Role of Trade Unions

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Role of Trade Unions

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ROLE OF TRADE UNIONS

DEFINITION


Trade union is an association either of
employees or of independent workers. It is
a relatively permanent formation of
workers. It is not a temporary or casual
combination of workers. It is formed for
securing certain economic (like better
wages,
better
working
and
living
conditions),
and
social
(such
as
educational, recreational, medical, respect
for individual) benefits to members.



A more recent and non-legislative
definition of a union is: "An organization
of workers acting collectively who seek
to protect and promote their mutual
interests through collective bargaining".
– De Cenzo & Robbins (1993)

FORMS OF TRADE UNIONS







There are three forms of trade unions:Classical: Protect the interests of its
members in given socio-economic-political
systems
Neo-classical : Tries to improve the other
wider issues like tax-reliefs, raising saving
rates etc.
Revolutionary change in the system:
Establish rule using violence and force too.

FUNCTIONS of TRADE UNIONS




Militant or protective or internal
functions: Protecting interests like hike
in wages, providing more benefits, job
security etc.
Fraternal or external functions : Provide
financial and non-financial assistance
during strikes, lockouts.
Providing
medical facilities and welfare facilities
also.





Political
functions:
Includes
affiliating the union to a political
party, help in enrolling members,
collecting donations
Social functions: Carry out social
service
activities,
discharging
social responsibilities – educating
customers etc.

OBJECTIVES of TRADE UNIONS









 

Wages and Salaries
Working conditions
Discipline
Personnel policies
Welfare
Employee-employer
relations
Negotiating
machinery
Safeguarding organizational health and the
interest of the industry

CLASSIFICATION OF TRADE UNIONS







Classification based on ideology –
Revolutionary
Unions
:
Believe
in
destruction of existing social /economic
order and creation of new one.
Reformist or Welfare Unions : Work for
changes and reforms within existing
socio-political framework of society.
Uplift Unions: Advocate extensive reforms
well beyond the area of working condition.

CLASSIFICATION BASED ON TRADE






Many unions have memberships and
jurisdictions based on the trades they
represent.
At the other extreme, in terms of the range
of workers represented in the general union,
which has members drawn from all trades.
Another common delineation of unions,
based on trades or crafts, is that between
so-called blue-collar workers and white-collar
workers

CLASSIFICATION BASED ON
AGREEMENT










Closed Shop: Union has the sole responsibility
and authority to recruit workers.
Union Shop: All recruits must join the union
within prescribed time.
Preferential Shop: Union member gets
preference in filling vacancy.
Agency Shop : Non- union member has to pay
sum equivalent to subscription fee to continue
employment.
Open Shop: No compulsory membership.

TRADE UNION ACT 1926






The Trade Union Act 1926 legalises the
formation of trade unions by allowing
employees to form trade union.
It allows trade union to get registered
under the Act.
Registration provides legal status to the
trade union and it becomes body
corporate.

RIGHTS OF RECOGNISED UNIONS








The right to raise issues with the
management,
Right to collect membership fees within
the premises of the organization,
Ability to put up a notice board on the
premises for union announcements,
Ability
to
hold
discussions
with
employees at a suitable place within the
premises

Contd






 

Right to discuss members' grievances
with employer,
Ability to inspect beforehand a place of
employment or work of its members, and
Nomination of its representatives on
committees formed by the management
for industrial relations purposes as well as
in statutory bipartite committees.

PROBLEMS CONFRONTING UNIONS
AND MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN
TRADE UNION MOVEMENT IN INDIA






Multiple unions
Lack of union finances
Low membership figures
Closure of unviable units.
The
new
corporate
'mantras'
productivity, performance, efficiency,
survival of the fittest

MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN TRADE
UNION MOVEMENT IN INDIA





United labor Front
Internal leadership
Membership fees
Other measures

STRATEGY FOR BUILDING
RESPONSIBLE TRADE UNIONISM











 

Micro to Macro Focus
Bargaining to Sharing
Grooming Trade Union Leadership
Conflict to Collaboration
Developmental Role
Enhancing Union Influence
Protective Regulation to Self-sustenance
Openness & Transparency
Effective Utilization of Alternative Forums
Accept, Share & Grow







All India Central Council of Trade Unions
All India Trade Union Congress
All India United Trade Union Centre
Bharatiya Mazdoor
Indian National Trade Union Congress

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