Trades union facts for kids
A trade union is a group of workers who join together to improve their jobs. They work to get better pay, reasonable hours, good benefits, and safe working conditions. People who support unions believe they are important because companies often want to pay as little as possible. In the United States, these groups are often called labor unions.
In Great Britain, they are called trades unions because they originally brought together workers from different jobs or "trades." For example, on a steam train, the driver and the stoker (who shoveled coal) had different skills and pay. When they joined a union like the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF), they could talk to management together. Other railway workers might join a different union, like the National Union of Railwaymen (NUR), which covered many different jobs.
Contents
What Do Unions Do?
Unions help their members in many ways:
- Collective bargaining: Union leaders talk with the company's management to create a contract. This contract sets out the pay, benefits, and rules for workers. Leaders can do this because they have the power to threaten a strike.
- Benefits: In the past, unions often gave members money if they were hurt, fired unfairly, or sick. Today, governments often provide these benefits. Unions might also help members find a lawyer if they need legal help.
- Politics: Unions often work to pass laws that help workers. They might raise money for politicians who support unions. They also try to convince lawmakers to create rules that benefit unions. Some political parties, like the Labour Party in the United Kingdom, are very close to unions.
The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is an international agreement that says people have the right to form and join trade unions and to go on strike.
How Do Strikes Work?
If unions and management can't agree during collective bargaining, unions might use strikes. A strike is when workers stop working to demand better conditions or pay. However, just the idea of a strike is usually enough. More than 98% of union contracts are agreed upon without workers actually going on strike.
A Look at Union History
Trade unions grew out of the old trade guilds from the Middle Ages. Guilds were groups of skilled workers, like bakers or blacksmiths, who had learned their craft through training.
Early Unions in Britain (1750–1850)
Early trade unions brought together people from different jobs in the same industry. They wanted to protect and improve their jobs, pay, and living conditions.
It took a long time for British governments and employers to accept trade unions. This happened when British industries were doing well and the economy was growing. This growth allowed employers to offer better wages and conditions, which helped calm down workers' unhappiness.
However, unions still had to work hard to be seen in a good light. In the early 1800s, it wasn't clear if trade unions would even be allowed to exist.
How Unions Grew
Unions in Britain grew slowly, with roots going back to medieval guilds. In 1563, Queen Elizabeth I's government passed a law called The Statute of Artificers. This law had some good parts, like requiring local officials to make sure workers had good living standards. This gave some protection to skilled workers.
By the 1800s, people didn't like the government getting involved in businesses. As more people moved to cities and businesses grew, employers couldn't have a personal relationship with every worker. So, in 1813, the Statute was removed. Workers then started forming "trade clubs" to protect their interests.
At first, unions were mostly for skilled workers like shoemakers, printers, and mechanics. These early unions often:
- Provided money if members were sick or couldn't work.
- Controlled how many new workers could join their trade.
- Charged fees to join.
- Talked with employers to set pay rates.
These groups were usually small and focused on one trade in one town. Members were often educated and met in local places like public houses.
Friendly Societies
"Friendly societies" were groups where workers paid a small fee to get financial help if they became sick or died. They were different from unions but shared some ideas. These groups were usually local. Over time, some of these groups became more active, pushing for better conditions and pay.
Combination Acts
The government became worried about these worker groups, especially after the French Revolution. So, in 1799 and 1800, they passed the Combination Acts. These laws made it illegal for workers to form groups to ask for better pay or conditions. If workers broke this law, they could go to prison.
However, these laws didn't stop unions. Many continued in secret, or called themselves "friendly societies." In 1823, a tailor named Francis Place helped lead a movement to get rid of these laws. With support from a Member of Parliament, the government agreed to look into it. By then, the government was less afraid of revolution. In 1824, the Combination Acts were removed, making trade unions legal again!
After this, many strikes happened across the country. So, in 1825, the government passed a new law. It allowed unions to exist but said they couldn't organize protests.
Early National Unions
In the 1820s, people started thinking about creating unions that covered the whole country.
A cotton worker named John Doherty tried to form a national union in 1829. He later formed the National Association for the Protection of Labour. But it fell apart in 1831 because it was hard to communicate and organize across long distances.
Robert Owen and the GNCTU
In 1834, a big union called the Grand National Consolidated Trade Union (GNCTU) was formed, largely by Robert Owen. Owen was a socialist who dreamed of a society where everyone worked together. He hoped a national union would help achieve this.
The GNCTU wanted to improve wages and working conditions, and protect workers from pay cuts. They planned to use strikes to achieve these goals.
Why the GNCTU Failed
The GNCTU only lasted about six months. Owen claimed it had half a million members, but others say it was closer to 16,000.
The union failed for several reasons. Owen and the workers had different ideas about how to achieve their goals. Workers wanted strong action, but Owen preferred a slower, more legal approach. The union was also too big, making strikes hard to organize. Many employers also made their workers promise not to join the GNCTU.
Tolpuddle Martyrs
In February 1834, six farm workers in Tolpuddle, England, formed a union. They were paid very little, much less than what a family needed to live. Their leader, George Loveless, fought for higher wages. The landowner, James Frampton, reported them to the government. The men were arrested, tried, and sent away to a distant land for seven years. The judge said he did this to make an example of them. These men became known as the Tolpuddle Martyrs. Their story caused support for the GNCTU to drop, and it soon collapsed.
Despite these challenges, skilled trade unions continued to grow between 1835 and 1850.
Why Some People Criticize Unions
Unions have faced criticism for several reasons:
- Some people say unions make worker costs higher. This might mean companies hire fewer people.
- Unions might protect workers who are not very productive. For example, some unions protect long-time employees from being fired, even if newer workers are faster.
- Some unions have faced issues with corruption or being too closely tied to politicians or even the employers they are supposed to be fighting against.
Relating page
Images for kids
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Garment workers on strike, New York City circa 1913.
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Early 19th century workplace militancy manifested in the Luddite riots, when unemployed workers destroyed labour saving machines
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Poster issued by the London Trades Council, advertising a demonstration held on 2 June 1873
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Eight-hour day march circa 1900, outside Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne.
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Costa Rican agricultural unions demonstration, January 2011
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2011 National Trade Union Council (Zenrokyo) May Day march, Tokyo
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Workers on strike in Oslo, Norway, 2012
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Public sector workers in Leeds striking over pension changes by the government in November 2011
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Child labourers in an Indiana glass works. Labor unions have an objective interest in combating child labour.
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Cesar Chavez speaking at a 1974 United Farm Workers rally in Delano, California. The UFW during Chavez's tenure was committed to restricting immigration.
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The Great Southwest Railroad Strike of 1886 was a trade union strike involving more than 200,000 workers
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A rally of the trade union UNISON in Oxford during a strike on 28 March 2006
See also
In Spanish: Sindicato para niños
