1. Trade Unions Learning Objective- To be able to understand the role of Trade Unions in business Learning Outcomes Able to define trade union and identify forms of industrial action (E) Able to analyse the benefits and drawbacks of union membership (C) Able to evaluate the cost of industrial action to a range of stakeholders (A) PLEASE FILL IN YOUR TOPIC TRACKER

2. Starter Can you identify the following unions from their distorted logos? 1. 4. 3. 2.

3. Answers 1.National Union of Teachers 2.Trade Union Congress 3.Fire Brigades Union 4.Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen So, what does a trade union do?

4. What do trade unions do? They act as a pressure group – by seeking to influence government to make laws that are in the interests of its members Eg asking government to limit working hours more strictly Eg asking government to increase the minimum wage

5. What else do trade unions do? Unions protect the interests of their members by helping them with things like: Working conditions Hours Redundancy Unfair dismissal Safety at work Race and sex discrimination Pay Holiday entitlement

6. Benefits of union membership Unions have strength in numbers The actions of a large group of workers will have more influence on employers than the actions of an individual

7. More benefits of trade unions They can give expert advice and support Unions employ specialists such as solicitors and can advise workers about the rights they have and what to do in a dispute They have the money to help to pay for expensive court cases They will have trained negotiators who know how to deal with the employers

8. Limitations to businesses of trade unions May increase costs…..Why?? Reduction in profit….Why?? Loss of customers….Why?? Reduced productivity….Why??

9. Limitations to members of trade unions Loss of wages if industrial action is taken. Costs involved with membership. All workers are treated the same in collective bargaining regardless of how productive or effective they are.

10. Activity Complete the Trade Union Worksheet

11. Unions can also negotiate benefits for the members EG Discounts in some shops and lower rates of interest on loans

12. Industrial action Many disputes are settled before industrial action takes place Workers can take industrial action to try to achieve what they want in a dispute with the employer Industrial action is designed to benefit the workers It may have costs for the worker and it may harm the employer, the customers and the economy as a whole

13. The main forms of industrial action Strike Overtime ban Work to rule

14. The costs of industrial action Costs to the workers Costs to the customers Costs to the firm Costs to the economy

15. Single union agreements In some workplaces, several different unions may represent different kinds of workers Different craft unions may represent different kinds of skilled workers White-collar unions represent office workers A general union may represent some semi-skilled and unskilled workers This can make industrial relations complicated In some firms, there are single union agreements

16. Single union agreements All the workers are members of the same union This can help the workers as well as the employers The workers benefit because all the workers speak with one voice and this may add to their strength For the firm it is easier to negotiate with one union rather than several of them

17. ACAS – Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service ACAS tries to settle disputes between workers and employers It will give advice to the employer and to the union It will provide conciliation – it tries to find areas that both sides agree on It provides arbitration – when the two sides cannot reach an agreement, ACAS appoints an arbitrator who hears the arguments and makes a decision. The union and the employer cannot disobey any decision the arbitrator makes unless they had agreed to non binding arbitration

18. Over to you Complete examination questions worksheet. Homework: Write an newspaper report (Max 1 side) that describes the event of some industrial action taking place. Make sure you include plenty of facts along with your opinions on the industrial action.

19. Trade Union Role Play

20. Topic Tracker In a different coloured pen, how much of your topic sheet can you now complete? Which learning outcome have you achieved today? Learning Outcomes Able to define trade union and identify forms of industrial action (E) Able to analyse the benefits and drawbacks of union membership (C) Able to evaluate the cost of industrial action to a range of stakeholders (A)