The impact of privatization and economic restructuring on employment relations: The Tunisian experience In this study, the author examines the impact of public policy changes in ownership and control of State-Owned-Enterprises (SOEs) during the first privatization phase on employment relations at the firm level in Tunisia. I have used the technique of Paired t-test statistics for pre and post intervention effect for the following four continuous employment relations variables: employment size, labor cost, financial loss of the firm and the occurrence of strikes. Comparing the means for before and after the adoption of the Structural Adjustment Plan (SAP) measures deemed to be a useful tool of analysis to assess whether the comparison of the means is statistically significant at a priori alpha level. A mean as a sample statistic is computed. Then, a null hypothesis of no difference between the sample mean and the hypothesized population is tested. The data points are yearly observations from 1983 to 1993. The adoption of privatization started in 1986 at the strategic public policy level. The main hypotheses are as follow: Employment levels would be impacted by privatization measures. In other words, privatization leads to employment reduction. Strikes as measured by the number of days lost would increase because of privatization as union(s) and labor voice their opposition to changes in ownership and control. Finally, Labor Cost would be alleviated and Financial Losses of the privatized firms will be controlled. A statistical significance has been found on all variables but the labor cost one. The employment evidence in this study suggests that alternative solutions to loss of jobs could be fostered once all employment relations' parties are fully involved in the implementation procedure of privatization. Lower labor costs have not been achieved if one looks at the instantaneous effect of privatization and that is mainly due to the adoption of severance payments and other alternative measures to layoffs to the dislocated workers. A study of the possible delayed effect of the intervention would probably lead to different outcomes. Lastly, controlling the financial and budgetary drain of the ill-operating SOEs has been achieved. This study shows the importance of examining the delayed effect of an intervention on employment relations' variables. Until more recent and complete privatization data become available, it is extremely difficult to make any additional inferences as to what is the likelihood of a positive or a negative impact of an intervention as important as privatization of public services in its various forms on industrial relations. Results of this research may assist researchers in the interdisciplinary field in resolving the debate between privatization opponents and proponents. Future research may focus on the new emerging trends of employment relations like the decentralization of collective bargaining and more employee participation at the strategic firm level. A more active approach for labor and their union(s) through employee involvement programs might also shed some light on the extent to which the changing role of unions, workers and government act in the field of employment relations and gain the competitive advantage. [TABLE="class: citation"] [TR] [TH]Format:[/TH] [TD]Dissertation[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TH]Author(s):[/TH] [TD]Belhedi, Nejib[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TH]Published:[/TH] [TD]2001[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TH]Language:[/TH] [TD]English[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]