ACTORS IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS: COMPETITORS, COLLABORATORS OR COMPATRIOTS?

ijcrb.webs.com

APRIL 2013

INTERDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY RESEARCH IN BUSINESS

VOL 4, NO 12

ACTORS IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS: COMPETITORS,
COLLABORATORS OR COMPATRIOTS?
OYELEKAN AYANTUNJI
Department of Industrial Relations and Public Administration
Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos

MOJIRADE M. AYANTUNJI
Department of Adult Education
University of Ibadan
Ibadan, Nigeria.

Abstract
This paper discussed three major alternative strategies in labour management relations especially in the British model of industrial relations. These options are competition, collaboration and compatriotism. The paper discussed three major perspectives as theories of industrial relations as well as the actors and the environment of industrial relations. The paper concluded that, at least, three major factors may influence the choice of strategy for labour management relations in the British system of industrial relations. These factors are (i) the prevailing social-political and economic environment (ii) the theory or perspective of industrial relations subscribed to by the actors in the industrial relations system and (iii) the personality of the actors in the industrial relations system.
Keywords: Industrial Relations, the Industrial Relations System, Industrial Relations Theories,
Actors in Industrial Relations, the Industrial Relations Environment.

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APRIL 2013

INTERDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY RESEARCH IN BUSINESS

VOL 4, NO 12

Introduction
There are many models of industrial relations. Notable among these is the British model.
In the British model of industrial relations, there are three principal actors. These are:
(i) the workers and their trade unions,
(ii) the employers and their associations, and,
(iii)the government and its agencies.
The role of the workers and their trade unions is the supply of the skills necessary for the production of goods and services while the

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