Power and Union-Management Relations

Power relations are viewed as being systematic and as involving contests over who performs what functions, when, and how. Power relations are crucial in situations of functional interdependence. As illustrated in the analysis of union-management relations, power struggles do not typically result in social havoc. They are institutionalized social relations and are therefore orderly, even though full of conflict.' Robert Dubin is head of the Department of Sociology in the University of Oregon.