Unions Today and in the Future

In recent time there has been a decrease in total union membership. As a result of deregulation, working conditions in many industries in many countries have worsened, leading to the creation of a great many casual, part-time, unskilled jobs done by non-unionised workers. But in the new countries such as South Korea, or Poland, or South Africa, trade unions have played an enormous dynamic political and economic role. Some of the old attitudes and structures of trade unions in Europe or the USA have become somewhat out- of- date and they have to be reinvented, but in the end, as long as employees have needs that have to be represented, they will need trade unions, and a sensible government and sensible employers, that want effective social piece, and also want a team-working and dynamic economy, should be encouraging trade unions. The form of trade unions is changing, perhaps the old class war attitude of trade unions is out- of- date, but again it is interesting to see that in some of the most successful economies such as Germany and Japan there is a strong trade union presence, it is recognized by employers, it is accepted as a partner by government.

A number of politicians and business leaders are beginning to regret the weakness of unions. A big company needs someone to represent and articulate the needs of the employees and act as a social partner to the employer. But there is clearly a problem if workers believe that the unions are incapable of doing this, and choose not to join them.

Probably the best way to predict what will happen to union membership in the future is to focus on the workforce of the future. There will be a lower growth rate for the more traditional union jobs such as blue-collar jobs than for the less traditional union jobs such as professional positions. This trend suggests that union membership will not increase significantly in the near future.

Predicted trends in employment by industry for the workforce of tomorrow also seem to indicate a minimal increase in the total number of union members. Employment growth in industries like manufacturing and mining, which historically have been more unionized, is expected to increase only moderately. Employment growth in industries like the service industry, which have been historically non-unionized, is expected to grow much more rapidly. The service industry is comprised of organizations that provide services such as banking, insurance, education, etc.

Comprehension

1. Answer the following questions:

1. Why did labour unions appear?

2. What is a labour union and what are its purposes?

3. What types of unions there exist?

4. How do labour unions help working people?

5. What are the reasons to join labour unions?

6. How do you explain the recent decrease in total union membership?

7. What changes can be observed in developing and advanced countries in labour union movement?

8. Why do some businessmen and politicians regret the weakness of unions?

9. What trends are predicted in labour union movement?

2. Speak about labour union movement in perspective.

Language study

1. Find words that go together according to the text.

1. business a) economy

2. working b) jobs

3. individual c) enforcement

4. industrial d) equipment

5. substantial e) owner

6. job f) conditions

7. safety g) difficulties

8. unfair h) action

9. rule i) membership

10. political j) safety

11. unskilled k) management

12. sensible l) influence

13. dynamic m) trends

14. predicted n) government

2. Translate the word combinations which you have formed in task 1.

3. Fill in the gaps with prepositions according to the text.

1. The circumstances during industrial revolutions left the workers … little choice but to form unions.

2. Workers looked … a means to protect themselves … exploitation.

3. Trade unions negotiate … employers … wages.

4. Dissatisfied workers often go … strike.

5. Unions protect workers … unfair management.

6. Scientists who predict the future … union membership focus … the workforce.

7. The service industry is comprised … banking, insurance, education and other services.

READING II