- What are unions?
- History of unions
- Types of unions
- Importance of unions
- Union functions
- Examples of unions
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 an association of workers that has the task of ensuring the defense of their labor, social and economic interests against their employer, be it a business, an employer board or the Condition same.
It is one of the most common forms of organization of the working class. They played a very important role in the labor movement emerged in the 19th century, to the point that the right to organize has been enshrined by the International Labor Organization and the United Nations.
The laws of each country detail the minimum conditions for which unions can be constituted, and also what type of powers are granted to them. In general terms, it is an entity of coordination political and labor, since it is a body of representation of workers.
It is also common for the various existing unions to negotiate among themselves to call for shared efforts, or to form even larger structures, such as unions of different kinds.
History of unions
The word "union" comes from the Greek word syndiky which translates as "protector", and was the figure that defended someone during a trial against him. Trustees were called a group of five speakers from the democracy Athenian who advocated the ancient laws, against the innovations. Since then the term has been used to mean someone who looks out for the interests of the community.
However, the proper history of trade unionism begins with the workers' struggle of the 19th century, within which the movements anarchists Y socialists they had a lot of prominence.
In the Europe of the time, the capitalism worked much more ruthlessly and the objectives of popular organization had to do with minimal social rights. For example, he defended the right to strike, which was not only not contemplated in any law, but was also repressed through the use of state force, through the police and the army.
On the other hand, the legislation English still used the terms "masters" and "serfs", until in 1875 it was changed to "employers" and "workers", a rather eloquent gesture. In this framework of tension between businessmen and workers emerged the first attempts to internationalize the struggle.
His inspiration were the slogans communists who assumed the proletariat as a class without nationalities ("proletarians of the world, unite!" Communist Manifesto of Marx). Thus, in 1864 it was created in London The InternationalIn other words, the International Workers Association (AIT), the first body to centralize union actions in Europe.
Over the next 20 years, after numerous social and political struggles, the right to strike and other minimum social benefits were recognized, including full recognition of trade unions as workers' organizing groups.
However, the struggle continued, amid numerous internal tensions, and required the founding of the Second International in 1889. Thus, May 1 was declared International Workers' Day, commemorating the 5 strikers executed in 1886 in Chicago, and the eight-hour working day is adopted.
These changes, in parallel with the introduction of the universal and secret vote, allowed the union movement and other labor movements to enter the parliamentary political bodies. Therefore, they began to participate in the decision making on changes in laws.
Finally, in 1919 the World Labor Organization was created, a tripartite entity that accommodates unions, governments and employers to mediate employment decision-making and try to march 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
Formerly, unions were formed according to the trade: shoemakers union, construction workers, etc. But during the twentieth century, this trend was in disuse and the grouping of workers according to their economic or productive sector was preferred, in order 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 the unions into:
- Trade unions of the first degree. When they are made up of affiliated workers, directly, that is, by individuals;
- Second degree unions. Known as Federations, they are unions of unions of the first degree;
- Third degree unions. Made up of different union federations and first-degree unions as well, either sectorally (by production line) or central (different lines).
Importance of unions
Unions are organizations representing workers, that is, they stand up for them and, in principle, ensure the defense of their well-being. It is they who carry out negotiations and who often call for protests or strikes. Thanks to them, all workers fight jointly and in a coordinated way for their benefits, instead of dispersed and disorderly.
Of course, like any instance of political participation, unions are susceptible to corruption, misrepresentation or any of the vices of the democracy and the politics.
However, in general terms, their absence is usually considered as a symptom of helplessness of workers before their employer, since this 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.
Union functions
Among the functions that a union performs are the following:
- It collects the will of its affiliates and provides them with a space for debate and agreement.
- Negotiates with the employer the claims and / or demands of the workers, to achieve a contract collective work.
- It ensures the minimum conditions of workers in labor, health and social matters.
- It represents its affiliates before other larger workers' organizations, such as Federations.
Examples of unions
Some examples of Latin American unions are:
- World Federation of Trade Unions (founded in 1945)
- American Federation of Labor (founded 1886)
- Permanent Congress of Union Unity of Workers of Latin America and the Caribbean (founded in 1964)
- Central de Trabajadores de Venezuela (founded in 1947)
- Central Obrera Boliviana (founded in 1952)
- Classist and Combative Current of Argentina (founded in 1994)
- Central de Trabajadores de la Argentina (founded in 1992)
- Authentic Labor Front of Mexico (founded in 1960)
- Confederation of Mexican Workers (founded in 1936)
- Central Unitaria de Trabajadores de Colombia (founded in 1946)