Although my experience with ISO-9000 are all in non-union shops, I do find some
useful insights in Parker & Slaughter's Working Smart.
The spirit of ISO-9000s series is to acquire utmost predictability of the
performance of all work procedures in a company. Generally, consulting firms
encourage companies to do so by meticulously document all work processes and
every workers' responsibilities and so on. For workers currently under somewhat
favorable collective bargaining agreements, this amounts to an assault on
workers' autonomy on the job. Once your job is documented, it can be
rationalized, fragmented, and you can be replaced by machine or other, cheaper
workers. However, for those under management's constant arbitrary command, the
quasi-legalistic framework might provide some protection. At least it makes
clear what is and is not one's job.
In addition, since ISO-9000s stress so much on predictability, companies seeking
ISO-9000 certification are especially vulnerable to minor industrial actions:
work-to-rule, information picketing, refusal to participate in documentation or
suggestion plans and so on. Parker & Slaughter suggest that the emphasis on
quality may make the company more vulnerable to an external "corporate
campaign."
Hsin-Hsing Chen
Dept. of STS
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY 12180
Thomas Kruse wrote:
> Dear Pen-Lers:
>
> First, thanks to all of you who responded to the query on the definition of
> underemployment. I hope the very good reponse lifts Michael's animus to
> continuwe with PEN-L.
>
> I'm back now with another query. A while back there was a good discussion
> on ISO 9000, with participation from Asia, US, etc. Unfortunatley, I was a
> bit too quick with the ctrl + D in the In box.
>
> My question: does ISO 9000 stipulate anything regarding conditions of labor?
> We have a couple of companies here trumpeting their new ISO 9000 status, and
> they have absolutely horrific records of labor abuses. The unions are have
> tried lots of ways to publicize the abuses; they now feel the ISO issue
> might be a useful "hook" for us.
>
> Note: even if ISO 9000 does not stipulate a certain treatment of labor, has
> there been disussion in this regard? Point: even if we can't argue the
> designation is spurious on the grounds of bad labor practices, we can still
> argue there ought to be social clauses with ISO 9000.
>
> Any and all comment, help, guidance is very much appreciated. It may well
> make this week's news here.
>
> Tom
>
> Tom Kruse / Casilla 5812 / Cochabamba, Bolivia
> Tel/Fax: (591-4) 248242
> Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
