Concept
A trade union is any combination of persons, whether temporary or permanent. The primary purpose of a trade union is to regulate the relations between workers and employers or between workers and workers. They are a major component of the modern LRs system. A trade union of workers' is an organization formed by workers to protect their interests, improve their working conditions, etc. All trade unions have objectives or goals to achieve. They are contained in their constitution and each has its own strategy to reach those goals.
DeCenzo & Robbins:"A union is an organization of workers, working collectively, seeking to promote and protect its mutual interests through collective bargaining.
G.D.H. Cole:"A trade union means an association of workers in one or more professions – an association carried mainly for the purpose of protecting and advancing the members' economic interests in connection with their daily work."
Roverts Dictionery of IRs:"It is an association of workers in a particular trade or a craft organized to promote a common interest and to further that interest through negotiation of wages, hours and other conditions of employment.
Conclusion: It may be observed from the above definitions and discussions that:
a. A trade union is an association, either of employees or employers or of independent workers.
b. It is a relatively permanent combination of workers.
c. It is an association of workers engaged in securing economic benefits for its members.
d. Trade unions characteristics have been constantly changing. e. Its origin and growth has been influenced by a number of ideologies.
(Note: Our focus in this section is only on workers. There are other associations which are also trade unions like employers' organizations, which is not discussed in this section).
In summary, a trade union is a bargaining device. It enables a group, a class in industry or trade to bargain with any other class or group on equal footing. Such a union is economically oriented. It is an instrument of defense against exploitation. It is also an outcome of industrialization; and implies class distinction.
Basic Characteristics of a Union
Trade unions are representatives of workers and/ or employers as well. They try to protect their members' interests or rights. They are the special kinds of groups. They are formed based on certain Acts or Rules where they exist. They contain certain features or characteristics. From the careful study of the various definitions of trade union we can sum up the basic facts or characteristics as follows:
a. An association of employees:
Basically a trade union is an association of employees. But in a broader sense it may be an association either of the employer or employees or of independent workers. In other words, they belong to a particular class of employment, profession, trade or industry. For example, there are unions for workers, teachers, doctors, and so on.
b. Voluntary in nature:
They are basically voluntary in nature, in most of the cases. In some cases, the membership of a union may be even compulsory. An employee joins the trade union out of his/her free will, in majority of the cases. A person cannot be compelled to join a union.
c. Relatively permanent in nature:
Trade unions are relatively permanent association of workers. Basically they are not temporary or casual. The purpose of trade union is not merely immediate but continuous. So, to get the long-term benefit, they are relatively permanent in nature.
d. Securing economic benefits:
Trade union is an association of workers who are engaged in securing economic benefits for their members. Its primary purpose is to secure control of supply of labour in the market. Control strategy is taken as a means of fixing price of labour as well as the conditions of work.
e. Constantly changing:
The concept of trade union is dynamic. The character of trade unions has been constantly changing. Change is inevitable because of the rapid development of technology and systems of productions. These developments create various new problems. Therefore, the unions change their methods and their working to adjust themselves to suit the changing circumstances.
f. Common interests:
It is another basic feature of trade unions. In other words, the members of a trade union have certain matters of common interest. The examples are job security, better pay, better working conditions, and fair treatment and so on. Those interests, actually, have brought them together. If interests contradict, they cannot perform well.
g. Influenced by ideologies:
The origin and growth of trade unions have been influenced by a number of ideologies. In capitalism trade unions are considered as the product of democratic principle. In communism trade unions are considered as the product of autocratic principle. But in recent years, many unions have started leaving the political ideology and started working independently. They are also called free or professional unions.
Reasons for Joining Trade Unions (Why do workers join a trade union?)
The reasons for joining trade unions are many. Some individuals join them to satisfy specific needs. But in most of the cases they try to get multiple benefits from joining the trade unions. Workers join trade unions because of following reasons/benefits.
a. To get economic security:
That is, they want continuous employment with an adequate income. A single worker can't do this alone, so they join union. In other words, getting job security and/or economic security is the first and most important reason behind joining a union. The philosophy popular among the workers is "united we stand, divided we fall".
b. To block management from undue action:
Employees join the union to block the management from taking any action which is irrational, illogical, and discriminatory to the interests of labour. Workers desire that the assignment of jobs, transfers promotions, the maintenance of discipline, lay-offs, retirement, rewards and punishment should be on the basis of a pre-determined policy and on the basis of what is fair and just.
c. Communication and participation:
Workers join unions to communicate their views, aims, ideas, feelings and frustrations to the management. They want to have an effective voice in discussions which affect their welfare. The research result indicates that, if there is a strong union in an organization, the management cannot be autocratic and vice-versa.
d. Social security:
Employees join trade union to secure protection from economic hazards (risks) beyond their control. Employees join trade union to protect, themselves from illness, accident, death, disability, unemployment, etc. In other words, employees join trade union to get the better kind of social security schemes which they think are not possible if they do not join the union.
e. To get a job:
Trade union members can easily get the job through the help of a trade union. It is easy to get the job through union help than a single person's effort. In some of the organizations getting a job is not possible if they do not join union.
Functions of Trade Unions
Trade unions are formed and developed to achieve certain predetermined objectives. They have been discussed in above paragraphs. To achieve those objectives they involved in different kinds of functions. They perform those functions to get certain benefits which they think are important to them.Major functions of trade unions are:
1. Militant or protective functions:
These functions include protecting the workers' interests, i.e., hike in wages, providing more benefits, job security, etc. Unions fulfill those demands, through collective bargaining and direct action such as strikes, gheraos, etc. Protective functions include the welfare schemes of unions. It includes improvement of activities like wages, rest interval, sanitation, safety, continuity of employment and so on. All these functions of unions are termed as militant functions. To achieve them the weapons used by them are strike and other economic weapons in case collective bargaining fails.
2. Fraternal functions:
These functions include providing financial and non-financial assistance to workers. Those assistance are given during the periods of strikes and lock outs, extension of medical facilities during sickness and causalities, provision of education, recreational and housing facilities, provision of social and religious benefits, etc. On other hand, they are the functions of the unions which are carried on to help the members in times of need. They also include provision of educational, recreational and housing facilities by the unions. The unions raise funds in the form of subscriptions from their members to grant number of benefits to the subscribers. Such functions are very important. They are important because they inculcate the spirit of co-operation amongst the members who are to subscribe funds for the common interests.
3. Political functions:
These functions include affiliating the union with a political party, and helping the political party in enrolling members. They also go through collecting donations, seeking the help of political parties during the periods of strikes and lockouts. The history of trade unionism in our country records profound effects of political leaders. The political colour given to the unions is to strive for realisation of its economic objectives. It is achieved through legislative and administrative measures. The unions are authorised to have a fund for political purposes. They use that fund on election of labour representatives and also for holding of political meetings.
4. Social functions:
Trade unions are not only bargaining entities. Rather they are also social groups. They perform several social works that is demanded by the general public. These functions include carrying out social service activities. They discharge social responsibilities through various sections of the society like educating the customers, etc.
The Nepalese Context: According to Nepalese Trade Union Act 1990, the primary function of trade unions is that they must work to protect and promote the interest of the workers and conditions of their employment. However beside the primary functions discussed earlier, trade unions in Nepal are committed to undertake under-mentioned functions:
i. To secure better wages and living conditions for their members.
ii. To acquire the control of industry by workers.
iii.. To provide workers self confidence and a feeling of identity in the organization.
iv. To enforce sincerity and discipline in workers.
v. To make up welfare measures for improving morale of the workers.
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