Smt. Nandita Mohanty
Chairperson, Women Sub-Committee
AIPEU, Gr-C, Bhubaneswar Division
With the
evolution of society and growth in social needs there is a sharp development in
industrialization. It involves use of modern technology and employment of large
number of workers. As large number of people are involved, it becomes
necessary to safe guard the interest of the workers. They need to be organized
to fulfil their demands in respect of salary, welfare and social security.
There comes the concept of `Union’.
So, union is
the long-term association of workers to advance and protect the interest of
members of the union in the working relationship. According to Flippo “A labor
union or a trade union is an organization of workers formed to protect, promote
and improve through collective action, the social, economic and political
interest of its members.”
Whenever any
employee joins a union, he has some expectations in his mind. He may join the
union for the following reasons:-
Economic benefits: When any employee joins an organization the main
interest is the salary or wage. As the social status of a person is defined by
the economic standard he carries, more emphasis is given to the economic
benefits. But any single individual has very little bargaining capacity as
compared to the huge power of the management. He thinks, if he joins the union,
union will fight for the economic interest of the employee as the union has
great bargaining capacity to get its demands accepted by the management.
But the union has also its own limitations. It can bargain on the genuine
ground according to the prevailing rules. It can demand for the economic
up-gradation when the organization is economically sound. For that the
employees have to give their hundred percent so that union can demand
enhancement of monetary benefits. Because no organization will give any
economic benefit unless and until it is economically sound. At that time
expectation of economic advancement is baseless.
Platform for self-expression: At the primitive days of industrialization, lives of the workers were like
slaves without any voice against the tyranny of the management. They used to
live at the mercy of the management. They couldn’t raise their voice against
un-hygienic working conditions, hard work, low wage, long and inconvenient
hours of working etc. Self-expression and individuality were totally
prohibited. But the desire for self-expression is a fundamental drive which
can’t be ignored. By joining the union the employees get a platform for
self-expression. The union provides the mechanism through which employees can
make their voice heard by the top management. Union serves as the communicating
device between the employees and the management. Sometimes due to low
perspective and narrow-mindedness, some can’t understand the long-term views
taken by the organization in the context of overall growth of the organization
and employees. Anything which does not result in immediate reward becomes
unattractive to them. This attitude results in the difference in views and
conflict in union. One thing we should keep in mind that union is by the
employees, for the employees and of the employees. So to be in union, one
should go beyond oneself.
Check-bar on arbitrary action of the management: The employees join the union to fight against the
arbitrary action of the management. It works like a brake to the monopoly of
the management. Employees expect a just and fare dealing from the management on
the basis of the prevailing rules and regulations. Union serves a
checkmate when management goes beyond the prevailing rules and take action
against the employees which is irrational, unlawful or discriminatory.
Thus union safe- guards the interest of the employees.
Security : The employees join union because they think that at the
time of need the union will stand by them. They can get the protection from
hazards and economic insecurities at the time of illness, accidents, unemployment
etc. For example, trade union ensures compensation to the injured workers under
the Workman’s Compensation Act 1923, secures the retirement benefits under
Gratuity Act 1972 and PF Act 1952, employees’ health, social security, payment
of wage, bonus, insurance, maternity benefit etc. and other welfare measures by
compelling the management to abide by these. With the union, employees feel
safe and secure both mentally and physically.
Employee-employer relationship: The employee may not have easy access to the
top management. But union is the proper machinery which maintains a sound
communication between the employer and the employee. Employees feel attached to
the organization by this. If the relation between the employer and employees is
good then industrial disputes, conflicts, strikes and lock-outs can be
avoided.
Sense of participation: Sense of participation is also a fundamental desire
among the employees. They expect that their voice should be heard in making
decisions in the organization. This is known as the Workman’s Participation.
Being in the union, they can make their voice heard by the management in
matters affecting them and can also influence to take a correct decision.
Sense of belongingness: When any employee joins an organization the sense
of belongingness is developed inside him. He tries to feel that he is the
integral part of the organization. For that he may join the union. Because his
co-workers are with the union. He may have the feeling that if he will not join
the union he will be odd man out and can’t get any assistance at the time of
need. On the contrary, when he is in the union he feels that he is attached
with the organization and experiences a feel-good factor. He begins to think that
he has some importance in the organization and among the co-workers.
Background factor: Some who are born and brought up in the industrial
area or in the organizational background where the society members and members
of the family are attached with the union, join the union as a nature of
practice. Here the past history works. As a result, they think it
obvious and natural enough to join the union.
Though it is the mere truth that union is for the
safe-guard of the employees, we can’t use it as the weapon against the
management. If management strives for the long term benefit of the organization
which may sound unreal on the today’s back ground, then union also
has to think in that angle for the mutual benefit. We should aspire for the
long term benefits because our next generation may get the fruit out of it. We
have to make the union strong for the bright future.
Source : http://aipeup3bbsr.blogspot.in/search?q=why+union