WHAT IS A TRADE UNION?
Trade unions are organizations that represent people at work. They consist of workers and union leaders, united to promote and protect their interests.
Trade unions exist because an individual worker has very little power to influence decisions that are made about his or her job. By joining together with other workers, there is more chance of having a voice and influence.
THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRADE UNIONS.
* CRAFT UNION:
A union representing workers who share the same skill-set or who perform identical tasks.
* GENERAL UNION
Is a trade union which represents workers from a variety of trades and industries. They are often un-skilled but also include semi-skilled workers.
* AN INDUSTRIAL UNION
Is a trade union that represents all types of workers in an industry, regardless of their specific skills, functions and job responsibilities
* A WHITE-COLAR UNION
is a trade union which represents non-manual office workers, examples; office workers, management and professional people.
WHY DO WORKERS JOIN A TRADE-UNION?
Trade unions can provide many benefits for their members. Some workers join a trade union because they believe that a trade union can: * negotiate better pay * negotiate better working conditions, such as more holidays or improved health and safety * provide training for new skills * promote lifelong learning provide legal and financial advice * provide various consumer benefits (eg. discount offers or vouchers for shops and services) * provide help and advice with problems at work
Trade unions may also represent their members ' interests outside the workplace. For example, trade unions may actively lobby the government, public bodies, the European Union (EU) or others for policies which promote their objectives!
WHAT IS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING?
Negotiation between one or more trade unions and one or more employers or an