In the words of .....................
Smt. Nandita Mohanty
Chairperson,
Women Sub-Committee
AIPEU,
Gr-C, Bhubaneswar
With
the evolution of society and growth in social needs there is a sharp
development in industrialization. It involves use of modern technology and
employment of large number of workers. As large number of people are involved,
it becomes necessary to safe guard the interest of the workers. They need
to be organized to fulfil their demands in respect of salary, welfare and
social security. There comes the concept of `Union ’.
So,
union is the long-term association of workers to advance and protect the
interest of members of the union in the working relationship. According to
Flippo “A labor union or a trade union is an organization of workers formed to
protect, promote and improve through collective action, the social, economic
and political interest of its members.”
Whenever
any employee joins a union, he has some expectations in his mind. He may join
the union for the following reasons:-
·
Economic benefits: When any employee joins an organization the main
interest is the salary or wage. As the social status of a person is defined by
the economic standard he carries, more emphasis is given to the economic
benefits. But any single individual has very little bargaining capacity as
compared to the huge power of the management. He thinks, if he joins the union,
union will fight for the economic interest of the employee as the union has
great bargaining capacity to get its demands accepted by the management.
But the union has also its own limitations. It can bargain on the genuine
ground according to the prevailing rules. It can demand for the economic
up-gradation when the organization is economically sound. For that the
employees have to give their hundred percent so that union can demand
enhancement of monetary benefits. Because no organization will give any
economic benefit unless and until it is economically sound. At that time
expectation of economic advancement is baseless.
·
Platform for self-expression: At the primitive days
of industrialization, lives of the workers were like slaves without any voice
against the tyranny of the management. They used to live at the mercy of the
management. They couldn’t raise their voice against un-hygienic working
conditions, hard work, low wage, long and inconvenient hours of working etc.
Self-expression and individuality were totally prohibited. But the desire for
self-expression is a fundamental drive which can’t be ignored. By joining the
union the employees get a platform for self-expression. The union provides the
mechanism through which employees can make their voice heard by the top
management. Union serves as the communicating
device between the employees and the management. Sometimes due to low
perspective and narrow-mindedness, some can’t understand the long-term views
taken by the organization in the context of overall growth of the organization
and employees. Anything which does not result in immediate reward becomes
unattractive to them. This attitude results in the difference in views and
conflict in union. One thing we should keep in mind that union is by the
employees, for the employees and of the employees. So to be in union, one
should go beyond oneself.
·
Check-bar on arbitrary action of the management: The employees join the
union to fight against the arbitrary action of the management. It works like a
brake to the monopoly of the management. Employees expect a just and fare dealing
from the management on the basis of the prevailing rules and regulations. Union serves a checkmate when management goes
beyond the prevailing rules and take action against the employees which is
irrational, unlawful or discriminatory. Thus union safe- guards the
interest of the employees.
·
Security : The employees join
union because they think that at the time of need the union will stand by them.
They can get the protection from hazards and economic insecurities at the time
of illness, accidents, unemployment etc. For example, trade union ensures
compensation to the injured workers under the Workman’s Compensation Act 1923,
secures the retirement benefits under Gratuity Act 1972 and PF Act 1952,
employees’ health, social security, payment of wage, bonus, insurance,
maternity benefit etc. and other welfare measures by compelling the management
to abide by these. With the union, employees feel safe and secure both mentally
and physically.
·
Employee-employer relationship: The employee may not have easy
access to the top management. But union is the proper machinery which maintains
a sound communication between the employer and the employee. Employees feel
attached to the organization by this. If the relation between the employer and
employees is good then industrial disputes, conflicts, strikes and lock-outs
can be avoided.
·
Sense of participation: Sense of participation is also a fundamental desire
among the employees. They expect that their voice should be heard in making
decisions in the organization. This is known as the Workman’s Participation.
Being in the union, they can make their voice heard by the management in
matters affecting them and can also influence to take a correct decision.
·
Sense of belongingness: When any employee joins an organization the sense of
belongingness is developed inside him. He tries to feel that he is the integral
part of the organization. For that he may join the union. Because his
co-workers are with the union. He may have the feeling that if he will not join
the union he will be odd man out and can’t get any assistance at the time of
need. On the contrary, when he is in the union he feels that he is attached
with the organization and experiences a feel-good factor. He begins to think
that he has some importance in the organization and among the co-workers.
·
Background factor: Some who are born and brought up in the
industrial area or in the organizational background where the society members
and members of the family are attached with the union, join the union as a
nature of practice. Here the past history works. As a result, they
think it obvious and natural enough to join the union.
Though it is the mere truth that union is for the safe-guard of the
employees, we can’t use it as the weapon against the management. If management
strives for the long term benefit of the organization which may sound unreal on
the today’s back ground, then union also has to think in that angle
for the mutual benefit. We should aspire for the long term benefits because our
next generation may get the fruit out of it. We have to make the union strong
for the bright future.
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