Trade Unions- Characteristics/Features and Objectives

Characteristics or Features of Trade Union

1. The trade union is an association either of employers or employees or of independent workers.
2. A trade union is a continuing or permanent rather than a temporary or casual combination.
3. Membership of a trade union is voluntary. Generally, there is no legal or other pressure to join a trade union and a person can join or leave the union on his free will.
4. A trade union also perform political and ancillary functions
5. Members of trade union have common interests and problems, which motivates them to unite. A union seeks to regulate relations between employers and workers.
6. Trade union always act through united action of members to protect and promote their economic and other interests.
7. A trade union is a sub-system of the social system. Therefore, its character undergoes change with changes in economic, social , legal and political conditions in the country. A union functions collectively to protect and promote the interests of its members within a given socio-economic system together in a body.

Objectives of Trade Unions

The main objectives of trade unions are as follows:

1. To secure for workers fairer wages in the light of cost of living and the prevailing standards of living.
2. to demand the  management to provide all the basic facilities such as lighting and ventilation, sanitation, rest rooms, safety equipments while discharging hazardous duties, drinking water, refreshment, minimum working hours, leave and rest, holidays with pay, job satisfaction ,social security benefits and other welfare measures.
3. To win recognition for workers that they are equal partners with management in the task of production.
4. To assure the workers a share in the increased profitability of industry through payment of adequate bonus.
5. To ensure security of employment by resisting retrenchment.
6. To protect workers against exploitation and victimization by the capitalists
7. To secure for workers a say in management and industrial democracy thereby bringing about a new social order.
8. To protect the larger interest of the society by assisting in the improvement of trade and industry.
9. To offer responsive co-operation in improving levels of productions, productivity, discipline and quality.
10. To enlarge opportunities for promotion and training.