Trade unions are much more than engines for converting bargaining power into

improved pay and conditions for their members...they are an integral and
important part of the system of checks and balances which compose capitalist
liberal democracies (Towers, 1988). Flanders (1975) argued that the trade
unions were established during industrialisation with the aim of improving the
conditions of peoples working lives. The aim of this essay is to critically analyse
the history, the purpose and the challenges of trade unions. Secondly, this piece
of work aims to evaluate the current situation and the future outlook of trade
unions.
The workplace described by Marx as the hidden abode of production, can also be
regarded as the primary unit of trade union organisations, the arena of everyday
trade unionism (Frege and Kelly, 2013). Muller-Jentsch (1985) has described
trade unions as intermediary organisations since their main task as collective
actors is to deploy workers collective resources in interaction with those who
exert power over them. Schmitter and Streck (1981) argued that trade unions
are embedded in four main types of relationships:
-with members (constitutes a relationship which generates a logic membership
and gives rise to issues of democracy and accountability)
- with employers (a relationship which gives rise to issues of recognition, and of
the distribution but also of production of profit)
-with governments (a relationship which gives rise to issues of the economical
and juridical framework of industrial relations
-with civil society (a relationship which has become increasingly important as
trade unions intrinsic resources diminish and they seek external legitimacy and
alliances)
Hyman (2001) outlines three ideal types of trade unions
-business unions
-radical unions
-corporatist unions
Business unionism is often encountered in the USA. However business unionism
is exposed to the collective actor issues (Olson, 1965). Business unionism
faces particular difficulties in hard times (economic recession, the erosion of
traditional industrial strongholds or the growth of precarious forms of
employment. This is clearly demonstrated in the USA, where union density has
fallen to 7% in the private sector. Flanders (1970) strongly asserted that one
argument against business unionism is that unions are involved not only in
substantive regulations (defining wage and hours of work), but more in
procedural regulations (determining the rules and processes through which
substantive conditions are determined. Radical unionism has its own distinctive
problems. Radical unionism is positively related to strong political and ideological

identities and involves links to political party and can give rise to fragmented
trade union movement. Radical unionism can weaken the labour as a whole. A
third model of unionism is corporatist unionism, where unions are agencies of
social integration, partners in national socio-economic development and
primarily based in the success of the organisation (the case of Japan). In Europe
this concept was propagated by Catholic trade unionism in the 1980s.
Other types of trade unions:
-Occupational unions (craft unions, white collar unions). Craft unions tend to be
small and most have immerged into general unions. Secondly, they are
organised around various occupational groupings. White collar unions have
emerged after the WWI and are usually less confrontational and powerful. On the
other hand some of them can be quite militant (PCS unions). There are a couple
of problems with the occupational unions:
-too many and too complex negotiating structures
-competition and conflict between unions
-different perception to blue collar workers
National examples of trade unionism
UK
Frege and Kelly (2013) suggested that in Britain, early capitalist industrialisation
together with the imperialist dominance in world markets created space for
negotiating improvements in wages and conditions for skilled workers. In UK
there was a focus on job regulation, workers tended to have instrumental rather
than ideological attitudes. It was illegal to combine for better wage until 1825
(repeal of combination act). There was one main confederation, TUC (1868).
There was no right to strike, but workers had protection from prosecution.
Despite an eventual rhetorical commitment to socialism, British trade unionism
remained orientated to economical bargaining. Unions were excluded by
Thatcher and the Conservative government from 1979. In 1920 UK had 1384
unions, in 2002 (194 unions) and now there are 20 unions which contain 90% of
the members. In 1979 the unions density was 50% with a steady decline until
1997 and it gradually rose since then (now about 30%).
Germany
Dribbusch and Birke (2012) argued that the Germanys constitution guarantees
freedom of association, which means that workers have the right to organise in
trade unions and the same time trade union membership is voluntarily, no one
can be compelled to join. In contrast to other countries, German trade unions are
not involved in disbursing unemployment benefits or in pension and pension
payments. The main task of trade unions in Germany is collective bargaining.
Frege and Kelly (2013) suggested that trade unionism in Germany was shaped by
the key role of an authoritarian state in sponsoring the development of capitalist

industry with the aim to supress independent working-class organisations. The

German trade unions were initially created as an arm of the Social Democratic
Party. The biggest union trade confederation in Germany is the German
Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB). Dribbusch and Birke (2012) argued that at
the end of 2010 only 19% of employees were members of a trade union, which
represents a decrease of 5 % over the last 10 years. This has affected wage
development, as there has been no compensation for inflation since 2004.
Japan
-enterprise unions still dominate
-full-time and permanent workers at enterprise level automatically become
members
-community of shared fate, sometimes strikes seen as unproductive
-formation of RENGO (1987) represented acceptance of Enterprise unionism
On the other hand, community unions in Japan organises separate from
enterprise unions and are more ethical and more independent. Community Union
National Network (CUNN) is the largest confederation of community unions,
founded in 1990.
To conclude, trade unions membership has declined in UK and Germany. The
trade unions density can matter, but national law and social context can be more
important. In the UK, there are weaker trade unions laws and adversarial
histories. The trade unions in the Anglo-Saxon countries rely on membership to
gain recognition. On the other hand, although Germany has experienced a
decrease in the trade union membership, the trade unions in Germany have
stronger and supportive labour laws and more cooperative relations. There are
some possibilities for union revitalisation: partnership or grass roots organising,
community coalitions, increased merger activities and global unions campaigns
and international labour networking.