INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ON A LARGE INDUSTRIAL CONSTRUCTION SITE: THE INFLUENCE OF SECURITY OF EMPLOYMENT

• Published in: Journal of management studies 1980-02, Vol.17 (1), p.68-81
• Main Author: Lumley, Roger
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attitudes; Construction; Employees; Employment; Employment security; Industrial; Labor relations; Labor unions; Strikes; Studies
• ISSN: 0022-2380; 1467-6486
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-6486.1980.tb00399.x

There has been very little research on industrial relations on large industrial construction sites. Some studies have drawn attention to the high strike incidence and low productivity on such sites, but these have contained little systematic analysis. A study is undertaken which aims to examine the effect of factors which differ between firms on industrial relations at large construction sites.Evidence for the study was gathered from 1972-74 at a large petrochemical construction site. There were between 25-45 contracting firms operating on the site during the period of the study. Strike activity and pressure for union involvement in recruitment were the aspects of industrial relations studied. Security of employment was the key aspect considered in the workplace environment. Two sets of attitudes related to employment security were also studied: attitudes toward fairness, and attitudes of employees toward union involvement in rule making.It is found that low employment security is related to distrust and suspicion of employers. This produces greater strike activity and eventually greater union involvement in rule-making. Selection of contractors on the basis of a good industrial relations record as well as financial and technical factors, and the development of better employment security by the contractors are suggestions for abatement of this problem.