Organisation of workers acting

collectively, who seek to protect and

promote their mutual interests through
collective bargaining
 CLASSICAL – Protect the interests of workers –
express the needs ,aspirations , wishes of
workers

 NEO – CLASSICAL – Improving issues like tax

reliefs , raising saving rates , etc.,

 REVOLUTIONARY CHANGE IN THE SYSTEM –

Through violence , use of force
 MILITANT OR PROTECTIVE OR INTRA-MURAL
FUNCTIONS – protecting workers interests –wage
hike, job security , collective bargaining & strikes
,gheraos ,etc.,

 FRATERNAL or EXTRAMURAL FUNCTIONS –

financial & non-financial assistance to workers
during strikes & lockouts, medical facilities
,education , recreation, religious benefits ,etc.,
 POLITICAL FUNCTIONS – Affiliating with political
party – collect donation – help during strikes

 SOCIAL FUNCTIONS – Social service activities

,discharging social responsibilities
 Wages & Salaries
 Working Conditions
 Discipline
 Personnel policies
 Welfare
 Employer-Employee relations
 Negotiating Machinery
 Safeguarding organisational health & the interest of the
Industry
 Sectional bargainer – Interests of workers @
plant,Industry,National level – multiplicity of unions,
Crafts union, White collar union , etc.,
 Class bargainer – interests of Particular class –
Agriculture Unions , Civil servants union
 Agents of State – Railway strike , INTUC stood behind
 Partners in Social Control – Germany , Holland
,France , Italy & Sweden
 Unions Role - enemies of economic system – politics
driven – Leftist – fundamental economic change –
high wages & bonus – wont consider economy

 Business oriented role – consider interests of

organisation as well - swim & sink together

 Unions as Change agent – lead changes – pioneering

role
 Based on Ideology
 Revolutionary Unions – Destruction of existing one & creating
new one – Shift in power & authority & use force(LEFT)

Reformist or Welfare Unions – Exchanges in existing Socio-

political framework – European model

Uplift Unions – Advocates beyond working conditions – Poverty

elimination , Change in tax system
 Based on Trade
 Membership based on trade they represent – Craft
union(WEST) certified to do certain craft like pipe fitting ,
Carpentry – not in INDIA & SRILANKA
 Range of workers represented in general union from all trades
- in INDIA & SRILANKA
BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS – Workers on the Production floor
or Outdoor Trades(Construction site)
WHITE –COLLAR WORKERS – Employees in shops & Offices –
clerical & allied functions
Industry they work – Agricultural Labour union, Forest
workers union
 Based on agreement
 Closed Shop – Workers should be join the union to become
the employee – Hartley Act 1947 bans this – Still exist in US –
also called HIRING HALL
 Union Shop - All new recruits should the union within the
period
 Preferential shop – union members given preference in
filling the vacancy
 Maintenance shop – No compulsory membership b4 & after
recruitment – membership remains compulsory once chosen
 Agency Shop – Non union member pays equal to member to
continue employment
 Open Shop - No compulsory membership b4 & after
recruitment - no unions at all