Articles
Workplace cooperation and labor management councils
August 29,2012
By: Dr. Jose C. Gatchalian, International LMC Consultant, resource speaker for the APO training course on the Development of Productivity Practitioners.
The term “workplace cooperation (WPC)” is now understood as a broad concept connoting mutual commitment between labor and management to “working together and working smarter.” Specifically, its goal is to develop an ideal situation where management and workers are full partners in identifying problems at the workplace, crafting solutions to those problems, and implementing the agreed-upon solutions.
The WPC concept encompasses an underlying philosophy and process, procedures, and organizational structure. The idea is that greater cooperation between labor and management on matters of mutual concern can create a more satisfying, productive workplace. The process involves employee participation in day-to-day decision-making that affects their jobs. The structures and procedures enable the partners to redesign work to encourage group problem solving, open information sharing, teamwork, and skill development.
