J Advocacy and negotiation in industrial relations 3rd edn, Law Book, 1987
Sappey R B and Winter M, Australian industrial relations practice Longman Cheshire, Melbourne, 1992
Recommended texts
Chamberlain and Kuhn J W Collective bargaining 3rd edn, McGraw Hill, 1986
Fox C B and others Industrial relations in Australia: Development, law and operation Longman Cheshire, 1994