TRADE UNION MOVEMENT

Assessment of the Probable Changing role of the Trade Union Movement in the United Kingdom over the Next Ten Years



Assessment of the Probable Changing role of the Trade Union Movement in the United Kingdom over the Next Ten Years

Introduction

This discussion will attempt to assess the probable changing role of the trade union movement in the United Kingdom over the next ten years. In order to do so adequately, the discussion will explore the different areas in which the trade union movement currently holds influence and the manner in which the influence of the trade union movement can be expected to experience influence in the next ten years. The essential purpose of engaging in this exercise is to converge upon a set of recommendations that can be utilized to facilitate the achievement of a positive outcome from the scenario. This will require a formulation of potential strategies that trade union movement initiatives such as UNITE can consider for implementation in order to facilitate the interests of its membership.

Discussion & Analyses

Trade unions can be expected to play a major role in the development of the UK economy in the next ten years (Akbostanci, Tunc & Turut-Asik, 2008; Aalto-Matturi, 2005). The trade unions have been recognized as major stakeholders on account of the magnitude and scope of their decisions. This may be in part because of the fact that the trade unions of today constitute some of the most powerful and influential men in the world (Buiter, 2008; Carton, Benassy-Quere, Dufrenot & Batte, 2010). Their corporate presence is significant and the decisions that they make influence political decisions in regions. The very concept of the trade unions lies in the combination of this power so that organizations can ensure that external pressure does not hamper business development (Downey & Fenton, 2007; Edwards, 2007).

The role of the trade union movement in the UK in the next ten years will be significantly influenced by the amount of external investment that channels into the UK in the years to follow (Edwards, 2007; Edwards, 2008). UK is currently holding a high cost of living and consumers remain on the active lookout for deals that can give them more return for less expenditure. If an international expansion leads a foreign organization to penetrate the UK market, organizations functioning in the UK can expect to lose market share rapidly (Edwards, 2009; Elgstrom, 2007). This will undoubtedly call the trade union movement to come into action and demand that the government takes measures and actions to ensure that the local businesses are given priority in terms of the regulations and policies that influence business conduction (Greene, Kirton & Wrench, 2005; Kirton, 2006).

It merits highlighting that the trade union movement continues to grow stronger as the organizations that constitute the trade union movement develop (Lucio & Perrett, 2009; Monastiriotis, 2007). Judging by the current economic and financial conditions in the UK, and the current standing of the organizations constituting the trade union movement, it is fair to infer that ...