The Global Decline in Trade Union Membership in the Past 25 Years - Essay Example

Summary

From the paper "The Global Decline in Trade Union Membership in the Past 25 Years" it is clear that according to the development of the recent trends, the temporary jobs in the service sector have seen a rise that may result in problems regarding employment safety for the part-time employees…

Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing

GRAB THE BEST PAPER94.1% of users find it useful

The Global Decline in Trade Union Membership in the Past 25 Years

Read Text Preview

Subject: Miscellaneous
Type: Essay
Level: Undergraduate
Pages: 3 (750 words)
Downloads: 3
Author: osenger

Extract of sample "The Global Decline in Trade Union Membership in the Past 25 Years"

Trade unions across the world are experiencing certain difficulties and going through a period of transition because of the lack of applications in the emerging global trade scenario. They face problems of retaining quality members. It has been found that there is substantial erosion not only in the membership but also in the bargaining power of the unions. For developing a close understanding of the recent trends in the fall of the trade union membership, it has been intended to enlighten the present scenarios of two countries- the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia. It has been found that the trade union membership has been reduced over the previous two decades in the UK.

According to the statistics of 1979, there were 13.3 million people under the membership of trade unions which refers to 55% of the overall employees. A decline in the trade union membership during the period of 1995 to 2006 can be exhibited through a diagram. Several reasons are there for the decline in the memberships. Firstly, the drastic reduction in the number of jobs mainly in the manufacturing industries that acquire a traditionally higher amount of union membership can be blamed. Secondly, the increasing level of unemployment is also held responsible for the decline.

Recent trends say that traditional full-time employment has been reduced whereas an increase in the part-time workers has been noticed which is not beneficial to the increase in trade union membership. In small organizations, it is difficult to form trade unions and a sharp amplification in the proportion of the employed workforce has been observed. Hostile legislation can be considered as another reason for the decline in the UK (TUC, 2010). Across Australia, a sharp decline in trade union memberships has been noticed.

The declination is a result of significant transformation in the ‘industrial relations environment’. Data reveals that 46% of the entire employee force in the year 1986 belonged to the trade unions. Opening up of individual and collective bargaining and gaining prominence of decentralized bargaining, has reduced the importance of the unions in the negotiation process of working conditions and wages.

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF The Global Decline in Trade Union Membership in the Past 25 Years

The Changing Role of Trade Union Movement in UK over Ten Years

The Changing Role of trade union Movement in UK over Ten Years ... UNITE is one of the biggest trade unions of the 21st century and at the moment, the trade union enjoy a huge membership of about 1.... Some of the primary objectives leading to the formation of the trade union were to address the issues facing its members in the 21st century in the most appropriate ways.... The trade union has come out as the appropriate voice of reason in championing the needs of employees while spreading its services and membership rights to all people with no particular formal organisations....

11 Pages (2750 words) Essay

Why does the trade union movement, overall, in Australia, support the Labor Party

Explaining the reasons behind the dwindling trade union membership, the paper scrutinises changes in the labour market composition, differences in the unionisation rate of certain groups of workers, along with the effects of conservative legislation, anti-union employer activity, relationships with federal government, etc.... This paper is intended, first, to examine the trade union density, i.... the proportion of the workforce in Australia, involved with a trade union; and second, to give a detailed account of the downward trend in membership, which has taken place since 1996, considering the acceleration in this decline during the 1990s, as well as the international nature of the phenomenon....

11 Pages (2750 words) Essay

Trade Unions in the United Kingdom

The main factors such as economic, social and political are examined in detail in relation to their effects on the trade union in the UK.... One of the underlying aspects of the trade union movement in the UK has been the economic bargaining power of the combined unit of employees against the perceived unjust behavior of the capitalist class, which has been a key contentious issue within the labor union movement.... This essay also examines issues of the future of the trade union and the ways in which the future trade unions will behave and formulate their strategic direction in a global economy....

9 Pages (2250 words) Assignment

Union Strategies to Involve Women and Minority Groups

Not only women are under-represented in the trade union, but the union has also failed to represent the minority ethnic community.... The trade union has always demonstrated a racist attitude towards ethnic minorities.... The trade union in the recent past has started addressing these issues in a more supportive and strategic manner.... he survival of the union depends upon the expansion of the trade union.... In order to expand the trade union's recruitment, the traditional areas have to include the service sector in its domain....

10 Pages (2500 words) Assignment

Trade Unionism in the United Kingdom

The UK trade union movement seemed at the height of its powers in the l970s, bringing down governments and recruiting millions of new members.... ccording to Gall, trade union density in 2004 was 28.... The author of many books on trade unionism, Hyman locates decline in the trade unions in strength and militancy.... As proof, he said, the Labor Representation Committee has launched a few years ago but judged by the poor attendance at its annual conferences, and the number of affiliated organizations and local groups, revival does not seem to be making much headway....

17 Pages (4250 words) Essay

The Communication Structure Between Trade Unions and Employers

union membership has perhaps dwindled to just a mere one-third of its original size, whilst in the early 20th century, trade unions' power led to the creation of one of the nation's major political party, severely threatened national security, and buried the political career of a prominent political figure.... These underpinnings include, among others, the composition of union membership, business cycle, employers and the government, personal and job-related characteristic, industrial structure and union leadership....

10 Pages (2500 words) Research Paper

The Decline of Trade Unions Membership in Britain During 1979

This paper ''The Decline of Trade Unions membership in Britain During 1979'' tells us that in the context of the global market business operating in various industries have to change their operational structure and priorities to meet the changing customer preferences and the strong competition.... The current paper focuses on the decline of trade unions membership in Britain during 1979; reference is also made on the challenges faced by trade unions in the context of the current recession and their prospects in the future....

9 Pages (2250 words) Essay

Decline in Trade Unionism and Strike Activity

Attempts will also be made to examine whether any relation exists between the decline in trade union membership and strikes.... Before embarking on discussing the issues mentioned above, one should look at the trend in trade unionism as well as strikes in European countries, particularly in Germany, France, Great Britain, and Sweden, as this is essential in finding out the relationship between the decline in trade union membership and strikes.... This paper "decline in trade Unionism and Strike Activity' argues there is no bound between a decline in strike activity and fall in trade unions....

20 Pages (5000 words) Coursework