Employment and Trade Unions Essay Example for Free

Employment and Trade Unions Essay Throughout the study I have tried with the best of my capacity to accommodate as much information and relevant issues as possible and tried to follow the instructions as you have suggested. I tried my best to make this report as much informative as possible. I sincerely believe that it will satisfy your requirements. I however sincerely believe that this report will serve the purpose of my course (Industrial Relation). I am grateful to you for your guidance and kind co-operation at every step of my endeavor on this report. My effort will be reworded only if it adds value to the research literature. Introduction One of the major functions of human resource management is to maintain smooth industrial relations (IR). It is also treated as one of the oldest functions of HRM. It is basically allied with the relations between the employer and the workers in the industry (Singh Kumar, 2011: 3). According to Weeratunga (2003:5) Industrial Relations or Labor Relations, the terms used interchangeably, can be viewed as the interaction between the various interested parties involved in employment. The employer and the employee are obvious parties. The state, in ensuring a level playing field for both sides, provides the legal framework within which such relations may take place. In industrial relations, workers are generally represented by their trade unions formed under chapter 13 of Bangladesh Labor Act2006 whereas employers are represented by their associations such as Bangladesh Employers Federation. HR managers mediate the relationships between workers and employers though they are appointed by the representatives of employers. Another related term is Employee Relations. Though both the terms industrial relations and employee relations are structurally similar (Decenzo Robbins, 1999: 18), employee relations includes, in addition to industrial relations, such aspects as participative management, employee wellbeing, employee development, employee compensation, employee protection and health, and the like (Aswathappa, 2008:534). Generally industrial relations cover the areas such as trade unions, collective bargaining, settlement of industrial disputes, grievance handling procedure, role of government, labor laws, courts and tribunals and role of employers. In the context of developing countries, industrial relations has been influenced by features such as high exploitation of workers, low level of worker participation in decision making, government and political interferences, high rate of illiteracy of workers, low level of employment, low level of awareness among the laborers regarding rights, laws, and trade unionism, and low labor productivity (Khan Taher, 2008: 222-23). Industrial relations plays an important role in establishing and maintaining industrial democracy (Monappa, 2004: 9) and it is the key to improve productivity in industrial enterprises (Aswathappa, 2004: 534). Human resource management can play vital roles in enhancing cooperative and friendly industrial relations. In Bangladesh, collective bargaining on pay between employer and workmen is prohibited in the public sector enterprises as the government designs uniform pay and benefits for the employees of all public sector enterprises (Mahmood, 2008). The limited scope of collective bargaining in the public sector of Bangladesh influences the trade unions to develop network with government, political parties and other powerful bodies in organizing their activities. It hinders effective interactions between the representatives of employers and workers at enterprise level. Though performance based pay is considered to have significant impact on employee performance (DesslerVarkkey, 2010: 15), it is not at all practiced by the public sector enterprises in Bangladesh. As a result, public sector enterprises in Bangladesh have been incurring huge losses. On the other hand, all types of collective bargaining takes place at enterprise level in case of private sector enterprises (Khan, 1996). Mahmood (2008) mentioned that the industrial relations process in the private sector was often disturbed by links between private and public sector unions. Objectives: a) To explore the differences between public and private sector industrial enterprises of Bangladesh with respect to overall status of IR. b) To put forward policy implications of overall improvement in IR of Bangladesh. Industrial Relations Studies in Bangladesh Khan (1986) studied industrial relations in Bangladesh with special emphasis on trade unionism. †¦ Trade Unions Trade Union is an organization of workers who have banded together to achieve common goals such as protecting the integrity of its trade, achieving higher pay, increasing the number of employees an employer hires, and better working conditions. An organized association of workers in a trade, group of trades, or profession, formed to protect and further their rights and interests. A group of employees in a particular sector, whose aim is to negotiate with employees over pay, job security, working hours, etc. using the collective power of the members. The most common purpose of these associations or unions is maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment. Causes of organizing trade unions Provision of benefits to members: professional training, legal advice and representation for members is still an important benefit of trade union membership. Industrial action: Trade unions may enforce strikes or resistance to lockouts in furtherance of particular goals. Political activity: Trade unions may promote legislation favourable to the interests of their members or workers as a whole. To this end they may pursue campaigns, undertake lobbying, or financially support individual candidates or parties. Conditions of employment and any grievances — are settled through trade unions. Bargaining rights: Trade unions bargain and ensure the status, rights, wages and demands of workers of the modern world of industry. Contribution in economical growth: Trade unions are growing rapidly in an economy because of the expansion of business and economical growth. Objectives Trade unions are the only way to manage, compliant, and control the labour force. Lots of objectives are there to organize trade unions. . To defend or improve the wages and working conditions of workers and to bring about a change in the economic order. 2. To strengthen their (labour) bargaining power collectively to establish and achieve all their rights. 3. To dully protect all other interest of the workers . And from the managements point of view the objectives as written: a) To reduce the number of negotiation. b) To specify work rules, disagreements and grievances to give the better solution to workers claim. c) To establish the efficient communication between the employers and management to enforce the predictable standards. ) To enhance the overall organizational effectiveness workers can also be sometimes inspired to form and organize trade union. In fact, objectives of a trade union are not defined; rather these are changing according to the need of the economy and overall industry. When these objectives are not settled then the rivals are started History of Trade Unions The Pakistan Period (1947-71) -The East Pakistan Trade Unions Act, 1965 was enacted repealing the Trade Unions Act, 1926. -The Labor Disputes Act, 1965 was enacted. -Industrial Relations Ordinance, 1969 was enacted integrating the above two Acts. Bangladesh Period (1971-onwards) -Government of Bangladesh declared a labor policy in 1972. The right to strike and collective bargaining in the nationalized industries was prohibited for six months by Presidential order no. 55 in May 1972. -In 1973, the right to strike and lockout, as granted by IRO, 1969 was withdrawn. -In 1974 Act completely suspended the democratic rights of workers by prohibiting trade union activities such as strikes, lock-outs, collective bargaining. -The military regime of 1975 imposed restrictions on the rights of collective bargaining. The Industrial Relations (Amendment) Ordinance, 1977 liberalized the Rights of Freedom of Association -The Labor Policy of 1980 restored the right to freedom of association to a considerable extent -In 1982 the military regime banned trade union activities, strikes, and right of freedom of association. Limitations In Bangladesh Trade Unions have a lot of unavoidable problems: 1. Lack of consciousness: Trade union are not actu ally completely aware about employees legal rights and duties. 2. Lack of Unity: In Bangladesh trade unions are separated for political influence. 3. Lack of knowledge: The workers of Bangladesh dont have enough knowledge about their rights and duties. 4. Political influence: In Bangladesh, trade unions work a part of political parties not as a free right saving association. 5. Division of trade union: Bangladesh is a country where every organization has more trade unions in name only. The overall productivity got down. Suggestions Strengthening bilateral collective bargaining for solving problems quickly and effectively. Multiplicity of trade union creates the rivals in a union. So it must be reduced. Political involvement must be reduced. Organization must support financially as trade unions support the worker. Training programs under trade union should be helpful to develop the skills of the workers. Trade unions function should be increased and widened throughout the organization. Union leader must be given importance and encourage the members. If trust between workers and management increases, productivity increases. Management must help and guide trade unions to settle industrial clashes and crisis. Trade unions always should demand reasonable thing to the management. . What is a dispute? Academically speaking, industrial dispute refers to any conflict between employees and employers, between employers and employers and between employers and employees. †¢ But in reality, dispute is understood as the conflict between employees and employers. There are three types of Disputes : †¢ Disciplinary disputes †¢ Grievance disputes †¢ Industrial disputes †¢ According to Industrial Dispute Act, 1947, Industrial dispute means any dispute or difference between employers and employers, or between employers and workmen, or between workmen and workmen, which is connected with the mployment or non-employment or terms of employment or with the conditions of labour of any person. Causes of Industrial Disputes: Some of the prominent causes of industrial disputes may be listed thus: Employment: The list here includes disputes over wages, allowances, bonus, benefits, working, condition, unjust dismissals, retrenchment of workers, methods of job evaluation, changes in methods of production, non-implement of awards of tribunals, etc. The National Commission on Labor remarked â€Å"though on majority of occasions industrial disputes were based on claims pertaining to the terms and condition of employment, sometimes economic issues of a general character dominated and, on occasion, purely motives†. The causes of industrial disputes can be broadly classified into two categories: economic and non-economic causes. The economic causes will include issues relating to compensation like wages, bonus, allowances, and conditions for work, working hours, leave and holidays without pay, unjust layoffs and retrenchments. The non economic factors will include victimization of workers, ill treatment by staff members, sympathetic strikes, political factors, indiscipline etc. Wages and allowances:  Since the cost of living index is increasing, workers generally bargain for higher wages to meet the rising cost of living index and to increase their standards of living. In 2002, 21. 4% of disputes were caused by demand of higher wages and allowances. This percentage was 20. 4% during 2003 and during 2004 increased up to 26. 2%. In 2005, wages and allowances accounted for 21. % of disputes. Personnel and retrenchment:  The personnel and retrenchment have also been an important factor which accounted for disputes. During the year 2002, disputes caused by personnel were 14. 1% while those caused by retrenchment and layoffs were 2. 2% and 0. 4% respectively. In 2003, a similar trend could be seen, wherein 11. 2% of the disputes were caused by personnel, while 2. 4% and 0. 6% of disputes were caused by retrenchment and layoffs. In year 2005, only 9. 6% of the disputes were caused by personnel, and only 0. 4% were caused by retrenchment. Indiscipline and violence:  From the given table, it is evident that the number of disputes caused by indiscipline has shown an increasing trend. In 2002, 29. 9% of disputes were caused because of indiscipline, which rose up to 36. 9% in 2003. Similarly in 2004 and 2005, 40. 4% and 41. 6% of disputes were caused due to indiscipline respectively. During the year 2003, indiscipline accounted for the highest percentage (36. 9%) of the total time-loss of all disputes, followed by cause-groups wage and allowance and personnel with 20. 4% and11. % respectively. A similar trend was observed in 2004 where indiscipline accounted for 40. 4% of disputes. Bonus:  Bonus has always been an important factor in industrial disputes. 6. 7% of the disputes were because of bonus in 2002 and 2003 as compared to 3. 5% and 3. 6% in 2004 and 2005 respectively. Leave and working hours: Leaves and working hours have not been so important causes of industrial disputes. During 2002, 0. 5% of the disputes were because of leave and hours of work while this percentage increased to 1% in 2003. During 2004, only 0. % of the disputes were because of leaves and working hours. ? Miscellaneous:  The miscellaneous factors include   Ã‚   Inter/Intra Union Rivalry   Ã‚   Charter of Demands   Ã‚   Work Load   Ã‚   Standing orders/rules/service conditions/safety measures   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Non-implementation of agreements and awards etc. Collective Bargaining Collective bargaining includes not only negotiations between the employers and unions but also includes the process of resolving labor-management conflicts. Thus, collective bargaining is, essentially, a recognized way of creating a system of industrial jurisprudence. It acts as a method of introducing civil rights in the industry, that is, the management should be conducted by rules rather than arbitrary decision making. It establishes rules which define and restrict the traditional authority exercised by the management. Importance to employees ? Collective bar aining develops a sense of self respect and responsibility among the employees. It increases the strength of the workforce, thereby, increasing their bargaining capacity as a group. Collective bargaining increases the morale and productivity of employees. It restricts management’s freedom for arbitrary action against the employees. Moreover, unilateral actions by the employer are also discouraged. Effective collective bargaining machinery strengthens the trade unions movement. The workers feel motivated as they can approach the management on various matters and bargain for higher benefits. It helps in securing a prompt and fair settlement of grievances. It provides a flexible means for the adjustment of wages and employment conditions to economic and technological changes in the industry, as a result of which the chances for conflicts are reduced. Importance to employers 1. It becomes easier for the management to resolve issues at the bargaining level rather than taking up complaints of individual workers. 2. Collective bargaining tends to promote a sense of job security among employees and thereby tends to reduce the cost of labor turnover to management. 3. Collective bargaining opens up the channel of communication between the workers and the management and increases worker participation in decision making. 4. Collective bargaining plays a vital role in settling and preventing industrial disputes. Importance to society: 1. Collective bargaining leads to industrial peace in the country 2. It results in establishment of a harmonious industrial climate which supports which helps the pace of a nation’s efforts towards economic and social development since the obstacles to such a development can be reduced considerably. 3. The discrimination and exploitation of workers is constantly being checked. 4. It provides a method or the regulation of the conditions of employment of those who are directly concerned about them.

Allusion and Symbolism in The Swimmer, by John Cheever Essay examples -

John Cheever does not merely state the theme of his story, he expresses his theme, as a good writer should, in a variety of metaphors and analogies coupled with powerful imagery. In The Swimmer, Cheever writes and underscores his primary theme of alcoholism in many ways, such as his use of autumnal imagery and the color green. However, there is also some very prominent symbolism and allusions that serve to highlight the theme while also augmenting the artistic and poetic nature of the story. One very important use of symbolism is in the â€Å"perverted sacraments† as originally pointed out by Hal Blythe in 1984. Along side these symbols, Hal Blythe, along with Charlie Sweet, later discovered a clear allusion to Ponce de Leà ²n in 1989. To begin with the symbolism, there are three holy sacraments that have been twisted by Merrill in the story, one of them is directly related to the primary theme of alcoholism, and the other two are connected to Merrill's addiction, but not as directly as the first. This first sacrament is the Eucharist, commonly known as communion, which involves the partaking of wine in a ceremonial fashion. This sacrament is defamed from the very beginning, when Cheever shows the characters sitting around on Sunday, the day of the Lord, when communion would normally take place, with hangovers. It is ridiculed even more strongly when Cheever includes even the priests themselves in the group of people who say, â€Å"I drank too much.† The second two sacraments that Merrill perverts are marriage and baptism. Both of these serve to highlight the theme of alcoholism and its negative effects because alcohol served as the instrument causing the perversion. It was Merrill's alcoholism that ruine d his relationshi... ...Leà ²n serves both as an artistic stroke and an underlining of the stories message. The tale of Ponce de Leà ²n's futile search for the fountain of youth is well known, and this allusion hammers down the nail of pain and loss that alcoholism has brought Merrill. Works Cited Blythe, Hal, and Charlie Sweet. â€Å"An Historical Allusion In Cheever's 'The Swimmer'.† Studies In Short Fiction 26.4 (1989). 557. MasterFILE Complete. Web. 9 Feb. 2014. Blythe, Hal. "Perverted Sacraments In John Cheever's 'The Swimmer'." Studies In Short Fiction 21.4 (1984). 393. MasterFILE Complete. Web. 9 Feb. 2014. Edward Reilly, â€Å"Autumnal Images in John Cheever's 'The Swimmer,'† Notes on Contemporary Literature, 10 (January 1980). 12. Print. Nora Graves, â€Å"The Dominant Color in John Cheevers 'The Swimmer,'† Notes on Contemporary Literature, 5 (March 1974). 4-5. Print.

American Lit Unit 8

S. Q. 8 Nathanil Hawthorne 433, â€Å"The Minister's Black Veil† 457, â€Å"The Birthmark† 465, Herman Melville 504, â€Å"Bartleby the Scrivener† 507 1. What is the attractive legend about Hawthorne? He was believed to be a shy recluse, always brooding in solitude. 2. How do the authors describe Hawthorne? He is described as a public figure, capable of a certain urbanity. He is absorbed by the evils of enigma and of moral responsibility. 3. Briefly describe Hawthorne's background.He was born in Salem and moved to Maine with his mother to live with an uncle as a child. He returned to Salem to attend college. He secretly go married, he enjoyed reading and the first novel he wrote was recalled and almost completely destroyed. He continued writing and his first big break was The Scarlet Letter. 4. What is the principle appeal of Hawthorne's work? It is in the quality of its allegory, always richly ambivalent, providing enigmas which each reader solves in his or her own terms. ? 5.How does the preaching of Mr.. Hooper change as he puts on the black veil? He still had the same characteristics of style and manner, but it was tinged rather more dark than usual, with the gentle gloom of his temperament. 6. How does Elizabeth respond to the veil? At first she defends him saying questioning why everyone thought it to be such a big deal. Then she asks him why he is wearing it and seems to take offense of his reasoning and that he will not remove it. ? 7. What did Aylmer think of his wife’s birthmark?He despised it, he wanted her to have it removed. He felt it was the one thing that kept her from being perfect. 8. What word best describes Aylmer’s treatment of Aminadab? He treats him like he is insignificant and doesn't matter. He doesn't understand the science behind Aylmer's work and doesn't agree with him trying to remove the birthmark. Aylmer doesn't care what he thinks nor his own wife. He treats Aminadab as a servant. ? 9. How does the narrator of â€Å"Bartleby the Scrivener† characterize himself as a lawyer?He says he is an eminently safe man, he doesn't address juries, rather he works with rich men's bonds, mortgages and title-deeds. 10. What concerns the narrator most about Bartleby’s behavior? He is concerned about him ruining his reputation and his business. He tried to get him to work or leave and he refused to do either. 11. Where does Bartleby die? He dies in the prison yard. ? 12. How does the narrator fail Bartleby? He is unable to save him. He moved his office and when he did the next tenant causes him to be sent to prison because he still refuses to leave. 3. â€Å"At the end of the story, Bartleby's significance expands, and he becomes not only a double for the narrator but also a kind of double for all of humanity. † Explain this statement. We learn that Bartleby lost his job at the Dead Letter Office because of an administration change. The Dead Letter Office would be a pla ce of gloom, where one would deal with human mortality on a daily basis. Also, the narrator had lost his previous job due to bureaucratic changes. The narrator was able to adapt to life but Bartleby, he was unable to save.

The Reality Of Slavery In Douglasss Work - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 1019 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2019/06/10 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: Frederick Douglass Essay Did you like this example? Frederick Douglass was born in Maryland into slavery. Throughout Douglass life he faced and saw constant brutality as a slave. The corruption in slavery was made evident in the way Douglass described his life story. Many like Douglass were forced into slavery with no or very limited options, being stripped from their freedom, slaves are forced to take on the hardships of being a slave. Throughout the narrative there are many accounts of brutality that slaves have endured physically and emotionally being shown and how those accounts of brutality ultimately led to resistance. In the institute of slavery slaves were severely punished for the simplest offense, facing physical brutality everyday. For Douglass it was never a rare occasion to see people with marking of beatings like, The head, neck, and shoulders of Mary were literally cut to pieces. all throughout her body nearly covered with festering sores, caused by the lash of her cruel mistress . Many people like Mary had to submit to this way of life, of constant brutality, some even faced worse some better. For instance, women would suffer more, like Douglass Aunt whose master desired her presence and due to her being with another man he would stripped her from neck to waist, and waiting Before he commenced whipping . Slavery was facing punishments of whipping for the simplest offense and even at times being literally covered with blood for simply not completing a task or because the mast was in a bad mood. In addition, slave masters would whip the slave to an extent causing the warm red blood to drip and as a way to justify the heinous act slave owners would quote this passage of Scripture using religion as a justification for slavery. The physical brutality of slavery was a pain on the outside, but it would then convert to a pain on the inside. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Reality Of Slavery In Douglasss Work" essay for you Create order Slavery would take a toll on people it will affect people mentally and emotionally, leaving them distraught, fearful, and with little hope. Not only were slaves affected by slavery but slave owners as well, like an old Mistress of Douglass became even more violent in her opposition than her husband himself , affecting her mentally, subsiding to society and losing part of her kind nature. The brutality of slavery affects everyone, on an emotional level, changing their personality to withstand the hard times of being a slave or having a slave. Douglass has had to overcome emotion tolls of slavery when his younger brother was grabbed by the throat, threw him on the ground, and with the heel of his boot stamped upon his head till the blood gushed from his nose and ears , the physical brutality Douglass brother suffered also affected Douglass on a mental level. He was overcome with fear, worry, and anger. Inclusive, Douglass himself was faced with multiple accounts of the reality of slavery, that he ultimately felt broken in body, soul, and spirit. , completely hopeless. Douglass had lost to slavery, being physically abused to emotionally tormented. The brutality of slavery was a way to prevent slaves from resisting, to stop them from fighting for their freedom, by damaging them physically and emotionally. Resistance was an act slaves hardly committed. Some of the outcome of resistance was death or a punishment so severe, it was close to death. Slave owners would fear having resistance occur because that would mean they lose their power, and slaves will gain hope, assurance, and fight back. Douglass even showcases his resistance when he gained an unexpected courage when he resolved to fight, fighting back as he seized Covey hard by the throat demonstrating resistance, retaliating. Even though Douglass felt completely broken before he resolved to not letting slavery get the best of him, he fought against the institute. Douglass wasnt the only slave to ever resist. Another slave by the name Demby who had plunged himself into a creek, and stood there at the depth of his shoulders, refusing to come out., but as a result of his resistance a slave owner raised his musket to his face, taking deadly aim at his standing victim, and in an instant poor Demby was no more . This is ultimat ely the outcome of resisting, death. Unlike Douglass who was lucky enough to still be alive, most slaves didnt have the same luck. The act of resisting was considered a severe offense. Slave owners tried to eliminate any resistance because it was considered as a fight of freedom, and it was a fear of possible uproar in slaves, rebellion. As it was feared that slaves would run away Douglass took the risk and his thought was that he could not hope to get off with anything less than the severest punishment his only outcome of trying to escape was life and death, yet what made the sacrifice worthwhile was the blessedness of freedom . The only reason Douglass would escape would be for freedom, the chance to be free man, free from the brutality of slavery, free from the horror of being a slave. The institution of slavery is a system filled with brutality. Slaves are faced with brutality that has a physical and emotional toll. They are severely punished some even end up on the brink of losing hope, feeling completely broken. But some will fight back against the institution. Douglass has faced brutality both physical and emotional, he was subjected into a system of dehumanization, he was on the brink of losing hope, but ultimately fought back. Douglass wasnt going to let slavery defeat him, break him, he was going to fight for it all, his freedom. On the contrary, for most slaves freedom wasnt an option, slavery had oppressed slaves. Slaves were implemented into a system of corruption, stripped from their freedom, given no rights, yet hoped for freedom. The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass had showcased the reality of slavery, the corruption of it, setting wave for a path of freedom. Even today people realize the brutality of slavery through the narrative, Frederick Douglass has opened up peoplers eyes on slavery in the past, present and even the future.