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A trade union or labor union is "a continuous association of wage-earners for the purpose of maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment."^[1] Image File history File links Gnome-globe. ... The labour movement (or labor movement) is a broad term for the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign in their own interest for better treatment from their employers and political governments, in particular through the implementation of specific laws governing labor relations. ... Child labourers coming out of a dye factory, Dhaka, Bangladesh Child labor (or child labour) is the employment of children under an age determined by law or custom. ... The 8-hour day movement or 40-hour week movement (a. ... In classical economics and all micro-economics labour is a measure of the work done by human beings and is one of three factors of production, the others being land and capital. ... Labor history (or labour history) is a broad field of study concerned with the development of the labor movement and the working class. ... Labour law (American English: labor) or employment law is the body of laws, administrative rulings, and precedents which addresses the legal rights of, and restrictions on, working people and their organizations. ... Labor rights are laws created in order to always have fairness and keep peace between employees and employers. ... The proletariat (from Latin proles, offspring) is a term used to identify a lower social class; a member of such a class is proletarian. ... A general strike is a strike action by an entire labour force in a city, region or country. ... The following is a list of deliberate absence from work related to specific working conditions (strikes) or due to general unhappiness with the political order (general strikes). ... Syndicalism refers to a set of ideas, movements, and tendencies which share the avowed aim of transforming capitalist society through action by the working class on the industrial front. ... Social Movement Unionism is a trend of theory and practice in contemporary trade unionism. ... This is a list of trade unions and union federations by country. ... Timeline of organized labor history 1790s - 1800s - 1810s - 1820s - 1830s - 1840s - 1850s - 1860s - 1870s - 1880s - 1890s - 1900s - 1910s - 1920s - 1930s - 1940s - 1950s - 1960s - 1970s - 1980s 1797 (United States) Profit sharing originated at Albert Gallatins glass works in New Geneva, Pennsylvania. ... A wage is a compensation which workers receive in exchange for their labor. ... For the album by the Kaiser Chiefs see Employment (album) Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. ...

Over the last three hundred years, trade unions have developed into a number of forms, influenced by differing political and economic regimes. The immediate objectives and activities of trade unions vary, but may include:

A friendly society (sometimes called a mutual society, benevolent society or fraternal organization) is a mutual association for insurance_like purposes, and often, especially in the past, serving ceremonial and friendship purposes also. ... An 1837 political cartoon about unemployment in the United States. ... A Collective agreement is a labor contract between an employer and one or more unions. ... A wage is a compensation which workers receive in exchange for their labor. ... Strike action (or simply strike) describes collective action undertaken by groups of workers in the form of a refusal to perform work. ... A lockout is a work stoppage in which an employer prevents employees from working. ... The Labour Party has been, since its founding in the early 20th century, the principal political party of the left in the United Kingdom. ...

History of Trade Unions

Beginning in the eighteenth century, much of Western society (with most changes occurring earliest in Britain) witnessed a transformation from an agrarian culture with craft-based production to a culture shaped by the first industrial revolution. Some of the changes brought on by this new order, such as new work methods and downward pressure on traditional wage structures,^[2] sparked rising alarm in the crafts and guilds of the time, who feared encroachment on their established jobs. A Watt steam engine. ... A craft is a skill, especially involving practical arts. ... For the guitar manufacturer, see Guild Guitar Company. ...

Additionally, the rapid expansion of industrial society was to draw women, children, rural workers, and immigrants to the work force in larger numbers and in new roles. This pool of unskilled and semi-skilled labour spontaneously organised in fits and starts throughout its beginnings,^[1] and would later be an important arena for the development of trade unions.

Origins and early history

Trade unions have sometimes been seen as successors to the guilds of Medieval Europe, though the relationship between the two is disputed.^[3] Medieval guilds existed to protect and enhance their members' livelihoods through controlling the instructional capital of artisanship and the progression of members from apprentice to craftsman, journeyman, and eventually to master and grandmaster of their craft. They also facilitated mobility by providing accommodation for guild members travelling in search of work. Guilds exhibited some aspects of the modern trade union, but also some aspects of professional associations and modern corporations. For the guitar manufacturer, see Guild Guitar Company. ... Instructional capital is a term used in educational administration, to reflect capital resulting from investment in producing learning materials. ... It has been suggested that Artisan#Artisan guilds be merged into this article or section. ... Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of skilled crafts practitioners, which is still popular in some countries. ... An artisan, also called a craftsman,[1] is a skilled manual worker who uses tools and machinery in a particular craft. ... // A journeyman is a tradesman or craftsman who has completed an apprenticeship but is not yet able to set up his or her own workshop as a master. ... // A master craftsman (sometimes called only master or grandmaster) was a member of a guild. ... This article or section should be merged with professional body In countries where the legal system entitles defendants to a jury by their peers, the general public may not be considered sufficiently knowledgeable in a field of practice to act as a peer in some legal cases. ...

Additionally, guilds, like some craft unions today, were highly restrictive in their membership and only included artisans who practiced a specific trade. Many modern labour unions tend to be expansionistic, and frequently seek to incorporate widely disparate kinds of workers to increase the leverage of the union as a whole. A labour union in 2006 might include workers from only one trade or craft, or might combine several or all the workers in one company or industry.

Since the publication of the History of Trade Unionism (1894) by Sidney and Beatrice Webb, the predominant historical view is that a trade union "is a continuous association of wage earners for the purpose of maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment."^[1] A modern definition by the Australian Bureau of Statistics states that a trade union is "an organization consisting predominantly of employees, the principal activities of which include the negotiation of rates of pay and conditions of employment for its members."^[4] History of Trade Unionism is a book by Sidney and Beatrice Webb. ... 1894 (MDCCCXCIV) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Categories: UK Labour Party politicians | British MPs | Peers | Secretaries of State for the Colonies (UK) | 1859 births | 1947 deaths | People stubs ... Beatrice Webb Martha Beatrice Potter Webb (January 2, 1858 - April 30, 1943) (also called Beatrice Webb) was a British socialist, economist and reformer, usually referred to in the same breath as her husband, Sidney Webb. ...

Recent historical research by Dr Bob James in Craft, Trade or Mystery (2001) puts forward that trade unions are part of a broader movement of benefit societies, which includes medieval guilds, Freemasons, Oddfellows, friendly societies and other Fraternal organisations. A friendly society (sometimes called a mutual society, benevolent society or fraternal organization) is a mutual association for insurance-like purposes, and often, especially in the past, serving ceremonial and friendship purposes also. ... Bob James can refer to: An actor Bob James A jazz musician Bob James An historian Bob James This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... A benefit society is an organization or voluntary association formed for mutual aid, benefit or insurance to provide for mutual relief. ... A guild is an association of persons of the same trade or pursuits, formed to protect mutual interests and maintain standards of morality or conduct. ... The Masonic Square and Compasses. ... The I.O.O.F. Hall at the corner of Yonge and College in Toronto, Ontario The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) is a fraternal organization derived from English Oddfellows orders of the mid-1700s. ... A friendly society (sometimes called a mutual society, benevolent society or fraternal organization) is a mutual association for insurance-like purposes, and often, especially in the past, serving ceremonial and friendship purposes also. ... A fraternal organization is an organization that represents the relationship between its members as akin to brotherhood. ...

The 18th century economist Adam Smith noted the imbalance in the rights of workers in regards to owners (or "masters"). In The Wealth of Nations, Book I, chapter 8, Smith wrote: (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... Alan Greenspan, former chairman, United States Federal Reserve. ... Adam Smith FRSE (baptised June 5, 1723 O.S. / June 16 N.S. â€“ July 17, 1790) was a Scottish moral philosopher and a pioneering political economist. ... Adam Smith An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations is the magnum opus of the Scottish economist Adam Smith, published on March 9, 1776 during the Scottish Enlightenment. ...

As indicated in the preceding quotation, unions were illegal for many years in most countries (and Smith argued that schemes to fix prices or wages, by employers and employees, should be). There were severe penalties for attempting to organise unions, up to and including execution. Despite this, unions were formed and began to acquire political power, eventually resulting in a body of labour law which not only legalised organising efforts, but codified the relationship between employers and those employees organised into unions. Even after the legitimisation of trade unions there was opposition, as the case of the Tupac Makavelli shows.

Many consider it an issue of fairness that workers be allowed to pool their resources in a special legal entity in a similar way to the pooling of capital resources in the form of corporations. Corporate redirects here. ...

The right to join a trade union is mentioned in article 23, subsection 4 of the UDHR, which also states in article 20, subsection 2. that "No one may be compelled to belong to an association". Prohibiting a person from joining or forming a union, as well as forcing a person to do the same (e.g. "closed shops" or "union shops", see below), whether by a government or by a business, is generally considered a human rights abuse. Similar allegations can be levelled if an employer discriminates based on trade union membership. Attempts by an employer, often with the help of outside agencies, to prevent union membership amongst their staff is known as union busting. Eleanor Roosevelt with the Spanish version of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Human rights violation. ... Manifestations Slavery Â· Racial profiling Â· Lynching Hate speech Â· Hate crime Â· Hate groups Genocide Â· Holocaust Â· Pogrom Ethnocide Â· Ethnic cleansing Â· Race war Religious persecution Â· Gay bashing Pedophobia Â· Ephebiphobia Movements Discriminatory Aryanism Â· Neo-Nazism Â· Supremacism Kahanism Anti-discriminatory Abolitionism Â· Civil rights Â· Gay rights Womens/Universal suffrage Â· Mens rights Childrens rights Â· Youth... Union busting is a practice, considered by some to be unethical,[1] which is undertaken by an employer to prevent employees from joining a labor union, or to disempower, subvert, or destroy unions that already exist. ...

19th Century Unionism

In France, Germany and other European countries, socialist parties and anarchists played a prominent role in forming and building up trade unions, especially from the 1870s onwards. This stood in contrast to the British experience, where moderate New Model Unions dominated the union movement from the mid-nineteenth century and where trade Unionism was stronger than the political labour movement until the formation and growth of the Labour Party in the early years of the twentieth century. New Model Trade Unions (NMTU) were a variety of Trade Unions prominent in the 1850s and 1860s in the UK. The term was coined by Sidney and Beatrice Webb in their History of Trade Unionism (1894), although later historians have questioned how far New Model Trade Unions represented a new... The Labour Party has been, since its founding in the early 20th century, the principal political party of the left in the United Kingdom. ...

Unions in the world

Unions During the Turn of the Century

Knights of Labor:
The Knights of Labor was the first national union. It was founded in 1869 by Uriah Stephens. Eventually over 700,000 workers joined the Knights.

American Federation of Labor (AFL)

The AFL was founded by Samuel Gompers. By 1904, AFL-affiliated unions had a membership of over 1.4 million nationwide. Under Gompers' leadership, the AFL advocated an approach known as "business" or "pure and simple" unionism, which emphasized collective bargaining to reach its goals. Demands were centered around improvements to the immediate work environment, like better wages, hours and working conditions. Samuel Gompers (January 26, 1850 - December 13, 1924) was an American labor and political leader. ...

Unions today

Structure and politics

Unions may organize a particular section of skilled workers (craft unionism), a cross-section of workers from various trades (general unionism), or attempt to organize all workers within a particular industry (industrial unionism). These unions are often divided into "locals", and united in national federations. These federations themselves will affiliate with Internationals, such as the International Trade Union Confederation. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1760x1168, 655 KB) Summary A rally of the trade union UNISON in Oxford during a strike (industrial action), 2006-03-28. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1760x1168, 655 KB) Summary A rally of the trade union UNISON in Oxford during a strike (industrial action), 2006-03-28. ... For other uses, see Unison (disambiguation). ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... March 28 is the 87th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (88th in leap years). ... by Leon CunninghamCraft unionism refers to an approach to union organizing in the United States and elsewhere that seeks to unify workers in a particular industry along the lines of the particular craft or trade that they work in. ... A general union is a trade union (labor union in U.S. English) which represents workers from all industries and companies, rather than just one organisation or a particular sector, as in a craft union or industrial union. ... Industrial unionism is a labor union organizing method through which all workers in the same industry are organized into the same union â€” regardless of skill or trade â€” thus giving workers in one industry, or in all industries, more leverage in bargaining and in strike situations. ... Just as governments have branches to deal with particular areas, trade unions have locals, designed to represent the unions members from a particular company or in a particular area. ... This is a list of federations of trade unions. ... link titleThe word international can mean: Between nations or encompassing several nations. ... The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) is the worlds largest trade union federation. ...

In many countries, a union may acquire the status of a "juristic person" (an artificial legal entity), with a mandate to negotiate with employers for the workers it represents. In such cases, unions have certain legal rights, most importantly the right to negotiate collectively with the employer (or employers) over wages, working hours and other terms and conditions of employment. The inability of both parties to reach an agreement may lead to industrial action, culminating in either strike action or management lockout. In extreme cases, violent or illegal activities may develop around these events. A juristic person is a legal fiction through which the law allows a group of natural persons to act as if it were a single composite individual for certain purposes. ... A Collective agreement is a labor contract between an employer and one or more unions. ... An employment contract is an agreement entered into between an employer and an employee at the commencement of the period of employment and stating the exact nature of their business relationship, specifically what compensation the employee will receive in exchange for specific work performed. ... Strike action (or simply strike) describes collective action undertaken by groups of workers in the form of a refusal to perform work. ... See also general strike, or for other uses see: strike (disambiguation). ... A lockout is a work stoppage in which an employer prevents employees from working. ...

In other circumstances, unions may not have the legal right to represent workers, or the right may be in question. This lack of status can range from non-recognition of a union to political or criminal prosecution of union activists and members, with many cases of violence and deaths having been recorded both historically and in the current day.^[5]^[6]

Unions may also engage in broader political or social struggle. Social Unionism encompasses many unions which use their organisational strength to advocate for social policies and legislation favourable to their members or to workers in general. As well, unions in some countries are closely aligned with political parties. Social Movement Unionism is a trend of theory and practice in contemporary trade unionism. ... Political parties Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box: A political party is a political organization that seeks to attain political power within a government, usually by participating in electoral campaigns. ...

Unions are also delineated by the service model and the organising model. The service model union focuses more on maintaining worker rights, providing services, and resolving disputes. Alternately, the organising model typically involves full-time organisers, who work by building up confidence, strong networks and leaders within the workforce; and confrontational campaigns involving large numbers of union members. Many unions are a blend of these two philosophies, and the definitions of the models themselves are still debated. While the service model (or servicing model) is difficult to precisely define, it generally describes an approach whereby unions aim prmarily to satisfy members demands for resolving grievances and securing benefits through methods other than pressure on employers (whether by industrial, media, community, political action, or otherwise). ... The organising model, as the term refers to trade unions (and sometimes other social-movement organisations) is a broad conception of how those organisations should recruit, operate and advance the interests of their members. ...

Although their political structure and autonomy varies widely, union leaderships are usually formed through democratic elections. An election is a decision making process whereby people vote for preferred political candidates or parties to act as representatives in government. ...

Some research, such as that conducted by the Australian Centre for Industrial Relations Research and Training (ACIRRT),^[7] argues that unionised workers enjoy better conditions and wages than those who are not unionised.

Shop types

Companies that employ workers with a union generally operate on one of several models:

A closed shop is a business or industrial establishment whose employees are required to be union members or to agree to join the union within a specified time after being hired. ... In organized labor, a hiring hall is an organization, usually under the auspices of a labor union, which has the responsibility of furnishing new recruits for employers who have a collective bargaining agreement with the union. ... A union shop is a place of employment where the employer may hire either labor union members or nonmembers but where nonmembers must become union members within a specified period of time or lose their jobs. ... An agency shop is a place of employment where workers must pay union dues whether they are a member of a labor union or not. ... The Rand formula (also referred to as automatic check-off) refers to a workplace situation where payment of labour union dues is mandatory even if the worker is not a member of the union. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area Ranked 3rd - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 kmÂ²) - Width 250 miles (400 km) - Length 770 miles (1,240 km) - % water 4. ... In terms of United States labor relations, an open shop is a place of employment at which one is not required to join a labor union as a condition of hiring or continued employment. ... ...

Diversity of international unions

As labour law is very diverse in different countries, so is the function of unions. For instance, in Germany only open shops are legal; that is, all discrimination based on union membership is forbidden. This affects the function and services of the union. In addition, German unions have played a greater role in management decisions through participation in corporate boards and co-determination than have unions in the United States. (newsletter/files/BTS012EN_12-15.pdf}. Co-determination (also: codetermination) is a practice whereby the employees have a role in management of a company. ...

In Britain a series of laws were introduced during the 1980s by Margaret Thatcher's government to restrict closed and union shops. All agreements requiring a worker to join a union are now illegal. The Taft-Hartley Act outlawed the closed shop in the United States in 1947, but permits the union shop in most states. Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC (born October 13, 1925), former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, in office from 1979 to 1990. ... The Labor-Management Relations Act, commonly known as the Taft-Hartley Act, is a United States federal law that greatly restricts the activities and power of labor unions. ...

In addition, unions' relations with political parties vary. In many countries unions are tightly bonded, or even share leadership, with a political party intended to represent the interests of working people. Typically this is a left-wing, socialist or social democratic party, but many exceptions exist. In the United States, by contrast, although it is historically aligned with the Democratic Party, the labour movement is by no means monolithic on that point; the International Brotherhood of Teamsters has supported Republican Party candidates on a number of occasions and the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) endorsed Ronald Reagan in 1980 (the following year, Reagan effectively destroyed PATCO, breaking a strike by bringing in permanent replacement workers). The AFL-CIO has been against liberalising abortion, consistent with a Republican position, so as not to alienate its large Catholic constituency. In Britain the labour movement's relationship with the Labour Party is fraying as party leadership embarks on privatisation plans at odds with what some perceive as workers' interests. In politics, left-wing, political left, leftism, or simply the left, are terms which refer (with no particular precision) to the segment of the political spectrum typically associated with any of several strains of socialism, social democracy, or liberalism (especially in the American sense of the word), or with opposition... Socialism is a social and economic system (or the political philosophy advocating such a system) in which the economic means of production are owned and controlled collectively by the people. ... Social democracy is a political ideology emerging in the late 19th and early 20th centuries from supporters of Marxism who believed that the transition to a socialist society could be achieved through democratic evolutionary rather than revolutionary means. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. ... The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America, commonly known as the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) or simply the Teamsters, is one of the largest labor unions in the United States. ... The Republican Party, often called the GOP (for Grand Old Party, although one early citation described it as the Gallant Old Party) [1], is one of the two major political parties in the United States. ... The Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization or PATCO was a labor union which formerly represented air traffic controllers in the United States in matters relating to wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. ... Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 â€“ June 5, 2004) was the 40th President of the United States (1981 â€“ 1989) and the 33rd Governor of California (1967 â€“ 1975). ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL-CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 54 national and international unions (including Canadian), together representing more than 10 million workers. ... The Labour Party has been, since its founding in the early 20th century, the principal political party of the left in the United Kingdom. ... Privatization (sometimes privatisation, denationalization, or — especially in India — disinvestment) is the process of transferring property, from public ownership to private ownership. ...

In Western Europe, professional associations often carry out the functions of a trade union. Notable cases of these are the German Verein deutscher Ingenieure. In these cases, they may be negotiating for white collar workers, such as physicians, engineers or teachers. Typically such trade unions refrain from politics or pursue markedly more right-wing politics than their blue-collar counterparts^{[citation needed]}.

Finally, the structure of employment laws affects unions' roles and how they carry out their business. In many western European countries wages and benefits are largely set by governmental action. The United States takes a more laissez-faire approach, setting some minimum standards but leaving most workers' wages and benefits to collective bargaining and market forces. Historically, the Republic of Korea has regulated collective bargaining by requiring employers to participate but collective bargaining has been legal only if held in sessions before the lunar new year. In totalitarian regimes such as Nazi-Germany and the Soviet Union, unions have typically been de facto government agencies devoted to smooth and efficient operation of enterprises. Laissez-faire is short for laissez faire, laissez passer, a French phrase meaning to let things alone, let them pass. First used by the eighteenth century Physiocrats as an injunction against government interference with trade, it is now used as a synonym for strict free market economics. ... Lunar New Year may refer to the beginning of the year in several cultures calendars: Chinese New Year Korean New Year Islamic New Year Táº¿t (Vietnamese New Year) Thai New Year (Songkran) Categories: | ...

Trade unions worldwide and by region and country

Image File history File links Unionization_in_the_world. ... Image File history File links Unionization_in_the_world. ...

Worldwide and international cooperation

The largest organisation of trade union members in the world is the Brussels-based International Trade Union Confederation, which today has approx. 309 affiliated organisations in 156 countries and territories, with a combined membership of 166 million. Other global trade union organisations include the World Federation of Trade Unions. Nickname: The Capital Of Europe, Comic City City of a 100 Museums[] Map showing the location of Brussels in Belgium Coordinates: Country Belgium Region Brussels-Capital Region Founded 979 Founded (Region) June 18, 1989 - Mayor (Municipality) Freddy Thielemans Area - City 162 (Region) kmÂ² (62. ... The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) is the worlds largest trade union federation. ... The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) was established in the wake of the Second World War to bring together trade unions across the world in a single international organization, much like the United Nations. ...

National and regional trade unions organising in specific industry sectors or occupational groups also form global union federations, such as Union Network International and the International Federation of Journalists. A global union federation is an international federation of national and regional trade unions organising in specific industry sectors or occupational groups, sometimes also known as an international trade secretariat. ... Union Network International (UNI), calling itself a global union, is a global union federation for skills and services, gathering national and regional trade unions. ... International Federation of Journalists, IFJ, is global union federation of journalists trade unions - the largest in the world. ...

Trade unions in Africa

Trade unions in Burkina Faso

Trade unions in Niger

Trade unions in Niger are free to engage in regular unionist activities, with constitutionally protected provisions for forming and joining trade unions. However, with 95% the working population engaged in subsistence activities,^[8] the numbers of trade union members are low. Trade unions in Niger are free to engage in regular unionist activities, with constitutionally protected provisions for forming and joining trade unions. ... Trade unions in Niger are free to engage in regular unionist activities, with constitutionally protected provisions for forming and joining trade unions. ...

Trade unions in South Africa

Trade unions in South Africa have a history dating back to the 1880s. From the beginning unions could be viewed as a reflection of the racial disunity of the country, with the earliest unions being predominantly for white workers.^[8] Through the turbulent years of apartheid trade unions played an important part in developing political and economic resistance, and eventually were one of the driving forces in realising the transition to an inclusive democratic government. Trade unions in South Africa have a history dating back to the 1880s. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Petty apartheid: sign on Durban beach in English, Afrikaans and Zulu (1989) Apartheid (meaning separatism in Afrikaans, cognate to English apart and hood) was a system of racial segregation that was enforced in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. ...

Today trade unions are still an important force in South Africa, with 3.1 million members representing 25% of the formal work force.^[9] The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is the largest of the three major trade union centres, with a membership of 1.8 million, and is part of the Tripartite alliance with the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP). The second largest trade union centre is the Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA), with a membership of 500 000 and 23 affiliated trade unions. The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is a trade union federation in South Africa. ... The Tripatite alliance refers to the parliamentary wing of a three part alliance between the ANC, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the South African Communist Party (SACP). ... For political parties with similar names in other countries, see Northern Rhodesian African National Congress and Zambian African National Congress. ... SACP symbol South African Communist Party (SACP) is a political party in South Africa. ... The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) is the second largest national trade union center in South Africa. ...

Trade unions in America

Labor unions in the United States

Labor unions in the United States today function as legally recognized representatives of workers in numerous industries, but in recent years have seen their greatest growth among service sector and public sector workers. Activity by labor unions in the United States today centers on collective bargaining over wages, benefits, and working conditions for their membership and on representing their members if management attempts to violate contract provisions. Although down from the peak membership they achieved in the third quarter of the twentieth century, American unions also remain an important political factor, both through mobilization of their own memberships and through coalitions with like-minded activist organizations around issues such as immigrant rights, trade policy, health care, and living wage campaigns. Unions claim that employer opposition (including running an anti-union campaign using a union avoidance consultant) contributed to this decline in membership. Unions have responded by using their political power to amend United States labor law to severely restrict or eliminate the right to vote on the issue of union representation, instead relying on card check recognition. Labor unions in the United States today function as legally recognized representatives of workers in numerous industries, but are strongest among public sector employees such as teachers and police. ... A legal entity is a legal construct through which the law allows a group of natural persons to act as if it were a single composite individual for certain purposes. ... A Collective agreement is a labor contract between an employer and one or more unions. ... Living wage refers to the minimum hourly wage necessary for a person to achieve a basic standard of living. ...

Labor unions in the past have been infiltrated by members of organized crime, such as the Mafia. Organized crime had been active in some Teamster locals, particularly in the garment industry in New York City, as early as the 1920s. Labor racketeers made inroads in other cities, such as Chicago, Cleveland, Kansas City and Detroit, in the 1930s. Jimmy Hoffa and other Teamster leaders made strategic alliances with organized crime, in deals that benefited both the Mafia and its associates, who obtained sweetheart contracts, and the union leaders, who received kickbacks and other forms of assistance. Jimmy Hoffa would later mysteriously disappear. Hoffa's son, James P. Hoffa, is the current president of the Teamsters. For more information, refer to Teamsters: Organized crime's influence. The US labor movement has gone through major changes in the last year with the departure from the AFL-CIO of five major unions led by the Service Employees International Union into the Change to Win Federation. The face of the labor movement is also changing. For the last twenty years women have made up the majority of new workers organized and union growth has been significantly higher among workers of color and immigrant workers than among white male workers.^[10] Organized crime or criminal organizations are groups or operations run by criminals, most commonly for the purpose of generating a monetary profit. ... The Mafia (also referred to as Cosa Nostra or the Mob), is a criminal secret society which first developed in the mid-19th century in Sicily. ... The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America, commonly known as the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) or simply the Teamsters, is one of the largest labor unions in the United States. ... New York, NY redirects here. ... The 1920s is a decade sometimes referred to as the Jazz Age or the Roaring Twenties, usually applied to America. ... Organized crime is crime carried out systematically by formal criminal organizations. ... Nickname: The Windy City, The Second City, Chi Town, City of the Big Shoulders, The 312, The City that Works. Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in Chicagoland and Illinois Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois County Cook & DuPage Incorporated March 4, 1837 Government... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Nickname: City of Fountains Location in Jackson, Clay, Platte, and Cass Counties in the state of Missouri. ... Motto: Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus (We Hope For Better Things; It Shall Rise From the Ashes - this motto was adopted after the disastrous 1805 fire that devastated the city) Nickname: The Motor City and Motown Location in Wayne County, Michigan Founded Incorporated July 24, 1701 1815 County Wayne County Mayor... Year 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link is to a full 1930 calendar). ... This article contains a trivia section. ... The Mafia (also referred to as Cosa Nostra or the Mob), is a criminal secret society which first developed in the mid-19th century in Sicily. ... The term sweetheart deal or sweetheart contract is used to describe an abnormally favorable contractual arrangement. ... This article contains a trivia section. ... James Phillip Hoffa (born May 19, 1941), is the president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. ... The International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), formerly known by the name International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America, is one of the largest labor unions in the United States. ... American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL-CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 54 national and international unions (including Canadian), together representing more than 10 million workers. ... Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is a labor union representing 1. ... The Change to Win Federation is a coalition of American labor unions originally formed in 2005 as an alternative to the AFL-CIO. The coalition is associated with strong advocacy of the organising model. ...

The first major American union was "Knights of Labor" founded by Terrance V. Powderly.

Asia and Oceania

Afghanistan

Trade unions in Afghanistan have a brief and turbulent history, beginning in 1967 and effectively ending with the Islamic state of the Mujahideen. There has been no reported trade union activity since the military intervention and removal of the Taliban regime. Trade unions in Afghanistan have a brief and turbulent history, begining in 1967 and effectively ending with the Islamic state of the Mujahideen. ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... Caliph is the term or title for the Islamic leader of the Ummah, or community of Islam. ... Mujahideen ( Arabic: â€Ž, , Turkish: , literally strugglers) is a term for Muslims fighting in a war or involved in any other struggle. ... Public execution of a woman by Taliban at Ghazi Sports Stadium, 1999. ...

Australia

The Australian labour movement has a long history of craft, trade and industrial unionism. While unions have sometimes been very strong, as of 2005 they are relatively weak and in decline, due in part to the actions of Australian politicians, including Prime Minister John Howard and his Liberal government which introduced the Workplace Relations Act 1996; although the decline in membership had begun before Howard came into power. In 2005 the Federal Government brought in WorkChoices which many Australian Unions claimed would reduce minimum wage, the powers of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission and the ability of Australian Unions to organise. The full extent of this legislation has yet to be seen, as it only became effective in March 2006. However, the movement has mounted a strong campaign against the changes and have activated large levels of community support. There are reports among unions such as the Transport Workers Union that membership levels have increased. Eight-hour day banner, Melbourne, 1856 University of Melbourne site where Stonemasons won the 8 hour day in 1856 The history of the Australian labour movement reaches back to the 19th century and the movement has a long tradition of organised unions of workers and links to political activity. ... Craft unionism, or sometimes trade unionism, is a labor union organizing method by which labor unions are divided along the lines of workers specific trades, regardless of what industry they work in. ... Industrial unionism is a labor union organizing method through which all workers in the same industry are organized into the same union -- regardless of skill or trade -- thus giving workers in one industry, or in all industries, more leverage in bargaining and in strike situations. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939), Australian politician, is the Prime Minister of Australia. ... The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party. ... The Workplace Relations Act 1996 is an Australian law passed by the Howard Government shortly after coming into power in 1996. ... The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Kevin Andrews, who introduced the Australian industrial relations legislation, speaking at a press conference on 8 November 2005 Wikinews has News related to this article: Portal:Australia/Australian industrial relations legislation, 2005 New Australian industrial relations legislation passes House of Representatives Suspicions of... The Australian Industrial Relations Commission, or AIRC (known from 1956 to 1973 as the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission, and from 1973 to 1988 as the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission), is a tribunal with powers under the Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth). ... The Transport Workers Union of Australia (TWU) is a trade union with over 80,000 members throughout Australia. ...

Japan

See Labor unions in Japan This article focuses on the organizations of Japans work force. ...

Malaysia

Trade unions in Malaysia are regulated by the Industrial Relations Act (IRA) 1967. ...

Pakistan

The Trade Unions in Pakistan are involved in Collective bargaining for a labor contract between an employer and employees. ...

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Trade unions in Europe

The European Trade Union Confederation was set up in 1973 to promote the interests of working people at European level and to represent them in the EU institutions. It is recognised by the European Union, by the Council of Europe and by EFTA as the only representative cross-sectoral trade union organisation at European level.

Some countries such as Germany, Belgium,Sweden, Finland, and the other Nordic countries have strong, centralised unions, where every type of industry has a specific union, which are then gathered in large national union confederations. The largest union confederation in Europe is the German Confederation of Trade Unions. Usually there are at least two national union confederations, one for academically educated and one for branches with lower education level. The largest Swedish union confederation is Landsorganisationen, or LO. The LO has almost two million members, which is more than a fifth of Sweden's population. Finland's equivalent is SAK, the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions, with about one million members out of the country's 5.2 million inhabitants. In addition, there are two other Finnish union confederations for more educated workers with combined membership of circa one million. Political map of the Nordic countries and associated territories. ... The German Confederation of Trade Unions (Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund, DGB) is an umbrella organisation (sometimes known as a national trade union center) for eight German trade unions, in total representing more than 7 million people (31 December 2004). ... A confederation is an association of sovereign states or communities, usually created by treaty but often later adopting a common constitution. ... LO logo The Swedish Trade Union Confederation (Landsorganisationen i Sverige or LO) is an umbrella organisation for sixteen Swedish trade unions that organise blue collar workers. ... The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions, usually referred to by the acronym SAK (Finnish: Suomen Ammattiliittojen Keskusjärjestö) is the biggest trade union confederation in Finland. ...

In comparison, France is thought to have one of the lowest union densities in Europe, with only about 10% of the workers inside unions. Generally, several unions are represented inside large companies or administrations, normally with one from each of the main national confederation of unions and possibly independent unions. Union membership, however, tends to be concentrated in some specific areas, especially the public sector. Unions in some sectors, such as public transportation (e.g. SNCF and RATP) are likely to enter well-publicised strikes. An SNCF multiple unit. ... MÃ©tro trains entering Ã‰glise dAuteuil station The RÃ©gie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP) is the major transit authority responsible for public transportation in Paris and its environs. ...

Early trade unions in the United Kingdom

Unions in Britain were subject to often severe repression until 1824, but were already widespread in cities such as London. Workplace militancy had also manifested itself as Luddism and had been prominent in struggles such as the 1820 Rising in Scotland where 60,000 workers went on a general strike, which was soon crushed. From 1830 on, attempts were made to set up national general unions, most notably Robert Owen's Grand National Consolidated Trades Union in 1834, which attracted a range of socialists from Owenites to revolutionaries. That organisation played a part in the protests after the Tolpuddle Martyrs' case, but soon collapsed. The legal status of trade unions in the United Kingdom was established by a Royal Commission in 1867, which agreed that the establishment of the organisations was to the advantage of both employers and employees. ... 1824 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The Luddites were a group of English workers in the early 1800s who protested – often by destroying machines – against the changes produced by the Industrial Revolution that they felt threatened their jobs. ... The Radical War, also known as the Scottish Insurrection of 1820, was a week of strikes and unrest, a culmination of Radical demands for reform in the United Kingdom which had become prominent in the early years of the French Revolution, but had then been repressed during the long Napoleonic... Motto (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity Wha daur meddle wi me?(Scots)1 Anthem (Multiple unofficial anthems) Scotlands location in Europe Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English, Gaelic, Scots3 Government Constitutional monarchy - Queen Queen Elizabeth II - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP - First Minister Jack McConnell... A general strike is a strike action by an entire labour force in a city, region or country. ... Liberty Leading the People by EugÃ¨ne Delacroix commemorates the July Revolution 1830 (MDCCCXXX) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... A general union is a trade union (labor union in U.S. English) which represents workers from all industries and companies, rather than just one organisation or a particular sector, as in a craft union or industrial union. ... Robert Owen (May 14, 1771 â€“ November 17, 1858) was a Welsh socialist and social reformer. ... 1834 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The Tolpuddle Martyrs were a group of 19th century British labourers led by John Barnwell who were arrested for and convicted of swearing a secret oath as members of the Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers. ...

In the later 1830s and 1840s, trade unionism was overshadowed, to some extent, by political activity. Of particular importance was Chartism, the aims of which were supported by most socialists, although none appear to have played leading roles. Chartism is also an alternative term for technical analysis Chartism was a movement for social and political reform in the United Kingdom during the mid-19th century. ...

More permanent trade unions were established from the 1850s, better resourced but often less radical. The London Trades Council was founded in 1860, and the Sheffield Outrages spurred the establishment of the Trades Union Congress in 1868. The legal status of trade unions in the United Kingdom was established by a Royal Commission in 1867, which agreed that the establishment of the organizations was to the advantage of both employers and employees. Legalized in 1871. // Production of steel revolutionized by invention of the Bessemer process Benjamin Silliman fractionates petroleum by distillation for the first time First transatlantic telegraph cable laid First safety elevator installed by Elisha Otis Railroads begin to supplant canals in the United States as a primary means of transporting goods. ... The London Trades Council was an early labour organisation, uniting Londons trade unionists. ... 1860 is the leap year starting on Sunday. ... Sheffields early success in steel production had involved long working hours, in desperately unpleasant conditions which offered little or no safety protection. ... Image:TradeUnionsCongress20050108 CopyrightKaihsuTai. ... 1868 (MDCCCLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... In states that are Commonwealth Realms a Royal Commission is a major government public inquiry into an issue. ...

The strongest unions of the mid-Victorian period were unions of skilled workers such as the Amalgamated Society of Engineers. Trade unionism amongst semi-skilled and unskilled workers made little progress until the emergence of the New Unions in the late 1880s. Unions played a prominent role in the creation of the Labour Representation Committee which effectively formed the basis for today's Labour Party, which still has extensive links with the Trade Union Movement in Britain. The Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union (AEEU) was a British trade union. ... The Labour Party has been, since its founding in the early 20th century, the principal political party of the left in the United Kingdom. ...

The years 1910-14 witnessed serious industrial unrest and an enormous increase in trade union membership which affected all industries, though to differing extents. The First World War resulted in a further increase in union membership, as well as widespread recognition of unions and their increased involvement in management.

Impact of Unions

Proponents often credit trade unions with leading the labor movement in the early 20th century, which generally sought to end child labor practices, improve worker safety, increase wages for both union and non-union workers, raise the entire society's standard of living, reduce the hours in a work week, provide public education for children, and bring a host of other benefits to working class families^{[citation needed]}. With the passage of the landmark Fair Labor Standards Act of 1928, many of these goals were achieved in the United States. Child labourers coming out of a dye factory, Dhaka, Bangladesh Child labor (or child labour) is the employment of children under an age determined by law or custom. ... The Standard of living refers to the quality and quantity of goods and services available to people and the way these services and goods are distributed within a population. ... The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA, ch. ...

The necessity for the legislation is still disputed by some economists today. According to David E. Kelly of the libertarian Cato Institute, work safety standards and wages were already increasing while child labor and work hours were already decreasing before union and government intervention.^{[citation needed]} The Cato Institute is a libertarian think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C. The Institutes stated mission is to broaden the parameters of public policy debate to allow consideration of the traditional American principles of limited government, individual liberty, free markets, and peace by seeking greater involvement of the...

Despite these objections, child labor was officially criminalized by the act, effectually affirming the notion that human rights cannot be made subject to the whims of the market. Human rights are rights which some hold to be inalienable and belonging to all humans. ...

The transformation of labor law put into motion by unions is today considered particularly important for groups who are most likely to suffer "labour-market discrimination." On average, women in Britain earn 20% less than men for the same work but women who are union members earn 24% more than those who are not [1]. In the People's Republic of China, where independent trade unions are illegal, the pay gap between men and women has actually increased in recent years despite the booming economy [2].

In Germany the relation between individual employees and employers are considered to be asymmetrical. Therefore many working conditions are not negotioable due to a strong legal protection of individuals. However, there is a balance of power between labor unions and employers. Therefore the legal boundaries for collective bargaining are significantly wider than the boundaries for individual negotiations. Thus, overprotection of workers is avoided and flexibility is achieved.

Criticism

Trade unions are often accused of benefiting the insider workers, those having secure jobs, at the cost of the outsider workers, consumers of the goods or services produced, and the shareholders of the unionised business. Those who are likely to be disadvantaged most from unionization are the unemployed, those at risk of unemployment or workers who are unable to get the job they want in a particular line of work^[11] Opposition to trade unions comes from a variety of groups in society and there are many different types of argument on which this opposition is based. ...

Some union critics argue from a pro-free-market perspective that labor is a commodity, and unions essentially operate by cartelizing labor, forming a monopoly on the commodity. They argue this monopoly on labor has the same negative effects as any other monopoly.^[12]

The competitive disadvantage felt by union-employing businesses often leads to a search for cheaper labor. In the United States, the outsourcing of labor to Asia, Latin America, and Africa has been partially driven by increasing costs of union partnership.^[13]

Violence and Crime

Some unions have perpetrated crimes during labor disputes, targeting replacement workers (called "scabs" by union sympathizers), or destroying company property. According to one study by the National Institute for Labor Relations Research, an anti-union research institution, the Teamsters are the most violent union in the USA, with over 1,456 incidents of union related violence since 1975. The same study reported that in total, there have been over 9000 reported incidents of union violence in the US since 1975, and speculated that most union violence goes unreported, because of the coercive nature of the violence.^[14] Violence in industrial disputes occurs within conflicts between employers and employees (labor) about pay or conditions at work. ... The International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), formerly known by the name International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America, is one of the largest labor unions in the United States. ...

Union publications

Several sources of current news exist about the trade union movement in the world. These include LabourStart and the official website of the international trade union movement Global Unions. LabourStart is the online news service of the international trade union movement. ... Global Unions is a website, which is jointly owned and managed by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, ICFTU, the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD and ten global union federations. ...

Another source of Labor news is the Workers Independent News, a news organization providing radio articles to independent and syndicated radio shows.

Labor Notes is the largest circulation cross-union publication remaining in the United States--reports news and analysis about labor activity or problems facing the labor movement. The Cincinatti Time Store was a successful retail store that was created by American individualist anarchist Josiah Warren to test his theories that were based on his strict interpretation of the labor theory of value. ...

Contents

History of Trade Unions GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Origins and early history

19th Century Unionism

Unions in the world

Unions During the Turn of the Century

American Federation of Labor (AFL)

Unions today

Structure and politics

Shop types

Diversity of international unions

Trade unions worldwide and by region and country

Worldwide and international cooperation

Trade unions in Africa

Trade unions in Burkina Faso

Trade unions in Niger

Trade unions in South Africa

Trade unions in America

Labor unions in the United States

Asia and Oceania

Afghanistan

Australia

Japan

Malaysia

Pakistan

Qatar

Trade unions in Europe

Early trade unions in the United Kingdom

Impact of Unions

Criticism

Violence and Crime

Union publications

See also

Union related topics

Types of Unions

Major Unions

Unions Federations

Labor Allied Organizations

Related Books and Films

External links

International

Europe

USA

General

References

Footnotes

General

History of Trade Unions