A Critical Analysis of Workplace Union Majoritarianism for the Purpose of Collective Bargaining

Abstract

This research report aimed to critically analyse workplace union Majoritarianism for collective bargaining and its effects in the workplace. The Labour Relations Act promotes the concept of Majoritarianism, which has led to the exclusion of minority unions from the bargaining table. The changing nature of the workplace has led to more parties with specific interests, and in some instances, their exclusions have disturbed industrial peace. This study examined legislation, case studies, and references to the Labour Law dispensations of other countries, including the United States of America, Japan, Germany, Sweden, and France. It demonstrated that majoritarianism and the effective exclusion of minority unions have severely undermined and rendered the collective bargaining process unsatisfactory. The methodology used in this study is a literature review, so it was a desktop study. The literature review suggests that there are ways in which a majority trade union in the organisation can still lead at the bargaining table with the necessary input of minority unions, particularly those that represent specific interest groups. This report is of significant importance as it provides a comprehensive understanding of majoritarianism within a democratic context, thereby contributing to the academic discourse on Labour Law and industrial relations.