Types of Trade Unions
Anil Kumar
Assistant Professor�Department of Sociology �Patna Women’s College (Autonomous)
Types of Trade Unions
1. On the basis of purpose
1.1 Reformist Union
1.1.1 Business Unionism
1.1.2 Uplift Unionism
1.2 Revolutionary Union
1.2.1 Anarchist Union
1.2.2 Predatory Union
1.2.3 Political Union
1.2.4 Guerrilla Union
2. On the basis of Membership Structure
2.1 Craft Union
2.2 Industrial Union
2.3 Staff Union
2.4 General Union
Types of Trade Unions
1. On the Basis of Purpose
1.1 Reformist Union
It aims to retain the structure of the capitalist society.
They want to maintain the usual employer-employee relationship by eliminating the competitive system of production.
They never wish to destroy the existing social, economic or political structure of the state.
Types of Trade Unions
1.1.1 Business Unionism
Business unions are those that are maintained primary to represent workers in collective bargaining with their employers.
Rally been craft-conscious rather than class-conscious. They are distinctively reformist which try to bring economic advantages to their members, including increased wages and improved working conditions.
They use peaceful means to attain ends and depends primary upon collective bargaining for this purpose.
Such unions favor voluntary arbitration, deprecate (denounce) strikes and avoid political action, but when they serve their interest, they many use the weapon of strike and resort to political action also.
Types of Trade Unions
1.1.2 Uplift Unionism or Friendly Union
It is idealistic in nature and aspires to elevate the moral, intellectual and social life of workers.
It emphasis's other considerations as education, health, insurance and benefits.
It is not craft-conscious but interest conscious of the workers.
It is conservative and law-abiding and employees the method of collective bargaining, but emphasizing the need of mutual insurance and drifts (to move slowly) easily into political action, advocacy of cooperative enterprise, profit-sharing and other idealistic plans.
Types of Trade Unions
Revolutionary Union
The revolutionary labour union seeks
> to destroy capitalist industry
> to abolish the wage system and private property
> to put an end to a society based primary upon competition and individual right, and to substitute some other system.
They are generally socialist and communist
They are extremely class-conscious rather than trade-conscious
Types of Trade Unions
Anarchist Union
Anarchist Unions are those unions which try to destroy the existing economic system.
Predatory Union
Predatory Unionism does not subscribe to any ideology. It is dominated by gangsters and is “a tool for the enrichment of its leaders.” It may employ business, friendly or revolutionary methods for the achievement of its goals.
Political Union
Political Unions are those which gain power through political action, the enactment of laws eliminating the power of capital and capitalist, redistributing wealth and giving effective power to workers.
Guerrilla Union
A guerrilla union dose not believe in cooperation with employers.
It aims at exploiting whatever and whatsoever it can.
It is generally non-democratic.
Its leaders are unscrupulous, rather and irresponsible, and they frequently make use of all sorts of violence in their programme of exploitation.
This types of unionism mostly resorts to terrorism in its efforts to enforce its demands.
They believe in exploitation, violence and non-cooperation.
Types of Trade Unions
Craft Union
It is an organization of workers employed in a particular craft trade.
Link together those workers who have similar skills, craft training and specialization.
Non-manual employees and professional workers.
Craft-conscious.
Horizontal in character, for they enroll workers engaged in one or a single group of process, such as spinning, weaving, warping, or carpenters, joiners, frame-makers
Staff Union
The term “staff union” is popularly used to refer both craft and industrial unions.
Based on the sense of common status and common need for help.
These unions tend to adopt more sophisticated bargaining than other types of unions.
Types of Trade Unions
Industrial Union
It is an organization of workers which links all craftsman and skilled workers in any one industry (such as coal, engineering, plantation, textile) regardless of the differences in fraft, skill, grade, or position .
The common bond an industry-wise rather than craft-wise basis.
The membership is large, and it makes workers class-conscious and increases the feeling solidarity among them.
Such organizations are vertical in character because they enroll all types of workers who are engages in preparing raw material for consumption.
General Union
It covers various industries and labourers having different types of skills.
They have numerical superiority, for they are open to all classes of workers; and this is the source of their strengths.
E.g.: The National Rail Employee Union
Types of Trade Unions
On the basis of purpose
Reformist Union
Business Unionism
Uplift Unionism
Revolutionary Union
Anarchist Union
Predatory Union
Political Union
Guerrilla Union
On the basis of Membership Structure
Craft Union
Industrial Union
Staff Union
General Union