It is also common knowledge that the Trade Union presence in the industrial atmosphere puts a lot of pressure on employers to give better wages/salaries and benefits to their workers in order to stay competitive.
The pages of history have also shown that Trade Unions are one of the only forces capable of effectively resisting the continual downward push on employee’s compensation.
In fact, the truth is, consumer spending is what creates jobs and prosperity, and by increasing employees compensation will only lead to more consumers spending, because it pumps more fuel into the engine that drives the whole economy.
The working class people (the Masses) will tell you that is what Trade Unions are fighting for and that is what they are supporting by working in the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades & Labour Union.
Nonetheless, let us continue by looking at the importance of Trade Unions.
We all know that history is a great teacher and it has taught us that the existence of a very strong and recognized Trade Union is a perquisite to industrial peace. In fact, decisions taken through the process of Collective Bargaining and negotiations between employer and the Trade Unions are more influential.
It has now also been accepted that Trade Unions play an important role and are helpful in effective communication between the workers and management/employer. Additionally, they also provide advice and support to ensure that the differences of opinion do not turn into major conflicts.
However, the majority of workers fully believe that the central function of a Trade Union is to represent people at work. But we all know that the truth is, they also have a much wider role in protecting the workers best interest at the workplace.
Moreover, Trade Unions also play a very important role in organizing courses for their members on a wide range of matters. For example, seeking a healthy and safe working environment is also a prominent feature of the Trade Union.
Let us now continue by looking at why Trade Unions are important to all workers. Please find below some of the following reasons:-
1. Trade Unions are workers’ tool for Collective Bargaining. In Fact, industries with Trade Unions always have higher wages/salaries structure, because the Trade Union negotiate with employer’s for better terms and conditions of employment and for healthy workplace standards as advocate by the International Labour Organization(ILO) and other international bodies.
2. Trade Unions strengthen workers’ demand for better labour and industrial legislation. The vast majority of workers knows full well that Trade Unions have the ability to represent workers and their families and stand as assets for which political/politians try to woo them by offering better deals in terms of pro Labour Legislation,
including better medical facilities, annual leave, insurance and other benefits are the result.
In the words of an Olympic Gold Medalist, Kurt Angle, “Oh it’s True, It’s Damn True!”
3. It is also a well known-fact that Trade Unions can and does ensure more job security for their members than non Unionized, unorganized workers.
4. Trade Unions also provide legal support to workers when they face police and army brutality, including legal tangles all because they stand up for justice and their legal rights at their workplace. The pages of history have clearly shown that the day workers allow themselves to be Beaton into submission all is lost because they will find themselves right back into those dark and terrible days of the 1800s, 1900s, and in some cases right up to today as well.
Thus, as a result, our forebears would have shed their blood and their very lives in vain. What the workers of today have to realize is that the struggle continues and they have to continue it because the slightest sign that they do not care then they will surely pay the ultimate price for freedom, then their children will definitely put the blame squarely at the feet for the dreadful situation that they will sure to find themselves in, and that’s a fact, “Oh It’s True, It’s Damn True.”
5. History has also clearly shown that factories with Trade Union activity are much safer when it comes to chance for industrial accidents because the Trade Unions pressurize employers to ensure better safety standards and also use their influence with law enforcement agencies to ensure better safety measures at the workplace.
6. It is a well known fact that Trade Unions help to protect workers against physical and mental torture and the exploitation of supervisors at the workplace.
7. In addition, most workers fully believe that their individual rights and liberties are better protected by Trade Unions. Additionally, they also know that the Trade Unions protect women employees’ against sexual harassment at the workplace and by extension in the community as well.
8. It is an undeniable fact that all Trade Unions more often than not provide educational support and training/retraining for skills up grading.
9. The pages of history have also clearly recorded that Trade Unions can and do negotiate with management/employer for mutual give and take in matters of increased productivity.