Information and communication technologies can provide an important contribution to revitalizing trade unions, since the internet is faster, cheaper and more far-reaching than traditional communication methods. We propose a typology for analysing trade union websites, and apply this by comparing two national cases. The empirical research is limited to the websites of Portuguese and British civil service trade unions. We find that British unions take more advantage of the internet than those in Portugal; not only do they enable interactivity but above all promote the website as a space for sociability. We believe this typology opens up enhanced capacity to monitor, diachronically and synchronically, the relationship between trade unions and the internet.
Studies on industrial relations in Portugal have not paid much attention to the roleof the latest information and communication technologies. In seeking to help fillthis gap, this article characterises the use of the Internet by Portuguese trade unions,by presenting a typology of theirwebsites and determining whether there arestatistically significant associations between that typology and each union’s membershipof the main national confederations. The authors base themselves on theprinciple that the fragmented nature of the trade union structure in Portugal leadsto different communication strategies. The conclusion sets out a number of hypothesesthat may help explain the results of the present study.
Working time has always been a source of conflict in industrial relations. Working time has been viewed as a policy tool to save jobs, to create jobs, to balance work and private life, and to enhance the competitiveness of firms. This article draws upon the SMALL research project to assess the extent to which we can observe differences between SMEs and larger organisations with regard to working time and whether the presence or absence of unions makes any difference for employees. It suggests that there is an inverse relationship between the size of the company and average working hours. The informality which characterises employment relations means that working time in SMEs can be flexible. This may offer opportunities for workers to achieve some work-life balance; at the same time it may also mean that they are obliged to work longer and less social hours. ❖❖❖ SommaireLe temps de travail a toujours été une source de conflits dans les relations professionnelles. Il a été considéré comme un outil politique pour sauver des emplois, créer des emplois, maintenir un équilibre entre vie professionnelle et vie privée, et augmenter la compétitivité des entreprises. Cet article se base sur le projet de recherche SMALL et vise à évaluer jusqu'à quel point, en matière du temps de travail, nous pouvons observer des différences entre les PME et les organisations de plus grande taille de même que des divergences potentielles entre la présence ou l'absence des syndicats pour les travailleurs. D'après cet article, il existe un rapport inverse entre la taille des entreprises et le temps de travail moyen. Le caractère informel caractérisant les relations d'emploi signifie que le temps de travail dans les PME peut être flexible. Ceci peut permettre aux travailleurs d'atteindre un certain équilibre de la vie professionnelle; parallèlement, cela peut également signifier qu'ils sont obligés de travailler plus longtemps et de prester des horaires hors normes.
ASSEMBLEIA DA REPÚBLICA Lei n.º 102/2009 de 10 de Setembro Regime jurídico da promoção da segurança e saúde no trabalho A Assembleia da República decreta, nos termos da alínea c) do artigo 161.º da Constituição, o seguinte: CAPÍTULO I Disposições gerais SECÇÃO I Objecto, âmbito e conceitos Artigo 1.º Objecto
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