Learning Outcomes Content Assessment Criteria for Pass

LO1 Understand the context of employee relations against a changing background

The role of the trade union: types of trade union, the Trades

Union Congress, employer associations, trade union representatives

The history and development of trade unions: the rise of trade unionism; trade unions and the law; union growth

and decline; changing business environment eg political, technological, social, legal and economic; relevance to industrial relations

The main players in employee relations: workers, managers, organisations, government agencies concerned with the workplace and work    community

Theoretical perspectives: unitarist, pluralist, radical; review of perspectives by the stakeholders in employee relations

1.1 explain the unitary and pluralistic frames of reference

1.2 assess how changes in trade unionism have affected employee relations

1.3 explain the role of the main players in employee relations

LO2 Understand the nature of industrial conflict and its resolution

The nature of industrial conflict: ideological framework, conflict and cooperation

Different types of dispute: collective disputes, strike action, strike statistics, ballots, no-strike agreements

Resolving conflict: dispute procedures, arbitration and the role of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas)

2.1 explain the procedures an organisation should follow when dealing with different conflict situations

2.2 explain the key features of employee relations in a selected conflict situation

2.3 evaluate the effectiveness of procedures used in a selected conflict situation

LO3 Understand collective bargaining and negotiation processes

The nature and scope of collective bargaining: roles eg shop stewards, union officials employer associations and management

The collective bargaining process: institutional agreements for collective bargaining, local workplace bargaining, singletable bargaining

Negotiation processes: negotiation strategy, preparation for negotiation, conducting the case-settlement, disclosure of information

3.1 explain the role of negotiation in collective bargaining

3.2 assess the impact of negotiation strategy for a given situation

LO4 Understand the concept of employee participation and involvement

Consultation and employee participation: different forms of employee consultation and participation, joint consultation committees,    communication channels

Industrial democracy and employee participation: European Works Councils (European Objectives), the social  dimensions of the European Union and supervisory boards, national cultural differences in terms of democracy and employee participation

Employee involvement techniques: sharing information, consultation, financial participation, commitment to quality, developing the individual, involvement of other stakeholders

Empowerment: devolution of responsibility/authority to line managers/employees; the impact of human resource management; approach to employee relations (link to unitarist and pluralist perspectives)

4.1 assess the influence of the EU on industrial democracy in the UK

4.2 compare methods used to gain employee participation and involvement in the decision making process in organisations

4.3 assess the impact of human resource management on employee relations.