The Role of Trade Unions in Industrial Relations

ABSTRACT A Trade union is an organization of workers, acting collectively, who seek to protect and promote their mutual interests through collective bargaining. Trade unions are based upon the concept of "class-struggle" between the capitalist employers and their workers. Tannenbaum traces the rise of unions to the worker's reaction to the philosophy of individualism dominating the 19th and the 20th centuries. The Industrial Revolution destroyed the older way of life and left the individual worker at the mercy of the employer "who became the catalytic agent that crystallized them into a self-conscious group." The worker became completely dependent on others for his livelihood, and "equality came to mean equality for competitive strife. The role of trade unions are considered as essentially reformist organizations and economic institutions based on the Sarvodaya principles of Truth, Non-violence and Trusteeship. Trade unions are important players in today’s industrialized world. Trade Unions have three cardinal principles; Unity is strength, Equality of pay for equal work, Security of employment. Trade unions have gradually evolved and have now come to occupy an important place in the modern industrial order, they have now become gigantic associations; they have now become institutions which are interested in the social, cultural and political development of the county. Now-a-days the trade union movement is no longer solely a movement for advancing claims as a movement seeking to increase the material well being of its members but has grown into a force which not only defends the political, social and cultural interests of its members but also carries out special tasks affecting enterprising and intellectual workers especially with regard to their career, jobs, salaries, paid holidays, vocational training, recreational and health improvement programmes etc. The growth of trade unions has been influenced by a number of ideologies, social, economic and even political movements have influenced trade unions in one or the other way. Keywords Trade union, Indian economy INTRODUCTION The attribution of behavioural change to legal innovation is never straightforward. The success of any legislation depends to a large extent on how far it goes with the grain of underlying societal changes and thereby steers, rather than forces, the process of adjustment. What can be said, at this relatively early stage, of the impact of the ERA upon collective representation in British employment? Our interviews indicate wide spread agreement among employers and union officials that the ERA has made a major contribution to achieving a change in both the atmosphere and conduct of employment relations. There can be no doubt that there has been a strong symbolic impact. Trade unions have regained official to lerance, if not encouragement, and they are experiencing a more sympathetic response from employers. Employers for their part have responded with their characteristic pragmatism, as evidenced by their recruiting managers with experience of dealing with unions The Role of Trade Unions in Industrial Relations Trade or labor unions have been around since the 1930s to resist through equal bargaining power the domination of employers over employees and to represent workers’ interests in the employment relationship. It is through union efforts that workers benefit from better pay and working conditions, and that they are treated with dignity and respect at work. The importance of trade unions cannot be overstated even though membership has been on a steady decline. Collective Bargaining Labor unions developed to grant employees equal bargaining power with their employers, who traditionally had the ability to exclusively set the terms and conditions of work and pay. Unions represent workers within a given industry in negotiations with their employers. Since the union comprises a group of workers, it has a greater voice than if employees were dealing with employers individually. For example, unions are credited with abolishing sweatshops and child labor in the United States because they pushed for these practices to end. The National Labor Relations Act guarantees employees’ right to bargain collectively through their chosen labor union representatives. Unions can organize strikes, boycotts, go-slows and sit-ins to get employers to consider their proposals. Employee Welfare Unions have successfully fought for better terms and conditions for workers. They represent workers’ interests and have secured a variety of benefits, such as higher wages for unionized employees, work-life balance characterized by reasonable work schedules, job security and protection from arbitrary action by employers. In a September 2012 essay on the CNN website, Democratic strategist Donna Brazile asserted that is also due in part to union activity that discrimination in the workplace was outlawed and that workers have access to health care, safe working conditions and guaranteed Social Security. Unions not only have given workers dignity in the workplace, but they also consistently facilitate enhanced welfare and standards of living for American workers. Unfair Practices Labor unions check the unfair labor practices of employers. The NLRA declares that it is unlawful for employers to dominate a union, discriminate against workers engaged in union activity, victimize workers who file charges against them with the National Labor Relations Board or interfere with employees engaged in concerted union activity. If the employer does any of these prohibited acts, the union can take it up with the board on behalf of the employees. For example, the union representing Boeing Co. engineers and technical workers filed charges against the company for interfering with employees engaging in concerted union activity. The board investigates charges and may take a variety of actions, including issuance of cease-and-desist or reinstatement orders to remedy unfair treatment against employees. Unions ensure that employers comply with the law and can lodge appeals in federal court if employers do not respect board decisions. Legislation Unions also play a key role in developing labor laws and regulations for effective worker protection. The unions initiate the push for regulation in areas that concern employees in the workplace. They lobby for the creation of laws and regulations and disseminate information to the employees about them. Measures such as the NLRA, the Social Security Act, the Family Medical Leave Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act exist as a result of union efforts for better terms and conditions for workers. Unions monitor the status of implementation of employee welfare laws and regulations to ensure they are properly enforced. Importance Of Trade Unions The existence of a strong and recognized trade union is a prerequisite to industrial peace. Decisions taken through the process of collective bargaining and negotiations between employer and unions are more influential. Trade unions play an important role and are helpful in effective communication between the workers and the management. They provide the advice and support to ensure that the differences of opinion do not turn into major conflicts. The central function of a trade union is to represent people at work. But they also have a wider role in protecting their interests. They also play an important role in organizing courses for their members on a wide range of matters. Seeking a healthy and safe working environment is also prominent feature of the trade union. Trade unions help in accelerated pace of economic development in many ways as follows: • by helping in the recruitment and selection of workers • by inculcating discipline among the workforce • by enabling settlement of industrial disputes in a rational manner • by helping social adjustments. Workers have to adjust themselves to the new working conditions, the new rules and policies. Workers coming from different backgrounds may become disorganized, unsatisfied and frustrated. Unions help them in such adjustment. Trade unions are a part of society and as such, have to take into consideration the national integration as well. Some important social responsibilities of trade unions include: • ppromoting and maintaining national integration by reducing the number of industrial disputes • incorporating a sense of corporate social responsibility in workers • achieving industrial peace Conclusion Whether or not individual employers have welcomed the ERA, most of those who do not already fully recognise unions have become aware of its statutory recognition procedures and have responded to them. Some have been prompted to strengthen their anti-union strategies, but many have taken the opportunity to review their policy towards trade unions. They have redefined the basis of their recognition of unions, including the scope of bargaining and of consultation, the pattern of bargaining units, and the structure of representation. Many have taken the opportunity to recons ider which unions they choose to deal with, gratuitously assisted in this by the readiness of unions to compete with each othe r. But although the nature of collective bargaining has been changing, with growing constraints on bargaining over pay, these constraints cannot be attributed to the ERA. The conclusion is rather that the ERA had the effect of speeding up a process of managed trade union recognition, re-recognition or (in some workplaces) exclusion that had already got well under way during the 1990s. REFERENCES 1. ACAS (2001). Annual Report 2000-2001. London: ACAS. 2. Adams, R. (1999). Why Statutory Union Recognition is Bad Labour Policy: the North American Experience. 3. Industrial Relations Journal, 30: 96-100. 4. Bain, G. S. (1970). 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