The Role of Trade Unions in the United Kingdom Essay

The Role of Trade Unions in the United Kingdom - Essay Example The conditions in these factories were harsh and the employees worked for long hours for very low pay. The workers did not accept these conditions and this resulted in trade dispute. The workers came together and resolved the one-off problems at work. This gave birth to trade unions. However, one of the challenges that are being faced by the 21st century trade union is redefining and reviving the traditional roles of trade unions. For instance, the UK has almost 200 certified independent trade unions, although the members have been reducing due to recent amalgamations. Howell (2009:19) defines a trade union as an organization that is comprised of members who are workers whose main aim is to protect the interests of its members. The trade unions core priority is protecting and enhancing people pay packages as well as the conditions of employment. Moreover, they are also tasked with campaigning or laws and polices that would be beneficial to the working people. Trade unions have been i n existence since an individual worker has very little power to affect the decisions that are made in relation to his or her job. Therefore, by combining with other worker there is a more chance of a significant voice and influence. The paper is going to critically discuss the changing trade union agendas and priorities. The major services that are provided by trade unions to its members are representation and negotiation. However, they are other benefits that individuals are accrued to from being members of trade unions which include provision of information and advice, and member services. Discussion Emerging trends and trade unions agenda Trade unions as noted by Wrigley (2002:82-90) play a number of roles including negotiating pay and employment conditions, offering advice and information such as financial and legal advice, defending the rights of the employees, negotiating bonuses for attaining set targets, resolving conflict, accompanying the union members to grievance and dis ciplinary meetings and lastly, offering services to members. In the last two decades trade unions have been faced with major political and economic change. There also have been a dramatic change in the in the type of jobs that people perform and the kind of industries they work in have also changed. The manufacturing sector which traditionally used to be the most crucial industries has shrunk tremendously translating in low union membership. On the other hand, new sectors like finance and voluntary sectors have become important to the global economy (Undy, 2008). Traditionally trade unions were shaped by existence of a normal employment relationship that involved a full-time job with a particular employer and typical degree of long-term stability. However, due to globalization and industrialization of economies, in cases that previously cushioned from external shocks, have now become subject to the fluctuations of the global markets (Checchi & Lucifora, 2002). People are now being e mployed on part-time and contractual basis thus has no way of joining trade unions. Furthermore, in some countries there has been a growing unwillingness from the employers to accept trade unions as collective representatives of their employees. With the recent changes in the labour market, trade unions in order to survive and thrive have reasserted the rights of labour in ways which let them to recapture the advantage in the battle of ideas. Since organizational strength without ideology is like form without content, numerous trade movements are suffering organizational weakness,