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Models of Industrial Relations

Topic Covered:1. Dunlopian model of industrial relations2. Marxist Model

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Dunlopian Model of IndustrialRelations

According to the Dunlopian Model, theindustrial relations system is a sub-system ofthe wider society or the total social system.An industrial relations system at anyparticular time is regarded as comprised ofcertain actors. Certain context and ideologywhich binds the industrial relations system

together and a body of rules created togovern the actors at the place of work andwork community.

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Contd.

Dunlop identifies three groups of actors Workers,

Management & The Government

Thus , R= f (a, i, b)

Here,

R = Industrial relations system,F = Function,

a = actors,

i = ideology,

b = body of rules.

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Contd. Actors:In every country, workers, management and theGovernment all interact to build up the countrys

industrial relations system.

Ideology:In any economy there is an ideology which is shared incommon by the government, businessmen and workers,Such as democratic capitalism, democratic socialism,

Free economy, Mixed economy.

Rules:Rules and regulation making by the Government whichinfluence the pattern of industrial relations.

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Contd.

Management Role:1. Exploitative Authoritarian system

a) Labor was exploited ruthlessly.b) No job security

c) No welfare system

2. Benevolent authoritarian system: It believesin labor welfare

3. Consultative style

4. Participative style: Under this system labor is notcommodity but friend

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Contd.

All the important variables of the industrial scene areintegrated into the system. so the Dunlopianapproach can explain the dynamics of industrial

relations. It is also helpful in analyzing industrialconflict

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Marxist Model Marxist model gives structural explanation

of industrial relations.

1. Industrial relations occur within a dynamic conflictsituation which is permanent and unalterable solong as the structure of society remains unchanged

2. Conflict arises because of labor market

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Contd.

Workers

who sell labor power

in order to subsist

Labor Market

Buyers of labor

who own the means

of production

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Contd.

3. Interest of buyers and interest of sellers engagesthemselves in a perpetual conflict over thedistribution of revenue. Both have a common

interest in increasing total revenue. But conflict isnot reduced because actual distribution ofadditional increments of revenue is determined bythe power situation. There is no automatic

distribution based on a sense of equity.

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Contd.

4. The concept of alienation is important in this model.Alienation arises from the capitalist system. In thecapitalist system labor is sold and the capitalist to

satisfy his/her needs rather than workers buys it.Worker is estranged from the things he creates &

becomes dissatisfied.

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Causes of dissatisfaction:Two aspects are important as they represented the

most developed form of treating workers as acommodity.

i. Division of labor as a means of promoting wealthfor the capitalist but restricting the freedom of theworker.

ii. Factory system of promotion as the mostcomplete method of domination of the worker bythe capitalist.

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Contd.(Causes of Dissatisfaction)

Alienation will not be overcome by increasing wages,it will simply make the worker a better paid slave.

Alienation will only be overcome with the overthrow of

the capitalist system when labor not treated as a

commodity.

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Contd.

Conflict is endemic in the industrial situationfor the Marxist- it is an inevitable part of the

wage system. Labor is alienated in thecapitalist system because it is treated as acommodity. Abolition of private property iscrucial in or order to overcome alienation

from the Marxian viewpoint.

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