Question

Critically assess whether trade unions have any value to the 21st century firm.

Answer 1

As we know that trade unions have played significant role since  industrial times . It is an institutional mechanism to protect worker's right against exploitation of the management or employers.

Union helps workers in the following manner:

1) Offer a platform to negotiate with employers

2) Welfare measures may be demanded by the employees

3) Protection against inhuman behavior at workplace.

4) A powerful group against rich factory owners.

5) Unions also offer smooth functionality of business operations as less strike and work breakdowns due to labor issues.

6) Unions play important role in collective bargaining and establishing a sound industrial relation system.

In the age of rapid economic growth and labor reforms through International labor organization and other think tanks , the role of trade unions have been improved and strengthened. The growing complexities of workplace has created many challenges hence we can't deny from an effective role of labor or trade union organization.

For current role of trade unions at a time of Covid19, we can say that employees may have an opportunity otherwise they cannot get any thing from their employers . In private sector, employees can negotiate with best alternatives even at a time of crisis due to affiliation of Union.