Unions seek to protect and promote the mutual interests of workers through collective bargaining. They perform both militant functions like negotiating wages and job security, as well as fraternal functions providing financial and medical assistance to workers. Unions also engage in political activities by affiliating with political parties and social service activities. They can take on various roles from advocating for worker interests to considering the interests of the organization or acting as agents of change. Unions can be based on ideology, trade or type of agreement between workers and employers.

1. Organisation of workers acting collectively, who seek to protect and promote their mutual interests through collective bargaining

2. 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

3. 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.,

4. POLITICAL FUNCTIONS – Affiliating with political party – collect donation – help during strikes SOCIAL FUNCTIONS – Social service activities ,discharging social responsibilities

5. Wages & Salaries Working Conditions Discipline Personnel policies Welfare Employer-Employee relations Negotiating Machinery Safeguarding organisational health & the interest of the Industry

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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