Trade Unionism, Labor Movement
Trade Unionism, Labor Movement
A trade union movement entails the collective organization of working people whose aim is to represent and campaign for better working conditions and treatment from their employers and, also from the labor and employment laws, from their government. This movement developed in response to the depredation of industrial capitalism. Workers should be provided with safe working conditions; this has an advantage to both the employee and the employer. When the employee is equipped with a safe working condition, the employer sees that the employee minds about the employee wellbeing; this motivates them and hence productive. The safe working conditions are regulated by occupational safety and health administration. This organization ensures workers are provided with security while working and also nutritional standards. The employer should ensure that the workplace and work environment are safe with no health risks and adequate facilities and arrangements for the workers’ welfare are upheld.
Every employer has to inform his workers of any risk and imminent danger related to new technologies. They should engage in the application and review of safety and health measures. The employee should also ensure proper cleanliness, ventilation, lighting, drainage of the floor, sanitary convenience, avoid overcrowding, and control air pollution, noise, and vibration at the workplace. There should also be a safety and health committee at the workplace per regulations prescribed under the law. Preventive and protective measures should be taken after proper risk assessment at least once a year to ensure that all chemicals, machinery, equipment, tools, and process are safe and have no risk to health and everything is in the act. An occupier who fails to do this should be imposed a fine not exceeding 500,000 shillings or imprisonment up to six months or both (Hagedorn, Paras, Greenwich and Hagopian, 2016).
Workers’ rights are essential principles and rights at work as identified by International Labor Organisation. Workers’ rights entail an extensive array of human rights, from exemplary decent work and freedom of association to equal opportunity and protection against discrimination. These rights related to the workplace include health and safety in the workplace and the right to privacy at work, amongst others. These rights at an international level are laid out in several human rights conventions and treaties, including the Universal Declaration on Human rights And the International Covenant on Economic, social, and Cultural Rights, which provide for; the right of everyone to choose any work to be a source of income, safe and healthy working conditions, equal opportunities for everyone to be promoted, right to leisure, the right of everyone to form and join the trade union of his choice and the right to strike, provided that it is exercised in accordance to the laws of the particular country.
This human rights protect workers from being exploited. All workers have the following fundamental rights; the right to know, the right to participate, the right to refuse unsafe work, and the right to protection from reprisal. Workers’ rights are necessary since if they were not there, workers would be vulnerable and subject to exploitation. They also protect workers from wrongdoing by their employers. Every employee should understand their rights and ensure that they are not violated. When employees respect these rights, it will help reduce workplace stress, conflict, and problems.
Equality can be defined as a lack of discrimination in the workplace. It is the fair treatment of people, not minding their race, gender, disability, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, or age. Equality at the workplace can be shown in the following ways; put equality policies in place, mind one’s language, use objective criteria, be proactive, get advice if needed, watch out for indirect discrimination and identify and prevent unconscious bias (Ahlquist, 2017). The following are examples of equality; equal opportunity for all, jobs, club membership and promotions, access to the same processes and options, the right to vote or run for a political office. Equality at the workplace is crucial as it ensures that everyone has access to the same opportunities and fair treatment. When one actively promotes equality and diversity, the business will thrive, and people of all backgrounds can come together and achieve success. If there is equality, everyone is seen to be equal and treated the same way; this will lead to people in the society having the freedom to interact with others, share their knowledge, and get involved in activities that have a positive impact on society. Equality brings confidence, productivity and makes people socialize. There are several types of equality, such as political, social, legal, natural, and economic equality. The following are equality features; it does not stand for absolute equality; it stands for the absence of all unnatural manufactured inequalities and specially privileged classes. It guarantees equal rights and freedoms to all people.
For an example of equality at the workplace, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says that it is illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employer because of the person’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information. To sum up, trade unions are essential as they prevent workers from being exploited.
References
Hagedorn, J., Paras, C., Greenwich, H., and Hagopian, A., 2016. The Role of Labor Unions in Creating Working Conditions That Promote Public Health. American Journal of Public Health, 106(6), pp.989-995.
Ahlquist, J. (2017). Labor Unions, Political Representation, and Economic Inequality. Annual Review Of Political Science, 20(1), 409-432. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-polisci-051215-023225