MG326Employee Relations: Rights and Obligations 2010/2011

Employee Relations: Rights and Obligations 2010/2011

- Course Outline -

Objective / The objective of this course is to familiarise students with the principal Industrial Relations legislation in Ireland, including both collective and individual aspects of labour law, the influences of European legislation, and how this legislation affects the practice and processes in the Management of Human Resources.
This is a 5 ECTS module; it is obligatory for students taking the Management of Human Resources stream. It is not available to students taking other streams.
Name / E-mail
Geraldine Grady /
Times / Day / Time / Venue
Lectures: / Friday / 9-11 / CA111
Overall Learning Outcomes / Upon completion of this course you will be able to:
  • Understand the principal employment rights and obligations in Ireland and their implications for workers and employers.
  • Be familiar with the institutional framework for enforcing Industrial Relations rights and obligations and with the sources of further advice and information on how these rights and obligations operate in practice.

Format / The course comprises of 2 hour lecture per week.These lecture slots incorporate lecture slides, case studies and class discussion.Students are likely to derive maximum benefit if they download the lecture material BEFORE the lectures. This will enable students to listen more at the lectures and to add their personal notes and comments to the lecturer’s notes.
The key issues outlined in each of the sessions should then be developed through further study. Private study enables you to build on the knowledge gained in sessions through recourse to handout material and the recommended readings. Small group exercises are used to reinforce the learning during class and to facilitate the sharing of learning.
Programme(s) / MG326 Industrial Relations: Rights and Obligations 2010-2011
Course Material / A course web is available at
Assessment / 1. End of Year Examination75%
2. Assignment 25%
Further details of the assignment will be given during the course. Please note the item below on plagiarism which is particularly relevant to the assignment.
PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism is the use of another person’s ideas or work without appropriate acknowledgement or credit. Plagiarism may be intentional or unintentional. Intentional plagiarismis the clear intent to pass off another person’s work or ideas as your own for your own gain. Unintentional plagiarism may occur if you do not understand the appropriate way to acknowledge the source of your ideas and information. If you are unsure of the acceptable methods of acknowledgment you should consult with your lecturer or the library staff. Proven plagiarism is a very serious matter which may result in severe disciplinary action and/or exclusion from the University.
Core Texts
Supplementary Reading:
Useful Websites: /
Working Within the Law, A Practical Guide for Employers and Employees, Frances Meenan, €35.00,Oak Tree Press, 2nd Edition, 1999
The TUF guide to Labour Law for Union Representatives,Irish Trade Union Federation, 2003 @ €36.00; (available directly from SIPTU for €5 to SIPTU members.)
Wallace, J., Gunnigle, P., & Mc Mahon, G. 2004, Industrial Relations in Ireland,
Theory & Practice, 3rd edition, Gill & Macmillan: Dublin, Chapters 2, 3, 4, 7, 8
The weekly publication Industrial Relations News (IRN) is available in the library, and should be consulted regularly for reportage and discussion of current issues in Industrial Relations in Ireland. Through the library, we also have a subscription to this publication online. This is accessed via the IRN website To access this, you will need to access this publication through the library, the user name us NUI Galway and the password is secure2. The password changes from time to time. The current password is always available from the information desk in the library.
Equality Now: The SIPTU guide to the Employment Equality Act 1998, Donncha O’Connell, SIPTU, 1999
Labour law in Ireland, C. Fennell & I. Lynch, Gill & Macmillan, 1993
The Juridification of the Employment Relationship, J. Browne, Avebury, 1994
Relations Commission
Court
Tribunal (Office of Director of Equality Investigations
Equality Authority
Health and Safety Authority
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
The Employment Appeals Tribunal
Congress of Trade Unions
Institute of Personnel and Development
Business and Employers Confederation

Agenda

Week

/

Topic

Week 1 / Introduction to the Course
Week 1/2 / The Contract of Employment, including reference to the Terms of Employment Act, 1994, Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act, 1973 – 1991, Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997
Week 2 / ER-IR Redress and Forums: Review of IR Institutions and Structures
Week 3 / Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Act, 2003
Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act, 2001
Week 4 / Trade Union immunities and trade disputes, including Industrial Relations
Act, 1990; Strikes and Picketing
Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Act, 2006 and
Transnational Information and Consultation of Employees Act, 1996
Week 5/6 / Termination of employment, including:
Dismissal - Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977 – 1993 and best practice
Redundancy - Redundancy Payments Act 1967 - 2003 and best practice; Protection of Employment Act, 1977
Week 6 / Guest Lecture
Week 7 & 8 / Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 and best practice
Week 8
Week 8/9 / Assignment given
Employment Equality Act, 1998 and Equality Act, 2004
Week 10
Week 10 / Maternity Protection of Employees Acts, 1981, 1991, Parental Leave Act,
1998 and Parental Leave (Amendment) Act, 2006
Assignment Due In
Week 11/12 / The European Union, Role of Directives
Week 12: / Course Review

This course outline is available on blackboard in pdf format. Should you have a visual disability and require the document in another format, please contact me and I will oblige.

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