Unit 4 Peer Response Post 2
This is a response to a discussion post from a classmate. Please respond accordingly.
10. During a bargaining session between the employer and union, employees do not feel the bargaining is productive in addressing wages. To put pressure on the employer, employees start a work-to-rule campaign (Budd, p. 286). How does such a campaign effect efficiency, equity, and voice? Explain.
A work-to-rule campaign is a type of work slowdown. The basics of such a campaign are to continue to work, but to do so in a way that follows rules meticulously in a manner to slow production and send a message to the employer (Budd, 2018, p. 286). An interesting aspect of the work-to-rule campaign according to Budd is that it is not protected by the NLRA and it may result in action being taken against the employees for insubordination (2018, p. 287).
Although legal and employees still working, slowing work can affect efficiency through reductions in productivity. If employees are constantly working slower, or taking longer to perform steps of a process, it increases production costs. It is also a way to provide the employee with a voice because it clearly draws attention to their actions, which will in-turn highlight whatever issue the employee is known to be protesting. While not performing an illegal action like striking, work-to-rule can be an effective way to demonstrate how employees go beyond requirements in the performance of their duties and can show their value.
An example of this can be seen in the prison work-to-rule campaign of officers in Durham, United Kingdom. In their case, striking was illegal, and they effectively utilized a work-to-rule campaign to demonstrate their value when the prison services system was seeking to privatize the prison guards (2011).
References.
Budd, J.W. (2018). Labor Relations: Striking a Balance (5th ed). New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin.
Summers, M. (2011, Apr 7). Prison officers in Durham stage work to rule over privatisation plans. Retrieved from
https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/8962194.prison-officers-durham-stage-work-rule-privatisation-plans/(Links to an external site.)
Edited by
Timothy Hughes
on Jul 1 at 12:58pm
