MGC3410

Employee relations practice: policy and skills

Ms Carol Fox and Associate Professor Julian Teicher

6 points · Two 1-hour lectures per week and one 1-hour tutorial per week · First semester · Clayton · Prerequisite: MGC2410 or MGC2420 or with the approval of the lecturer

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. Students will participate in an interest dispute negotiation as a member of a management or employee negotiating team. (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, employee and union representation and the impact of legislative reform on industrial relations practice.

Assessment Negotiation practice case study: 35% · Tutorial paper: 15% · Examination (2 hours): 50%

Prescribed texts

Holdsworth W J Advocacy and negotiation in industrial relations 3rd edn, LBC, 1987

Recommended texts

Walton R E and McKersie R B A behavioral theory of labor negotiations 2nd edn, ILR Press, 1991
Fox C B and others Industrial relations in Australia: Development, law and operation Longman, 1995

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