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Members - people who pay a subscription to belong to a union
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Union representatives - sometimes called shop stewards - who are elected by members of the union to represent them to management
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Branches - which support union members in different organisations locally. There is usually a branch secretary who is elected by local members
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District and/ or regional offices - full time union officials usually staff these. These are people who are paid to offer advice and support to union members locally
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A national office - the union's headquarters which offers support to union members and negotiates or campaigns for improvements to their working conditions. At the top of the organisation there is usually a General Secretary and a National Executive Committee, elected by the union's members.
Unions structure diagram
Each trade union member pays a subscription. The amount varies from union to union and is normally set at different levels according to the amount people earn. It is usually between £5 and £8 a month. Some unions reduce the fees for unemployed members.
People pay their subscription fees in different ways. It may be collected by direct debit from a bank account, deducted directly from wages or paid in cash or by cheque to a union representative or full time official. In exchange, members receive the benefits of representation, negotiation, protection and other services from their union.
In 2003, union membership in Britain, estimated from the Labour Force Survey, was 7.42 million. The proportion of all employees who were union members was 29.1%. These are the overall figures but union membership varies enormously by industry and by the types of jobs that people do. Trade union membership has declined over the last two decades. In 1979 13.3 million people were members of trade unions and the proportion of employees who were union members stood at 55%. There are several reasons for this fall in membership, including:
- A dramatic fall in the number of jobs in manufacturing industries where union membership was traditionally high
- Larger numbers of unemployed people
- A fall in traditional full time employment and an increase in part time and temporary workers who are less likely to join unions
- An increase in the proportion of the workforce employed by small companies where it is often difficult for unions to organise
- Hostile legislation - the previous Conservative government introduced laws, which make it more difficult for unions to operate and keep their members.
However, trade union membership is still quite high and many people are employed in workplaces where unions are recognised by management for negotiating pay and conditions of employment.
There is also evidence that the decline in union membership is beginning to slow up. The TUC has launched a major recruitment drive called 'New Unionism - Organising for Growth' and many unions are stepping up their efforts to recruit in new industries and jobs. More and more people are turning to trade unions because they want the protection they can provide.
Negotiation
Negotiation is where union representatives discuss with management, issues which affect people working in an organisation. The union finds out the members' views and relays these views to management. There may be a difference of opinion between management and union members. 'Negotiation' is about finding a solution to these differences. This process is also known as 'collective bargaining'.
Representation
Trade unions also represent individual members when they have a problem at work. If an employee feels they are being unfairly treated, he or she can ask the union representative to help sort out the difficulty with the manager or employer. If the problem cannot be resolved good-naturedly, the matter may go to an industrial tribunal. Unions also offer their members legal representation. Normally this is to help people get financial compensation for work-related injuries or to assist people who have to take their employer to court.
Information and advice
Unions have a wealth of information, which is useful to people at work. They can advise on a range of issues like how much holiday you are entitled to each year, how much pay you will get if you go on maternity leave, and how you can obtain training at work.
Member services
During the last ten years, trade unions have increased the range of services they offer their members. These include:
- Education and training - Most unions run training courses for their members on employment rights, health and safety and other issues. Some unions also help members who have left school with little education by offering courses on basic skills and courses leading to professional qualifications.
- Legal assistance - As well as offering legal advice on employment issues, some unions give help with personal matters, like housing, wills and debt.
- Financial discounts - People can get discounts on mortgages, insurance and loans from unions.
- Welfare benefits - One of the earliest functions of trade unions was to look after members who hit hard times. Some of the older unions offer financial help to their members when they are sick or unemployed.