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The basic functions of unions are to protect the interest of the workers and conditions
of their employment. To attain their objectives the trade unions perform the
following functions:
(i) Achieving higher wages and better working and living conditions for the
members;
(ii) Advise the management on personnel policies and practices
(iii) Minimizing helplessness of individual workers by making them stand
collectively and protecting members against victimization and injustice;
(iv) Raising the status of workers as partners of the industry and by demanding
increasing share for the workers in the management of industrial
enterprises.
(v) Providing a worker self confidence and a feeling that he is not simply a
clog in the machine:
(vi) Educating the workers to have sincerity and discipline;
(vii) Taking up welfare measures for improving the morale of the workers and
(viii) To protect the right to be consulted on matters affecting the workers
interest.
The National Commission on Labour has pointed out the following basic functions of
trade unions on which the trade unions have to pay greater attention:
Further the functions of trade union can be divided into for categories:
In order to achieve their goals, the trade unions can adopt any or combination of the
following methods:-
1. Mutual Insurance – Mutual relates that this method consists mainly of welfare
activities by trade union for their members. To provide medical aid,
educational loan, recreational activities, credit facilities are coming under
mutual insurance. Due to weak economic conditions , in India t is not
possible.
2. Method of Collective Barraging – This a bi-partite method of settling
industrial disputes. This Since unions are weak and there is no uniform law for
recognition of a representative union, collective bargaining has not made
much head way in India.
3. Legal Enactment/Political Action - Under this method the trade union take
the help of the political parties for securing better working and living
condition for the workers. These political parties put pressure on the
government to enact laws for improving terms of employment of the worker
to improving their working conditions.
4. Direct Action _ This consist of strikes, gheraos, bands etc Since the after
effects of such actions are harmful for the industry and national, it should be
avoided and should b adopted as last resort.