Partnership consultation and employer domination in two British life and pensions firms

Abstract

Partnership agreements between employers and trade unions usually establish joint consultation committees for union representatives and managers to discuss workplace issues. According to conventional wisdom dominant employers use consultation under the rubric of partnership to reduce union influence and effectiveness.This article tests this assumption through a longitudinal study of new joint consultation committees introduced as part of partnership agreements in two employer dominant British life and pensions firms. Ineffective consultation in one firm reflected a conflictual industrial relations climate and management seeking retrenchment. In the other firm effective consultation developed notwithstanding employer dominance due to a more cooperative industrial relations climate, a history of cooperative management-union relations and management motives for adaptation. The findings suggest that consultation under partnership agreements enables effective union influence in such circumstances.