While the presence of multiple unions in a single work setting have be connected with a variety of disadvantages for employers (e.g., higher wages, jurisdictional disputes, etc.), I wonder if anyone could point me in direction of some of the advantages? References to articles that review this literature from the perspective of employers, unions, employees would be particularly helpful. Many thanks, Andrew
As you have rightly pointed out , there are several disadvantages of having multiple trade unions within a single work setting . But a single trade union having a monopoly over workers' rights is not a desirable situation either . This is because the chances of union leaders bargaining with the management for their personal benefits at the cost of workers' rights increases in such a scenario. There have been several such cases in developing countries such as India.
Many thanks Shouvik and Amy, I will pursue these leads. Best wishes, Andrew
There are many disadvantages of multiplicity of unions, which generally are the consequences of politicization of unions. There is hardly any advantage of multiple trade unions in a work situation. A manipulative management may sometimes play one union over the others for ulterior motives and workers' legitimate interests are thus not safe guarded. Trade union act is explicit about code of conduct of trade union and workers' rights and duties. Overseeing regulatory agency like labor commissioner must ensure implementation of acts in spirit and sense. Single trade union representing the total workers in a work situation is always preferable.
You may want to check research in Norway. Up until about 30-40 years ago, most unions were politicized and affiliated with the left wing. This has changed, and and both 'red' and 'yellow' unions are now working together in a stabilized system of collaboration with unions, employers and the state (the so-called Norwegian model). This means that many work places have multiple unions. The web pages of several research institutes may be worth checking out to find something that is directly useful to you:
The trade union research institute: http://www.fafo.no/index.php/en/
The work research institute: http://www.hioa.no/eng/Om-HiOA/Senter-for-velferds-og-arbeidslivsforskning/AFI
Malaysia is about to change its law to allow multiple workplace trade unions. The amendment bill was tabled for the first time in January, but the second reading has not taken place due to vociferous protests by trade unions. Reading literature on trade unions' multiplicity indicates many disadvantages than advantages, especially in the third world. However, the such practice seems to work in countries like Norway and Japan.
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