Labour relations managers and officers, also known as industrial relations specialists, implement industrial labour relations programmes. When a collective bargaining agreement is up for negotiation, labour relations specialists prepare information for management to use during negotiation, which requires familiarity with economic and wage data as well as an extensive knowledge of labour law and collective bargaining trends.
Dispute resolution has become complex, involving employees, management, unions, other firms, and government agencies. Specialists involved in dispute resolution must be highly knowledgeable and experienced.
Industrial relations specialists also need to act as mediators by advising and counselling labour and management to prevent and, when necessary, resolve disputes over labour agreements or other labour relations’ issues.
They may also act as arbitrators, umpires or referees, and decide disputes that bind both labour and management to specific terms and conditions of labour contracts. Labour relations specialists who work for unions, perform many of the same functions on behalf of a union and its members.
In South Africa, a human resources director usually formulates labour policy, oversees industrial labour relations, negotiates collective bargaining agreements, and coordinates grievance procedures to handle complaints resulting from disputes with employees who are members of a union. This is done either with or without the help of a labour relations manager, officer or outside specialist.
Industrial relations managers and officers also advise and collaborate with the director of human resources, other managers, and members of their staff, because all aspects of personnel policy such as wages, benefits, pensions and work practices, may be involved in drawing up a new or revised contract with a labour union.
Satisfying Aspects
- working in a challenging field
- dealing with people
- mostly working normal office hours
- contributing to an organisation's success
- obtaining positive results when dealing with labour related issues
Demanding aspects
- working longer hours in, for example, arbitration cases
- occasionally having the unpleasant task of dismissing a staff member
- failure in labour related disputes
Requirements
- speak and write clearly and effectively
- enjoy working as part of a team
- fair and objective
- proficient in languages
- able to detect problem areas and offer solutions
- work well with all kinds of people
- able to make friends easily
- practical, adaptable and tactful
- enjoy taking the lead
- tolerant of different views
- diplomatic, but also able to be firm
School Subjects
National Senior Certificate meeting degree requirements for a degree course
National Senior Certificate meeting diploma requirements for a diploma course
Each institution will have its own minimum entry requirements.
Compulsory Subjects: Languages
Recommended Subjects: Mathematics
Training
Degree: Appropriate courses:
Business Management - UNISA, UJ, UFH, NMMU, NWU, UZ
Human Resources Management - NWU, UNISA, Monash, UJ, UFH, UV, UZ
Industrial Psychology - NWU, US, UFS, UFH, UWC, UNISA.
Diploma: Business Management - most FET colleges, Labour Relations - VUT, Human Resources - UNISA
A diploma in Personnel Management is also obtainable via a 3-year correspondence course through the Institute of Personnel Management.
Employer
- government departments
- municipalities
- mining companies
- commerce and industry
- self-employment, e.g. as an employment agent
Contact
The South African Board for Personnel Practice
P O Box 2450
Houghton, 2041
Tel: (011) 773 6240
Fax: (011) 773 6224
E-mail: sabpp@pixie.co.za
www.sabpp.co.za