Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.
The purpose of this survey was to obtain basic information about the organization of industrial relations in engineering workshops classified by section of industry, size and region. The survey was designed to elucidate procedural arrangements on combinations of trade unions to be found in engineering workshops, on numbers of shop stewards, on the types of agreement entered into on works rules and on negotiating and consultative machinery.
Main Topics:
Written agreements on wages and conditions of work, whether records of meetings are kept, agreements made by manual workers in past 5 years, source of advice sought for a variety of changes, whether manual workers have same conditions as other staff. Assessment of relations with manual worker/staff trade unions. Written works rules for manual/staff employees, type of trade unions in firm and estimated membership, number of shop stewards and staff worker representatives. Conditions of trade union membership, whether new workers encouraged to join union, policy towards and perceived advantages of 'closed shop'. Shop stewards: method of appointment, management objections to appointments (reasons), basis for payment, facilities and arrangements for meetings. Whether manual workers take part in joint shop steward committees. Written procedure agreement (except 1922 Procedure Agreement-Manual Workers) and any other written procedures and main problems, number of stoppages/other actions during last 2 years, whether informal discussions with workers and/or shop stewards take place. Number of conferences held during last 2 years, opinion on legalisation of procedure agreements (type of sanctions, responsibility for sanctions). Details of other workplace committees and arrangements, manual workers' opinions of trade unions/payment problems were explored in detail, most important functions of the Local Engineering Employers' Association. Autonomy of supervisors, national agreements followed by manual workers, whether firm is single or multi-establishment, whether personnel staff employed (details of duties), normal chief representatives of management at conferences, method of contact with local Engineering Employers' Association. If multi-establishment: headquarters arrangements for industrial relations purpose, autonomy of respondent's branch of firm. Background Variables Nature of firm (date of establishment), industry, number of employees.
Volunteers distributed by product size and location
Postal survey
