A2 Business Studies
Trade unions and industrial relations
a.) The trade union is an organisation representing the interests and goals of working people. Membership involves the payment of subscriptions, usually of about £10-£15 per month. A trade union allows workers to gain a greater power and security at work. It can provide greater influence collectively in relations with employers than workers have as separate individuals; their role seems to have developed away from confrontation towards cooperation with managers and conflict resolution.
Trade unions represent individual workers when they have a problem at work. If an employee feels they are being unfairly treated, he can ask the union representative to help sort out the difficulty with the manager or employer. They also allow negation between different levels of staff and the government, allowing collective bargaining to take place, and this gives them a strength of argument when wanting to go on strike as the government will not want this. They also offer legal assistance when a worker is been prosecuted for either criminal charges or a breach in company rules. The trade union also offers workers financial discounts and employee training and education about their union.
Trade unions are organized through the election amongst workers of representatives who have strength of character to be able to negotiate with the government and management. Trade unions can collectively bargain for the best possible deal for all its members; not just wages, but the right to live anywhere you want and the number of hours worked, medical benefits, and paid time off. The power of a trade union is also limited to the unity of the members, because the only thing a worker possesses is the ability to walk off the job, so it's more effective if everyone walks out and stays out together. Trade unions negotiate pay and conditions, give advice and information, defend employer’s rights, resolve conflict and provide services for...