Employee Relations: An International Journal

Sullivan, T.; Christensen, I.; Wan, D.

1991 Employee Relations: An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/01425459110140535

The industrial unrest during January 1988 amongnurses in the UK National Health Service raisedthe matter of the attitude and behaviour of thatgroup of employees towards industrial action. Insome circles that action is regarded asunprofessional. While the causes are shown tobe complex, it is argued that they primarily involvetwo issues. First there was the threat of a fall incurrent pay levels and, secondly there was the viewtaken by those nurses that professional standardsof nursing were falling. The nature of the disputeshowed how professionalism and industrial actioncan be reconciled. This is done mainly by ademonstration rather than by a stoppage,while maintaining full cover of essential duties. Amajor aim of the action was to mobilise public andmedia opinion in favour of the nurses case.

Berridge, John

1991 Employee Relations: An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/01425459110135360

Childcare facilities and assistance for workingparents are widely advocated on demographic,economic, political and sociopsychological groundswhich are all scrutinised. Yet the provision inBritain, as documented in this article, remainsunsystematic, uneven and illadapted to the criteriaon which it is advocated. The relationship isexamined between the provision in the notforprofitsector with that in the private sector, financedby employees andor employers. Recent politicalpronouncements and manifestos on the topic arecritically compared. Future likely patterns ofchildcare provision in Britain are assessed, inparticular the potential industrial concentrationamong commercial childcare providers, thequestions of standards and financing, andinternational comparisons. The concluding themeis the implications for human resource managementpolicy makers of childcare as an employee benefitin changing labour markets.

Healy, Geraldine; Kraithman, David

1991 Employee Relations: An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/01425459110144540

The recent interest in women returning to, orincreasing their, labour market participation haslargely ignored the skills and aspirations of womenthemselves. This article is based on a survey ofmothers of young children in a fairly prosperouspart of the South East of the UK. Researchfindings indicate that women lack confidence abouttheir ability to return to economic activity, havea high demand for training, and expect to befrustrated in their career aspirations if training isnot available. Childcare provision, flexible workinghours and training would enable them to increasetheir participation in work. Constraints operate onthe level of entry to the labour market and preventwomen achieving their full potential. The discussionconsiders the forces which can facilitate or impedethe full participation and development of womenat work occupational segregation, employerattitudes, the gender bias within organisations,Training and Enterprise Councils TECs, tradeunions and changing labour market demands. Thefindings indicate important policy directions foremployers, trade unions and TECs to utilise thishuman resource more effectively.

Somers, Toni M.; Gupta, Yash P.; Smith, Arthur W.

1991 Employee Relations: An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/01425459110140157

In this article the data are analysed on strike andnormal working durations from three industries thepublic school system, electronics, and seaportsover the period 1946 to 1987. The duration ofstrikes experienced immediately prior tonegotiation is shown to have a positive effect ona bargaining units duration of normal workingduring a current contract negotiation. For all threeindustries the impact of strike duration wasgreatest immediately following a strike the longerthe duration of the strike, the longer the ensuingnormal working time.