- Almost 23% of UK employees in permanent positions belonged to a trade union in 2022
- Poland has the lowest level of trade union membership in the EU
- Around 70% of workers in Scandinavian countries are trade union members
- Public sector industries tend to have the highest membership density
- Women are more likely than men to belong to a trade union
- Trade union members generally receive higher pay than non-union members
- Trade unions can become so large that they are able to influence government decisions in favour of workers
The effects of trade union membership for employees
Pros & Cons of Trade Unions For Workers
Pros
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Cons
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- Workers no longer need to negotiate with management on their own, as they benefit from collective bargaining
- Workers receive better pay than non-unionised workers
- Workers enjoy better working conditions than non-unionised workers
- Workers enjoy better non-wage benefits such as guaranteed lunch breaks
- Workers receive specialised job training & free legal advice from the union
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- Industrial action is stressful as it is a conflict between workers & management
- Workers do not get paid while on strike
- Strike action disrupts economic activity & can upset other people in the economy
- Individual workers may not agree with specific demands made by the trade union on behalf of all the workers, and yet they are pressured to support the collective action
- Some union members continue to work through a strike (they may need the money) & receive abuse & intimidation from the other striking union members
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The effects of trade union membership for employers
- The higher the percentage of workers from a firm that belong to a trade union, the greater the collective bargaining power of that union with the employer
Advantages and Disadvantages of Trade Unions for Employers
Advantages for Employers
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Disadvantages for Employers
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- Training from the trade union increases worker productivity which decreases costs
- Empowerment in the workplace improves employee motivation, which usually results in fewer sick days, higher productivity & greater output for the firm
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- Including unions in decision-making increases the time period taken to implement changes which can be detrimental to effective competition
- Management styles have to be more inclusive & less authoritarian which some managers find difficult to accept
- Meeting union demands increases costs of production, which may reduce output & profits
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