1. The document discusses trade unions, including their objectives, functions, structure, challenges, and impact. Trade unions aim to protect workers' rights and negotiate terms of employment through collective bargaining. 2. They provide representation, advice, and services to members. Unions are financed through membership fees and donations. Recruitment is done through colleagues, union representatives, and employers. 3. While unions improve conditions for workers, they face challenges like uneven growth, limited membership, poor leadership, and criticism for slowing productivity and creating artificial scarcity. Strengthening unions requires measures like improving finances and leadership development.

1. CONTENTS
-Intrototrade unions
-Featuresof trade unions
-Whatdo trade unionsdo?
-Objectives of trade unions
-How trade unionsare financed
-How trade unions recruits its members
-Whyemployees join trade unions
-Functionsof trade unions
-Trade unionstructure
-Weakness/challenges/problems facing trade unions
-Measures tostrengthen trade unions
-Advantages of trade unions toworkers, employees and society
-Criticismof trade union byemployers

2. ATrade union is an association of workers formed to protect the interest of workers.
-it is an instrument of defense against exploitation( i.e. help in protection of labor rights)
The most common purpose of trade union association is maintaining or improving the
conditions of employmentat work place such as ensuring safetystandards, right to paid
leave, right to be protected on unfair termination of employment , right to equality on
working organization
The trade union through its leadership bargainswith theemployeron behalf of union
membersand negotiates labourcontracts.
Trade union association can exist in three forms
i. Employerand employees
ii. Employerand employer
iii. Employees and employees

3. 1.Trade unionsarevoluntaryassociationof eitheremployees or
employeror independentworker.
2.Trade union achieve its objectives through collective action and
groupefforts. Negotiationand collective bargaining are the tools for
completing objectives
3.It is formed toprotectall kinds of interest, i.e. economic, social and
political of its members but the majorone is economic interest.
4.Trade unionareadaptable tothechanging socioeconomic, legal,
political environment
5.Trade unionaredesigned toeliminate theexploitationof workers
throughworkers participation in the management

4. The main service that a union provides for its members is negotiation and
representing but there are also other functions. All of these functions can be
explained below
1.NEGOTIATIONS( COLLECTIVE BARGAINING)
Negotiation is whereunion representatives discusswith the management on
issues thataffect people working in theorganization.
The union finds out the membersview and relaytheseviews to the
management.
There may be difference of opinion between management and union
members, negotiation is about finding a solution to thesedifferences.

5. 2.REPRESENTATION
Trade unions represents individuals members when they have a problem at
work. Example if employees feel they are being unfairly treated, the union
representative can sort out the problem with the management, if the problem
can not be solved by the employer himself then it will be solved on the court
3.INFORMATION AND ADVICE
Trade unions have wealth of information which is useful to people at work.
Theycan advise on range of issuessuch as how much payone is entitled toget
on maternity leave, how much holiday one is entitled to get each year, how to
obtain training atwork

6. 4.MEMBER SERVICES
Trade unions offers range of services to its members. It includes the following
i. Education and training.
Most unions run training courses for their members . The training relates
mostlyon employment rights, healthand safety
.
ii. Legal assistance
Trade union offers legal assistanceon employment issues, some unions even
give helpon personal matters like housing, willsand debts
iii. Financial discounts
Peoplecan get discounts on mortgages, insuranceand loans form unions
iv. Welfare benefits
Trade unions also look after memberswho hit hard times, example; some
unions offer financial help to their memberswhen theyaresick

7. There are two main ways in which trade unions are financed
1.SUBSCRIPTION FEES
Each trade union member pays a subscription fee, the amount differs among
unions and it is normally setat different levels according to theamount people
earn. This is a majorsourceof trade union’s finance
In exchange for subscription fees, membersreceive benefits of representation,
negotiation , protection and other service from their union. The subscription
fee may be direct deducted from employees salary and must be paid
periodically
2.DONATIONS, GRANTS OFFERED TO THE TRADE UNIONS
This is a secondarysourceof finance, its is not obtained periodicallyand it is
not an obligation for individuals who provide donations, Companies or
wealthy individuals who have truston the trade union activities may provide
donations to support trade union activities. Obtaining donations highly
depends on trade union reputation and the nature of its activities.

8. Individuals are recruited in unions through the following ways
1.Most people find out about trade unions by talking tocolleaguesat the
workplaceand then makedirect contact with the union.
2.Some people arecontacted by union representativewhogive them
information about the union and tells them how to join
3.Some employers and personal officers tell employees about the union when
theystartworking for theorganization.

9. 1.GREATER BARGAINING POWER
Employees normally posses very little bargaining power as compared to that of
employer, With trade unions, employees are united, the employees bargaining
powercan beenhanced through negotiation of their needs by their leader.
2.MINIMIZING DISCRIMINATION
Discrimination exist in working environment. Some subordinates may be
treated fairlywhileothers unfair due to the relationship. The relationships
existing between the supervisors and each of his subordinates may influence
decisions regarding pay, promotion, transfer. With trade unions these things
can be reduced or eliminated.
3.SENSE OF SECURITY
Some employees join trade unions believing that it is an effective way to
secure adequate protection from various types of hazards and overcome
insecuritysuchas accident, injury, illness, unemployment
Example: protection of unfair termination of employment, proper remedy to
be given incase of injury ( lets say an employee cuts his hand during machine
operation at work place,)

10. 4.SENSE OF PARTICIPATION
Theemployees can participate in management on mattersaffecting their
interests only if they join trade unions. Theycan influence decisions thatare
taken as a result of collective bargaining between the union and the
management
5.SENSE OF BELONGINGNESS
Thosewhoare members feel that theygain respect in theeyes of their fellow
workers. Theycan alsodiscuss theirproblemswith trade union leaders
6.PLATFORM FOR SELF EXPRESSION
A trade union provides such a forum wherethe feelings, ideas and opinions of
theworkerscould bediscussed
7.BETTERMENT OF RELATIONSHIP
Employees join trade unions as they believe trade unions can fulfill the
important need of ensuring proper maintenance of employer-employee
relationship.
Unions help toensuregood industrial relationsamong management and
workers bysolving problemspeacefully.

11. Trade unions performs a number of functions in order to achieve the
objectives. These functions can be broadlyclassified into fourcategories
i. Militant(revolutionary) functions
ii. Fraternal functions
iii. Social functions
iv. Political functions
MILITANT(REVOLUTIONARY) FUNCTIONS
1.To achieve higherwagesand betterworking conditions
2.To protect labouragainst injustice and victimization
3.To raise the statusof workersas part of industry

12. FRATERNAL FUNCTIONS
1.To provide opportunity for promotion and growth
2.Toencourage sincerityand discipline among workers.
3.Togenerate self confidence among workers
4.Totake up welfare measures for improving the moraleof workers
SOCIAL FUNCTIONS
1.Topromote schemesand procedure foraddressing grievances among
members
2.Provision of education among members
3.Publication of union documents such as newslettersor magazines for
establishing communication with their members

13. Trade unions are democratic organizations which are accountable to their
members for their policies and actions.
Unions are normally modeled on the following structure.
1.MEMBERS
People who pay a subscription to belong on a certain union
2.SHOP STEWARDS( UNION REPRESENTATIVES)
Union representatives are elected by members of the union to represent them
to the management.
3.BRANCHES
Branches support union members in different organizations locally. There is
usually a branch secretary who is elected by local members.
4.DISTRICT/REGIONAL OFFICES
These are usually staffed by fulltime union officials. Union officials are people
who are paid to offer advice and support to union members locally.
5.A NATION OFFICE.
These are unions headquarters which offers support to union members and negotiates
or campaigns for improvement to their working conditions. At the top of organization
there is usually general secretary who is elected by union members

14. 1.Better wages by Improving employees pay and other benefits such as holiday
entitlements.
2.Betterworking conditions. Example ,Securing improvements in employees
working conditions including hours of work. and health safety at work,
improving pensions and industry injury benefits.
3.Social welfare, providing improved standard of living
4.Safeguard the interest of employees by Encouraging firm to increase worker
participation in decision making
5.Toprevent employees from employer’s exploitation. This can done by
defending employees rightsand jobs. Employees rightsare normallyexpressed
in labourrelation act that differs from one country toanother.
6.Organizational growth and stability. With trade union on place strikescan
beavoided thus resulting stabilityand growthof the firm.

15. 1.UNEVEN GROWTH
There is uneven growth in trade unionism. Trade union activities areonly
concentrated in few statesand bigger industrial centers only.
2.LIMITED MEMBERSHIP
Not all people join trade unions. Many trade unions exist in different countries
but there is declining membership per union. This because individuals feels
that the unions do not meet their member’s needs, hence resultsto numberof
employees whoare not memberof any union
3.FINANCIAL PROBLEMS
Financial position of trade union is weak since the average yearlyincome is
lowand inadequate. Things such as subscription ratesarevery low and
sometimes they remain unpaid by their members.
Funds of the union are inadequate and theycannot takewelfare programs for
their memberseffectively
.

16. 4.MULTIPLICITY OF UNIONS(PRESENCE OF MULTIPLE UNIONS IN
SAME FIELD)
There is an existence of multiple trade unions in the same field. There is no
restrictionon the numbersof unions to be registered in one establishment.
The law permita small numberof people to form trade unions. Eg according
to trade unions act 2004 of Tanzania, 2o employees can form a trade union.
Due to this it results to the formation multiple unions in largeamount
5.INDIFFERENTALTITUDE OF WORKERS
In manycountries, large numberof workers have not joined trade unions and
normallyemployers discourage trade unions.
Also not all memberson the union show interest in theaffairs of the union.
Forexample some people may have poorattendance of union’s general
meetings, under such circumstance trade unionism cannot be expected to
makeprogressdue to lack of unity.
6.POOR LEADERSHIP OF UNION LEADERS
Sometimes trade unions are led by people whoare not workers butoutsiders.
Outsiders may include politicians, intellectuals who have no experience of
work industry. Normally outsiders focus on their personal interests rather
union interests.

17. 7.ILLETERACY OF SOME WORKERS
Someworks fail to understand the impactof trade unionism
due to their lack of education
8.UNION RIVALRY

18. Theseare suggestion/measure to be taken for healthily growthof unionism
1.ONE UNION IN ONE INDUSTRY(MAINTAINING UNITY)
Having multiple union in the same industry lead to inter union rivalry that
ultimately cuts trade union movements, it weakens the power for collective
bargaining. There fore thereshould beone union only in one industry.
The presence of one union only will help to have one policy, one program, one
objective, one method of labour movements.
2.DEVELOPMENT OF LEADERSHIP FROM WITHIN
Leaders of the union must bewithin the industryof workersand not outside.
Outside leadership is one of the main cause for multiple problems of trade
unions and thatcan only beeliminated if leaderscome from within.
3.PAID UNION OFFICIALS
Individuals whospecificallywork for the union should beemployed and must
be paid well. Theseunion officials must be individuals of proven integrity and
who are able to evaluate the demands of workers so that they may negotiate
with employers on equal terms.

19. 4.IMPROVED FINANCIAL CONDITIONS
Financial position of union is weak and must be improved throughensuring
paymentsof membersubscription and finding donations for the union.
5.RECOGNITION OF TRADE UNIONS
Trade union must be recognized and be registered under the trade unions act
in order to secure the union and ensuring its safely. If a union is registered it
enjoys the rightsof the registered trade unions as per the trade unions act.
If it not registered then it is not subjected to the rightsof a registered trade
union.
6.IMPROVING WORKERS EDUCATION
It is the responsibility of trade unions to make workers realize their
responsibilitiesand ensurediscipline in them to perform their job satisfactory
7.IMPROVING WELFARE ACTIVITIES FOR WORKERS IN UNION
Welfareactivities efforts make theworkers loyal to the union. Example
provision of day school forchildren, night foradults, opening libraries,gyms.

20. 1.It promote unity
2.Itensures improvement in working conditions and provision for better
welfarefacilities
3.Spirit of self relianceand self respect
4.Uniform wages
5.Change in employer’saltitude

21. 1.Dispute can be avoided or may be solved politely
2.It results to industrial peace
3.Framing healthly labourpolicies. It reduces chanceof
industrial dispute in future

22. 1.Gain sympathy of general public(in crisis)
2.Propose to the government( to enact labour policies to protect
and develop labourforceof thecountry in a betterway
3.It helps in development of industrial economy by maintaining
good industrial relations, thus it will results in higher and better
production at lowercost

23. 1.LACK OF EDUCATION
Lack of education makes workers narrow minded and prevent them to
understand long-termviews.
Forworkersanything thatdoes not results in an immediate rewards becomes
unattractive to them even if it is important for theirown benefits also.
2.UNIONS MAY NOT WELCOME CHANGES
Unions may not welcome changes for productivity methods for the fear that
someof theworkerswill loose their jobs. Thereforethey slowdown industrial
progress.
3.STRIKES ON ILLOGICAL BASIS
Sometimes unions strikes on illogical bases/grounds and causes losses to
producers, community and the nation. Workersalsosuffers becauseof their
loss in salariesdue to strikes
4.CREATION OF ARTIFICIAL SCARCITY OF LABOURS
Trade union createsartificial scarcityof labour bydemanding thatonly union
personnel should beemployed
5.Undue demands relating towages.