Trade unions are voluntary organizations formed by employees to promote and protect their interests through collective action. The main functions of trade unions are to negotiate wages and working conditions with employers, lobby politically for better legislation, provide services to members, and promote workers' welfare, rights, and development. Trade unions also play important roles in regulating jobs, furthering industrial democracy, and advising on human resources issues. They aim to balance the interests of their members with those of the broader workforce and national economy.

1. According to Yoder, a Trade Union is a continuing long –term formed and maintained for the
specific purpose of advancing and protecting the interest of members in their working
relationships.
According to Giri, Trade Union is a voluntary organization of workers formed to promote and
protect their interest by collective action.
So, Trade Union is a voluntary union of employee which has been formed by employee to
promote the welfare of employees at work place. Trade Union in an organization based on
membership of employees in various trades, occupations and professions, whose major focus is
the representation of its members at the workplace and in the wide society. It particularly seeks
to advance it’s interest through the process of rule-making and collective bargaining.
Trade Unions have typically been placed into four categories as follows;
Manual Workers’ Unions nowadays these are principally the large general workers union,
although there are still a few craft based and industrial union. They include workers in mining,
transport and general industries.
White Collar Unions These are mostly general unions for clerical, administrative and technical
workers, although there are still some specific to certain occupational groups, especially in the
public sector.
Staff Associations These are unions which were originally formed from amongst the employee
of a single employer, usually in the white collar sector. Despite their close association with one
employer, they are able to demonstrate their independency. These associations are common in
developed world. Example in Britain they have National wide Group Staff Association, Natwest
staff association.
Managerial/Professional Unions These tend to recruit from those employed in middle
management and professional occupations example In Tanzania we have Chama Cha Walimu
Tanzania [CWT], in UK they have engineers and managers association [EMA].
The Functions and Roles of Trade Unions
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2. The main objective of a trade union is to promote the interest of its members, due regard being
paid to the interest of the total labour force and to the greater national interest. To achieve this
aim, trade unions have a duty to maintain the viability of undertaking by ensuring cooperation
with management in measures to promote efficiency and good industrial relations.
The Trade Unions should therefore function to:
Where appropriate, maintain jointly with management and other trade unions effective
arrangements at industry or local level for negotiation, consultation and communication
and for setting grievances and disputes.
Take all reasonable steps to ensure that their officials and members observe all
arrangements.
Provide for the training of delegates in the scope of their power and duties and the day to
day operation of the unions.
Provide adequate educational opportunities for the advancement of their members.
Be properly staffed to serve the needs of their members, such means as would best allow
them to do so, including the compilation and distribution of information.
Encourage members to take part in their activities by adopting such means as would best
allow to do so, including the compilation and distribution of information.
Make available information pertaining to the rules and policies of union.
Provide adequate advisory services for their members in particular assist them to
understand the term and conditions of their employment.
Identify trends in industrial relations to help their members to anticipate and keep abreast
of change.
To consult with the employer on matters relating to the maintenance of discipline and the
application of code of practice.
To discuss with employer at regular intervals at least once every three months, means of
promoting efficiency and productivity.
To consider and advice the employer on safety and welfare arrangements for persons
employed in the organization.
To attend all statutory inspections at the workplace by any authority charged by the law
with the duty to make inspections and report on work on work conditions.
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3. To investigate and report to appropriate authorities on any non- compliance with the
provisions of applicable statutory with respect to wages and salaries.
To consider with the employer any new employer’s rule for the place of work.
To consider with the employer concerning any impending redundancies.
To assist in the furtherance of good relations between the employer and workers.
According to The Employment and Labour Relation Act No. 6 2004 And Labour Institutions Act
No 7 2004 of The United Republic of Tanzania, the Trade Union representatives shall perform
the following functions;
a) To represent members in grievance and disciplinary hearings;
b) To make representations on behalf of members in respect of rules; health and welfare;
c) To consult on productivity in the workplace;
d) To represent the trade union in enquiries and investigations conducted by inspectors in
terms of any labour laws;
e) To monitor employer compliance with labour laws;
f) To perform trade union functions under the union’s constitution;
g) To further good relations;
h) To perform any function or role agreed to by the employer.
This piece of national legislation provides a relatively restrictive function for trade unions, in
keeping with the purpose of the legislation. Trade unions themselves set out functions within
their rulebooks. The functions mentioned above, including interventions in the economy through
sponsorship of trade unions business activities and cooperatives, and political roles, among
others.
The Roles of Trade Unions
Political role Trade unions lobby with political parties and political leaders to secure legislative
protection for workers from the Government this is done through using collective power to
influence decisions on behalf of members. Many trade unions are able to use their influence, and
sometimes power to impact on political decisions. In exercising their political power, trade
unions have to be wary of dynamics of party political structures in the communities. In some
territories, trade unions are still linked, almost organically, with political parties. In others, trade
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4. remains uncommitted and unrelated to any particular party, basing power on the support of the
membership. Trade unions because of their basis and deep commitment to their membership,
which is largely drawn from the cohorts of the working class, may find themselves in conflict
with parties which are often mult–class coalition dominated by interests which are not always
favourable to the masses. Stabilization and structural adjustment policies pursued by some
political parties supposedly linked to the movement, have led to alienation and disruption of
relationships between parties and unions.
Market role this is done by intervention wage bargaining and thus impact on the economy.
Trade unions negotiates and bargains with the management on salaries and wages, which
exclusively, helps to distribute the value added in the business firm and increasing the spending
power of their members in the economy. In societies where the majority of people are wage or
salary earners, the role of the trade union in regulating the local economy is extremely important.
Trade unions direct their efforts at protecting their workers against the ravages of inflation, and
trying to improve living standards of members as well as to defend their member’s right to work
and they are supportive of both macro and micro economic policies which would be conducive
to high employment.
Regulatory role Trade unions negotiates and bargains with the management to settle standards
in relation to jobs and terms and conditions of employment. The strength of the trade union at the
workplace level determines its ability to perform its job regulation function. Strong trade unions
have entered into arrangements where the power of management has to be shared with the union
at the workplace. Jointly agreed procedures for dealing with major issues in the workplace such
as grievance, discipline, job evaluation, redundancy, work changes, safety and health, along with
the right to negotiate terms and conditions through collective bargaining, provide the sound basis
for unions to perform regulatory functions. Trade unions are currently trying to expand such joint
arrangements to cover areas such as training, equal rights for part-time employees, sexual
harassment, treatment of those with chronic diseases.
Democratizing role, in creating industrial democracy at the workplace. The trade union’s rank
and file are provided with the opportunity of electing their stewards, committees of management,
and through the delegate system, their executives and other leaders. The process of preparation
for collective bargaining also encourages workers participation. Trade unions fertile institutions
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5. for the furtherance of participatory democracy, for the freedom of assembly, the right to speak
freely and the right to exercise choice. Traditionally the separation between capital and labour
has created a situation where it has been accepted that management is imbued with the right to
manage, which is interpreted to mean that workers are mere resources to be manipulated like any
other resources. Decisions were made at the top and, and through the route of edicts and
directives, were passed through various levels to the rank and file. Like opportunity was afforded
to challenge these directives. Those who tried to do so were branded by the system. Conformity
and compliance were highly valued. The hierarchical system within the workplace conformed to
the system within the wider society, with those at the level of the boardroom and management
deriving from a different class origin, and sometimes, a different ethnic origin from those on the
shop floor. Power in the society was reflective of power in the work place. Access to popular
political participation, through the right to vote, has led to demands by workers for economic
democracy, defined as the right to participate in industrial democracy. Trade unionist have
demanded the right to have workers sit on the Board of Directors as the epitome of workplace
democracy
Services role In promoting the intervention of members Trade unions attempt to develop
services which are valuable to their members as individuals, outside of the scope of collective
bargaining. In the early stages, this took the form of mutual assistance, but with the onset of the
welfare state, with provisions for national insurance and similar schemes, this demand has
abated. Yet trade unions have recognized the need to expand their roles in assisting their
members in a variety of areas such as issue of pension funds. In many instances, trade unions
negotiate pensions for workers. Trade unions have been able to offer professional, advisory and
management services to assist in establishing business for the workers, and in some cases, trade
unions have actually become shareholders in those workers businesses. Trade union also supply
legal and medical services for their members. Some trade unions recognize the high cost of legal
representation and seek to provide legal assistance to their members. This is especially important
in areas where the collective bargaining and grievance handling process is highly regulated
Enhancement role in helping to develop the human potential of members. Trade unions
provide the opportunity for workers to develop, to reach positions of leadership and to excel.
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6. Many trade unions make arrangements for the education of workers and their family members.
Trade unions make workers conscious of their rights and duties as well as the need for
technological changes .It act as a positive force for change by winning employees’ support to the
introduction of new technologies and work organization. Therefore the role of trade union in
education is crucial since it helps members to develop their potential.
Welfare role in providing assistance to particular groups. Some trade unions have actively
engaged in providing welfare services for members and even for the wider community. This
takes various forms including the employment of those who have disabilities, as an example to
the wider community, the provision of family services including baby crèches, child care centers
and old people’s home as well as sports and recreational centers in depressed areas
Protest role Trade unions organize demonstrations, strikes, and other forms of protest to press
the demand of workers. During a strike the union may provide financial and other help to
members when the employer stops wages.
Protection role Trade unions safeguard workers against all sorts of exploitation by the employer
and political parties .It provide protection from un fair labour practices such as un fair
termination of employment and atrocities of management. It also tries to revise the status of
workers in industry and society.
Advice role and Consultancy role Trade unions may provide advice and information to
management on human resource policies and practices. Also impress upon workers the need to
exercise restraint in the use of their right. Trade unions assist employers in maintain discipline
and in increasing productivity. Trade unions may play a role as advisor to a member who has
sexual harassment complaints providing guidance. It also has an opportunity to encourage
employers to adopt adequate policies and procedure to protect their dignity at work place. In
case of consultation, the trade union may be involved in joint consultative committee where as
negotiations may be conducted through collective bargaining and this can only take place where
the union has been recognized by management as a legitimate representation of the company’s
employees
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7. Communication role A trade union reserves as a link between employers and employees so as
to develop mutual understanding and cooperation between the two sides. It can also instill among
workers a sense of responsibility and commitment toward industry objectives
Generally, trade union functions have developed out of historical circumstances. In some
situations, trade unions function within the narrow business/organization union function, limiting
their interventions to their market and job regulation aspects. In other areas unions are malt-issue
and multifunctional institutions, conforming more to the idea of the trade unions as being part of
a movement. In some instances, trade unions transcend the representation of their membership
and reach out on behalf of non-members, including the unemployed, the disabled and who need
their assistance in the wider community.
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8. REFERENCES
Martin Ross M. Trade Unionism: Purpose And Form, Clarendon Press.
Employment and Labour Relations Act, 2004
P R. Sinha. [2004] Industrial Relations, Trade unions, and Labour Legislation, Person Education,
Delhi
C B. Gupta [2010] Human Resources Management, Sultan Chand & Sons, New Delhi.
Eugene Mckenna & NicBeech [2002] Human Resources Management, Pearson Education,
England.
V.I Lenin [1965] The New Economic Policy, Progress Publisher, Moscow
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