restrictive labour practice

restrictive labour practice

a practice, usually operated by a TRADE UNION or group of employees, which inhibits PRODUCTIVITY.

Collins Dictionary of Business, 3rd ed. © 2002, 2005 C Pass, B Lowes, A Pendleton, L Chadwick, D O’Reilly and M Afferson

restrictive labour practice

a practice, usually operated by a TRADE UNION in the interests of its members, that has the effect of reducing productive efficiency For example, a union may insist that a specified number of its members work on a particular activity even though this involves employing more workers than is strictly required to undertake the activity efficiently (overmanning); different unions operating in the same plant may lay down demarcation rules specifying what tasks their members can work on and what they cannot, which has the effect of limiting job interchangeability; unions may resist the installation of new machinery, especially if this is likely to result in job losses. See also PRODUCTIVITY, X-EFFICIENCY, INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, SUPPLY-SIDE ECONOMICS.

Collins Dictionary of Economics, 4th ed. © C. Pass, B. Lowes, L. Davies 2005