The Earliest Inhabitants written by Leslie-Gayle Atkinson, book to be reviewed. - Andrew Smith/ Photography Editor

Book Review:

Title: A to Z of Industrial Relations in the Caribbean Workplace

Authors: George J. Phillip and Benthan H. Hussey

Publisher: Canoe Press (Mona)

Reviewer: Raymond Forrest

This book is a follow up of the very useful 'A-Z of Industrial Relations Practices at the Workplace' written by George J. Phillip, that focused on industrial practices in Jamaica. Against the background of the Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME), this updated version gives you a clear and concise guide to navigating through tricky industrial relations terminologies and techniques, while widening its focus to cover case studies from Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago.

Easy to use

It's quite easy to use this 269- page guide as it explores all the terminology used in the workplace, starting with A-Abandonment of Job, going right through to Z-Zero defects (with only letters Q and X absent from the list). The last 100 pages also focus on key appendices and selected industrial relations cases.

Phillip and Hussey have done well to put together this ideal tool to inform both academic and labour management practitioners about the 'ins and outs' to efficient industrial relations practices at the workplace. It provides a common sense approach to readers to avoid disruptive working environments, with useful suggestions to employers, employees and trade union representatives, while never failing to point out the legal responsibilities of each.

Historical development

The early pages set out the historical development of the concept of industrial relations, argues the definitional difficulties that it sometimes encompasses, and then looks at the differing theoretical perspectives on industrial relations (ranging from the Class Conflict or Marxist Perspective, to the Unity Perspective, to the Pluralist Perspective). It then gives a comprehensive and concise listing of all the terms found between A-Z as they apply to industrial relations workplace matters. It then closes with the various appendices from A to N, with the latter appendix (N), being a selective 16 case outline of various workplace issues.

It is a book that any management professional, academic labour specialist, trade union negotiator, and labour specialist needs to keep handy for quick references, as they would find it a worthwhile investment. I found it quite an easy read.