Background
The Role of Trade Unions
What do they do?
1.1 The core objective of the free trade union movement is the definition, promotion and implementation of the collective interests and rights of workers, particularly in relation to employers, but also in relation to the state and as part of broader civil society. Trade unions also provide their members with many social and welfare services.
1.2 The labour movement has been the most important historical driver of labour standards and worker’s rights. Trade unions have also frequently been in the forefront of wider struggles for political change, democracy and social justice. This has led to their engagement in a range of activities such as campaigning and advocacy, education and awareness raising, policy development and the development of mutual financial institutions.
How are they structured and organised?
1.3 Trade Unions may be organised on the basis of occupation, industry or may draw together different groups of workers in a general union. In many countries trade unions have been most strongly represented in the public sector. Structural adjustment programmes, which have reduced the size of the public sector in recent years, have had a significant impact on union membership.
1.4 Structures vary, but in general unions are organised at individual workplaces, and at the national and international level. Representatives elected at the workplace lead discussions with management and link the membership with regional and national level union structures and services. At local and national level, the focus is primarily on negotiations with employers over pay and conditions. Nationally a number of unions may join together to form one or more national centres (such as the British Trades Union Congress (TUC)), which represent their affiliates in discussion with government, national employers organisations and public bodies.
New forms of labour movement
1.5 Although traditionally associated with the formal economy, the trade
union movement is changing to meet new national and international challenges.
Many traditional unions, especially those whose retrenched members find
themselves in the informal economy, are now looking for new ways to support and
organise these workers. New forms of labour organisations for informal economy
workers are also being developed, such as the Self Employed Women’s
Association (
SEWA) in India. Poor and marginalised workers are joining together supported
by community and women’s organisations, to claim their rights and develop their
own labour institutions.
Non-democratic trade unions
1.6 The legitimacy of the trade union movement is based on its democratic structures. Union policies and actions reflect the wishes of the membership to whom the leadership is accountable. But some organisations that call themselves trade unions are not representative or accountable. They may include state-controlled unions, typical but not exclusive to communist one-party states where the union function is to assist the state in administering and controlling the labour force. In some countries company funded and controlled unions have been established by or brought under the control of employers to prevent the independent organisation of workers. There are also examples of trade unions being infiltrated by organised crime or coming under the control of individuals or small groups who manipulate the organisation for their own purposes.
The International Trade Union Movement
1.7 Internationally a number of influential organisations have developed to which national trade union centres or individual trade unions are affiliated. They provide a voice for organised labour on the international stage. Key players in the international labour movement include,
The WFTU drew much of its support from national centres in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Membership has declined significantly since the end of the communist regimes. It is based in Athens, Greece.Regionally focused organisations include,
- Organisation of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU)
- Southern Africa Trade Union Coordination Council (SATUCC)
Global Union Federations (GUF)
Global Union Federations are groupings of similar national trade unions at an international level. National trade unions may be affiliated to several GUFs if they represent several different kinds of workers. The GUFs run many campaigns with their national affiliates and have a range of capacity building and training programmes in countries throughout the South. They are:
Links with the wider International Community
1.8 Trade unions play an active role in broader international bodies particularly through their national and international centres.
United Nations
1.9 TheInternational Labour Organisation (ILO) based in Geneva, is the
specialist agency of the United Nations dealing with labour issues. The ILO is
unique within the UN system in its tripartite structure. Workers, employers and
governments participate as equal partners in the work of its governing body.
1.10 One of the ILO’s most important functions is the adoption of Conventions
and Recommendations that set international labour standards. These include the
four ‘core labour standards’: freedom of association and the right to bargain
collectively; the abolition of forced labour; the abolition of child labour; and
the elimination of discrimination in employment. They form the
Declaration on
the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. All countries are obliged to
respect, promote and realise these standards by virtue of their membership of
the organisation.
1.11 The ILO has a large technical cooperation programme which provides assistance through the tripartite membership to support the ratification and implementation of labour standards at country level. DFID supports this programme through a Partnership Framework and through country level agreements.
World Bank Group
1.12 The
World Bank engages with trade unions in various
ways: as ‘stakeholders’ during consultation on WB projects; via national-level
consultation with unions as members of civil society; through international
policy dialogue on economic and social issues; and by providing training
programmes for both Bank staff and trade unions. A framework for regular
dialogue between unions and the World Bank and the IMF was agreed in February
2002. And, since 2003 a small number of trade union representatives have been
seconded to the World Bank for 3–4 month period to work jointly with Bank staff
on themes related to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Links with Civil Society
1.13 Since the 1970s, cooperation between unions and NGOs has developed over a wide range of issues: human rights; development and education; environmental issues; and corporate accountability.
Example: Ethical Trading Initiative The UKTUC, the ITGLWF and the ITUC are
part of the
|
Challenges for trade union/NGO cooperation
1.14 Trade union and NGO relationships have not always been easy. While their agendas may overlap in many areas they are not necessarily the same. Even where objectives are shared differences in organisational structure and procedures may make them cautious about cooperation. Democratic trade unions represent and must account to their members. They may see non-membership based NGOs as undemocratic with little accountability to the people whose lives they are trying to change and more responsive to public opinion and funders. Conversely some NGOs have been concerned that some unions are male dominated and inflexible, supporting an elite group of workers rather than the poorest workers in the informal economy
