Employment Relations and Law: Role of Trade Unions in Managing Conflicts

This report discusses conflicts that can occur in the employment relationship and the role of trade unions in managing them. It evaluates different conflicts using relevant theories and outlines the changing trends in trade unions. The report also critically assesses Land Rover's approach to managing the employment relationship and trade unions.

Employment Relations and
Law

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
TASK ..............................................................................................................................................3
Identify varied conflicts that can occur in the employment relationship, with specific reference
to the role of trade unions in managing this conflict...................................................................3
Various conflicts and disputes that can complicate the employment relationship......................4
Use relevant theories to critically evaluate different conflicts in the employment relationship 6
Main features of the unitary, pluralist and radical perspectives outline the role of trade unions
and its changing trends ...............................................................................................................7
Critical assessment of Land rover organisation approach to managing the employment
relationship and trade unions ................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Employment laws are those legislations that are used in order to protect rights and duties
of employer and employee. These laws helps in developing framework leads over solving of
issues existing within an organization. Such laws cover trade union and their functions thus
known as labour laws. Employment relationship means those relations existing between
employer and employee this makes work done in faster and better manner existing within an
organization. Both employment law and employment relation are interrelated with each other as
they have impact on internal process existing within an organization. The organization taken in
the report is Land Rover which is a British automotive organization and has its headquarters in
United Kingdom. In this report, conflict relation to employment relationship is discussed with
role of trade union in managing it. In the end theories based over conflict is discussed in relation
to organization.
TASK
Identify varied conflicts that can occur in the employment relationship, with specific reference to
the role of trade unions in managing this conflict.
Employment laws means those rules and regulation which has been formed in order to
protect employees form any kind of atrocities or problems that exists within an organization.
These laws have important role to play regarding employees pay-scale, wages, health and
security within an organization(Cîrmaciu, 2020). Also these laws lead over increasing diversity
within an organization by removing barriers causing discrimination. Further employment laws
make organizational goals and objectives achieved that is set by an organization. As per these
laws employment contract is formed which makes employees work within an organization.
Under employment law trade union is covered in relation to their management of work and
functions performed by it. Employment law deal with tripartite relationship which acts as based
for coordination within employer and employee working within an organization. In this law
certain acts have been explained which are Employee Right Act 1996, National minimum wage
Act 1998, Workmen Compensation act 1923 and Equality Act 2010. In relation to Land Rover
certain issue like pay, unfair treatment, poor management, poor communications, unclear job
roles are deal with employment laws and handled by trade unions. Trade union of Land Rover is
formed over making sure that conflicts within workplace is deal with negotiation rather than

confronting over it. Further trade union helps in solving issues related to payment by making the
complaint reach to higher management of an organization in relation less pay. This is done as per
the rules defined within National minimum wage Act 1998. Another problems existing within
the Land Rover is unfair treatment of employees for such issue is managed by trade union
through making employees understand about the feeling of togetherness and its positive aspects.
This makes diversity formed removing inequality within workplace. As per the problem
appropriate act used by trade union is Equality act 2010 in order to solve the issue with more
effectiveness. Another issue that is based upon poor communication and poor management
which hinder working of organization. Further these issues make organization's progress
slowdown by reducing efficiency of working(Doherty, 2018). Trade is required to created
opportunities of negotiation with management which makes both management and trade union
draw common conclusion over barriers coming in the process of management and
communication. Unclear job role is a new issue that has risen due to modern scenario Trade
Union has played important role in managing it by making employees attain clarity over there
task specification. In relation to Covid 19 pandemic the issues mentioned above is handled by
Trade Union by using social media and mobile phones. In relation to Land Rover WhatsApp
group is created upon which issues is discussed and then video calling is used for having meeting
regarding the issue with the members of trade union. This helps in creating transparency between
employer and employee helping in solving issues in more effective manner. Since employees
doing Work from Home which made trade union develop digital platforms to address issues been
faced by employees.
Various conflicts and disputes that can complicate the employment relationship
Employment relations is considered as one of the most important part from the
perspective of Land Rover since it directly impacts various process existing within an
organization. It covers those factors like coordination, communication, feeling of togetherness
and team work which holds tendencies to impact working of organization. These relationship
exists between employer and employee can at times face issues like unfair treatment, wages
deduction, poor communication and management with unclear job roles. In unfair treatment main
aspects is based upon causing discrimination towards employees. This leads towards less job
satisfaction created within the employee making competency reduced within its working.

Under unfair treatment, discrimination is done on the basis of age, cast, colour, gender
and disability. Also, it hinders relationship of employer and employee by making employee work
under negative environment. This can be better understood with the help of example that is in an
organization like Land Rover employer dismisses employee on the basis of colour. On the basis
of Equality Act 2010, Trade union takes action for eliminating discrimination by introducing
equal opportunities for employee which results in fostering relation in positive direction.
Through providing equal opportunities, Land Rover is able to create diversity within the working
culture of organization that increases working capacity of employees.
Wages deduction it is another common issues that is faced by employees while working
within an organization. In this issue, an employee is paid less or salary is deducted without any
reason giving rise to violation of ethical deli-ma which tends to demolish working culture of an
organization internally. Further this can be understood with the help of example that is employer
deducted 80% salary of employee working in land Rover. This made employees go to Trade
Union and under section(7) of the National minimum wage act 1998 complain was launched
against the employer. This made employee get compensation which reformed employees
stability within Land Rover.
Poor communication and poor management is one of the biggest problems existing within
an organization. These issues causes organizations task not to be accomplished within the time
specified for it. Also it leads upon circulation of incomplete information making organization
work collapse. Poor communication also leads over rising of conflicts in relation to behaviour of
employees within an organization. Further poor management leads over forming weak policies
which causes dissatisfaction created among employees making organization like Land Lover
face difficulties in dealing within employees or monitoring there working patterns (Kasih and et.
al., 2021). This can be understood with the help of example Land Rover's manager in order to
start new project circulates information within the department but Head of depart does not
circulated it to teams which results in causing project not to be completed in time. For this
employees were suspended.
Trade Union in relation to this matter launches complain regarding violation so ethical
code of conduct and asked Managing director of Land Rover to take strict action upon head of
departments(Hyde, 2021). Trade Union in this case can make employees understand about there
right as per the Employment Right act 1996 within which section 95(1)(c) and section 136(1)(c)

making employee's suspension removed. This helps loopholes in relation to communication
removed by making strong communication formed with more relevant channels.
Unclear job roles is based over not assigning employee's there role in proper manner
which is caused due to biasses leading upon causing confusion created within the organization.
Further it leads over making conflicts arise in relation over work patterns. This can be
understood with the helps of example that Manager of Land Rover is given responsibility to
handled conflict for which an team is assigned but no authority has been given to the team which
makes conflict arise causing disciple of organization get disturbed. In this trade union in order to
reform discipline launches complains in employment tribunal regarding the act of in discipline.
In order to solve this issue trade union can also used Compensation act 1923 in order to get
compensation for the period of suspension.
Since Land Rover adopted work from home in the situation of COVID 19 pandemic.
There were increased fights and conflicts at this time. That is why Land rover has adopted
various conflict management strategies that is used by trade union in solving issues like
unemployment, less wage payment and unfair treatment trough applying new strategies. Such
strategies are based over acts which is covered within employment law. As per the new changes
trade union uses more and more digital platforms to make employees concerns reach to higher
management. Trade union developed unique process which includes creating of WhatsAap group
and asking employees to message there issues upon it(Kozub, 2018). Then mail all complain are
complied in one document by head of Trade union which is send to manager of the organization.
After this through online conferencing all issues are discussed with employees and members of
trade union. Then through negotiation appropriate solution is marked out which makes issues
resolved within the time limit despite of challenges faced by organization in doing so.
Use relevant theories to critically evaluate different conflicts in the employment relationship
In order to solve conflicts and issues within an organization like Land Rover different
theories is used which are The Unitarist theory,The Pluralist theory and The Marxist theory.
Under these theories various aspects is covered in relation over dispute taking place between
employer and employee. As per the unitarist theory an approach is developed which makes
members sharing interest over being homogeneous. Under the theory third parties has been
viewed in relation to mutual cooperation making management and staff members sharing
common goals with each other. Then comes pluralist democracy theory in this political system is

described where in more than one centre of power is there. As per this theory democracy is
considered within the process of an organization that leads upon making transparency formed
within the process of organization. In this theory individuals achieve position over formal
political authority which makes an organization achieve better framework in relation to solving
dispute between employer and employee. The Marxist theory as per this theory various aspects
in relation to social, political and economical perspective is covered. Further Marxists theory
deal with social existing within an organization. Such perspective is based upon working culture
followed in an organization. Economic factor is covered dealing with profit and revenue
generation of organization. Political feature deals with politics taking place in organization
which eventually affects employer and employee relationship in drastic manner(Lansbury, 2018).
In relation to Land Rover these theories provide standards and regulations in order to
control disputes taking place in organization. Organization like Land Rover through unilateral
theory is able to solve unclear job roles by involving leaders while assigning roles over particular
project. The Pluralist theory can be used within an organization like Land Rover for solving issue
of less wages payment by involving employees within the decision making that helps in
understanding conditions of employees in better manner. The Marxist theory is used by an
organization like Land Rover to understand about the culture existing within working of
organization. This theory makes organization's develop strong ethical code of conduct which
helps in developing proper guidelines which makes discipline and order maintained within work
culture of organization. It is helpful in solving issues related to poor management and poor
communication as ethical code of conduct improves internal working of an organization like
Land Rover.
Main features of the unitary, pluralist and radical perspectives outline the role of trade unions
and its changing trends
Trade union has been facing lot of challenges due to COVID 19 pandemic as Land Rover
shifted to Work From Home. This lead upon developing of new trends in the form of
digitalization which made usage of mobile phones, internet and laptops frequently for conducting
operations within the organization(Pavlovskaya, 2017). In order to develop compatibility with
the modern trends Trade Union used new policies and process for solving dispute. Trade Union
used unilateral theory in order to understand employees wants and needs which made common
interest developed between employer and employee. This helps organization achieve goals and

objectives within no time leading towards increase in productivity related to work. Further
through pluralist theory democratic ideology is developed within trade union which makes
organization like Land Rover understand about employees and employer relationship in more
detail. Trade union with the help of Marxist theory is able to solve political, economic and social
dispute by understanding organization culture and behavioural patterns of employee. This helps
trade union to uplift employees social and political status through collective bargaining. Further
trade union through Marxist theory make employees satisfaction created.
Critical assessment of Land rover organisation approach to managing the employment
relationship and trade unions
As it has been observed that new trends has taken place due to COVID 19 pandemic
which made Land Rover to use Marxist theory. This lead towards developement of better
understanding in relation to social, political and economic aspect from the point of view of
employees(Rasmussen, Bray and Stewart, 2019). Through this theory trade union of Land Rover
makes new process develop with digitalization and usage of social media that made employee's
issue solved in more effective manner. Also trade is able to make issues like unfair treatment,
poor management, poor communications, unclear job roles solved through enhancing employer
and employee relationship.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be marked out that employment laws are the laws that is
used over protecting employee's rights and duties. Also these laws deals over discrimination
caused within an organization. Further the report explain about employment law and
employment relation in relation to conflicts which taken place within an organization. Then in
this different theories is used for understanding about conflicts with role of trade union in solving
them. In the end trade union and COVID 19 situation is compared.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
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