Living in a Democracy

Democracy in the workplace

What are trade unions?
Unions are organisations that represent workers
Unions work to
protect and improve working conditions
represent views of workers to employers and managers
Union organisation consists of
elected representatives in the workplace
paid officials in regional and head offices
5 examples of unions
Choose TWO: find out
Full name
What kind of workers it represents
How it works
What issues it is concerned with on behalf of its members
Why join a trade union?
The more members the stronger the union when
negotiating better pay and conditions
The union will protect the interests of its members eg
Prevent victimisation by employers
Protect rights of members to breaks, holiday leave
Ensure that health and safety regulations are kept
Protect rights to training entitlement
Negotiate improved pay, working conditions
Ensure minimum wage agreements
But not everybody
thinks that unions
are a good idea.
Not every worker
joins a union.
I dont agree
with unions or
their methods. I
am not in the
union.
Out of 26 million workers, about
7 million are union members
There is no union
here thats the
way we want it to
stay.
We see no need
for strikes or
for unions for
that matter.
As the elected
shop steward, I
work for our
members in a
variety of ways
Using a spider diagram, show the different ways a
shop steward works on behalf of his or her members in
their workplace.
What can the
Union do to
persuade us to
change our mind?
Union Negotiations

Discuss and negotiate
Work to rule
Overtime ban
Strike
Mediation
Recent examples of conflict
between Unions and
management??
Participating in the
work of the Union
Stand as a candidate
for election as Shop
Steward
Attend branch meetings
Complete the diagram to show ways that members
can take part in and support the work of their
Union