Importance of Unions

The union is one of the most relevant institutions in the public and social space due to the task it fulfills and with which it has been designed. In all countries there are to a greater or lesser extent unions of different types whose objective is to ensure the rights of workers.

Brief history and operation of a union

It is imperative to define what is this institution to which we wish to refer in order to can then understand its importance. Unions are a legacy of the ancient guilds that arose in medieval times.

In those times, the unions were groups of workers who shared a trade and who came together to establish the prices of their products, order the steps to make a career within that trade, defend the resources etc In that case there was not yet a deep awareness of worker's rights, but rather it was believed that by grouping the different trades and activities the craftsmanship was organized much better.

In the 19th century and also in the 20th, unions as we know them today began to emerge: institutions whose main objective is to ensure the interests and rights of the workers. Its operation occurs from the presence of partners of a specific economic activity but can nowadays include outsiders. With them, funds are raised that are later used for the benefit of the same associates.

Why is it necessary for a community to have unions?

Social inequality and especially the imbalance between the resources and goods enjoyed by the owners of the means of production versus those enjoyed by the sectors workers, the disastrous working conditions, the inequity in the recognition of rights are all valid reasons that make the emergence of unions.

They discuss and establish the rules of job for a certain activity, as well as they are also in charge of debating and deciding the value of salaries together with the business sector and governments. Finally, the union provides assistance and accompaniment to workers in a myriad of situations that prove that if the worker were alone they could not advance or be recognized.

Grouping up is always much better than being alone

For those who still wonder what is the importance or need for unions to exist in a society, it is essential to point out that when human beings work in a collective, they have much more strength to claim for what they consider fair.

In the special case of workers, let us remember that there is inequality in the face of employers, which is why it is vital that the former are organized to better defend their rights.

Photos: Fotolia. Paolese–Edler von Rabenstein