Trade unions in the United Kingdom

Trade unions in the United Kingdom

Introduction

Trade unions are becoming very rampant in the business community. They are comprised of members that are workers in different organizations. These trade unions are solely based on helping these members’ interests at their place of work. These trade unions involve both the employees and employers so that they can create a free working environment for both. Also, it ensures that there is a close working relationship between the two. At times they sign agreements, that is, the employers and the trade unions to protect the rights of their employees. Trade unions are reliable when it comes to protecting the rights of employees. The agreements signed have deadly consequences if broken, and legal means are used to ensure that there is justice. With the rise of these trade unions, it has been clear that there has been proper handling of employees. Any employee or employer acting as a member of these trade unions have accrued benefits that they get. It is true to say that becoming a member of a trade union is essential.

Trade unions in the United Kingdom have been there ever since 1867, with the Royal Commission being the first trade union organization. This union was founded to see to it that there was a win-win situation for both the employers and the employees. This foundation was legalized in 1871. It now dived deeper into ensuring that the employees get better working conditions for the British organizations. This led to the foundation of the labour representation committee, which is the current labour party today. In the 1980s, Margaret Thatcher tried to weaken these trade unions by making it difficult for them to access legal justice. During this time, more trade unions were formed, such as TUC, Trade Union Congress, among others.

Back then, the membership numbers were very high. However, these numbers began to decline from 13million members to 6million members slowly. This figure was concerning the year 2012. Trade unions in the united kingdom have gone the extra mile to ensure that their employees get the benefits they deserve. Some of the activities that these trade unions undertake is ensuring that there is a negotiation agreement between the employer and employee, there is a discussion about member concerns raised about the employer, discuss significant changes at their workplaces, among many other activities that they look into. For each employer to be able to join these trade unions, they need to sign collective bargaining. This is a legal document binding them to an agreement that should be followed by all means.

Most trade unions are voluntary to join. Nobody will force you to join these trade unions. A  trade union can seek legal consent in cases where an organization employs more than 20 employees but refuses to join the trade unions. Such a massive number of employees require protection; this is why an employer in such a situation should look forward to joining a trade union that will look into the matters of their employees. This is according to the Employment Relations Act 1999. Every employee that joins these trade unions has employee relations regulated. Trade unions, therefore, come in to ensure the principal purpose of these trade unions will be met. For example, if an employer decides not to pay an employee the agreed amount for more than three months without any negotiations or agreements, the employer is liable for legal action if the employee is one of the members of the trade unions. The breach of contract for trade unions is very sensitive. Every employer should respect the decision made by employees to join any trade union. This is their right. The trade unions protect everything that revolves around the employee. For example, in the UK, the law gives every employer the right to join any trade union they would wish to. However, the trade union should be fully recognized by the law. Any activity that the trade union may be undergoing, for example, voting, the employers should give their employees time and space to take part in these trade union activities. This is important to them as they will be able to keep a follow up on the various matters about the trade union.

Trade unions are all about protecting your rights. Making an industrial tribunal is essential for every employee if any of their rights are interfered with. As an employee joining this trade union, you have the right to join or not join a trade union; you also have the right to leave or remain as a member of a trade union and you are given the right to join more than one trade union. The freedom of choice is freely given to you by these trade unions. On the other hand, the employer is not supposed to hinder you from joining any of these trade unions. They should not be involved in any part of your decision making. They should also not penalize you for choosing to stand by your decision. The unitary and pluralistic frames of references are used to determine all perspectives that can be used to resolve issues or conflict. Employee relations are essential in every or6gnaiztaion. The unitary frames of reference are the teamwork and understanding that revolve around employees in an organization. The unitary frame perspective revolves around the knowledge of the employees that they are not just a single person in the organization but a group that should work together to achieve the set goals. The unitary frames of reference, therefore, require you to have the understanding that working together as one big family will help you achieve what you would want to make. The pluralistic frames of references explain that employees have different interests, goals, values and beliefs. Every organization must have divided groups, those that do not want to co-operate with other people to meet one common goal. In this framework, in case of any conflicts or disputes, it would be hard for them to maintain togetherness and to work as a team due to the many differences they have. It is hard for them to put their differences aside and work together hand in hand. But the pluralistic frames of references adopted by any organization will bring a lot of differences; the workers will be uncomfortable working in this kind of environment. It will be hard for employees to adapt to any changes around their working environment, let alone try to come up with something tangible at the end of the day.

Before any employer takes a step ahead to joining any trade union, they must have a clear understanding of what this collective bargaining is and the labour relations connected to it. Collective bargaining is a fundamental right that has been stated in the ILO constitution. Collective bargaining is a way that organizations use to ensure that they put across fair wages for their employees as well as the right working conditions. This method also opens up doors for even better labour relations around the organization. The bargaining agreement includes basics such as agreement on wages, training, employees occupational health, working hours, safety as well as proper treatment at these places of work. This ensures that their primary objective of coming up with a collective agreement is achieved, as well as they meet the terms and regulations of the employment. This also tends to negotiate about the employees’ rights and responsibilities in their organizations. If this is done, work at the organization will be flawless, meaning that there will be high productivity rates. Collective bargaining tends to improve and extend labour protection as well as reducing inequality at these places of work.

One of the Trade Unions in the United Kingdom is the Trade Union Congress (TUC). This is a national trade union that represents the majority of the trade unions in the united kingdom. This union has at least 50 affiliated unions attached to it, with about 5.6million members in the UK. Its main aim is supporting trade unions to grow and succeed. It stands up for every employee who is under these trade unions. It also holds a campaign that is meant to capture better jobs and a more prosperous country. Ever since its establishment in 1922, it currently deals more with online and digital collections to sustain their union. Apart from fighting for employees’ rights, it has also been given the mandate to preserve all the essential documents in regards to the history of labour in Britain and other lands.

Trade unions have both their bad and right side; it all depends on what one’s perspectives are and what are the missions they have or goals they would want to achieve from these trade unions/ a lot of critics have come about in regards to these trade unions. Some people claim that trade unions tend to disrupt firms, discourage investments, while others say that it helps improve working practices in organizations. After the post-war period, trade unions were able to gain a lot of power, especially making a significant impact on wage unemployment, among other things about employer-employee relations. However, with time, there has been a decline in manufacturing industries. This has brought a decrease in the trade unions. Some researchers attribute this to increased wage inequality. But this does not stop the trade unions from keeping up with labour relations. It is in line to say that employees who have registered themselves with these trade unions tend to enjoy a high wage than employees working for organizations that have not been disclosed to any trade unions. Collective bargaining power gives them an advantage over other organizations. Most companies have monopsony power. This means that they can compete healthily when it comes to employing workers and paying them within the lower equilibrium wages. However, for firms that have been registered to these trade unions, they can raise the pay, employ workers and still not cause unemployment. This means that skilled and unskilled workers will be getting salaries that befit them. Trade unions offer protection and security to its members. Every worker under any trade union is protected against exploitation at the place of work and safety legislation. Anything that comes up threatening to break these laws is fought against legally. Some requirements have been set aside to protect these workers solely. There is also reduced inequality concerning relative poverty. Ever since the introduction of these trade unions, the trends of these inequalities have been seen to relative decline. The advantages that come with these trade unions are a lot and have helped employers and employees.

Trade unions, at times, tend to create unemployment. This is because labour markets are always in competition. The move by trade unions to continuously increase wages have caused disequilibrium in these markets. Members in these unions will benefit significantly from these unions, whereas outside the unions, it will hard for one to secure a job. The disruption caused to firms by these trade unions is also another cause for alarm. It will be hard for firms to invest and create employment opportunities for other people. Trade uni0ons also tend to ignore the plight of non-members. For example, if a non-member is being exploited at their place of work, they do not get any help from these trade unions. There is a decrease in productivity in the organizations that these workers work. If there are any union strikes, then employees do not attend work. This will dramatically reduce the productivity in these organizations until the attack if off. In the worst-case scenarios, even some of these companies can go out of business as a result of this disruption.

Conclusion

Trade unions, when compared to their popularity back in the day, today they have declined abit. In the olden days, almost every worker wanted to be associated with the trade unions, which is quite contrary to what is being experienced today.