Work-to-rule
Work-to-rule is an industrial action in which employees do no more than the minimum required by the rules of their contract, and follow safety or other regulations precisely in order to cause a slowdown, rather than to serve their purposes.[1][2] Such an action is considered less disruptive than a strike or lockout; and just obeying the rules is less susceptible to disciplinary action. Notable examples have included nurses refusing to answer telephones and police officers refusing to issue citations. Refusal to work overtime, travel on duty or sign up to other tasks requiring employee assent are other manifestations of using work-to-rule as industrial action.
Work to rule has been given the following judicial definition: " 'Work to rule' has a perfectly well-known meaning, namely, 'Give the rules a meaning which no reasonable man could give them and work to that.' "[3]
Sometimes the term "rule-book slowdown" is used in a slightly different sense than "work-to-rule": the former involves applying to the letter rules that are normally set aside or interpreted less literally to increase efficiency; the latter, refraining from activities which are customary but not required by rule or job description but the terms may be used synonymously.
Sometimes work-to-rule can be considered by employers as malicious compliance as they pursue legal action against workers.
"Work-to-rule" is also known as "Italian strike."[4] In Italy, it is known as "sciopero bianco" or a "white strike."
Memorable incidents
NASUWT teachers dispute with Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove [5]
References
- ^ Garreth Morgan (1998). Images of Organization. Thousand Oaks, California USA: Sage Publications. p. 165. ISBN 0-7619-1752-7. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
- ^ "Air Canada Hit By Work-to-Rule", The Sun, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, pp. 1–2, 9 December 1968, retrieved 20 June 2012
- ^ Secretary of State v. ASLEF (No. 2) [1972] 2 All E.R. 949 at 959 (N.I.R.C.) per Sir John Donaldson. Cited in William Twining and David Miers (2010). How to Do Things with Rules. Cambridge University Press. p. 41. ISBN 978-0-521-19549-2. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
- ^ Strike Social Conflict and the First World War. Milan, Italy: Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli Milano. 1992. p. 543. ISBN 88-07-99047-4. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|editors=ignored (|editor=suggested) (help) - ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-20696660
External links
- "Work-to-rule: a guide". libcom.org. Retrieved 2011-08-15.
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