1. Representing employers and employees
People and business
Representing employers and employees

2. An introduction The need for representation
To protect rights under the law
To provide support during a dispute
Organisations that can help
Trade unions
The TUC (Trades Union Congress)
The CBI (Confederation of British Industry)
Employers’ associations
ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation & Arbitration Service)

3. The trade union: aims To perform collective bargaining
To represent and protect the interest of its members (the workers) through negotiation with management
To provide advice and support
To support members in a dispute e.g. unfair dismissal, sexual discrimination
To act as a pressure group
To influence government to make laws that are in the interests of its members

4. The trade union: objectives
To improve pay levels
To improve working conditions
To protect jobs
To offer legal and financial assistance
To influence in decision-making at work

5. Types of trade union Craft unions Industrial unions
Earliest unions, which supported skilled craft workers who had learnt their trade through
the union’s apprenticeship system
E.g. the Musicians’ Union
Industrial unions
Grew out of the traditional heavy industries e.g. steel, coal and railways
E.g. USDAW (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers)

6. Types of trade union (cont’d)
General unions
Large membership, often from semi-skilled and unskilled occupations e.g. nurse, cleaner, bus driver
E.g. UNISON (for people delivering public services)
White collar union
Most recently formed unions, due to the growth of clerical and administrative occupations
E.g. the NUT (National Union of Teachers)
Benefits of a ‘single union agreement’

7. Benefits of union membership
Strength in numbers
Actions of a large group of workers will have more influence than the actions of an individual
Expert advice and support
Unions provide specialists e.g. negotiators and solicitors, and money to fund expensive court cases
Other benefits
Unions negotiate with retailers and lenders to secure discounted shopping and loans

8. The future of trade unions
The number of members
Union membership has fallen
Fewer jobs in those manufacturing industries where union membership is traditionally high
Difficulty in recruiting union members from the expanding service sector
The number of unions
Unions are merging
This gives them greater bargaining power

9. Other organisations The TUC (Trades Union Congress)
Represents the views of those unions joined to it
Seeks to influence government policy on political, economic and social issues
The CBI (Confederation of British Industry)
Represents both public and private sector employers
Seeks to persuade government to follow its policies
Provides advice and assistance to its members

10. Other organisations (cont’d)
Employers’ associations
Represents employers e.g. during wage negotiations
Provides advice and assistance to its members
E.g. the NFU (National Farmers’ Union)
ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation & Arbitration Service)
Independent body financed by the Government
Tries to settle disputes between workers and employers

11. Revision: a quick test Q1. What does ‘CBI’ stand for?
Q2. Which occupations tend to join a general union?
Q3. Why is union membership falling?
A1. ‘CBI’ stands for Confederation of British Industry
A2. Semi-skilled and unskilled workers
A3. Manufacturing sector down, service sector up

12. People and business
End of presentation