Shop Steward

Shop Steward is a simulation of UK industrial relations in the 1970s. It deals with trade union activity at a small company during an economic crisis. As a shop steward the player has to make decisions on the amount of industrial action union members will take each quarter. The aim is to maximise support, number of workers and pay level while at the same time avoiding management conflicts that might lead to lockouts that threaten the future of the firm. For each quarter the player has to enter the amount of action that is taken by entering a number between 0 and 5. 0 means no action is taken, 1 leads to informal pressure on management, 2 is work-to-rule (no overtime or flexible working), 3 leads to a wildcat strike and 4 is an all-out strike.

Depending on what the player chooses to do, the management will respond in different ways. This include increased wages, a lock-out, or shutting the company. This might then lead to job offers or redundancies (voluntary or compulsory depending on the player's choice). Sometimes the company wants to invest in new technology which leads to some staff being replaced with machinery which boosts the company's productivity but decreases the workforce. The player simply has to try and stay in office as long as possible. There are several ways to fail, including bankruptcy, low staff numbers and lack of support within the union.