What is a Trade Union?
Trade unions are organizations formed by members who need to protect common interests. This characteristic makes it a membership-based group mainly made up of workers. Employees often join these organizations to protect and advance their work-related interests. These groups are designed to function for members in the workplace; however, they are independent of their employer. Trade unions exist independently, but function best when they have a close working relationship with employers. Partnership agreements between the employer and the trade union are pretty standard as they help to peacefully meet the common interests and objectives of both the company and its workers.
The primary duty of a trade union is to negotiate agreements with employers on pay and working conditions. They listen to the members’ needs and send representatives to discuss significant changes with the employers. These changes often relate to the workplace. When issues such as large-scale redundancy are communicated to the workforce, there is likely to be feedback. The employees typically meet to agree on how to address the members’ concerns with employers. These groups are also formed to accompany and guide members when they engage in disciplinary and grievance meetings. They have the experience and resources to assist their members with legal and financial advice. These groups often seek to better the lives of their members and can sometimes provide education facilities and certain consumer benefits. These groups often have a significant membership database to access economic benefits such as discounted insurance.
Most Prominent Trade Unions in the UK?
Unison, Unite the Union, and GMB is the UK’s three biggest trade unions. The size of its membership database often defines the prominence of a trade union. The more exclusive white-collar trade unions are usually smaller in number; however, they possess significant political influence. The union with the largest membership database is Unison. It boasts a community of 1.3 million members. They have numerous full-time and part-time staff that serve their communities through public services in both the public and private sectors.
Unison is a crucial trade union that represents and acts for members. They employ over 1,200 staff to help them perform negotiations for their members and attempt to bargain on their behalf. Their members have benefitted from improved remuneration for public services. This prominent union is known for its success in campaigning for better working conditions.
They believe in fighting for fairness and equality. They have substantial leverage in negotiations with the government because they have over 1.3 million members. Unison operates in the UK; however, it is Europe’s largest public service union. They represent their employees in the EU who serve private contractors providing public services and utility companies.
The more prominent a trade union is, the more likely it is to have a well-defined structure. These organizations will have branches in many regions, groups and councils. They are a vital support function for democracy, elections, political affiliations, and better governance. These groups choose their leadership through elections. Selected candidates then oversee administration through the elected national executive council of ordinary members. This brass of membership is answerable to all registered members.
Should I Join a Trade Union?
It might seem like a substantial effort to join a trade union; however, there are numerous reasons you should consider joining it.
- Joining a trade union would provide an opportunity to lend your support to improve the power of working people. Adding numbers to the membership helps to enable employees to speak with one voice to their employer. Joining a trade union would help working people negotiate better deals with their employers.
- Being a union member will provide you with increased job security. Benefits such as maternity, paternity, sick, and pension become easier to fight for without fear of losing your job. Membership in a trade union will help ensure you have access to benefits like paid holidays and flexible working hours.
- Employees who work for companies whose workers have unionized are statistically more likely to earn 6.5% more than those employed in a non-unionized workplace. This advantage is significant because unionized workspaces often report smaller pay gaps too. This balance ensures that women and men are likely to earn similar remuneration for doing the same or similar duties in the workplace.
- Joining a trade union will often earn you access to legal advice on employment matters. This benefit will help save you money, but they can also help with guidance through representation at an employment tribunal. These unions are on your side and will move to support and represent you if you experience workplace discrimination, harassment, or bullying.
- The reason many employees join a trade union is because of camaraderie. These labor movements often have a culture of teamwork and solidarity. Joining these groups will help those with little political influence achieve more together than they can alone. These collective values of solidarity and equality are essential in a society where capitalism is rampant.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Pros
- Joining a union will allow members to make pay demands that suit their requirements without fear of victimization. Employees often demand less than they need/deserve out of fear their employers will replace them.
- Trade unions help their members to achieve improved working conditions. Unsafe work environments can cause trauma and lifelong disability to employees. Strength in numbers helps to arm-twist the employees, improving safety conditions in the workplace.
- Unfair dismissals can occur in the workplace, and being a trade union member can shield you against such treatment. The union can provide guaranteed job security. They offer this through legal counsel, representation, and solidarity demonstrations.
- Unions stand for fairness among employees. They often demand to improve the pay gaps, reducing economic inequality.
Cons
- The demands of an unionized workforce can be detrimental to profits for the company. Paying high wages and offering many benefits can stifle business development. This problem can result in high levels of unemployment across the industry.
- Solidarity demonstrations such as picketing, strikes, and go-slows result in lost productive time. This adversely affects profits and can reduce business sustainability.
- Trade unions can reduce motivation in the workforce. Employees with guaranteed job security may become lethargic. This attitude in employees can be harmful to production.
