UNIT – I Lesson 1 HRM – AN OVERVIEW Lesson Outline Nature of ...

It is that rely upon the support of the employer or company management or the
other large groups and hence they are likely to pay secondary importance to the
interests of members;
• Friendly unions
It is which are idealistic, conservative and law abiding and they mainly aspire to
elevate the moral, intellectual and social life of workers to improve the conditions
under which they work, to raise their material standard of living and provide them
security against unemployment, accident, disease or old age. They depend upon the
process of collective bargaining for the attainment of their objectives;
• Revolutionary unions
It is that are extremely radical both in view- point and action. They are class
conscious and tend to repudiate the existing institutional order, especially
individual ownership of productive means and the wage systems. They are strongly
inclined towards strike and violence and looks upon unionism and socialism as the
two wings of the labour movement.
Another viewpoint classifies trade unions into following categories;
• Craft unions, which are the simplest form of trade unionism. They are
usually formed of workers with the same craft, training and specialization,
no matter in what industry or trade they are employed.
• General labour unions, which aim at becoming all embracing
organizations accepting as a new member practically any wage earner
whatever the place or character of his work or whatever his industrial
qualifications may be.
• Industrial unions, which organize workers belonging to an industry or a
group of related industries or service.
• Federations of trade unions, which are combination of various unions for
the purpose of gaining strength and solidarity. Such federations may be
local, regional or statewide national and international.
• Unions affiliated with the federation are described as affiliated unions and
those, which are unaffiliated, are known as independent unions.