Directorate of distance education master of business administration

Functions
Functions of trade unions are:
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ӹ The provision of friendly services such as a place for leisure 
pursuits, information about jobs existing in other factories, games 
and outings, etc.
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ӹ The provision of social services such as insurance against old 
age, unemployment, strike, pay, payment for hospital fee, legal 
services, etc.
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ӹ Wage bargaining i.e. collective wage bargaining with the 
employers.
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ӹ Safeguarding the job of the workers.
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ӹ Political activities, i.e. the political pressure for reform, e.g. trade 
union legislation works to protect the union and the workers from 
such industrial abuses as delay in payment of wages, excessive 
hours of work, poor working conditions, etc.
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ӹ To develop cooperation with employers.
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ӹ To arouse public opinion in favour of labour.
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ӹ To secure some shares in profit and in the control of the enterprise.
Objectives
Objectives of trade unions are:
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ӹ To take labour out of the competitive process; because if a 
number of workers freely compete for a job, the employer will 
definitely offer them less wages.
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ӹ To negotiate at all levels with employers over wages and 
conditions of work.

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ӹ To protect the workers in their inalienable right to higher and 
better life.
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ӹ To make workers to take part in union activities and to obey 
union rules and decisions.
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ӹ To protect and promote the interests of the workers.
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ӹ To provide legal assistance to workers (i.e. union members) in 
connection with work affairs.
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ӹ To improve economic status of the workers.
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ӹ To protect the jobs of the workers against lay off, retrenchment, 
etc.
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ӹ To ensure that workers get as per rule, the pension, provident 
fund, compensation for injuries, etc.
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ӹ To ensure for the workers, better health, safety and welfare 
standards.
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ӹ To have a voice or participation in the factory management.
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ӹ To ensure that workers get respect and human treatment from 
the foremen, managers, etc.
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ӹ To improve their political status.
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ӹ To offer educational services to the workers.
Principles
 
Trade unions function on the basis of three cardinal principles. If 
any one of them is threatened or is in jeopardy, they would fight back. 
These principles are:
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ӹ Unity is strength
This fact has been very effectively brought out by Longfellow in 
the song of Hiawatha:
“ All your strength is in your union,
  All your danger is in your discord;
  Therefore, be at peace henceforward,
  And, as brothers, live together.” 

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ӹ Equal pay for equal work or for the same job.
This principle is based on one of the nine principles included in 
the ILO’s charter of the freedom of labour, which says:
“Men and women should receive equal remuneration for work of 
equal value”
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ӹ Security of service 
Security of service, which enjoins upon trade unions that they 
ensure social and economic security for their members.