HRS - II

TRADE UNIONS
PRESENTED BY GROUP NO.3
NAME DUSHYANT GAURAV HIMANSHU JEET SINGH KAPIL LALIT
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ROLL.NO. 15 16 18 19 20 21
GROUP NO.III 1

UNION !
Organization of workers, acting collectively, seeking to protect and promote their mutual interests through collective bargaining

LABOUR

&

MANAGEMENT

Government

Financial Institutions
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Overview of the Lecture

Origins of trade unions Identify the different types of trade unions Why workers join trade unions Understand the objectives of trade unions Understand the methods used to achieve these objectives Understand the structure of trade unions Understand the future of trade unions

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Definition

One of the first and earliest definition on trade unions was that of Sidney and Beatrice Webb who described trade unions as: ..A continuous association of wage earners for the purpose of maintaining or improving their working lives.

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Origins of Trade Union

Trade unions first arose in Britain around 1760. This was the time of the industrial revolution, when work was being transformed and factories were being formed. Harsh working conditions and low wages forced workers to combine into unions.

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Origins of Trade Union

The British government was initially apprehensive about trade unions and banned their existence as well as strike action. Violence, unrest forced the British government to change its stance and in 1825 the British Government legalised trade unions allowing them to enter into collective bargaining and engage in strikes.

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Why do Workers Join Trade Unions

Economic needs:

Strengthen bargaining power over wages Improve working conditions Protect jobs from dismissal/retrenchments Protection from unilateral action by management (change terms and conditions)

Job security:

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Why do Workers Join Trade Unions

Social Needs:

Comradeship and sense of community Accident, death and pension benefits Unions represented on pension funds Promote the development of communities Use investments to benefit members

Social Welfare:

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Why do Workers Join Trade Unions

Self-fulfillment and Development:

Train and develop members Provide literacy skills to members Put pressure on repressive governments Influence labour legislation Influence government policy on wealth distribution and poverty alleviation
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Political Reasons:

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Objectives of Trade Unions

Goals include:

Equitable wage benefits Ensure a healthy and safe environment Promote job security and freedom from arbitrary dismissal Provide legal and other support to members Provide political influence and lobby government

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10

Methods Used to Obtain Goals

Collective Bargaining:

An ongoing process with employers, does not end with wages Election of shop steward, who are full time employees, and represent the interests of union members

Representation:

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Methods Used to Obtain Goals

Collective Action:

Workers go on strike link with community to boycott products of the company Influence the vote at elections Lobby government and other state structures
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Consumer Boycott:

Political Power:

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Methods Used to Obtain Goals

International support:

Getting the support of international trade unions and community organisations Using the protection provided by labour legislation Promote the view of unions

Legal action:

Media channels:

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Methods Used to Obtain Goals

Representation on National Bodies:

For example: Nedlac Example: ANC, SACP & Cosatu

Political alliances:

Establish benefit funds:

Pension funds, provident funds, medical aid

Train shop stewards, negotiators, & organisers

Educational programmes

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14

Types of Trade Unions

3 Forms or type of trade unions: Craft Unions:

Earliest forms of trade unions Promote the skilled status of members Recruit within a particular craft Membership thru apprenticeship system Power in skill and ability to control entry into the profession, i.e. control supply of skill
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Types of Trade Unions

General Unions:

Organises all workers regardless of skill or industry Normally politically motivate and anti-capital Ideal of one union for the whole country More success with unskilled and blue collar workers Weakness not sectorally based

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Types of Trade Unions

Industrial Unions:

Presently most common form of union Organises all workers in a particular industry Promotes sectoral based collective bargaining Strength is in no. of members per sector Cosatu policy of 1 union for 1 industry Stronger unions due to 1 industry focus

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Types of Trade Unions

Other type of unions White Collar Unions:

Same as industrial unions but focus on white collar workers Concentrate on organising in the Financial and service sector, e.g. Insurance and Banking Staff Association

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Types of Trade Unions

Other types of trade unions: Public Sector Unions:

Same as industrial unions but focus is on the Public Sector Eg. Public Servants Association of SA Some organise in public and private sector, eg. Nehawu (National Education, Health & Allied Workers Union)

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Federation of Unions

Cosatu - Congress of South African TU:

Largest in SA, 19 Unions with 1.8m members 27 Unions with 534 000 members 18 Unions with 372 000 members

Fedusa - Federation of Unions of SA:

Nactu- National Council of TU

Independent Unions: ~340 registered unions

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International Federations

Autonomous international trade unions linking national unions from different countries:

Educational international International Metal Workers Federation International Transport Workers Federation

Focus: Education, development, solidarity, strategic thinking

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Structures of Trade Unions

Trade unions vary in size, policy, constitution, rules Generic structure of trade unions which most unions follow to some extent At its base is members who:

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Rank and file of unions Pay union dues Elect leaders to the various structures Union always acts in the interests of members
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Structures of Trade Unions

Shop Stewards:

Unpaid agents of the union Full time employee of the company Link between union leadership & membership Advise members of their rights Represent members at hearings Manage labour relations Perform union duty while employed Some work full time as shop stewards and get paid by the company
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Structures of Trade Unions

Shop Steward Committees:

In SA first established by Fosatu Getting shop steward together either from the different companies of the same union in an area Shop stewards from different union in an area Co-ordinate activities of union/different union Discuss problems and strategies for the area

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Structures of Trade Unions

Branch Committees:

Based at a firm, or no. of firms in an area Elects office bearers for branch Shop Stewards are also branch members Branch provides secretarial services Co-ordinates union activities in the area Organises training, campaigns and rep workers Ensure implementation of union decisions
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Structures of Trade Unions

Regional Committees:

Found in larger/national trade unions Elected executive Made up of reps from the branches Co-ordinates the activities of branches in a region Support network for branches

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Structures of Trade Unions

National Level:

National Committee - constitution of union will guide how this committee is constitutes National Executive - chairperson, vice chairperson, general secretary and treasurer NEC elected by rank and file members Leadership of the union Responsible for all activities of the union

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The Future of Unions

Trade Unions in SA:

Shifted from a terrain of resistance & struggle To a terrain of dialogue, compromise and inclusive politics

Trade Unions have shifted emphasis:

Involvement in government policy making Direct involvement in managerial decisions Combining mass struggles with negotiations
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The Future of Unions

K von Holdt has argued:

Emerging is a new form of unionism called strategic unionism A unionism that sees a role in reform at the state, role in decision making at the workplace and a role in transforming civil society A deepening of the power of the working class thru democratic decision making in all areas

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The Future of Unions

What has emerged:

Uneven development: sophisticated IR and backward IR coexisting Unions still fighting and striking over wages Failure of workplace forums to increase decision making at the workplace Continued retrenchments and increasing unemployment

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The Future of Unions

Trade Unions in SA:

Still strong and growing Involved in adversarial bargaining Can still bring out members on political strikes On the decline Kelly argues: a resurgence based on long wave theory
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World wide TU:

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THANK YOU !

ANY QUERIES ?
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