ABSTRACT
This chapter considers, first, labour relations in general and, secondly, the recruitment and training of workers in particular. The quality of labour relations is a crucial factor in determining the profitability of a firm's operations and the part it can play in helping to increase the growth rate of the economy. The most obvious sphere of conflict between the two sides of industry is that of wages. The interviews showed that one of the non-wage factors that looms large in workers' minds is the difference in treatment between staff and shop floor. The interviews with conveners showed that short periods of notice are harmful to productivity and make any sort of co-operation between management and labour extremely difficult. A further consequence of fear of redundancy that is most damaging to the growth of productivity is the way in which it encourages demarcation. The status and responsibility of personnel managers vary enormously.
