Briefly define the term ' trade union' and explain why do workers join a trade union?

Definition

A trade union refers to a continuous association of workers in one or more occupations for the purpose of maintaining or improving their working lives.

Reasons why workers join trade unions:

1. To oppose the management in taking decisions adversely affecting the employees.

2. To participate in certain useful union activities such as; educational programs, engage in community and social services and to obtain certain health or insurance benefits.

3. To get economic security

4. To restrain the management in showing favouritism in the assignment of duties and responsibilities, transfers, promotions and the maintenance of discipline in some corners at the cost of other units, lay-offs, retirement, rewards and punishment so that there is no bias in all these aspects.

5. To fall in line with other workers (co-workers) in a better way and to gain respect in the eyes of their peers.

6. To secure protection from economic hazards beyond their control (for example accident, death, liability, unemployment and old age)

7. To communicate their aims, ideas, feelings, views and disenchantment, disillusions, frustrations and dissatisfaction with management and organisation among others.

8. To get a job through the good offices of trade union.

OR

1. Greater Bargaining Power The individual employee possesses very little bargaining power as compared to that of his employer. If he is not satisfied with
the wage and other conditions of employment, he can leave the job. It is
not practicable to continually resign from one job after another when he is
dissatisfied. This imposes a great financial and emotional burden upon the
worker. The better course for him is to join a union that can take concerted
action against the employer. The threat or actuality of a strike by a union is
a powerful tool that often causes the employer to accept the demands of the
workers for better conditions of employment.
2. Minimize Discrimination The decisions regarding pay, work, transfer, promotion, etc. are highly subjective in nature. The personal relationships existing between the supervisor and each of his subordinates may influence the
management. Thus, there are chances of favoritisms and discriminations. A
trade union can compel the management to formulate personnel policies that
press for equality of treatment to the workers. All the labor decisions of the
management are under close scrutiny of the labor union. This has the effect
of minimizing favoritism and discrimination.
3. Sense of Security The employees may join the unions because of their belief
that it is an effective way to secure adequate protection from various types
of hazards and income insecurity such as accident, injury, illness, unemployment, etc. The trade union secure retirement benefits of the workers and
compel the management to invest in welfare services for the benefit of the
workers.
4. Sense of Participation The employees can participate in management of matters affecting their interests only if they join trade unions. They can influence
the decisions that are taken as a result of collective bargaining between the
union and the management.
5. Sense of Belongingness Many employees join a union because their co-workers
are the members of the union. At times, an employee joins a union under
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group pressure; if he does not, he often has a very difficult time at work. On
the other hand, those who are members of a union feel that they gain respect
in the eyes of their fellow workers. They can also discuss their problem with’
the trade union leaders.
6. Platform for self expression The desire for self-expression is a fundamental
human drive for most people. All of us wish to share our feelings, ideas
and opinions with others. Similarly the workers also want the management
to listen to them. A trade union provides such a forum where the feelings,
ideas and opinions of the workers could be discussed. It can also transmit the
feelings, ideas, opinions and complaints of the workers to the management.
The collective voice of the workers is heard by the management and give due
consideration while taking policy decisions by the management.
7. Betterment of relationships Another reason for employees joining unions is
that employees feel that unions can fulfill the important need for adequate
machinery for proper maintenance of employer- employee relations. Unions
help in betterment of industrial relations among management and workers by
solving the problems peacefully.

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Dullayo answered the question on May 10, 2018 at 10:26