Introduction
Trade Unions have been established across the world to advocate and increase economic growth and development. By definition, Trade union is an organization of employees or workers who mutually come together to achieve a specific goal. By embracing strong governance, trade unions aim at; improving working conditions, aiding in recruitment and selection of workers, instilling discipline in the workforce, settling of industrial disputes or aiding in social adjustment (Schmidt, 2007).
This paper traces the history of Trade Unions and the structure of the network it encompassed. The paper also explores the reasons for its inception and describes an open type of the network it has endeavored to preserve. It also elaborates how the organization was formed and developed. Lastly, the paper explains the importance of Trade Union in present day and gives details on the social values it offer to its target customers.
Origin of Trade Unions
History traces the origin of Trade Unions in Europe. They were acknowledged to enhance the interests of workers especially during the industrial revolutions (Schmidt, 2007). The primary network, which characterized Trade Union, at this time was open network. They interacted with its immediate environment to generate needed output to guide their activities. Schmidt (2007) asserts that, trade Unions succeeded guilts.
Guilts were a variety of informal organization which existed during the medieval Europe. Though, guilts and Trade Unions, possessed slight resemblance, the connection of the two elements is still largely disputed as asserted by Musson (2006). A medieval guild was primarily established to preserve and encourage members’ living standards. They did this by controlling wealth of artisanship and sustaining member’s progression from one level to the next.
England restrained Trade Unions in mid- 14th century, when it enacted the ordinance of laborers. This legislation stood until the mid-19th century when they began again to operate (Musson, 2006). The formation of Trade Union during Medieval times in Europe was necessitated by the industrial revolution.
The industrial revolution had brought about many undesirable effects to the workforce. Such effects included; employee mistreatment, low pay, poor working conditions among others. Thus, lack of mutual mechanism to advocate for workers right to better treatment contributed to the birth of Trade Union Movement (Marsh, 1979).
In Britain, Trade unions were restricted to about 5% of the working population. During this time, the existing Trade Unions were mostly unskilled and unverified in the Britain law. This implied that, an employer or the government of the time could fire or sack a worker without being questioned.
The early pattern of Trade Union consisted of; skilled workers, artisans who could ably pay the high- subscription fee needed (Marsh, 1979). Overtime, Trade Unions have grown with strong leadership and have played an important role in improving social and economic well- being of its members her functions.
Reasons for Formation
Trade unions were formed in order to achieve specific functions. One of the reasons for initiation was to increase militant role. Militant function was aimed at improving general working conditions of employees. This culture has been cultivated and has made it simple for employees to receive adequate remuneration; better employment terms and safer working conditions.
In addition, trade unions were incepted to promote the fraternal role. Trade unions recognize the necessity of strengthening employee and employer relations because most of an individual life is spend while working thus fraternal concept necessitated the parties concerned to complement each other in times of; need, improve efficiency and maintain cordial working relationship.
Present Trade unions have enhanced this relationship of cooperation and friendly relations whereas diffusing training and moral values among its members. Fraternal role has endeavored to exist in legal assistance if a need arises.
Political reasons also contributed to the formation of Trade Unions. The political domination by many nations contributed to employer employee victimization, thus; Trade Unions realized the need to have a body which can preserve the employee-employer relationship whereas improving. Modern Trade Unions have enhanced political interests thus have grown to become major political parties wherever they started thus influencing public policies on issues linked with concern of the working class.
Trade Union Networks
Trade Unions exist in an open network. An open system allows an entity to interact with its immediate surroundings for it to survive. Hence, it devours resources and disseminates resources to its immediate surroundings (Lockard, 2010). Thus, the entity must attempt to persistently change and acclimatize to the context in which it operates.
Trade Unions have extensive member subscriptions thus they keep on interacting to improve instantaneous information flow directly from the top leadership in the hierarchy to the bottom (Todeva, 2006). Interaction has also influenced by information’s systems which allows multiple inputs to be outputted in the least time possible.
How It Has Been Formed and Grown
Memberships to in medieval Trade Unions were few. Perhaps, this was due to lack of Information or low pay and higher subscription fee being levied. However, the management hierarchy consisted of fellow workers who had limited skills and experience in straightening the Union.
But modern Trade Unions possess strong leadership tailored towards achieving the desired goals. One of the factors which have progressed Trade Union Growth is the; sustained and immense bargaining power they have. Trade Unions have shown aptness in negotiating a dispute arising among employee–employer relationships rather than leaving negotiation power to an individual (Carton, 2003).
Secondly, the continued expansion of trade unions has been attributed to representing the voices of employees (Carton, 2003). Trade unions have provided an opportunity where employees’ ideas, opinions and feelings are discussed and shared. The union too has aptly relayed the same to management of affected bodies, thus, the collective voice of employees has been heard by management and appropriate policy or measures taken.
Trade Unions have maintained its success by advocating for equal employment and minimizing discrimination in employment. The decision in relation to work, pay, promotion and transfer are majorly subjective (Ness, 1998). This sometimes results in favoritism and to larger extent discrimination.
Trade unions have been in the forefront of alleviating this degeneracy by compelling the management to pinpoint personnel policies that advocate for equality among workers. Besides, it has subjected all labor decisions under its discretion thus limiting favoritism and discrimination.
Last but not the least, trade unions have grown because of its standards of securing employees fears. Trade unions ensure that employees are protected from unpredictable hazards and insecurity resulting from; illness, injury or other forms of accident while on duty (Ness, 1998). Besides, it secures the employee retirement benefit and can compel the management to set up pension schemes for the benefit of the workers.
Trade Union in Present Society
Trade Unions in present society has typically retrenched in public sectors than private sector (Ness, 1998). Though they have contributed greatly in delivering credible services and enhanced membership, Trade Unions in the public sector have become belligerent and have failed to perceive the tone of the public in cases such as; strikes and so forth (McConville, 1986). The management teams have also divorced from real issues of members and the larger public by awarding themselves huge pay package.
Trade unions have grown and multiplied in the same establishment. This has been as a result of external leadership and similar labor laws. Most countries have created laws that allow small unions to exist thus, even a limited number, let’s say seven can join and form a trade union. The existence of multiple Trade Union in a similar establishment always has led to inter-union rivals’ hence affecting the quality of service (McConville, 1986).
Though external leadership has progressed most trade Unions, they have contributed to poor delivery of service to members. This is because these members themselves are not legitimate workers; i.e. these people can be politicians, or intellectuals hence they fail to understand the needs or they don’t have appropriate experience to manage unions.
Trade Unions and Networks
Trade Unions have contributed in strengthening ties within the workers and businesses. We can infer that, Trade unions are social enterprise network (Lockard, 2010). Trade unions in embracing the social responsibility have contributed in mobilization of the workforce to demand for a given cause.
This can be in terms of improving better working conditions, pay rise, employment regulation among others. They can also advocate for a given political purpose using social networking platforms such as facebook, twitter to express their social demands such as exploitations and poor economic structures in the jurisdiction where they exist (Todeva, 2006).
References
Carton, R., M., 2003. Trade Unions and Management: Developing A Partnership, Spiro Press, Tennessee
Lockard, C., A., 2010. Societies, Networks, and Transitions, History: Since 1450: A Global, Cengage Learning, Connecticut
Marsh, A., I., 1979. Trade Union Handbook: A Guide and Directory to The Structure, Membership, Policy, And Personnel Of The British Trade Unions, Taylor & Francis, New York
McConville, B., 1986.The Role of Trade Unions, Macdonald, New York
Musson, A., E., 2006. Trade Union and Social History, Taylor & Francis Group, New York
Ness, I., 1998. Trade unions and the betrayal of the unemployed: labor conflicts during the 1990s, Garland Pub, Texas
Schmidt, V., (2007). Trade Union Responses to Globalization: A Review By The Global Union Research Network, International Labour Office, Michigan
Todeva, E., 2006. Business networks: strategy and structure, Taylor & Francis, New York