Understanding The Objectives Of Trade Unions

Understanding The Objectives Of clientele wind Unions throw alliances represent individual workers when they give up a problem at work. If an employee feels he is being unfairly treated, he can ask the trade union representative to sponsor sort out the impediment with the manager or employer. Unions in like manner offer their members legal representation. Normally this is to help people get financial compensation for work-related injuries or to assist people who adopt to teach their employer to court.Negotiation is where union representatives, discuss with vigilance, the issues which affect people operative in an organization. There may be a difference of opinion amid management and union members. Trade unions negotiate with the employers to find out a solution to these differences. Pay, working hours, holidays and changes to working practices argon the sorts of issues that atomic number 18 negotiated. In many employments in that respect is a formal agreement between the union and the company which states that the union has the right to negotiate with the employer. In these organizations, unions are said to be recognized for bodied bargaining purposes.Voice in decisions affecting workersThe economic security of employees is determined not just by the level of wages and duration of their employment, but in like manner by the managements personal policies which include selection of employees for lay offs, retrenchment, promotion and transfer. These policies directly affect workers. The evaluation criteria for such decisions may not be fair. So, the intervention of unions in such decision making is a way through which workers can keep their say in the decision making to safeguard their interests.Member serveDuring the last few years, trade unions have increased the range of services they offer their members. These includeEducation and training Most unions run training courses for their members on employment rights, health and safety and othe r issues. Some unions also help members who have left school with little education by offering courses on basic skills and courses leading to professional qualifications.Legal assistance As well as offering legal advice on employment issues, some unions give help with personal matters, like housing, wills and debt.Financial discounts People can get discounts on mortgages, insurance and loans from unions.Welfare benefits One of the earliest intentions of trade unions was to look after members who chance upon hard times. Some of the older unions offer financial help to their members when they are sick or unemployed.3.2 Functions of Trade UnionsTrade unions perform a number of functions in order to achieve the objectives. These functions can be broadly classified into three categories(i) Militant functions,(ii) biovular functions3.2.1 Militant FunctionsOne delimitate of activities performed by trade unions leads to the procession of the position of their members in relation to their employment. The aim of such activities is to ensure adequate wages unspoiled give way conditions of work and employment and get better treatment from employers, etc. When the unions fail to accomplish these aims by the method of incorporated bargaining and negotiations, they adopt an approach and put up a fight with the management in the form of go-slow tactics, strike, boycott, gherao, etc. Hence, these functions of the trade unions are known as militant or fighting functions. Thus, the militant functions of trade unions can be summed up asTo achieve higher wages and better working conditionsTo raise the status of workers as a part of industryTo protect labors against victimization and injustice3.2.2 Fraternal Functionsanother set of activities performed by trade unions aims at rendering help to its members in times of need, and improving their efficiency. Trade unions try to foster a olfactory perception of cooperation and promote friendly relations and diffuse educatio n and culture among their members. They take up welfare measures for improving the morale of workers and generate self confidence among them. They also arrange for legal assistance to its members, if necessary. Besides, these, they undertake many welfare measures for their members, e.g., school for the education of children, library, reading-rooms, in-door and out-door games, and other recreational facilities. Some trade unions even undertake outcome of some magazine or journal. These activities, which may be called fraternal functions, depend on the availability of funds, which the unions raise by subscription from members and donations from outsiders, and also on their competent and tiro leadership. Thus, the fraternal functions of trade unions can be summed up asTo take up welfare measures for improving the morale of workersTo generate self confidence among workersTo uphold sincerity and discipline among workersTo provide opportunities for promotion and growthTo protect women workers against discrimination3.3 Importance of Trade UnionsThe existence of a strong and recognized trade union is a pre-requisite to industrial peace. Decisions taken through the process of collective bargaining and negotiations between employer and unions are more influential. Trade unions admit an important role and are helpful in effective communication between the workers and the management. They provide the advice and support to ensure that the differences of opinion do not turn into major conflicts. The central function of a trade union is to represent people at work. But they also have a wider role in protecting their interests. They also play an important educational role, organizing courses for their members on a wide range of matters. Seeking a healthy and safe working environment is also prominent character of union activity.Trade unions help in accelerated pace of economic development in many ways as followsBy helping in the recruitment and selection of workers.By in culcating discipline among the workforce.By enabling settlement of industrial disputes in a rational manner.By helping social adjustments. Workers have to adjust themselves to the new working conditions, the new rules and policies. Workers coming from different backgrounds may become disorganized, unsatisfied and frustrated. Unions help them in such adjustment.Trade unions are a part of society and as such, have to take into consideration the study integration as well. Some important social responsibilities of trade unions includepromoting and maintaining study integration by reducing the number of industrial disputesincorporating a sense of corporate social responsibility in workersachieving industrial peace3.4 Reasons for Joining Trade UnionsThe important forces that make the employees join a union are as follows1. Greater Bargaining PowerThe individual employee possesses very little bargaining causality as compared to that of his employer. If he is not satisfied with the wage and other conditions of employment, he can leave the speculate. It is not practicable to continually resign from one job after another when he is dissatisfied. This imposes a great financial and emotional burden upon the worker. The better course for him is to join a union that can take concerted action against the employer. The threat or actuality of a strike by a union is a powerful tool that often causes the employer to accept the demands of the workers for better conditions of employment.2. Minimize Discriminationthe decisions regarding pay, work, transfer, promotion, etc. are highly subjective in nature. The personal relationships existing between the supervisor and each of his subordinates may tempt the management. Thus, at that place are chances of favoritisms and discriminations. A trade union can compel the management to formulate personnel policies that press for equality of treatment to the workers. wholly the labor decisions of the management are under close scrutiny of the labor union. This has the effect of minimizing favoritism and discrimination.3. Sense of SecurityThe employees may join the unions because of their belief that it is an effective way to secure adequate protection from various types of hazards and income insecurity such as accident, injury, illness, unemployment, etc. The trade union secure retirement benefits of the workers and compel the management to invest in welfare services for the benefit of the workers.4. Sense of Participationthe employees can participate in management of matters affecting their interests only if they join trade unions. They can influence the decisions that are taken as a result of collective bargaining between the union and the management.5. Sense of BelongingnessMany employees join a union because their co-workers are the members of the union. At times, an employee joins a union under group pressure if he does not, he often has a very difficult time at work. On the other hand, those who are members of a union feel that they gain respect in the eyes of their fellow workers. They can also discuss their problem with the trade union leaders.6. Platform for self expressionthe desire for self-expression is a fundamental human drive for most people. All of us wish to share our feelings, ideas and opinions with others. similarly the workers also want the management to listen to them. A trade union provides such a forum where the feelings, ideas and opinions of the workers could be discussed. It can also transmit the feelings, ideas, opinions and complaints of the workers to the management. The collective voice of the workers is heard by the management and give due consideration while taking insurance policy decisions by the management.7. Betterment of relationshipsanother reason for employees association unions is that employees feel that unions can fulfill the important need for adequate machinery for proper maintenance of employer-employee relations. Unions help in betterment o f relations among management and workers by work out the problems peacefully.3.5 Trade Unionism in IndiaThe trade unionism in India developed quite slowly as compared to the western nations. Indian trade union effort can be divided into three phases.The first phase (1850 to1900)During this phase the inception of trade unions took place. During this period, the working and living conditions of the labor were poor and their working hours were long. Capitalists were only interested in their productivity and profitability. In addition, the wages were also low and general economic conditions were poor in industries. In order to regulate the working hours and other service conditions of the Indian textile laborers, the Indian Factories Act was enacted in 1881. As a result, employment of child labor was prohibited.The growth of trade union nominal head was slow in this phase and later on the Indian Factory Act of 1881 was amended in 1891. Many strikes took place in the twain decades fo llowing 1880 in all industrial cities. These strikes taught workers to understand the power of united action even though in that location was no union in historical terms. Small associations like Bombay Mill-Hands Association came up by this time.The second phase (1900 to 1946)This phase was characterized by the development of organized trade unions and political movements of the working class. mingled with 1918 and 1923, many unions came into existence in the country. At Ahmedabad, under the guidance of Mahatma Gandhi, occupational unions like spinners unions and weavers unions were formed. A strike was launched by these unions under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi who turned it into a satyagrah. These unions federated into industrial union known as Textile Labor Association in 1920.In 1920, the First subject area Trade union organization (The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC)) was established. Many of the leaders of this organization were leaders of the national Movement . In 1926, Trade union law came up with the efforts of Mr. N N Joshi that became operative from 1927. During 1928, All India Trade Union Federation (AITUF) was formed.The third phase began with the emergence of independent India (in 1947). The partition of country affected the trade union movement particularly Bengal and Punjab. By 1949, four central trade union organizations were functioning in the countryThe All India Trade Union Congress,The Indian National Trade Union Congress,The Hindu Mazdoor Sangh, andThe United Trade Union CongressThe working class movement was also politicized along the lines of political parties. For instance Indian national trade Union Congress (INTUC) is the trade union arm of the Congress Party. The AITUC is the trade union arm of the Communist Party of India. Besides workers, white-collar employees, supervisors and managers are also organized by the trade unions, as for example in the Banking, Insurance and Petroleum industries.3.6 Trade unions in Indi athe Indian workforce consists of 430 million workers, maturement 2% annually. The Indian labor markets consist of three sectorsThe rural workers, who constitute about 60 per cent of the workforce.Organized sector, which employs 8 per cent of workforce, andThe urban intimate sector (which includes the growing software industry and other services, not included in the formal sector) which constitutes the rest 32 per cent of the workforce.At present there are twelve Central Trade Union Organizations in IndiaAll India Trade Union Congress (AITUC)Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS)Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU)Hind Mazdoor Kisan panchayat (HMKP)Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS)Indian Federation of Free Trade Unions (IFFTU)Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)National Front of Indian Trade Unions (NFITU)National Labor Organization (NLO)Trade Unions Co-ordination Centre (TUCC)United Trade Union Congress (UTUC) andUnited Trade Union Congress Lenin Sarani (UTUC LS)FIGURES REGARDING TRADE UNIONSTable demo Growth of Trade Unions and Membership is following belowGrowth of trade unions and membership3.7 Industrial Relation PolicyPrior to 1991, the industrial relations ashes in India sought to control conflicts and disputes through excessive labor legislations. These labor laws were protective in nature and covered a wide range of aspects of workplace industrial relations like laws on health and safety of labors, layoffs and retrenchment policies, industrial disputes and the like. The basic purpose of these laws was to protect labors. However, these protectionist policies created an atmosphere that led to increased inefficiency in firms, over employment and inability to introduce efficacy. With the coming of globalization, the 40 year old policy of protectionism proved inadequate for Indian industry to remain rivalrous as the lack of flexibility posed a serious threat to manufacturers because they had to compete in the international market.With the advent of liberaliz ation in1992, the industrial relations policy began to change. Now, the policy was tilted towards employers. Employers opted for workforce reduction, introduced policies of voluntary retirement schemes and flexibility in workplace also increased. Thus, globalization brought major changes in industrial relations policy in India. The changes can be summarized as followsCollective bargaining in India has mostly been decentralized, but now in sectors where it was not so, are also face up pressures to follow decentralization.Some industries are cutting employment to a significant extent to cope with the domestic and foreign competition e.g. pharmaceuticals. On the other hand, in other industries where the demand for employment is increasing are experiencing employment growths.In the expansionary economy there is a clear shortage of managers and skilled labor.The number of topical anaesthetic and enterprise level unions has increased and there is a significant reduction in the influence of the unions.Under pressure some unions and federations are putting up a united front e.g. banking.Another trend is that the employers have started to push for internal unions i.e. no outside affiliation.HR policies and forms of work are emerging that include, specially in multi-national companies, multi-skills, variable compensation, job rotation etc. These new policies are difficult to implement in place of old practices as the institutional set up still needs to be changed.HRM is seen as a key component of business strategy.Training and skill development is also receiving attention in a number of industries, especially banking and information technology.