Answer to Question #227933 in Management for Rashika

Question

Compare and contrast the nature of the labour force and the development of trade union movement in UK and USA. Make sure to discuss the similarities and main differences in industrial/employment relations. Give examples to support your answer.

Also discuss Fiji's labour force and the historical development of trade unions and or types of worker representation in Fiji.  Give examples to support your answer.

Answer 1

Labor Force and the Development of Trade Union Movement in UK and USA

The United Kingdom and the United States of America share various similarities when it

comes to trade unions and employment relations. First, the two countries continue to record a

decline in trade union membership. Notably, changes in the structure of production may have

facilitated this development (Kelly, 2015). Second, the two countries have strong employment

laws that support and govern trade unionism. However, several differences exist among these

countries that are also worth pointing out. Observably, the organizational structure of trade

unions in these countries is quite different. The UK has both horizontal and vertical structures

while the United States has trade unions that are connected to a single industry or company. It is

also evident that the social and institutional basis of trade unions in these countries is different.

The focus on the social and political basis of trade unions is not the same in the two countries.

The US uses what experts call “marked trade unionism” (Kelly, 2015).

Moreover, Fiji is a country that has had a substantial development when it comes to trade

unionism ever since the Trade Union Ordinance of 1964 was enacted. However, about two-thirds

of people working in the informal sector in Fiji still fall outside the purview of trade unions. In

response to this growing concern, the government has had to establish the Fiji Trade Union

Congress (FTUC) which is mandated with the task of advising the government on trade union

matters and ensuring that employment laws are implemented effectively.

References

Kelly, J. (2015). Trade union membership and power in comparative perspective. The Economic

and Labour Relations Review, 26(4), 526-544.