Industrial Democracy and Inequality in Organizations
Industrial Democracy and
Inequality in Organisations
“Much of the social and economic inequality in the United States and other industrial countries is created in organisations, in the daily activities of working and organizing the work” (Acker
2006).
RMIT University
Slide 1
Issues to discuss:
• What is Industrial Democracy?
• What do we mean by inequality?
– Class
– Race/ Ethnicity
– Gender
•
Discuss how these concepts relate to organisations.
•
Distinguish between contemporary theoretical approaches to inequality in organisations
– Modern
– Critical
– Postmodern
RMIT University
Slide 2
Industrial Democracy
Industrial Democracy
Vs
Employee participation and consultation
“participation by employees in decisions affecting their work”
RMIT University
Slide 3
Questions to consider
• To what extent is management prepared to share power with employers and to develop responsibility and authority for decision making?
• What is the role of unions in participation?
• How far are equal opportunities for participation available to all workers?
• What benefits does participation have for employers and employees?
RMIT University
Slide 4
Inequality
Different groups within society possess differing amounts of power, prestige and wealth. Inequality permeates access to education, the labour market and all forms of citizenship – including workplace citizenship. RMIT University
Slide 5
Inequality in organisations
Acker (2006):
“the systematic disparities between participants in power and control over goals, resources, outcomes, workplace decisions, opportunities for promotion, interesting work, security in employment, benefits, pay, rewards, respect and pleasure in work and workplace relations”
RMIT University
Slide 6
Class
Marxist perspective:
Class structure derives from the relationship of social groups to means of production
• Bourgeoisie: owners of the means of
Inequality in Organisations
“Much of the social and economic inequality in the United States and other industrial countries is created in organisations, in the daily activities of working and organizing the work” (Acker
2006).
RMIT University
Slide 1
Issues to discuss:
• What is Industrial Democracy?
• What do we mean by inequality?
– Class
– Race/ Ethnicity
– Gender
•
Discuss how these concepts relate to organisations.
•
Distinguish between contemporary theoretical approaches to inequality in organisations
– Modern
– Critical
– Postmodern
RMIT University
Slide 2
Industrial Democracy
Industrial Democracy
Vs
Employee participation and consultation
“participation by employees in decisions affecting their work”
RMIT University
Slide 3
Questions to consider
• To what extent is management prepared to share power with employers and to develop responsibility and authority for decision making?
• What is the role of unions in participation?
• How far are equal opportunities for participation available to all workers?
• What benefits does participation have for employers and employees?
RMIT University
Slide 4
Inequality
Different groups within society possess differing amounts of power, prestige and wealth. Inequality permeates access to education, the labour market and all forms of citizenship – including workplace citizenship. RMIT University
Slide 5
Inequality in organisations
Acker (2006):
“the systematic disparities between participants in power and control over goals, resources, outcomes, workplace decisions, opportunities for promotion, interesting work, security in employment, benefits, pay, rewards, respect and pleasure in work and workplace relations”
RMIT University
Slide 6
Class
Marxist perspective:
Class structure derives from the relationship of social groups to means of production
• Bourgeoisie: owners of the means of