AIMS AND FUNCTIONS OF TRADE UNIONS

1. Read the text quickly and match the headings to the paragraphs.

A ___________________________________

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has distinguished ten main objectives of trade unions. They are:

· improved terms of employment;

· improved physical environment at work;

· full employment and national prosperity;

· security of employment and income;

· improved social security schemes;

· fair shares in national income and wealth;

· industrial democracy;

· a voice in government;

· improved public and social services;

· public control and planning of industry.

B ___________________________________

Trade unions attempt to achieve their aims in three ways. Firstly, they engage in direct consultation with management to attempt to improve the wages and conditions of work of their members. Secondly, they act as a pressure group on government, and try to persuade governments of all political parties to pass legislation, and carry out general economic policies which will benefit their members. Thirdly, they provide certain direct benefits for their members, such as unemployment benefit. All these are discussed in more detail below.

C ___________________________________

About three-quarters of employees in the United Kingdom are covered by agreements made between the representatives of workers and employers; the representatives of workers are invariably trade unions. Collective agreements normally cover two areas: firstly, they specify the basic rates pay, hours worked and holidays; secondly, they specify the procedure to be followed to reach agreements, and the procedure to be followed in case of a dispute.

D ___________________________________

The normal procedure is that the union will present its case for improvements in pay and conditions which will include specific proposals. The employers will consider the union’s case and make an offer. The offer may be accepted or rejected, if rejected more talks will follow until the two sides come to an agreement. Occasionally, the two sides fail to reach agreement. In this situation the independent Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) may offer conciliation. When agreement cannot be made through this method, the two parties can refer the claim to arbitration; an arbitrator will be appointed who will prepare a report and award. Although the award is not legally binding, it is usual for the two sides to accept the claim. The two sides may still fail to agree, or may have been unwilling to use ACAS, and in such cases an industrial dispute may occur.

E ___________________________________

Trade unions attempt to influence government policy in two areas. Firstly, they press for specific items of legislation which will improve the working conditions, terms of employment, social security benefits and status of their members. Examples of legislation supported by trade unions for these reasons include the Trade Union and Labour Relations Acts, the Employment Protection Act and the Health and Safety at Work Act. Secondly, trade unions support, and ask for a general economic strategy which will further the interests of the trade union movement as a whole. Trade unions are likely to support the economic policies associated with the Labour Party.

F ___________________________________

The benefits available to union members vary considerably from union to union. Some unions provide benefits in case of illness, accident, death and retirement, others do not even pay a disputes benefit when their members are on official strike. On average unions pay out about 30% of the contributions they receive on benefits.

2. Read the text again and translate it.

3. Find in the text:

a) examples of Passive Infinitives;

b) one sentence containing Complex Object;

c) one sentence containing Complex Subject;

d) one sentence containing ‘for+to+Infinitive’ construction.

4. Answer the questions.

1) Which of the objectives of trade unions do you consider the most vital? Why?

2) What is the purpose of trade unions’ direct consultations with management?

3) What areas do collective agreements normally cover?

4) What procedure is followed in case of a dispute?

5) When is a claim referred to arbitration?

6) In what ways do trade unions try to influence the government?

7) Whose economic policy do trade unions support?

8) What kinds of benefits can trade unions pay out?

9) Where do trade unions get money to pay out benefits?

10) What do you know about the aims and functions of Russian trade unions?

11) What are the objectives of your students’ union?

5. Speak about the aims and functions of trade unions using the questions above as the plan.

6. Industrial action is used by workers to put pressure on employers when collective bargaining has been unsuccessful. The most common forms of action which workers can take in the UK are listed below. Match them with their description.

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