The struggle for power and control in the new corporations: the first year of industrial relations in the state-owned enterprises

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to identify and discuss the Principal industrial relations issues that have emerged in the first year of operation of several of the new state-owned enterprises (SOEs). The paper does not cover all the SOEs, nor does it pretend to analyse all the industrial relations issues of the first year of their operation. It is based on research and interviews conducted with unions and management in 6 of the SOEs - Electricorp, Forestrycorp, Airwayscorp, NZ Post, Telecom and Postbank. Its focus is nat on a detailed analysis of the agreements negotiated in the new corporations, but rather upon the natzue of the relationships that have emerged there. The SOEs were established as a Policy decision to shift state trading enterprises away from the public service orientation inherent in their status as departments of state to a new emphasis upon commercial criteria. The issue I wish to address in this paper is the extent to which the character of industrial relations in the SOEs has reflected this shift in orientation.