Le rôle et les fonctions des centres de relations industrielles en France The Role and Functions of Industrial Relations Centres in France

Résumé

Après une brève description des caractéristiques du système de relations industrielles en France et du rôle de l'Université, l'auteur présente les structures et l'organisation des Centres de relations industrielles en ce pays. Il insiste sur la recherche, l'enseignement et la formation dans ce domaine.

Abstract

The main characteristics of the French industrial relations system have shaped the teaching and the research in this field, by privileging the legal and ideological aspects, and at a lesser degree, sociological. But, the weak interest taken in the industrial relations in France until a recent date can be also explained by the general organisation of the University which has been highly divided in newcommunicating disciplines. The used methods had led to neglect of the applied teaching and research for more theoretical activities and to rejection of the industrial relations as a very minor speciality.

Thereby, they are outside University institutions which have undertaken the teaching of industrial relations most of the time considered as a secondary field in its legal or sociological aspects.

The University centres of industrial relations are devoted to the research but are, with certain exceptions, not multidisciplinary. The lack of interest of the University and the split between the teaching and the research have contributed to limit the number of centres to some units and incited the employers and the unions to develop their own centres, which are also very little and practical goals oriented.

But if the industrial relations are not a minor field, some encouraging dues can be found in the changes of attitudes of the University members more conscious now of the interest of the multi-disciplinarity and of the employers and union managers more anxious to adapt themselves to the economic and social changes. It is hoped that the industrial relations centres could benefit from this new situation.