What is The Role of Unions in Todays Workforce?
08 August 2016Trade unions are groups of employees who join together to maintain and improve their conditions of employment. – Unison
The popularity of unions has diminished somewhat in the last 30 years across almost all developed countries, most notably so here in Britain. According to research by CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, in 2012 trade union membership had fallen to just 6.5 million compared to a peak of 13 million in 1979. The fall in union members has been most noticeable among manual workers, male workers, younger workers and those in the private sector. Among non-manual workers as well as female, public sector, and older workers, membership figures have remained quite stable.
What is The Role of Unions in Todays Workforce?
Unions are responsible for many of the workplace benefits we enjoy today, such as;
- A national minimum wage
- The abolition of child labour
- Improved worker safety
- improving living standards by reducing the number of hours in the working week and encouraging a healthy work/life balance
- Improved parental leave
- Equality legislation
- Better protection of migrant workers and a reduction in exploitation
- Minimum holiday and sickness entitlements
Although unions are known to represent the rights of the workers, they also understand the importance and value of working with employers for the best solutions. In todays workplace, unions not only offer advice, support and representation to members, they also offer things like financial advice, insurance deals and training opportunities. For example, The Open University and Unison work in partnership to offer discounted course to union members.
These days, union membership seems to be less about individual personal benefits and more about supporting the unions in the work they do for workers’ rights in general. Our workforce has changed greatly in recent years, with more workers than ever being self-employed, temporary and part-time. Though figures show a drop in union membership, this change is largely due to this more flexible workforce. Despite this, unions still have a part to play in the improvement and maintenance of the working conditions we enjoy in the modern workplace. There are great benefits to employers too. Having a workforce that feels heard creates a happy, committed and more motivated staff that can only improve overall productivity.