What should be done for Labor Unions?

(Previous) (Türkçe)

Throughout history, we have seen that the production method and ownership of production tools have shape both the political management styles of societies and working relations. Entrepreneurship is changing. The period of leaving management  to the board of directors of venture has started. So that the founders will get income over founding share profits. The periods of the production based knowledge and the investment capital which are belonged to the shareholders have began. We are at the moment of a painful transformation phase of this transition period.

In this production period, information and technology will be the main tools of production, where employees will also have shareholder/profit holding in commercial enterprises. There is no doubt that working relations will also be affected by this situation. But the transition will not be at the same speed anywhere. As lasted for generations transformation of the agricultural society into industrial society, as same now, the transformation in economic and political change will be lasted some duration. Political structures will change because the existing political structures cannot answer the current social needs.(This is a separate discussion.) The economic structure is changing, because the means and methods of production and as more importantly, the conditions of existence in the markets are changing. (We are able to order for a product over the internet between 2 days to 2 weeks from anywhere around the world. Moreover, it comes to our door.)

In the illumination of these, we see that the only structure which will benefit and can rely on the employee, are the organizations created by the employees. However, it seems necessary that the labor unions, which are the current employee organizations, should transform themselves as organizational structures and principles to adopt.

It is foreseen that labor unions have to undergo serious changes in two basic issues. The first, Labor Union Organizations also have to carry out a "Consumer Organization" function. Second, the Labor Unions have to be task with the function of  Employment Agencies to cover for the entire labor supply of society Otherwise, the current structure and principles of labor unions will increase the uselessness of them for employees.

Consumer Organization: As act from the fact that all employees are also consumers. All companies must sell their products. This fact is vital.Their sales should be constantly and regularly. Therefore, one of the most important sanctions for a firm is the boycott of its products. Because if the company will lose customers in the consumer market, immediately another company will be able to fill the market with its equivalent products. And the market loss for a firm is a heavier price than not producing by a strike all the workers doing. When labor unions have the opportunity to act with both their members and all other consumers, they will have the power to press directly or indirectly* on the enterprises. *(if the company produces intermediate goods, by boycotting the company producing the final product) Moreover, there are no legal and physical possibilities to prevent these actions, even with the laws and other sanctions.

Employment Agencies:  Starting from the developed countries, the laws that define the flexible working models and the working relationships that regulate it, are in the agenda of every country. These practices, which reduce the expenditure expenses of the private sector's working relations, cannot be prevented unfortunately. Because the production and consumption structure, population structure and increasing unemployment, the structure of the resources with economic value are constantly changing.

Currently, private employment bureaus are operating as designed for the needs of the private sector. Particularly, the flexible working practices cause pressure on the social and economic rights of employees. The privatization of the Social Security System by transforming into the Private Pension and Health systems are the other different parts of the same transformation.

The current mentality of Labor unions is based on the mass production of bulk and regular employees based on the production line called Taylorism. Technology ends this era. The basic main purpose of the labor unions is to improve the social welfare and living conditions of the employees.For this purpose, the workers came together and became Unions. Therefore, the issues and situations that have been opposed by the previous Unionism principles should be taken into consideration again. They should examine that "What can be done?" for the benefit of employees. The thing that can best understand and support an employee are the other employees. Because of that, it is imperative for developing applications that will cover the flexible employees who are still out of the scope of Labor Organizations.

Contrary to the private employment bureaus of the market, the employment bureaus of Labor Unions should have the intention to be a beneficial enterprise for the employee instead of profit. In addition to the placement of those who have to work flexibly, they should also be trained to gain new qualifications in the periods when they are unemployed. Also, Labor Union Initiatives should be strengthened by benefiting from the workforce of these people to support labors.By these offices, some preventive practices should be developed to mitigate the social and economic risks that the resilient employee may face.

It is not impossible to do these things. As contrary, it is very easy by starting from the simple. The important thing is the desire and determination to do this. It can be done if a truly honest and transparent unionism is made and economic resources are not wasted. In this way, "working organizations" will reach a stronger position within the society. Both public support and employee confidence will be strengthened.   The sanctions on both the national powers and companies will increase. For this reason, the Labor Union Administrators should be able to create a common employment bureau structure as a common politics. Flexible employees are also required to meet under a new union organization.  Or they say that "it won't happen!". So, they will consume the source of the Labor Unions, they will finish them completely.

In this case, the Employees will form new type of Labor organizations.  Since these changes can not happen suddenly, for the transition period, "what can be done" through the existing structures were compiled under 3 headings. 1) On the basis of Workplace-Work Branch 2) On the basis of Region 3) On the basis of Country and International

1) On the basis of Workplace-Work Branch a) The first thing that needs to be done is that the Labor Union regains the trust which lost in Labor's eyes. So,

I) The union administration have to share their situation and have to present dilemmas with all their members. II) Have to share the income-expenses issues with its all members and have to make the management transparent. III) In the workplace representative and delegate elections, all parties must be determined according to the vote rates or by the amount of vote they receive. The choices made through the group lists must abandoned. Administrators should be made up of people who authorized to represent different opinions of all members. IV) In all interviews with the employers or its representatives, all proposals must be shared with the Union Members. However, discussion and decision-making on the details should be carried out by elected Labor Union representatives. Given decisions should be reported to the Labor Members before the employer's representative.

b) The elected Union Representatives should be determined according to the nature of the work, not according to the workplace units. That is, in A unit 1 delegate, B units 1 is not in the form of another delegate. It should be differentiated for every different task which will be represented by representatives (or delegates) according to their specialization (or branch).Because, especially in the service sector, the diversity in the tasks that are involved by the increase of white-collar workers, has also increased. According to the differences of these tasks, groups should be formed and the representatives should be determined accordingly. Thus, each representative will be able to intervene in problems in a specific area. Who will be able to explain the problem of the worker more accurately.

c) Labor unions need to organize social events and campaigns to improve communication and improve solidarity among Laborers. Labor unions are not merely brokerage between employers and employees. Beside improving working conditions, they should also work to improve the social welfare of the employees. They must also prepare the necessary public support for the disputes in negotiations. For this aim First of all, there is a need of a closed or semi-closed local area where the social meetings and organizations can be organized. In there, I) Documents containing the latest status information regarding the working life of the employees, II) Materials for meetings, such as panels, open sessions, etc. The aim here is to strengthen the relationship between the Union Members ans is developing the feeling of belonging a group. Most of the members have never been to participate in Union Facilities during their work life. Some of them do this rarely. This prevents the employee's developing sense of belonging to the group. III) There should be some organized campaigns for members in distress with special situations by momentary donation and support organizations which were implemented by union administrations. (For example, to support the cure of a disease, accident, etc ...)

d) After the development of regular social events, Supportive activities should be developed for the children and family members of the Labor Unions.This will positively affect the young people's view to the union. It will also increase the support of union non member relatives.

e) The Labor Unions should also establish temporary procurement organizations in order to provide wholesale or general consumption products and services for its member and families. This is the special advantage of the Labor Union provides to its members. Also it is to convince non-union members to join the Union. It is also the ability to represent a group with a purchasing power in the regional economy. Nowadays, there are only a few distinctive features between the Labor Unions in terms of members. Labor Unions can only be distinguished their differences within the framework of the additional facilities they provide.Legal agreements that provide support to labor union members, such as health agreements and insurance agreements, are also included in this scope.

f) At the time of the Collective Labor Agreement, monitoring the procedure for only  wage are weakening the Labor Union Principles and bargaining force. Just being petitioner side of negotiation is not bargaining but it is asking for alms. In this case, the Employer Representative's goal would be to make less compromise. Therefore, the negotiations need to be brought to the "bargaining" form. In other words, besides the demands of the employer, it is necessary to make new suggestions to the attractive future. (This can be an increase in productivity by saving raw materials  or supporting production process by productive labor force.) Or, after the dispute, there may be some practices which will convince the employer to compell to compromise. (Strike, business slowdown, product boycott, legal sanctions, ... etc.) If the Labor Union can not or does not do this, then the members of it should leave the Union and should exist a new labor organization.

2) On the basis of Region The Labor Union has more flexibility than its sub branches in region activities. It can reach a wider area for activities and there is also more the possibility to providing support from different task branches and workplace locations. It can reach more member to include activities. However, the number of members is not an expression of having a power. The power of the Labor Union is not sourced from the number of its members, but it is caused from the power of mobilizing union members and the Society. This is also possible only by strengthening the confidence in the Labor Union, which is a Social Organization, to ensure that all Union members join on common grounds. In fact, the used common approaches of Labor Unions in the past which were based on political or religious ideologies or based on class awareness, are insignificant anymore. Because whether or not a member of a union  "the first aim of every employee" is to keep his job and continue to provide income. Everything else is the detail on this road. The Labor Unions cannot assume important social roles for both the employees and the community, as long as they remain active only in the workplace. The Labor Union must have an active role in the regional economy. Also, it should influence the social life of the region and support its social welfare. When unemployment occurs, it should develop its former member in supportive and protective practices. Only in this way can they gain the support of its members. In the action of social movements  can also take the back of public support.

I) Some of the social activities for labor union members and their families should be expanded on social benefit. Activities such as cleaning the environment, planting trees, labor solidarity with farmers (such as gathering olives on a Sunday) should be organized and invited to non-union member citizens. Supportive studies should be included for members of society and youth who have never been a member of a union. Thus, the tendency of labor union in youth will be supported. The main purpose is to expand the social activity area of the union.

II) Combining activities should be organized for members of different union branches, even members of different unions.

III) Labor unions should identify qualified personnel to be needed according to the economic plan for the region.It would be useful to educate and support former members who are unemployed in particular.

IV) According to the needs of the society in the region, labor unions should also act as entrepreneurs in the regions. These initiatives may be in the form of co-operatives or associations. It can also be a joint venture with several different unions, as permitted by law.   Consumer cooperatives or their associations, Agricultural Production Centers, Privatized Public Initiatives, Enterprises for the needs of the Region, Social Support Organizations, etc. Each member is granted a share of the company. A few percentage of  the fee for  union membership  is used for this.Thus, the entrepreneurial capital belongs to the members. These initiatives should not be in the used as traditional form as like an apartment flat for members by a cooperative, a touristic social facility. When the corruptions and its methods in Labor Unions are examined, a lot of corruptions are seen in such initiatives. Unfortunately, this situation seems as unavoidable, especially in those administrations who are avoiding being transparent.  It is essential that the initiative must be on different objectives than a capitalist initiative. a) The enterprise should not produce a commodity, product or service that will compete in the market. It should be an advantage only for union members. If this is not possible, there should be an investment or cooperation aimed at social benefit. This will ensure customer continuity and regularity. Benefit must be preferential, not profit. b) The initiative should grow according to only "the demand increase of union members." The business should not be enlarged as it earns money. c) All economic movements of the management should be transparent to all members-shareholders. d) The net revenues-profits obtained should be distributed to all members at the end of each year according to their share. e) In the case of a change in each (or branch) management of union, also management of these undertakings should be changed and never the same persons be re-assigned. f) In the employment of persons who will work in the enterprises, the former labor union members who have left their jobs and have been unemployed should be priorities. g) The working duration of persons in these enterprises should be limited. Because this is temporary work for the former union members. In order to gather strength against negative conditions to support them for a while. h) The shares of these members whose union membership is completely terminated, shall be paybacked by these enterprises against the price of share and allocated to the new members of labor unions.   (For example: The initiative is divided into 5 million shares. Each membership fee is considered as a share. The number of the members in the organization and their values are written to the members as the share rate. The rest is added every period.As an example; If there is 10 thousand members and their labor unionism membership is an average of 20 years, 10000x20x12 = 2.400.000 shares are distributed at the beginning of the initiative. The rest is added at the end of each year. Profit share is distributed at the end of the year. Because of the profit margin is kept too low, it will not a big contribution to the employee as profit. However, it was beneficial during his membership as supportive. Also, the employee has an additional economic resource when his/her business relationship is over. ) The hidden purpose in this practice is to prevent possible human beings from going astray by not allowing significant amounts of money remaining in the establishment. ı) These initiatives should also include professional education places for former members who are unemployed to gain new qualifications. These initiatives will have several benefits. a) It is a reliable investment for all members as the structure and operation of the company will be transparent. b) The entity's income is supplementary income for shareholders.   c) It is a safe place for former members of union by temporary job opportunities and support.   d) It is a training area for employees who has qualified at different branch tasks and lose their qualifications.

3) On the basis of Country and International Nowadays, all employees are also consumers. They buy products not only from their own regions but also from all over the world. Big consumer organization activities that is mobilized by employees can put pressure on all companies. Recently, the most of international trade agreements, in which almost every state is signed and committed to commitments, do not aim to raise the social welfare of their societies. It is generally shaped by the interests of the lobbying companies which are also directing the international trade. They can influence all national decisions. For this reason, democratic sanctions are necessary to balance the company's profitability and to develop social benefit. These sanctions can be organized by international labor organizations.

Current Status of Labor Unions

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