Home » Posts » #BTColumn – Nuts and bolts of the trade union

#BTColumn – Nuts and bolts of the trade union

by Barbados Today Traffic
5 min read
A+A-
Reset

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by this author are their own and do not represent the official position of the Barbados TODAY Inc.

by Daria Michelle Cave

Why you ask, should you join a trade union? The real answer is, to make yourself more marketable.  The easy answer, surely, is that should anything happen with your employment, the environment of your employment, relations or conditions of employment, the trade union has trained and true industrial relations officers to take the matter on and guide you through to a useful conclusion.

A trade union then in its base form, is a select group who join together to maintain and improve their conditions of employment. This is it at its base form. However, to its members, the trade union can be so much more.

Collective bargaining for better pay and conditions for all workers come with the members lobbying for change, and improved quality of public services. This is how modern Barbados got its feet… finally in the 1930s, enough was enough, arms were taken up across the Caribbean for better living, and better working conditions.

Political campaigning and industrial action evolved as workers got a taste of their rights being realised. Most of the developed world have strong trade union representation. If you are one of those people – selling your labour – your best bet is to have a trade union membership card in your wallet. From sportsmen to engineers, bus drivers to teachers and assistants, this is a truism.

In the best of circumstances, countries which have strong social agreements with their people, have their trade unions working closely with the employers – the private sector and the public sector. The reason for this closeness is not as obvious as first thought. The three sectors are to assist each other in creating the best output possible.

A developed private sector, lends to the mix, consistent innovation and a turnover of currency. The public sector provides an infusion of opportunities, bids for government contracts, subsidises much of the social services –
we deem essential and the public sector ensures the entire system is empowered with whatsoever it needs to run as a well-oiled machine.

The trade union identifies the needs, trains and organises on the bases of those identified needs. The trade union, essentially, is membership run.

The shop steward is the representative in the private or public sector space, identifying the challenges the members face at work, to the union.

The trade union is supposed to train and support the shop stewards so well that they can support and advise and campaign for better and better conditions and
pay for members.

And in return, the members will “up” their “games”, improve their productivity and work comfortably with co-workers towards common goals, targets and ends. If these steps work well, all are content, if they do not, mayhem is seen in little pockets or deep crevices all through the social order, creating any range of disorder.

Truly our social order has benefitted from the advocacy and lobbying of the trade union, with everything from abolishing child labour to consistently improving the safety of workers in every sector, everything from lobbying for greater maternity leave and the legislation of paternity leave to improving living standards by encouraging healthier
work/life balances…

And this advocacy is on top of all of the individual consultations, individual negotiation and individual bargaining which takes place as the work of the union.

The shop stewards or union reps, help members with legal and financial problems; they accompany members to disciplinary and grievance meetings; they discuss members’   concerns with employers and major changes such as redundancies, negotiating agreements with employers on pay and conditions.

The trade union is able to do this very well because the union is structured like a network, like a tree, with branches or reps (shop stewards) in every place of work.

In some countries, unionised workers earn between 10 per cent and 30 per cent higher than non-unionised workers. This is not the case in Barbados.

When the members of the trade union are lobbied for, all workers affected, benefit.

In some countries around the world, trade unions are illegal. In some places, trade union activists are intimidated for trying to get fairer conditions for workers. This is not the case in Barbados.

In Barbados, you cannot be punished by your employer if you join – or don’t join – a trade union. Shop stewards have the right to consult their members and employers. So as a worker, you can have your say about workplace issues.

Trade unions are not like regular non-governmental organisations or professional associations either. They have a significant status in law, which guarantees them special protections…and employers have to negotiate with recognised trade unions to stabilise pay, working conditions, changes
and protections.

In workplaces where there are many union members, they benefit from the strength and security that comes from working together to tackle problems.

The trade union then, is a space that can promote the economic wellbeing of workers. The trade union is a space that can promote the social wellbeing of workers. The trade union is a space that can promote the educational wellbeing
of workers.

The trade union is a space that can promote the financial wellbeing of workers. The trade union is a space that can promote the wellbeing of your family. The trade union is a space that can promote the wellbeing of you, your wants, your dreams, your wishes.

Join a trade union today and make sure you say how and what you want to be trained in. Make sure you exploit all of the opportunities designed to personally and professionally augment your growth, potential and productivity.

Daria Michelle Cave is a teacher, a beekeeper and a council member of the NUPW.

 

You may also like

About Us

Barbados Today logos white-14

The (Barbados) Today Inc. is a privately owned, dynamic and innovative Media Production Company.

Useful Links

Get Our News

Newsletter

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

Barbados Today logos white-14

The (Barbados) Today Inc. is a privately owned, dynamic and innovative Media Production Company.

BT Lifestyle

Newsletter

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Accept Privacy Policy

-
00:00
00:00
Update Required Flash plugin
-
00:00
00:00