BUS 372

Week 1 DQ 1

The Role of Unionization

Unions represent the interests of their members, whether they are nurses, teachers, care assistants or cleaners. A trade union such as UNISON is set into a national structure with local branches, which have locally elected officials.

Typical issues the union involves itself with are:

Pay discussions. Average earnings are 8% higher in trade union workplaces.

Bargaining for better holidays. Average trade union members get 29 days annual leave against 23 days for non-unionised workers.

Gaining compensation for those who are injured or become ill.

Developing the job of Health and Safety committees.

Typical examples of UNISON's tasks are:

(a) Caring for cleaning staff - More than 860,000 people work as cleaners in the UK and there is a higher...