Trade union: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 00:33, 10 February 2025

Trade Union[edit]

A trade union, also known as a labor union, is an organization of workers who have come together to achieve common goals such as protecting the integrity of their trade, improving safety standards, achieving higher pay and benefits such as health care and retirement, increasing the number of employees an employer hires, and better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members (rank and file members) and negotiates labor contracts (collective bargaining) with employers.

History[edit]

The origins of trade unions can be traced back to the 18th century in Britain, where the rapid expansion of industrial society drew women, children, rural workers, and immigrants to the workforce in large numbers and in new roles. This led to the formation of trade unions to protect the interests of workers.

In the United States, the first effective labor organization was the Knights of Labor, founded in 1869. The American Federation of Labor (AFL) was established in 1886, focusing on skilled workers. The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), founded in 1905, aimed to unite all workers into one large union.

Functions[edit]

Trade unions perform several functions:

Collective Bargaining: Negotiating with employers on behalf of union members.
Political Activity: Lobbying for legislation favorable to workers.
Member Services: Providing legal advice and representation, training, and other services.

Impact[edit]

Trade unions have played a significant role in improving the working conditions and wages of workers. They have been instrumental in the establishment of labor laws and standards, such as the eight-hour workday, minimum wage laws, and workplace safety regulations.

Challenges[edit]

Trade unions face several challenges in the modern era, including declining membership, globalization, and changes in the nature of work. The rise of the gig economy and the decline of manufacturing jobs have also impacted union membership.

Related Pages[edit]

Gallery[edit]

Labor Union Membership by Country
Hours Worked Compared to Earnings Per Week
Cesar Chavez
Great Railway Strike of 1886
Unison Strike Rally, Oxford
Income Inequality and Union Participation

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-'''Trade union''' is an organization of workers who have come together to achieve common goals such as protecting the integrity of its trade, improving safety standards, and attaining better wages, benefits, and working conditions through the increased bargaining power wielded by the creation of a monopoly of the workers. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labor contracts with employers. This may include the negotiation of wages, work rules, complaint procedures, rules governing hiring, firing and promotion of workers, benefits, workplace safety and policies.
+== Trade Union ==
+[[File:Garment_Workers_on_Strike,_New_York_City_circa_1913.jpg|Garment Workers on Strike, New York City, circa 1913|thumb]]
+[[File:London_Trades_Demonstration.jpg|London Trades Demonstration|left|thumb]]
+[[File:1912_Lawrence_Textile_Strike_1.jpg|1912 Lawrence Textile Strike|thumb]]
+[[File:Trade_union_density_rate_map.svg|Trade Union Density Rate Map|thumb]]
+A '''trade union''', also known as a '''labor union''', is an organization of workers who have come together to achieve common goals such as protecting the integrity of their trade, improving safety standards, achieving higher pay and benefits such as health care and retirement, increasing the number of employees an employer hires, and better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members (rank and file members) and negotiates labor contracts (collective bargaining) with employers.
 == History ==
-The origins of unions' existence can be traced from the 18th century, where the rapid expansion of industrial society drew women, children, rural workers, and immigrants to the work force in numbers and in new roles. This pool of unskilled and semi-skilled labor spontaneously organized in fits and starts throughout its beginnings, and would later be an important arena for the development of trade unions.
+The origins of trade unions can be traced back to the 18th century in Britain, where the rapid expansion of industrial society drew women, children, rural workers, and immigrants to the workforce in large numbers and in new roles. This led to the formation of trade unions to protect the interests of workers.
+In the United States, the first effective labor organization was the [[Knights of Labor]], founded in 1869. The [[American Federation of Labor]] (AFL) was established in 1886, focusing on skilled workers. The [[Industrial Workers of the World]] (IWW), founded in 1905, aimed to unite all workers into one large union.
+== Functions ==
-== Types of trade union ==
+Trade unions perform several functions:
-Trade unions may be composed of individual workers, professionals, past workers, students, apprentices or the unemployed. The most common purpose of these associations or unions is "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment".
+* '''Collective Bargaining''': Negotiating with employers on behalf of union members.
+* '''Political Activity''': Lobbying for legislation favorable to workers.
+* '''Member Services''': Providing legal advice and representation, training, and other services.
-* '''Craft unionism''': A current of industrial unionism which places importance on skilled workers and often fails to organize the unskilled.
+== Impact ==
-* '''General union''': Also known as a horizontal union, since it organizes workers across a wide range of skills within one or more industries.
-* '''Industrial union''': Also known as a vertical union, since it organizes workers from all skill levels in an industry.
-== Trade union functions ==
+Trade unions have played a significant role in improving the working conditions and wages of workers. They have been instrumental in the establishment of labor laws and standards, such as the eight-hour workday, minimum wage laws, and workplace safety regulations.
-Trade unions perform a number of functions in order to improve the conditions of their members' lives.
+== Challenges ==
-* '''Representation''': This involves collective bargaining with employers to improve pay and working conditions.
+Trade unions face several challenges in the modern era, including declining membership, globalization, and changes in the nature of work. The rise of the gig economy and the decline of manufacturing jobs have also impacted union membership.
-* '''Member services''': This includes the provision of benefits to members. This could be in the form of legal advice, financial advice, and support in disputes with employers.
-* '''Political activity''': Unions may lobby for changes in legislation that affect their members or workers more generally.
-== See also ==
+== Related Pages ==
+* [[Collective bargaining]]
 * [[Labor rights]]
-* [[Collective bargaining]]
+* [[Industrial Workers of the World]]
-* [[Strike action]]
+* [[American Federation of Labor]]
-* [[Workers' rights]]
+* [[Knights of Labor]]
+== Gallery ==
+<gallery>
+File:Labor_union_membership_by_country.webp|Labor Union Membership by Country
+File:Hours_Worked_Compared_to_Earnings_Per_Week.webp|Hours Worked Compared to Earnings Per Week
+File:Cesar_chavez2.jpg|Cesar Chavez
+File:Great_Railway_Strike_1886_-_E_St_Louis.jpg|Great Railway Strike of 1886
+File:Unison_strike_rally_Oxford_20060328.jpg|Unison Strike Rally, Oxford
+File:1907-_Income_inequality_and_union_participation.svg|Income Inequality and Union Participation
+</gallery>
 [[Category:Trade unions]]
-[[Category:Labor rights]]
-[[Category:Employment]]
-{{stub}}