What is the main objective of trade or labor union to the organization of workers?
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is a national confederation of trade unions as well as a network of professional associations and partners across all sectors in Singapore. Show NTUC’s objectives are to help Singapore stay competitive and workers remain employable for life; to enhance the social status and well-being of our members and working people; and to build a strong, responsible and caring labour movement. NTUC’s vision is to be an inclusive labour movement for all collars, ages and nationalities. NTUC is at the heart of the Labour Movement, which comprises 58 affiliated unions, seven affiliated associations, 12 social enterprises, six related organisations as well as a growing ecosystem of U Associates and enterprise partners. A trade union meaning defines an association of the workers related to the same trade, organization, or industry to protect their rights, improve working conditions, wage revisions, and communicate with management in one voice. It aims to give bargaining power to the workers vis-a-vis management of the firms or the government in their favor. You are free to use this image on your website, templates, etc., Please provide us with an attribution linkHow to Provide Attribution?Article Link to be Hyperlinked A trade union is a tool to thwart the management from implementing any anti-worker policy. It also acts as a bridge between the worker and the management. It conveys the policy decisions and objections to and from workers. Although every union is autonomous, management could not implement worker-related policy without their collective bargaining agreement with the management. Table of contents
Key Takeaways
Trade Union ExplainedA trade union is a group formed by employees of the same trade, firm, company, or industry to safeguard their rights, salaries, and working conditions from the exploitation of their employer. Nearly every profession, industry, and organization have its unions. Examples include nurses’ unions, teachers’ unions, drivers’, labor unions, and lawyers’ unions. They don’t work under management, but unions have the power to accept or reject any terms and conditions on behalf of workers. Labor unions have been accorded legal status in many countries like the the United States and the United Kingdom. It means employers must make a legally binding union agreement, namely collective bargaining agreement (CBA), for a fixed duration. These agreements are related to welfare measures, perks, and working conditions of the employees. Unions are also responsible for the ethical and disciplined workers in an organization. Therefore, the union may take any disciplinary action if found violating the union or organization’s code of conduct. Trade unions are governed differently under different laws of various nations. All labor unions function according to the power given to them under the labor laws of the place. The power conferred by the law to unions gives them enough bargaining power to negotiate pro-worker agreements and oppose anti-worker actions of the management. Every new employee has to pay a certain fee to get a trade union membership. The union also charges annual contributions from its members to conduct elections, social works, and activities to strengthen the union. It has many other similar functions. Functions of Trade UnionThe trade union roles are related to main types related to their members, organization of union, union activities, and contribution to society. 1. Members
2. Organization
3. Union Activities
4. Society
Types Of Trade UnionThree types of labor unions are: # 1 – Craft-Based UnionDaily wage earners of different occupations form this union to safeguard their interests, bring uniformity, hike their labor charges, and stand united against exploitation by businesses or individuals. Making a labor union gives them immense bargaining power and strength of unity in the eyes of society, businesses, and individuals like all the people who are engaged in the profession of plumbing come together and form a plumber’s union or electrical trade union. However, the union is weak and cannot fulfill trade union objectives more often than not. # 2 – Industrial UnionThis type of union is formed by manual labor, semi-skilled labor, and skilled and highly skilled workers in one single industry like the iron & steel industry at the plant level, regional level, or industry level. In America, industrial unions like the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) exist at the national level, having more than 0.4 million active members. It gives great adaptability to new technology, better-negotiating salary and working conditions with the employer, and advocacy of better labor policies from the industrial body and the government. It also prevents the unauthorized and mass layoffs of workers from their jobs illegally. # 3 – General UnionIt is a union body created by all the types of unions like craft unions and industrial unions to have one central body in the shape of the national trade union congress. The central body has much more power to negotiate with the industries, management, and government so that the members of the union get good treatment, better salaries, healthy working conditions, and call a nationwide strike in case of any injustice or laying off of the employees without due legal course. Many times general union is formed to take the voices of discontent over economic policies to the government. ExamplesLet us look at some trade union examples to understand the concept more comprehensively. Example # 1Here is an example related to the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), founded in 1935. It consists of members from Automobile, equipment manufacturing, and farm equipment workers. It has more than 0.4 million active members and 0.58 million retired members from the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada. UAW has 600 local unions in which 1150 employee contracts were formed with 1600 employers across the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada. Till now, it has used CBA to achieve-
Example # 2The second example is Service Employees International Union (SEIU), formed in 1921 in Chicago as Building Service Employees Union (BSEIU). It comprises public employees- security and janitorial employees, non-professional health care professionals, technical workers, and RNs. It has about 2 million members from the sectors mentioned earlier. Their main aim is to have a just and equal society for all workers so their families and communities may thrive. It is the only union in the U.S. to grow despite many challenges. For example, they played an important role in the low-wage worker movement and raised the operational standards of security personnel. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)Why were trade unions formed? Workers formed labor unions in the nineteenth century to protect the workers’ rights in the wake of the industrial revolution when the working class realized that the factory owners were exploiting them. Later, the government registered them to negotiate for better pay, working conditions, and uniform working hours on behalf of the labor class. When did trade unions start? The earliest instance of a labor union was the labor strike of printers’ workers in the U.S. in 1786. Hence, the labor unions have their origins in the eighteenth century when the industries employed a huge labor force that called for the safety of workers through unionization. How do trade unions increase wages? Labor unions have conferred the power to negotiate wages and other working conditions with the management. Labor unions make the management realize that if they do not pay increased salaries to their workers, production may get affected. Are trade unions good or bad? Labor unions have both the aspect of being good as well as bad. In terms of labor welfare, it is beneficial. Still, when it comes to an increase in productivity or efficiency of labor, it becomes an obstacle as unions are only concerned with e benefits of the workers without caring for the betterment of the factory and production or management. Recommended ArticlesThis has been a guide to Trade Union and its definition. Here, we explain its functions and types with examples. You may learn more from the following articles – What are the main objectives of labor unions?Unions have historically formed to ensure fair wages, benefits and better working conditions for their members. They negotiate with businesses and governments on behalf of employees, who either work a particular type of job or in a particular industry.
Which of the following is are the objectives of trade union?Regulation of relations, settlement of grievances, raising new demands on behalf of workers, collective bargaining and negotiations are the other key principle functions that these trade unions perform.
What is the main purpose of organized labor?The main purpose of organized labor is to improve the conditions and economic power of the working class. Unions can negotiate on behalf of their members for higher wages, better benefits, or protection from termination. In addition, they also lobby for better labor laws with legislators and politicians.
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