Management versus Labour - Prophecy Fulfilled

A brochure for a Union Contract Negotiations seminar begins with "Collective bargaining is a complex process between two opposing sides. One one side, you have management who must ensure the profitability and even survivability of their organization. On the other side, the Union, by legislation, must protect not only the economic welfare of their members, but must ensure that employees are treated fairly and work in a safe environment."

If the parties of the first part and the parties of the second part see the world this way, it's very likely that conflict and opposition will emerge: If I want this, and you want the opposite, we end up fighting. One side wins. One side loses. Conflict, and damaged relationships, result.

But, isn't it in management's best interest to have a well-paid, loyal, long-term workforce who aren't constantly looking for work and struggling to make ends meet? Isn't it easier to run a profitable company when your employees are safe, and treated fairly, with low turnover, high engagement and high productivity? Don't these people create the wealth of the organization?

And, isn't it in the worker's best interest for the company to survive and be profitable? Doesn't that produce job security, stable career paths, more money for salaries, more resources for training and improvement, a place of work that inspires pride? Isn't long-term corporate stability, growth and profit great for employees?

Are management and unions on opposing sides?

If you think this way, you will lose. Your failure is an internal disease.You firmly believe that sound management means executives on the one side and workers on the other, on the one side men who think and on the other side men who only work. (Paraphrasing Konosuke Matsushita)