SA1: Living in a SA1: Living in a DemocracyDemocracy

Trade UnionsTrade Unions

Trade UnionsTrade Unions

A trade union is an organisation of A trade union is an organisation of

workers that tries to protect and improve workers that tries to protect and improve

the working conditions of its members e.g the working conditions of its members e.g

paypay

Examples of Trade UnionsExamples of Trade Unions::

EISEIS - teaching union- teaching union

UNISONUNISON – represents a variety of workers in – represents a variety of workers in

shops, offices and local councilsshops, offices and local councils

How Do Trade Unions How Do Trade Unions Represent Their Members?Represent Their Members?

Negotiate pay and conditions e.g Negotiate pay and conditions e.g holidaysholidaysProvide legal advice and Provide legal advice and representationrepresentationHealth and safety issuesHealth and safety issuesEqual opportunities e.g. women and Equal opportunities e.g. women and ethnic minoritiesethnic minoritiesProtect workers from redundancyProtect workers from redundancyTry to influence the government e.g. Try to influence the government e.g. minimum wageminimum wage

How Do Trade Unions Work?How Do Trade Unions Work?The union members in the workplace The union members in the workplace elect a elect a shop stewardshop steward (representative). (representative).The shop steward The shop steward

** Negotiates with the management Negotiates with the management e.g. e.g. wages, health and safety issues.wages, health and safety issues.** Recruit new members/collect Recruit new members/collect subscriptionssubscriptions** Inform workers of union decisionsInform workers of union decisions** Take grievances/complaints to Take grievances/complaints to management on behalf of workers.management on behalf of workers.

What Actions Can a Trade What Actions Can a Trade Union TakeUnion Take??

Strikes – workers stop working for a period Strikes – workers stop working for a period of time.of time.

Work to contract – workers carry out no Work to contract – workers carry out no other work than those in their contract.other work than those in their contract.

Overtime ban – workers work only the Overtime ban – workers work only the agreed number of hours.agreed number of hours.

Picketing – protesting outside the Picketing – protesting outside the workplace when there is a strike.workplace when there is a strike.

These are examples of These are examples of INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL ACTIONACTION

Rights and Responsibilities of Rights and Responsibilities of Trade UnionsTrade Unions

Rights Rights ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

Recruit membersRecruit members Not to put pressure Not to put pressure on people to joinon people to join

Ask about changes in Ask about changes in wages and conditionswages and conditions

Not to make Not to make unreasonable unreasonable demands or threatendemands or threaten

Take industrial action Take industrial action to protect workers’ to protect workers’ rightsrights

Hold a secret ballot Hold a secret ballot for strike action. for strike action. Take action that is Take action that is peace and lawfulpeace and lawful

Rights and Responsibilities of Rights and Responsibilities of MembersMembers

Rights Rights ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

Participate in electing Participate in electing shop stewardsshop stewards

To vote in the To vote in the electionelection

Have union Have union representation in any representation in any disputedispute

To report problems To report problems e.g. health and safety e.g. health and safety to the show stewardto the show steward

Take part in industrial Take part in industrial action e.g. go on action e.g. go on strikestrike

To act within the law To act within the law e.g. picketing must e.g. picketing must be peacefulbe peaceful