We explain what a union is, its history and types that exist. Also, its importance, functions and examples from around the world.
What are unions?
A union is a workers' association that has the task of ensuring the defense of their interests labor, social and economic vis-à-vis their employer, whether it is a company, an employers' association or the State itself.
It is one of the most common forms of organization of the working class. They played a very important role in the labor movement that emerged in the 19th century, to the point that The right to unionize has been enshrined by the International Labor Organization and the United Nations Organization.
The laws of each country detail the minimum conditions for unions to be formed, and also what types of powers are granted to them. In general terms, it is a political and labor coordination body, given that it is a representative body of workers.
It is also common for the different existing unions to negotiate among themselves to call for shared efforts, or to form even larger structures, such as unions of different types.
History of unions
The word “union” comes from the Greek word sindiky which translates “protector”, and was the figure who defended someone during a trial against them. A group of five orators of Athenian democracy who advocated for the ancient laws, against innovations, were called syndics. Since then the term has been used in the sense of someone who looks after the interests of the community.
However, The history of unionism itself begins with the workers' struggle of the 19th century within which the anarchist and socialist movements had a lot of prominence.
In Europe at the time, capitalism functioned much more ruthlessly and The objectives of the popular organization had to do with minimum social rights. For example, he defended the right to strike, which not only was not contemplated in any law, but was repressed through the use of state force, through the police and the army.
On the other hand, English legislation still used the terms “masters” and “servants”, until in 1875 it was changed to “employers” and “workers”, a quite eloquent gesture. In this framework of tension between businessmen and workers, the first attempts to internationalize the struggle arose.
Its inspiration was the communist slogans that assumed the proletariat as a class without nationalities (“proletarians of the world, unite!” reads the Communist Manifesto of Marx). So, in 1864 it was created in London The International that is, the International Workers' Association (IWA), the first body that centralized union actions in Europe.
Over the next 20 years, after numerous social and political struggles, the recognition of the right to strike and other first minimum social benefits was achieved among them the full recognition of unions as worker organizing groups.
However, the struggle continued, amid numerous internal tensions, and required the founding of the Second International in 1889. Thus May 1st was declared International Workers' Day commemorating the 5 strikers executed in 1886 in Chicago, and the eight-hour workday is adopted.
These changes, in parallel with the implementation of the universal and secret vote, allowed the trade union movement and other labor movements access to parliamentary political bodies. Therefore, they began to participate in decision-making about changes to the laws.
Finally, In 1919 the World Labor Organization was created a tripartite entity that includes unions, governments and employers to mediate in labor decision-making and try to move together towards peace and social well-being. Which does not mean, of course, that the union struggle has come to an end.
Types of unions
In the past, unions were formed according to the trade: shoemakers' union, construction workers' union, etc. But during the 20th century, this trend fell into disuse and the grouping of workers according to their economic or productive sector was preferred, so as to have few unions with a lot of representation, and not the other way around.
Now, from the point of view of their representative mechanism, we can classify unions into:
- First degree unions. When they are made up of directly affiliated workers, that is, by individuals;
- Second degree unions. Known as Federations, they are unions of first-degree unions;
- Third degree unions. Made up of different union federations and first-level unions as well, either sectorally (by production sector) or centrally (different sectors).
Importance of unions
Unions are entities that represent workers, that is, they stand up for them and, in principle, ensure the defense of their well-being. They are the ones who carry out negotiations and who often call for protest or strike. thanks to them all workers fight together and coordinated for their benefits instead of scattered and disorderly.
Of course, like any instance of political participation, unions are susceptible to corruption, poor representation or any of the vices of democracy and politics.
However, in general terms, their absence is usually considered a symptom of the workers' helplessness before their employer, since the latter will be able to make decisions much more freely, without having to negotiate with anyone, even when those decisions concern life and the future. of the workers who produce in their business.
Functions of unions
Among the functions performed by a union are the following:
- Collect the wishes of your members and provides them with a space for debate and agreement.
- Negotiate with the employer the claims and/or demands of the workers, to reach a collective bargaining agreement.
- Ensures minimum conditions of workers in labor, health and social matters.
- Represents its members before other organizations of larger workers, such as Federations.
Examples of unions
Some examples of Latin American unions are:
- World Federation of Trade Unions (founded 1945)
- American Federation of Labor (founded 1886)
- Permanent Congress of Trade Union Unity of Workers of Latin America and the Caribbean (founded in 1964)
- Central Workers of Venezuela (founded in 1947)
- Bolivian Workers' Central (founded in 1952)
- Classist and Combative Current of Argentina (founded in 1994)
- Central Workers of Argentina (founded in 1992)
- Authentic Mexican Labor Front (founded in 1960)
- Confederation of Mexican Workers (founded in 1936)
- Unitary Central of Workers of Colombia (founded in 1946)
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References
- “Union” in Wikipedia.
- “Union” in Legal Encyclopedia.
- “Workers Union” in Economipedia.
- “Types of worker unions” in the Unitary Trade Union Council of Central America and the Caribbean.
- “What is Syndicate” in Business Dictionary.
