Dismantling pluralism: Industrial relations in Irish greenfield sites

Abstract

Focuses on recent empirical evidence on management approaches to industrial relations in greenfield companies in Ireland. Places particular emphasis on the impact of industrial relations on the location of greenfield site facilities, patterns of trade union recognition and avoidance, pay determination, and the role of employer associations. Finds that, despite a national system of “bargained consensus” and the integration of trade unions into corporatist decision‐making structures on economic and social issues, most recent greenfield site facilities are non‐union. Argues that this evidence points to extensive management opposition to conventional pluralist industrial relations, despite the existence of a State system which has consistently promoted a consensus approach over the past two decades. This apparent paradox is explained by reference to the transformation in the structure and performance of the Irish economy in parallel with related social changes since the early 1980s.

Citation

Gunnigle, P., MacCurtain, S. and Morley, M. (2001), "Dismantling pluralism: Industrial relations in Irish greenfield sites", Personnel Review, Vol. 30 No. 3, pp. 263-279. https://doi.org/10.1108/00483480110386455