We have two unions in our plant where one is supportive and the other one is against to any decisions taken by the management as per the existing acts. My question is as to how a hr person can make them realised and maintain a cordial relation with the union workman. Seniors your valuable suggestions/ guidance will by highly appreciated
From India, Pune
From India, Pune
Dear Adiragam,
This is a challenge. Your challenge is reminiscent of a husband of yesteryears who had two wives, one supportive and another hostile. Due to Societal pressure he could not get rid of hostile one.
Jokes apart, what your management needs to do is to find out why workers felt need to approach union? Workers form union or join union because they knew that their collective voice will be heard instead of individual one. Therefore, you need to make your HR practices so strong that labour unions will become redundant. Immediately it may not be possible to make the union redundant. It will happen over a period of time. Therefore, if not redundant, find out means to make it dormant. This would mean investing in the human resources, develop them, nurture them.
The second thing your management needs to do is manipulation. Try to find out how to strengthen a union that is supportive to the management. Is it possible to wean away members from hostile union? Labour unions are helpful to the union leaders more than union members. Maintaining continuity in union activities is important for their leaders because their sustenance depends on that. Therefore, "manage" the leader of hostile union and you will be able to manage the union itself.
All the best!
Dinesh Divekar
From India, Bangalore
7883This is a challenge. Your challenge is reminiscent of a husband of yesteryears who had two wives, one supportive and another hostile. Due to Societal pressure he could not get rid of hostile one.
Jokes apart, what your management needs to do is to find out why workers felt need to approach union? Workers form union or join union because they knew that their collective voice will be heard instead of individual one. Therefore, you need to make your HR practices so strong that labour unions will become redundant. Immediately it may not be possible to make the union redundant. It will happen over a period of time. Therefore, if not redundant, find out means to make it dormant. This would mean investing in the human resources, develop them, nurture them.
The second thing your management needs to do is manipulation. Try to find out how to strengthen a union that is supportive to the management. Is it possible to wean away members from hostile union? Labour unions are helpful to the union leaders more than union members. Maintaining continuity in union activities is important for their leaders because their sustenance depends on that. Therefore, "manage" the leader of hostile union and you will be able to manage the union itself.
All the best!
Dinesh Divekar
From India, Bangalore
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