LIVING IN A
DEMOCRACY:TRADE
UNIONS
What you will learn:
1.
The rights and responsibilities of Trade Unions
2.
Reasons for and against joining a union
3.
How members participate in unions
4.
How members are represented in unions
5.
The role of the Shop Steward
6.
Representation of women and ethnic minorities in
unions.
What is a Trade Union?
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Trade unions are organisations that try to
protect the rights of workers.
They are specialist PRESSURE GROUPS
that focus on employers and employees.
ACTIVITY: 1. Copy this aim: To understand what Trade Unions are and what
they do.
2. Read the sheet on the background of Trade Unions and answer the
questions in sentences.
Trade Union “Heads and Tails”!
ACTIVITY: Which groups of workers (red) would the following Trade Unions
(yellow) represent?
Educational Institute
Of Scotland
Transport and
General Workers’
Union
Schools and
Colleges
Train drivers
Local Council
Workers eg.
janitors
UNISON
Fire Fighters
Fire Brigade Union
Trade Union Structure
STUC / TUC
CONFERENCE
GENERAL
SECRETARY
Elected leader
of the union
NATIONAL
EXECUTIVE
EXTENSION: Textbook
Study Figure 4.1 on page 27
And read Trades Union
Congress and TU Membership
On page 28.
Then answer Qs 7 to 9 on p27.
Agrees the
Union’s
national policies
ANNUAL UNION
CONFERENCE
DISTRICT OR REGIONAL
OFFICE (local headquarters
of union)
ACTIVITY: Read the sheet
“Trade Union Organisation”
and answer the questions in
sentences.
Delegates
from ALL Trade
Unions attend
Sends delegates to
National Conference
BRANCH
(in the workplace)
SHOP STEWARD
Represents workers In the
workplace.
Pay fees to
union in
return for
representation
MEMBERS
In the workplace
Rights and Responsibilities
AIM: To understand the rights and responsibilities of trade unions and their
members.
Draw a grid like the one below:
TRADE UNION RIGHTS
MEMBERS’ RIGHTS
TRADE UNION
RESPONSIBILITIES
MEMBERS’
RESPONSIBILITIES
Now write the following statements into
the correct box on your grid
Recruit members
Have unions represent
them in any dispute
with management
Hold a secret ballot
for industrial action
and ensure it is
peaceful and lawful
To vote in the election
of the Shop Steward
TIP: You should have
three entries in EACH
box on your grid.
Elect the local
Shop Steward
Ask about changes in
wages and conditions
Report problems to
the Shop Steward
Take part in
Industrial action
EXTENSION: Write a
Short speech that you
would make to Trade
Union members to tell
them about their rights
and responsibilities as
Union members.
Not put pressure on
people to join
Not make
unreasonable
demands or
threats
Take industrial action
to protect workers’
rights eg. strike
To act within the law
when participating
in industrial action
How did you do?
TRADE UNION RIGHTS
Recruit members
Ask about changes in
wages and conditions
Take industrial action
to protect workers’
rights eg. strike
TRADE UNION RESPONSIBILITIES
Not put pressure on people to join
Not make unreasonable
demands or threats
Hold a secret ballot for industrial
Action and ensure it is peaceful and
lawful
MEMBERS’ RIGHTS
MEMBERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES
Elect the local Shop Steward
To vote in the election
of the Shop Steward
Take part in Industrial action
To act within the law when
Participating in industrial action
Have unions represent them in
any dispute with management
Report problems to
the Shop Steward
WHAT CAN TRADE UNIONS DO TO
HELP THEIR MEMBERS?
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Sometimes, employers and employees fall
out with each other, eg over wages or hours
of work, safety. This is called an
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE.
The Trade Union would try to NEGOTIATE
with the employer to resolve the problem.
If they are unable to find a solution, the union
can take INDUSTRIAL ACTION
Types of Industrial Action
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STRIKE: workers refuse to
work for a period of time.
PICKET (right): A small group
of union members can protest
outside their place of work
WORK TO CONTRACT:
workers carry out no duties
other than those in their
contract.
OVERTIME BAN: workers
agree to work only the number
of hours agreed in their
contract.
ACTIVITY: Read “Trade
Union Action” on p29/31 and
Restricting Union Action” on
p31 in your textbook
Answer questions 1 to 4 on
p31
INDUSTRIAL ACTION – FIRE
FIGHTERS STRIKE 2002
The Fire Fighters Strike
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In May 2002, the FBU (Fire
Brigades Union) began a
campaign for a 40%
increase in wages.
The employers (local
councils) said they could
not afford this.
They said a big increase
could only be agreed if the
Fire Fighters agreed to
modernise.
The Fire Fighters disagreed
and went on strike,
refusing to attend fires
and emergencies.
Fire Fighters Strike 2002
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The dispute continued for
over a year, although the
after several strikes these
were stopped by the FBU.
After lengthy negotiations,
the employers agreed to
give a 16% increase in
wages over three stages
in return for some
modernisation of the
service.
Who do think came off
best in this dispute and
why?
ACTIVITY: Industrial Action
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Copy this aim: To understand the types of industrial action trade
unions can take.
Choose one of the Case Studies on pages 32/33 and answer the
appropriate questions on page 33.
When finished – 3 pupils will report back to the class on their case
studies, explaining:
WHO was involved in the dispute.
WHY there was a dispute.
WHAT action the union took.
What the RESULT of the dispute was
(who won?).
EXTENSION: Choose another Case
Study and answer the questions.
Should workers always join a union?

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Since 1979, the power of Trade Unions has
been greatly reduced by the government.
Some workers now feel there is little
advantage in joining a union because they
are not as powerful as in the past.
Others believe that they still offer protection
for workers against bullying by employers.
We will now look at the arguments FOR and
AGAINST joining a Trade Union.
WHY JOIN A TRADE UNION?
TASK 1: Look at the following arguments – decide which
are FOR and which as AGAINST joining a union. Write
your answer as a table.
Negotiate (discuss)
better pay and
conditions with employer
Wage rises go to
everyone so even non
members get advantages
without joining
Legal backing and
advice is available
to members
Already have good pay
and conditions so do
not need union to
negotiate
Being part of a big group
makes it difficult for
employers to “pick on”
their staff.
Some people believe
unions have too much
power.
TASK 2: Read page 30. Then answer Qs 5 and 6 on page 29. For Q 5,
choose THREE of the benefits to write about.
EXTENSION: Would you join a trade union in the future? Write a paragraph
explaining why you would or would not join..
SHOULD WORKERS JOIN A TRADE
UNION?

FOR
Legal backing and
advice is available
to members
Negotiate (discuss)
better pay and
conditions with employer
Being part of a big group
makes it difficult for
employers to “pick on”
their staff.

AGAINST
Wage rises go to
everyone so even non
members get advantages
without joining
Already have good pay
and conditions so do
not need union to
negotiate
Some people believe
unions have too much
power.
What do you think? Would YOU join a trade union?
PARTICIPATION BY UNION
MEMBERS
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Copy this aim: To understand how trade union
members can participate in the work of their union.
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Trade Union members can participate in a variety of ways in their
Union.
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Q: Why is it important as many members as possible
participate in the work of a trade union?
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These can be on a DAY TO DAY basis, or at times when there is
an INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE between the union and the employer.
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ACTIVITY: Copy and complete the diagram on the next slide to
show how members can participate in their union. Use a full
page.
PARTICIPATION BY MEMBERS IN TRADE UNIONS
Vote for secret
ballot, eg. For
a strike.
Take part in industrial
action, eg. strike,
go slow
BOTH
DURING
DISPUTES
DAY TO DAY
Attend union
meetings
Vote for union
officials eg.
Shop Steward
Communicate with
the media
Pay membership
fees
EXTENSION: Read page 35 in your textbook and
answer questions 1 to 5 on page 36
PARTICIPATION…..?
PARTICIPATION: Test your
understanding!
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Read the story about Craig Brewster’s search
for a new job.
See if you can find up to EIGHT examples of
how he PARTICIPATED in his trade union.
REPRESENTATION IN TRADE
UNIONS
How do trade unions represent their
members?
Take workers concerns
to management eg.
over health and safety
DEAL WITH
GRIEVANCES
TRADE UNION
REPRESENTATION
INDUSTRIAL
ACTION
Go on strike to win
a compromise pay
deal with employers
PROVIDE
SERVICES
Provide legal help
for members who
are unfairly
dismissed
WHO REPRESENTS TRADE UNION
MEMBERS?
THE ROLE OF THE SHOP STEWARD
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Copy the heading above and the aim below:
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AIM: To understand what how a Shop Steward
represents trade union members.
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TASK 1: Use the yellow box on page 34 to make a
spider diagram on “The qualities of a Shop Steward”.
Use coloured pencils.
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TASK 2: Read the fact file on Shop Stewards on
page 34 and answer Qs 2, 5 and 6 on p35. Q6 is an
ENQUIRY SKILLS question.
Increasing female membership in unions.
Collect the
sheet from your
teacher about
increasing female
membership in
trade unions.

Read it carefully
and answer the
questions in
sentences.
Percentage of union members and
officials by gender - 2004
General Secretary
National Executive
FT National
Women
Men
FT Regional
Shop Steward
All members
0
20
40
60
80 100
What does this chart tell us about women in official
positions within trade unions?
Why are women
under represented
in official positions
in trade unions?
Which of your points are SOCIAL (attitudes, family) and which are ECONOMIC
(money, type of job) reasons for the under representation of women?
Under representation of women in official positions
Task 1: copy and complete this table
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SOCIAL REASONS
Sexist men unlikely to
vote for a female
shop steward
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ECONOMIC
REASONS
Some trade unions
are dominated by
men – intimidating
for women
Women more likely
to be in low paid
work so might not
be able to afford fees
TASK 2: Read page 36
Women more likely to
Of your textbook.
work part time –
Answer questions 7 to 9
less likely to join
On the same page.
A union
Family commitments
prevent some
women giving a lot
of time to their
union
Reasons for under representation of
women

SOCIAL

ECONOMIC
Sexist men unlikely to
vote for a female
shop steward
Some trade unions
are dominated by
men – intimidating
for women
Some trade unions
are dominated by
men – intimidating
for women
Women more likely to
work part time –
less likely to join
A union
Family commitments
prevent some
women giving a lot
of time to their
union
Ethnic Minorities and Trade Unions
Proportion of ethnic minority workers who are members of trade unions - 2004
35
30
25
20
Ethnic Group
15
10
5
0
White
Asian
Chinese
ENQUIRY SKILLS: Using the chart above, what conclusions can you make about
the membership levels of ethnic minorities in trade unions? (Highest and lowest?)
Ethnic Minorities and Trade Unions
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Percentage of trade union members by ethnic group, UK
2004
White
93.9%
Mixed
0.6%
Asian or Asian British
2.6%
Black to Black British
2.1%
Chinese or other
0.8%
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ENQUIRY SKILLS: What conclusion can you reach about the
representation of ethnic minorities in trade unions using the table
above?
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Why do you think ethnic minorities are under represented in trade
unions?