ABV 320 ee(s)- employee(s)
er(s)- employer(s)
org(s)- organisation(s)
SU4: Employer and employee representation
Trade union (tu)- Orgs that represent ees which seeks to organise and represent their interests in the
workplace and society, regulate employment relationship through collective bargaining
Trade Union Classification:
1. Occupational Unions
▪ Craft- protection of skilled status; restriction of membership; strength in irreplaceable
skills & positions not numbers
▪ Promotion- based on skills achieved on the job; strength lies in strategic importance
and skills of members not numbers
▪ Unskilled and semi-skilled- membership restricted to “lower-level ees”; strength lies in
numbers not skills
▪ White-collar and professional- membership closed to ees in a sector or industry
2. General Unions
▪ Aim to represent interests of all workers regardless of sectors
▪ Tend to be organised along sectors
▪ Federation vs general union org
3. Industrial or Sectoral Unions
▪ Organised per sector
▪ Stronger unions, reducing bargaining unions; promotes centralised bargaining; improved
sector planning & communication btwn union and ers
Objectives of the Trade Union:
→ Major goals (decent work)
Training & development, social security
Safe & healthy workplace, working hours
Equality in workplace
→ Economic Concerns
→ Job Security
→ Socio-political Involvement
Methods by Unions to attempt to achieve their objectives
Diff strategies:
Power obj:
CB with ers
Solidarity
Collective action
Scope
CB with government
Skill
Representation on other bodies
Sympathy
Political involvement
Ability to influence
Representation on benefits funds
©Megan Meiring
, Trade Union representative
Qualities of good shop steward:
• Respect and trust, effective communicator, decision making
• Commitment, knowledgeable
Duties of Shop steward:
o Recruitment, Assist & represent members
o Consult. Negotiate with management
o Organise strike ballots, Obtaining mandates
o Ensure management adheres to agreements
o Organise & attend union meetings, Participate in workplace forums
o Participate in health & safety committees
Employer’s Organisations
Reasons why ers join EO:
▪ Balance the collective power of unions
▪ Standardise conditions of service in an industry
▪ Put wages out of competition
▪ Protect er’s interests
▪ Have negotiations conducted by persons with expertise
▪ Have the er’s interests represented at macro level
Functions of EO:
o Forum to deal with organised labour
o Assist members – information, procedures, legal issues
o Co-ordinated system of ee benefits
o Co-ordinate training in Industry
o Lobby at government for legislation
o Liaise with TU federations at central level
o Engage media for er support
SU5.1: Grievance Procedure
Grievance- feeling of dissatisfaction within an ee resulting from behaviour or conditions specifically
related to the labour relationship that requires the formal attention of management
Causes of grievance
→ Wages
→ Dissatisfaction regarding promotion/ training
→ Perceived unfair treatment
→ Unreasonable instructions
→ Supervision
©Megan Meiring
er(s)- employer(s)
org(s)- organisation(s)
SU4: Employer and employee representation
Trade union (tu)- Orgs that represent ees which seeks to organise and represent their interests in the
workplace and society, regulate employment relationship through collective bargaining
Trade Union Classification:
1. Occupational Unions
▪ Craft- protection of skilled status; restriction of membership; strength in irreplaceable
skills & positions not numbers
▪ Promotion- based on skills achieved on the job; strength lies in strategic importance
and skills of members not numbers
▪ Unskilled and semi-skilled- membership restricted to “lower-level ees”; strength lies in
numbers not skills
▪ White-collar and professional- membership closed to ees in a sector or industry
2. General Unions
▪ Aim to represent interests of all workers regardless of sectors
▪ Tend to be organised along sectors
▪ Federation vs general union org
3. Industrial or Sectoral Unions
▪ Organised per sector
▪ Stronger unions, reducing bargaining unions; promotes centralised bargaining; improved
sector planning & communication btwn union and ers
Objectives of the Trade Union:
→ Major goals (decent work)
Training & development, social security
Safe & healthy workplace, working hours
Equality in workplace
→ Economic Concerns
→ Job Security
→ Socio-political Involvement
Methods by Unions to attempt to achieve their objectives
Diff strategies:
Power obj:
CB with ers
Solidarity
Collective action
Scope
CB with government
Skill
Representation on other bodies
Sympathy
Political involvement
Ability to influence
Representation on benefits funds
©Megan Meiring
, Trade Union representative
Qualities of good shop steward:
• Respect and trust, effective communicator, decision making
• Commitment, knowledgeable
Duties of Shop steward:
o Recruitment, Assist & represent members
o Consult. Negotiate with management
o Organise strike ballots, Obtaining mandates
o Ensure management adheres to agreements
o Organise & attend union meetings, Participate in workplace forums
o Participate in health & safety committees
Employer’s Organisations
Reasons why ers join EO:
▪ Balance the collective power of unions
▪ Standardise conditions of service in an industry
▪ Put wages out of competition
▪ Protect er’s interests
▪ Have negotiations conducted by persons with expertise
▪ Have the er’s interests represented at macro level
Functions of EO:
o Forum to deal with organised labour
o Assist members – information, procedures, legal issues
o Co-ordinated system of ee benefits
o Co-ordinate training in Industry
o Lobby at government for legislation
o Liaise with TU federations at central level
o Engage media for er support
SU5.1: Grievance Procedure
Grievance- feeling of dissatisfaction within an ee resulting from behaviour or conditions specifically
related to the labour relationship that requires the formal attention of management
Causes of grievance
→ Wages
→ Dissatisfaction regarding promotion/ training
→ Perceived unfair treatment
→ Unreasonable instructions
→ Supervision
©Megan Meiring
