Trade Unions Flashcards
Define ‘Trade Unions’
A trade union is an organization formed by employees to improve their wages and working conditions.
What are the functions of a trade union?
• To obtain and maintain just and proper wages and working conditions for its members.
• To settle disputes between workers
• To provide for members any or all of the following benefits:
a. Financial relief in sickness, accident, and disablement in the course of employment, distress, unemployment.
b. Death benefits.
c. Legal advice and/or legal assistance when necessary in connection with employment.
d. Housing assistance.
What are the different types of trade unions
Craft- all members practice the same craft or trade, eg carpenters and shoemakers.
• Staff- all members are white-collared workers, eg bank clerks.
• Industrial- all members work in the same industry, eg tourism.
• General- members work in different trade and different industries.
What are some Strategies used by trade unions to ensure that their demands on behalf of the workers are met?
• Go-slow- workers do not produce at their maximum capacity.
• Sick-out- all workers absent themselves from work on a fixed day, giving illness as their reason.
• Sit-in- workers report to work but do not perform any duties.
• Picketing- workers demonstrate near the workplace.
• Work- to- rule- workers continue to do their jobs, but stick to the rules meticulously. They do not volunteer to do extra unpaid duties.
• Legal strike- workers stay home and do not report to work.
Define the Form of Protest:
•Go slow
•Legal Strike
•Sit in
• Go-slow- workers do not produce at their maximum capacity.
• Legal strike- workers stay home and do not report to work.
• Sit-in- workers report to work but do not perform any duties.
Define the Form of Protest:
•Picketing
•Work to Rule
•sick out
• Picketing- workers demonstrate near the workplace.
• Work- to- rule- workers continue to do their jobs, but stick to the rules meticulously. They do not volunteer to do extra unpaid duties.
• Sick-out- all workers absent themselves from work on a fixed day, giving illness as their reason.
What are some alternatives to conflict in a trade union?
• Mediation- takes place when a third party who is trusted by both sides discusses the issue and tries to find a compromise.
• Arbitration- involves both sides agreeing to go to a third party for a ruling. Unlike mediation, arbitration means agreeing in advance to a binding settlement.
• Legal action- either side may take the dispute to court.
What are some Industrial action by employers?
• Firing workers who go on strike and hiring others to take their place. This is called use of scab labour.
• Lockout- the employer temporarily closes the business. This is done to force the workers to abandon the protest action.
What are the three basic belief systems Religion can be classified into
- Theism- belief in a supernatural being.
Monotheism- belief in one god. Polytheism- belief in many gods. - Ethicalism- belief in a set of principles that guide one’s life.
- Animism- belief in spirits that may reside in humans, animals, plants, rivers, etc.
