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Understanding Workers' Unions and Functions

This document discusses the functions and types of labour unions. Unions seek to protect and promote the mutual interests of workers through collective bargaining. Their functions include protecting wages and working conditions, providing social and financial assistance to members, engaging in political activities, and negotiating with employers on issues like personnel policies and industrial relations. Unions can be classified based on their ideology, the industries and trades they represent, and the type of closed or open shop agreements they have with employers.

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Mohammed Imran Akbar
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15 views10 pages

Understanding Workers' Unions and Functions

This document discusses the functions and types of labour unions. Unions seek to protect and promote the mutual interests of workers through collective bargaining. Their functions include protecting wages and working conditions, providing social and financial assistance to members, engaging in political activities, and negotiating with employers on issues like personnel policies and industrial relations. Unions can be classified based on their ideology, the industries and trades they represent, and the type of closed or open shop agreements they have with employers.

Uploaded by

Mohammed Imran Akbar
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Organisation of workers acting

collectively, who seek to protect and


promote their mutual interests through
collective bargaining
 CLASSICAL – Protect the interests of workers –
express the needs ,aspirations , wishes of
workers

 NEO – CLASSICAL – Improving issues like tax


reliefs , raising saving rates , etc.,

 REVOLUTIONARY CHANGE IN THE SYSTEM –


Through violence , use of force
 MILITANT OR PROTECTIVE OR INTRA-MURAL
FUNCTIONS – protecting workers interests –wage
hike, job security , collective bargaining & strikes
,gheraos ,etc.,

 FRATERNAL or EXTRAMURAL FUNCTIONS –


financial & non-financial assistance to workers
during strikes & lockouts, medical facilities
,education , recreation, religious benefits ,etc.,
 POLITICAL FUNCTIONS – Affiliating with political
party – collect donation – help during strikes

 SOCIAL FUNCTIONS – Social service activities


,discharging social responsibilities
 Wages & Salaries
 Working Conditions
 Discipline
 Personnel policies
 Welfare
 Employer-Employee relations
 Negotiating Machinery
 Safeguarding organisational health & the interest of the
Industry
 Sectional bargainer – Interests of workers @
plant,Industry,National level – multiplicity of unions,
Crafts union, White collar union , etc.,
 Class bargainer – interests of Particular class –
Agriculture Unions , Civil servants union
 Agents of State – Railway strike , INTUC stood behind
 Partners in Social Control – Germany , Holland
,France , Italy & Sweden
 Unions Role - enemies of economic system – politics
driven – Leftist – fundamental economic change –
high wages & bonus – wont consider economy

 Business oriented role – consider interests of


organisation as well - swim & sink together

 Unions as Change agent – lead changes – pioneering


role
 Based on Ideology
 Revolutionary Unions – Destruction of existing one & creating
new one – Shift in power & authority & use force(LEFT)

Reformist or Welfare Unions – Exchanges in existing Socio-


political framework – European model

Uplift Unions – Advocates beyond working conditions – Poverty


elimination , Change in tax system
 Based on Trade
 Membership based on trade they represent – Craft
union(WEST) certified to do certain craft like pipe fitting ,
Carpentry – not in INDIA & SRILANKA
 Range of workers represented in general union from all trades
- in INDIA & SRILANKA
BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS – Workers on the Production floor
or Outdoor Trades(Construction site)
WHITE –COLLAR WORKERS – Employees in shops & Offices –
clerical & allied functions
Industry they work – Agricultural Labour union, Forest
workers union
 Based on agreement
 Closed Shop – Workers should be join the union to become
the employee – Hartley Act 1947 bans this – Still exist in US –
also called HIRING HALL
 Union Shop - All new recruits should the union within the
period
 Preferential shop – union members given preference in
filling the vacancy
 Maintenance shop – No compulsory membership b4 & after
recruitment – membership remains compulsory once chosen
 Agency Shop – Non union member pays equal to member to
continue employment
 Open Shop - No compulsory membership b4 & after
recruitment - no unions at all

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