Unit 7 labour relations

Learning goals After studying this unit you will be able to: differentiate between labour, craft and industrial unions identify the role of labour unions in society assess the advantages of union membership explain the difference between labour and management tactics

READING I

Labour unions

Key terms

Match the terms with their definitions. Try to find suitable equivalents for the terms.

1) labour (trade) union	a) an organization of workers with specific skills like carpenters or pilots
2) craft union	b) an organization of workers with a particular political position in different industries
3) industrial union	c) an organization of employees which is formed to achieve common goals in the areas of wages, working hours and working conditions
4) political union	d) an organization of all workers at all levels within one given industry

Vocabulary task

Match the words with their English equivalents.

1) labour (trade) union	a) следование инструкциям, доведенное до абсурда
2) industrial union	b) судебный запрет
3) craft union	c) запрет рабочим находиться на рабочих местах
4) industrial action	d) профсоюз
5) strike	e) цеховой профсоюз
6) go-slow (slow-down)	f) забастовка
7) working-to-rule	g) производственный профсоюз
8) lockout	h) действия протеста со стороны рабочих
9) injunction	i) намеренное сокращение уровня производства

Think ahead

In your opinion, who joins trade unions and for what purpose?

Text 7.1 Read the text and describe different types of unions.

What Are Labour Unions

Basic Facts about Labour Unions

The story of organized labour is an important and fascinating chapter in the history. It is a story that has its beginnings in the early nineteenth century when the workday started at sunrise and ended at sunset – for men, women and children. Most would agree that during industrial revolutions business owners and managers left the workers with little choice but to form unions. At that time, new technology was raising the standard of living for many people, but the majority of workers worked about eleven hours a day and six days a week. Looking back, it seems only natural that workers began to look for a means to protect themselves from exploitation and physical harm. Labour unions were the means that they devised.

Labour unions or trade unions are organizations that attempt to represent workers’ interests. They negotiate with employers about wages, working hours and working conditions of their members. They can defend members who have individual difficulties. Basically, labour unions exist to influence employers to further the benefits of employees. If dissatisfied, they can take ‘industrial action’ such as going on strike or operating a go-slow or a work-to-rule.

There are two basic types of labour unions – craft and industrial. A craft union is an organization of workers with specific skills, like electricians or pilots. An industrial union is an organization of all workers at all levels within one given industry. In some countries, for example, France and Italy, unions are largely political: workers in different industries join unions with a particular political position.

Why do workers join unions? Although the percentage of workers who have joined unions may be declining somewhat, the total number of union workers is substantial. There are several reasons for this substantial membership.

• Unions are seen as helping workers get higher wages and fringe benefits. They are generally seen as a means by which workers can get a greater share of profits.

• Unions are seen as helping workers improve working conditions. Job safety is an important concern in this area. Through unions workers can often influence management to invest in appropriate safety equipment. Desirable lighting and temperatures could also be included in this area.

• Unions are seen as protecting workers from unfair management. Certainly, many employees would like to be shielded from what they consider to be unfair decisions, rules and rule enforcement. Through unions workers have some such protection.

• Unions are seen as possessing political power. Employees may respond favourably to being members of an organization that can lobby for laws to control such things as minimum wage levels or worker safety. Some degree of political influence can be achieved through unions.

Unions Today and in the Future

As a result of deregulation, working conditions in many industries in many countries have worsened, leading to the creation of a great many casual, part-time, unskilled jobs done by non-unionised workers. But in such countries such as South Korea, or Poland, or South Africa, trade unions have played an enormous dynamic political and economic role. Some of the old attitudes and structures of trade unions in Europe or the USA have become somewhat out-of-date and they have to be reinvented. But in the end, as long as employees have needs that have to be represented, they will need trade unions. A sensible government and sensible employers, that want effective social piece, and also want a team-working and dynamic economy, should be encouraging trade unions. The form of trade unions is changing, perhaps the old class war attitude of trade unions is out-of-date, but again it is interesting to see that in some of the most successful economies such as Germany and Japan there is a strong trade union presence, it is recognized by employers, it is accepted as a partner by government.

A number of politicians and business leaders are beginning to regret the weakness of unions. A big company needs someone to represent and articulate the needs of the employees and act as a social partner to the employer. But there is clearly a problem if workers believe that the unions are incapable of doing this, and choose not to join them.

Probably the best way to predict what will happen to union membership in the future is to focus on the workforce of the future. There will be a lower growth rate for the more traditional union jobs such as blue-collar jobs than for the less traditional union jobs such as professional positions. This trend suggests that union membership will not increase significantly in the near future.

Predicted trends in employment by industry for the workforce of tomorrow also seem to indicate a minimal increase in the total number of union members. Employment growth in industries like manufacturing and mining, which historically have been more unionized, is expected to increase only moderately. Employment growth in industries like the service industry, which have been historically non-unionized, is expected to grow much more rapidly. The service industry is comprised of organizations that provide services such as banking, insurance, education, etc.

Concept check

1. Answer the following questions:

1. Why did labour unions appear?

2. What is a labour union and what are its purposes?

3. What types of unions there exist?

4. How do labour unions help working people?

5. What are the reasons to join labour unions?

6. How do you explain the recent decrease in total union membership?

7. What changes can be observed in developing and advanced countries in labour union movement?

8. Why do some businessmen and politicians regret the weakness of unions?

9. What trends are predicted in labour union movement?

2. Find and analyse information about labour union movement in perspective.

READING II