Reasons for Growth and Decline in Membership of British Trade Unions

This essay explores the reasons for the growth in membership of some British trade unions whereas decline in the membership of others. It discusses the benefits of trade unions and their job roles in the UK workplace.

Running head: EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS
Employment Relations
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

1EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS
As opined by Pelling (2016), human capital forms an integral part of the various
business enterprises because of the fact that the majority of the labor within the framework of
these enterprises are being done by these individuals. Blanden, Machin and Reenen (2006)
are of the viewpoint that the prospects of an organizations depends profoundly on the
effectiveness as well as efficiency of the human capital that it has at its disposal. However,
since the traditional times it is seen that the various business enterprises have focused on the
aspect of profitability or financial growth and the net result of this is the fact that the human
capital of these organizations have been relegated to the background (Doughty 2015). The
resultant effect of this is the fact that despite performing all the hard labor and contributing
towards the growth of an organization in the best possible the very basic psychosocial needs
of these employees are not being fulfilled by the organizations (Butler 2005). It is precisely
here that the construct of trade unions come into prominence since they not help the
employees to articulate the problems that they face or their needs in the most effective
manner but at the same time champion their cause as well. However, within the United
Kingdom it is seen that over the years some British trade unions have gained a substantial
boost in terms of their membership whereas others have not. This essay will explore the
reasons for the growth in membership of some British trade unions whereas decline in the
membership of others.
Charlwood (2004) has stated a trade union can be seen as an organization or body of
employees which aspire to achieve in collaboration with the employees some of the common
goals or targets of the employees. As opined by Gall (2007), these common goals can be
something as simple as a change in the shift hour, approval of leaves and others to something
as complex as formulation of new work policies, strategies, increment of salary or wage and
others. This aspect or the job roles of the trade unions is important because of the subjugation
that the employees of different organizations had been subjected to since the

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commercialization of the business world. The nation of Great Britain is usually credited as
the place wherein the notion of trade unions took birth during the time of the “Industrial
Revolution” of the 19th century (Pelling 2016). For example, during this age it was seen that
the different organizations which has just been formed as part of the Industrial Revolution
were not only being able to manage different employees of their organization in an effective
manner but at the same time their demands were not being met by the organizations (Kelly
2004). In the 21st century, it is seen that there are many trade unions operational in the United
Kingdom like Trades Union Congress, Transport Salaried Staffs' Association, Union of Shop,
Distributive and Allied Workers and others which try to address the different problems faced
by the employees of the nation (The Guardian 2018). In addition to this, these trade unions
have at the same time played a significant role in the improvement of the working condition
of the human capital of the United Kingdom as well.
Fairbrother and Stewart (2003) are of the viewpoint that the congenial working
condition which the modern day employees are being able to enjoy within the nation of UK is
a clear indication of the benefits or the advantages offered by the different trade unions of the
nation. As opined by Charlwood (2002), in the contemporary times it is seen that different
kinds of trade unions have emerged which intend to cater to the individuals of some specific
profession or some specific needs. Furthermore, it is seen that the membership of these trade
unions depends to a great extent on the kind of services that they offer to the individuals and
also the effectiveness with which they help in the improvement of the working condition of
the employees (Charlwood 2004). Some of the major benefits that the trade unions like like
Trades Union Congress, Transport Salaried Staffs' Association, Union of Shop, Distributive
and Allied Workers and others offer to the employees are collective bargaining power on the
wages that are being offered to them by the organizations and also on the working conditions
or the terms of their employment (Fairbrother and Yates 2003). In addition to this, it is seen

3EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS
that these trade unions at the same time help the employees with different kinds of legal
advices and similar kinds of services which help the employees to understand the rights or the
benefits that they are entitled to (Gall 2007). More importantly, these unions at the same time
ensure the fact that the condition or the work environment in which the employees are
congenial for work and does not harms their health.
Gospel and Wood (2003) argue that a common feature among the major trade unions
of UK which has the largest memberships is the collective bargain power as well as services
that they offer to their members. For example, it is seen that the different business enterprises
in order to reduce their operational costs and thereby to earn a higher percentage of profit
offer as low a wage to the employees who are associated with them as possible. However,
one of the major job roles of these trade unions is to negotiate on behalf of the employees to
ensure the fact that they are getting the kind of wage which will help them to maintain an
effective standard of living (Heery and Simms 2008). As a matter of fact, it is seen that the
employees who are a member of the different trade unions get 19.8% more salary than the
ones who are not a member of any trade union. In addition to this, it is seen that the trade
unions also help the employees to get an equal amount of salary or wage on par with the other
employees of the nation (The Guardian 2018). For example, it is seen that more than 120
women of the nation under discussion here got a pay rise of more than £8,000 a year in 2017
(The Guardian 2018).
The trade unions with maximum members also help the employees to get better
pension plans from the organization that they are working for and also from the national
government as well. More importantly, if there is an issue regarding these pension plans or
other benefits that have been promised to the employees by the national government or the
organizations then these trade unions intervene on behalf of the employees for the resolution
of the issue (Heery and Adler 2004). In this regard, mention needs to be made of Transport

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Salaried Staffs' Association which is one of the largest trade unions of UK in terms of
members and offers help to the employees related to the transport and other industries to
negotiate with the organizations regarding the terms of their employment, disputes and others
(Tssa.org.uk 2018).
As opined by Kelly (2004), an effective trade union also needs to offer legal advice as
well as related services to the employees who are a member of their union. For example, it is
seen that these trade unions with maximum members help the employees regarding matters of
employee tribunal claims. Furthermore, it is seen that the national government has restricted
the ability of the individuals to make valid claims by imposing high fees for the same. The
net result of this is the fact that many employees who are a victim of discrimination, sexual
assault, inequality and other similar kinds of unfair practices within the workplace are unable
to complain regarding the same because of the high fees (Pelling 2016). As a matter of fact, it
is seen that in the year 2017 itself “59% reduction in the number of employment tribunal
claims” were noticed (The Guardian 2018). These trade unions with boast of maximum
membership are needed to intervene as well as negotiate on behalf of these employees for the
effective resolution of these problems that they face within the framework of the workplace
of which they are a part of. Moreover, they are also required to offer assistance to employees
regarding matters of personal injury schemes, non-work matters and others.
Blanden, Machin and Reenen (2006) are of the viewpoint that one of the major
benefits that the different trade unions offer to the employees is the benefit of personal
representation. For example, it is seen that the employees are given the choice to elect their
own representatives who would represent them before the management team or the higher
authorities of the organization that they are working for (Doughty 2015). This actually makes
the work much simpler not only for the employees but at the same time for the organizations
since it is seen that the elected leader places the grievances, problems or the expectations of

5EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS
the different employees of the organization before the management team or the higher
authorities. The net result of this is the requirements or the expectations are being addressed
by the organizations in a peaceful manner rather than the use of methods like strikes, protests
and others which were used in the earlier times for the attainment of the same end
(Charlwood 2002). As a matter of fact this is one of major aspects distinguish an effective
trade union from an ineffective one.
Fairbrother and Stewart (2003) are of the opinion that the job productivity of the
individuals depend to a great extent on the kind of working conditions in which they are
working. For example, it is seen that a congenial working environment wherein the safety or
the security of the employees are taken into effective consideration can enhance the
performance of the employees in a significant manner and vice versa. In this regard, it needs
to be said that the trade unions with maximum members are required to regularly analyze the
conditions in which the employees are required to work and on the basis of their assessment
are even required to suggest ways through which the safety or security of the employees can
be safeguarded (Gospel and Wood 2003). More importantly, it is seen that these trade unions
are also required to convey information regarding the safety policies or measures that they are
entitled to. In addition to this, these trade unions are also required to help the employees in
case they become the victims of workplace accidents or hazards (Kelly 2004). In the recent
times in UK it is seen that the trade unions which offer the safety or security related services
to the employees have more membership than the ones which does not.
As argued by Pelling (2016), The UK Equality Act of 2010 states that all its citizens
are entitled to the same kind of treatment as well as rights and there should not be any kind of
discrimination on the basis of gender, age, cultural or social background or others among its
different citizens. The different business enterprises of the concerned nation are also required
to follow these precepts however often it is seen that not the same kind of treatment is being

6EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS
offered to all the individuals within the workplace because of favoritism and other issue
(Kelly 2004). One of the major job roles of the different trade unions thus is to ensure the fact
that all the employees of an organization are entitled to the same wage, amount of work and
other similar entities and inequality does not exists within the workplace (Heery and Simms
2008). These trade unions which have the maximum membership not only educate the
workers regarding the need to maintain as well as practice equality within the workplace but
at the same time intervene on behalf of the workers in cases of breach of the right to equality
of workers. In this regard, mention needs to be made of “Trades Union Congress” which has
more than 5.6 million members from the different parts of the nation (Tuc.org.uk 2018).
Furthermore, one of the major reasons why the trade union under discussion here has such a
large number of members can be attributed to the fact that it actively upholds the equality
rights of the employees who are working for the diverse organizations of the nation. These in
short are some of the major job roles of the trade unions and it is seen that the trade unions
which have the maximum number of members have been able to fulfill these job roles of
theirs in the best possible manner.
To conclude, the construct of trade union although evolved in the nation of the United
Kingdom yet it is seen that with the span of two centuries they had become an integral part of
the business world. It is seen that they offer various kinds of benefits to the different workers
like they help the workers to articulate their grievances, problems and expectations before the
organizations in a much effective manner and at the same time help in their effective
fulfillment as well. More importantly, it is seen that effectiveness as well as efficiency of the
different trade unions depends to a great extent on the extent to which they are being able to
address the issues of the workers and also help in the process of resolution of these issues.
This is perhaps one of the major reasons why some of the trade unions in the nation of UK
had a high membership of workers whereas other does not have a substantial member base.

7EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS
References
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