Trade unionsGCSE Business studies

Lesson objectives

£ Can I explain the term ‘trade union’ and give details?

££ Am I able to list the role of trade unions and answer questions on its benefits

£££ To argue the pros and cons of trade union membership

Trade unions

What are trade unions?

Trade unions are groups of employees in a particular organisation or industry. The union exists to represent the interests of its members.

Trade unions

What do Trade unions do?

Trade unions negotiate on behalf of their members with the management of the organisation, for example:– Pay / wages– Hours of work– Working conditions

Trade unions

• The joining together of people make the groups more powerful when trying to come to an agreement

• The joining together of workers to negotiate is known as ‘collective bargaining’

Individual activity 1

Why join a trade union?

True or false

Why join a trade union?

• To negotiate rate of pay, working conditions and safety

• To be in a club with your friends

• For legal advise to do with work

• To support you in a crisis (e.g. strikes)

• Membership is compulsory for some jobs

• For services such as insurance at work

Trade unions

What happens if the trade union is not happy with negotiations?

• Industrial action, e.g. a strike

• A strike is when staff stop working

• It is probably the most effective method of making employers take notice

• Striking is usually the last thing employees want to do

Individual activity 2

Why do staff not want to strike?

True or false

Why do staff not want to strike?

• Because they love their job• They will not get paid• They have to make up for lost days• The company will lose money any may

have to sack staff• Money lost by the company will be taken

out of employees pensions• The company could close and all staff lose

their jobs

Individual activity 3

What are the types of industrial action trade unions can take?

Mix and match

What are the types of industrial action trade unions can take?

• Everyone stops work• Certain workers go on

strike, probably the ones most affected and the ones that will cause the most disruption

• Strike for a short period of time (e.g. just an afternoon)

• A token strike

• A workers action

• All out strike

• Tea-break strike

• Selective strike

The Luxton bus company debate