The Role of Pluralism and Trade Unions in Employee Relations

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of pluralism in contemporary employee relations. It explores the significance of pluralism, which emphasizes individual liberty and diverse perspectives, within the context of business environments. The report delves into the theories that underpin the necessity of trade unions, contrasting them with unitarism. A case study on Primark is presented to illustrate the practical application of trade unions and the challenges they may encounter. Furthermore, the report offers actionable recommendations to address identified issues and enhance employee relations. The report concludes by summarizing the key findings and emphasizing the importance of pluralistic approaches in fostering a productive and ethical workplace. The report also examines the importance of communication and providing freedom to the employees to share their thoughts and ideas.

PLURALISM

Contents
INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY........................................................................................................................................3
1) Contemporary understanding of the employee relations:...............................................................3
2) Theories that justify the needs of trade union in business..............................................................3
3) Case study on Primark company...................................................................................................4
4) Recommending to improve the problems......................................................................................5
CONCLUSION.....................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES......................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Present report is based upon the topic related to the Pluralism which means that the
individual are given liberty to present their ideas and thoughts with each other. They also
given rights in respect of sharing their own thought and work as per their capability instead of
working as a team (Pluralism, 2020). In this report, the matters which is covered is relating to
the discussing about the pluralism in respect of understanding the employee relation. It
further carries the matters relating to examining the theories of trade union, and also it’s
different from the Unitarism. In this report the matters also covered with the case study which
reflects the situation related to trade union.
MAIN BODY
1) Contemporary understanding of the employee relations:
In context of business, to balance the power and productivity of the business, it is
necessary that their must be balance between the employees and also they are given liberty to
presented their thoughts. In respect of understanding the Pluralism in the group, it is
examined that every person had different capability and skills to undertake the task. Thus,
they carry the different requirement and needs which is necessary to be fulfilled to get the
productivity in better way (Drydakis, 2018). The only solution which the manager had to
apply is to compromise with the employee so that they work as a team and also maintain
ethics at work place. This responsibility is mainly carried by the HR department regarding
not judging very person in the same platform but this can be attained through guiding and
motivating them to enhance their capability and skills to accomplish the task.
Employee demanded to work freely at work places and thus, they preferred not to
judge their capability and Knowledge with any other person or also the working criteria to be
similar with other employee. If they are restricted or stooped of doing as per their own way, it
results in bringing conflict at work place (Galston, 2018). Communication is also one of the
major aspect which results in enhancing the employee relation in the business. As they can
freely communicate with each other and also share their thoughts and ideas with them. Thus,
in respect of pluralism, it results in giving them freedom to share their problems and also the
languages which they are using, must not be restricted. As it reflects their culture and thus
freedom are given in respect of conveying their thoughts in their own languages.
2) Theories that justify the needs of trade union in business
The role of trade union which is discussed in this perspective is relating to supporting
the individual to present their own ideas and thoughts to the business. They play the role of
legitimate representatives for the employees in respect of helping them to raise their demands
and also forcing the senior staff to fulfill such needs in better way (Gechert and et.al., 2017).
One of the major theory which the trade union can apply is relating to the Human capital
theory in which the small skills and characteristics of the labor is identified which results in
increasing the productivity in the business. Thus, in such manner, trade union play the role of
the leaders regarding providing the truth to the senior about the skills of the workers and they
are to be treated as the part of the company.
By understanding the needs of trade union in company, it is also supported with the
theory related to the David McClelland’s three needs theory. In this, the trade union address

the theory on the bases of undertaking the power and affiliation of the employees in taking
the action which results in bringing success to the individual (Gold, 2017). As the needs of
the employees are not satisfied in respect of providing rewards or achievement in any of the
task. They also had to get respect or liberty to take their own decisions. Through this manner,
the productivity of the business is increased and also they are given equal opportunity in
comparison to other to present their thoughts to them.
There is huge difference between the Unitary and pluralism as in case of unitary, it is
stated that they take care of the interest of all employees and also judge every employees
equally. But in case of Pluralism, they milky carry the capacity of the individual to attain the
task as per their own capability and skills. In respect of unitary, they carry the common goals
and target which is to be achieved in the business but in comparison to Pluralism, the goals
and targets are different for the different persons (Harrison, 2019). In case of unitary, they
mainly carry the paternalistic approach, in which they are treated as the member of the
company and in return expected to get loyalty and trust from the employees. But as per the
case of Pluralism, they not carry any such approaches in the business, as the leaders and
manager not expected the loyalty from the employees.
Thus by reflecting the above case scenario related to the trade union, Unitarism is not
useful in this case as it not securing the right of the individuals and also not forcing the senior
staff to work as per the individual needs and demands. That’s the reason, the trade union are
not covered under this aspects relating to protecting the employees needs in better way.
3) Case study on Primark company
In this case the issues which is raised regarding not maintain ethics and sustainability
in environment regarding promoting the business at larger scale. Primary company
considered to be one of the fast fashion growing company which is famous for its design and
services to be provided within the set time period. They are mainly facing crises in two of
major situation, firstly the situation raises in relation to carrying the campaign in respect of
closing the loop. In this aspects, they committed with the employees, examined their decision
and then plan to work on such procedure. But after verifying the actual planning, employees’
examined that their decision and judgment are not imposed in right way and also the
communication is just the formality which is committed by them (Are Primark's
sustainability efforts enough to make a difference?, 2020). In respect of enhancing their ethics
at work place, the trade union is formed regarding improving the livelihoods of its garments
regarding reducing waste and also impact of carbon footprints is also reduced.
The main reason of conducting the trade union in this aspects is relating to providing
safe, nutritious, affordable clothing to the customer and also it results in enhancing the
individual capability to bring innovative ideas in business. The another conflict which is
raised in business is relating to deadly accident in the history of the garment industry where
the lives of the person are collapsed which is resulting in around 1,138 workers and injuring
more than 2000 individual (Heery, 2016). Thus, in such manner, the trade union is formed
regarding claiming for the compensation and also call for banning the industries till the
settlement is over. The trade union mainly support the individual point of views regarding
violating the ethical norms and also affecting the environment by using such resources which
are not eco-friendly.

4) Recommending to improve the problems
The role of trade union is to support the individual in respect of taking their own
decision or also supporting them to enhance their skill and capability to increase the
productivity in the business. The following factors which is to be recommended to resolve the
problems is relating to:
 Taking the action which is mentioned under the laws is that it not affecting the right
of the companies. As in most of the cases the trade union are demanding for the
wrongful things which affecting the policies of the company. Thus, the demand which
is fair for the employees must be raised so that they can be achieved in right way.
 Another point which is recommended is relating to not motivating the employees for
the wrongful activity. As it results in affecting the integrity of the business and also
setting wrong examples at work place (Thursfield and Grayley, 2016). Thus, in
respect of rewarding them by attain the work as per their own capability and
knowledge, helps them in bringing more productive results at work place.
 The problems can be improved in case of treating every person equal and also equal
opportunity is given to take to take their own decision. Through this manner, it helps
in providing the right image of the business and also retain the interest of the business
for longer way.
CONCLUSION
From the above study, the report concludes the matters relating to examining the topic
of pluralism in the business. As this is one of the vital topic which enhances the smooth
working of the business through taking care of the norms and also instructing company to
tackle every person as individual and different from others. It is also discussed that every
employees are equally treated but not impose same type of work upon every person. As every
person had different capacity and skill to undertake the task. Thus the whole discussion
reflect the matters related to trade union and this support to motivate the individual talent at
the work place.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Drydakis, N., 2018. Economic pluralism in the study of wage discrimination: a
note. International Journal of Manpower.
Galston, W. A., 2018. Anti-pluralism: The populist threat to liberal democracy. Yale
University Press.
Gechert, S. and et.al., 2017. Towards pluralism in macroeconomics? 20th anniversary
conference of the FMM research network. European Journal of Economics and
Economic Policies: Intervention. 14(2). pp.125-130.
Gold, M., 2017. ‘A Clear and Honest Understanding’: Alan Fox and the Origins and
Implications of Radical Pluralism. Historical Studies in Industrial Relations. (38).
pp.129-166.
Harrison, R. J., 2019. Pluralism and corporatism: The political evolution of modern
democracies (Vol. 27). Routledge.
Heery, E., 2016. Framing work: unitary, pluralist, and critical perspectives in the twenty-first
century. Oxford University Press.
Thursfield, D. and Grayley, K., 2016. Exploring performance management in four UK trade
unions. Employee relations.
Online
Are Primark's sustainability efforts enough to make a difference?. 2020. [Online]. Available
through: <https://fashionunited.uk/primark-sustainability>.
Pluralism. 2020. [Online]. Available through:
<https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/pluralism>.