Good reasons for a formal system of employee representation
- Make employee views known to management
- Help strengthen both management’s and employee’s understanding of workplace issues and other matters affecting the business
- Help create an atmosphere of mutual trust between employees and management and therefore improve workplace relations
Main role of trade unions
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Support with equal pay
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Fair pay/ living wage
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Legal support
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Job security
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Improved pensions
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Maternity leave
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General rights protection
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Protect and improve the real incomes of their members
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Provide or improve job security
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Protect workers against unfair dismissal and other issues relating to employment legislation
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Lobby for better working conditions
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Offer a range of other work-related services including support for people claiming compensation for injuries sustained in a job.
Represent
- Represent and protect interests of employees
Negotiate
- Negotiate on behalf of the employees with the employer
Advantages for an Employer of a Good Relationship with a Trade Union
- Negotiating with trade unions (ideally a single union) saves time and cost rather than dealing with all employees individually
- Unions are part of the communication process between the business and employees
- Employee morale and motivation may be improved if they know that their interests are being protected by a union.
- The trade union can be a supportive partner in helping a business undergo significant change.
Reasons for declining union membership
- Decline in employment in manufacturing (where union membership is traditionally high)
- Increased employment in the service sector (e.g., retail) where unions are less well established
- Growth in the number of small firms which do not to recognise or need trade unions
- Significant growth in flexible working (part-time, temporary seasonal)—where employees see less need for union protection
- Improved employee involvement in the workplace—so less perceived need for collective bargaining
Why are employees from Starbucks and Google trying to unionise?