Annual Review Article 1992
| Published date | 01 March 1993 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8543.1993.tb00384.x |
| Date | 01 March 1993 |
British
Journal
of
Indirstrirrl
Relations
31:l
March
1993
0007-1080
Annual
Review
Article
1992
Sheila
Roth
well
*
Abstract
The article presents an overview
of
some
of
the significant developments
in
British industrial relations
in
1992
from a mutiagerial perspective. Against a
background
of
deepening recession mid redundancy, and some attempts to
reorganize more jlrxibly, company approaches to equal opportunities,
to
truining and development und
to
employee involvement (both individual and
collective) are outlined. Interpretation revetrls contradictory trends and
a
contrast between the rhetoric mid the reality
of
innovation. Unless greater
future emphasis
is
giver)
to
meeting employee as well us organizational needs,
fiirther problems seem likely
to
emerge.
1.
Introduction
What were the significant events
of
1992
in
terms of the management of UK
industrial relations'? In perspective
it
would seem that little
of
moment
happened as companies struggled to square the circle
-
both to survive the
recession and to restructure themselves to face increased international
competition by utilizing their financial, material and human resources more
effectively.
In
retrospect,
1992
could prove to have been a watershed year
in
the shedding
of
the old
-
numbers, structures and attitudes
-
and the
development
of
the new. The evidence available is inevitably partial and
incomplete, but a combination
of
optimism and pessimism in interpreting it
is
probably an accurate reflection
of
the climate
of
the year.
At
a
General Election in April
1992,
John Major was returned as prime
minister. Gillian Shephard (one
of
two women in the new Cabinet) replaced
Michael Howard as secretary
of
state for employment. Neil Kinnock
resigned as leader
of
the opposition and was replaced by John Smith.
2. Recession and redundancy
Expectations
of
an upturn
in
the economy were continually deferred as
recession continued to deepen and output and consumer expenditure fell
while the public-sector borrowing requirement rose. Many of Britain's
economic problems were attributed to the high interest rates required
to
*Director, Centre
for
Employment Policy Studies. t-lenlcy Management College
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