Introduction
The challenges and problems affecting the workers in each and every country has become a matter of great concern in the global world. Workers have been noted as an endangered group, due to the fact that they face serious and myriad challenges. Workers been the backbone and the cornerstone of the global economy, their challenges thus become a global issue. In the past, workers in each country formed associations or unions, known as, national unions, and the primary reason behind the formation of the national union was to specifically provide a flat form in which the works of a given country can air and vent their problems. Prevalently, the key role of national union was to ensure the working condition for workers is palpable. Secondly, the mentioned union was to ensure better and quality wages for workers in a given country was adhered to (Turneret al, 2001). The paper seeks to clearly explain the difference between the international and national union.
The national union in most cases was a social movement. It is for this reason that, it was argued that national unions majorly focuses on the social issues affecting the works. Also, the territory of national union was limited; this means each nation union was specifically meant to agitate for challenges of workers in a specific country. Workers in each country or nation thought it was wise to come up with an umbrella body known as international union for workers. Conversely, international union primary focuses on the fight for economic and political interest of the workers or rather the working class (Turneret al, 2001). Also, the mentioned union, endeavor to bring to an end the capitalism, this was to be achieved through the establishment of economic committees and administrative organs. Worth noting is the fact that the mentioned union is a global union with alarming number of workers from each corner of the world. Interesting to note is that national unions may amalgamate to form international union.
Interesting to note is the fact that aims and roles of both international and national union are interrelated in one way or the other. Despite this, there is still a distinct difference between the mentioned unions. The formation of the above mentioned unions deeply lies on the past and recent challenges that have plagued the workers both locally and globally. Just to mention few, the government of various countries has been adamant to address the challenges affecting workers, or at worse the government has been the stumbling block towards the rights and benefits of the workers (O’brien, 2000). Worst to note is the fact that the wages offered by the government to the workers are below the set wage rate for the workers. It is for this reason that workers assembled together and established bodies which charge will a responsibility to compel the government to pay its employees better and quality wages.
The working condition of majority of workers is indeed alarming. Worst to note is the fact that some workers risk their health by working in an environment endowed with poor and unhealthy conditions. Reportedly, a large number of works have suffered dearly due to the poor conditions. These are among the few reasons why the workers in the various countries and the global world initiated a body or a union to handle the issues that affects its workers.
Formation
National union was formed in different countries to address and articulate for issues affecting the workers in the countries in which the union was formed. In a straightforward language, each country has its own National union. For instance, Angola has a National union known as National Union of Angolan Workers. Guinea- Bissau has a workers union known as The National Union of workers of Guinea-Bissau, abbreviated as UNTG; on the other hand, Australia has a union by the name National Union of Workers (Gindinji, 1995). The above mentioned national unions were to specifically address issues of workers in Angola, Guinea-Bissau and Australia respectively. At no time will National Union of workers of Guinea-Bissau world address issues affecting workers of Australia. Similarly, at no instance will National Union of workers of Australia will address the issues affecting workers of Angola. The primary reason behind this, each national union has a limited and a defined territory and cannot trespass beyond its territorial limit.
On the other hand, International union view workers in each nation have a people being affected by similar problems and challenges. Due to this, international union was formed to address the problems affecting the workers globally. Apparently, the mentioned union fights for all the workers without discriminating the place of origin of any worker. A point to note is that national union advocate for issues affecting the workers in any given nation. On the other hand, international union addresses the issues affecting all the workers in the global world. As a matter of fact, international union has no boundary in articulating its role in fight for workers. For instance, International union can address issues affecting the working class in either country.
Structure
There is a slight difference in structure of both the international and national union. Typically, a structure of any union stipulates the leadership positions. Viewing the national unions at random, for instance National Union of workers of Australia, which was founded in 1989 is majorly man by the Secretary General, Charlie Donnelly. Also, the National Union of Mill workers in West Bengal in India are majorly man by the Secretary General by the name Nujw in Genesh Sarkar. On the other, the international union has a complex structure including, international congress at the stop, then followed by the regional body and lastly the local body (Bantjes, 2007). A point to note in international trade is that there is a clear channel of communication. The international congress is bestowed with power to make decisions. Interesting point to note is the fact that for any change in the policy to make then the proposal must disseminate through the local level. It is upon the local leadership to consult thoroughly, debate the issue then submit the proposal to the international congress. In view of this, we can argue that local level plays a pivotal role when it comes to decision making.
Since the international union handle series of issues affecting all the workers in the world, its structure must be composed to have an international outlook. A point to note is the fact that national unions align together to form international union. This means, national union must notify the international unions on the problems and challenges affection the working class of its nations. The composition of international congress must be acceptable by all the nations that form the national union.
Objective
The major and the primary reason behind the formation of the National union were to address the issues affecting the working class of any given country. To start with, the workers of many countries suffered due to both poor working and living condition. The government or the employers of various workers pays less or no concern to the working and the living state of its employees. Secondly, the pay wage of the workers in several countries was meager as compared to the job description or task to be done. Also, the employees could be dismissed or expelled from job; their job security majorly relied at the mercy of the employee (Morely et al, 2006). Due to this reasons, the workers came up with a national union which was charged with a responsibility to address and articulate the challenges affecting the employees. The national union was to compel the government and, institutions and the employers to offer its workers a better and a quality pay.
Similarly, the national union was to ensure that the working and the living condition was perked up, as this, was to ensure that health diseases caused by both poor working and living condition are aborted. Reportedly, the mentioned unions have made recommendable strides since its inceptions. The voices of the national union has been strongly heard and felt by the nations in which the national union is formed. At most instances the secretary general of various nation unions have been seen negotiating with the government to iron out issues affecting workers. Worth noting is the fact that the national unions have also gone to court on behalf its members to seek justice (O’brien, 2000). The unity in the national union has made the mentioned union to achieve its goals and objectives.
On the other hand, international union has a clear and elaborated role and objective of fighting for economic and political interest of the working class. The mentioned union endeavors to ensure that working class are also able to enjoy the growth in economy. This means as the global economy grow there must be economic gain for the working class. Also, the mentioned union ensures that as the economy grows, the wage pay for the workers is improved (Herod, 2002). Secondly, international union advocate for political interest for the working class, that is, it ensures that workers plays a major role together with other members of the nation or the world to ensure right leaders in the political positions are elected.
The international union is completely against the existence of capitalism; through capital only a section of the nation or a group of individuals benefit. Worth to note is the fact that the mentioned union advocate for an economy that benefits the all the workers in the global world. A point to note is that capitalism has no interest of the working class. Arguably, it was created to benefit and enrich a few individuals. Due to this fact, the international union has raised its concern and argued strongly that capitalism must be done with (Morely et al, 2006).
A point to note is the fact that the mentioned union cleverly established economic committees and administrative organs to look into better ways in which the economic interest of the working class can be uplifted. The mentioned economic committees and the administrative organs were to abolish the capitalism, through this all the working class in the global world was to benefit and economically gain. In view of this it can be clearly noted that international union majorly advocate and fight for the economic interest for the working class while the national union is perceived as a union which advocate for the social benefit and gain of its members of any given country (O’brien, 2000). Debatably, uplifting the social interest of the workers is not enough. It is for this reason that the international union throws its weight in advocating for economic benefits and gain to all the working class in the global world. The international union advocate for industrial unionism that will unite all the workers in the world. It advocate for one umbrella in which the challenges affecting the workers can be addressed.
International union also advocate for issues affecting the working class in the global world. To start with, the union advocate for better and quality pay for the working class. Secondly, the union endeavors to ensure that the working condition of all the workers in the global world is improved. Thirdly, the international union ensures that all the labor laws must be favorable to all the working class. Also, the mentioned labor laws must be obeyed and followed to the latter. Lastly, the mentioned union pushes for the reengineering of the society into a global system endowed with economic committees and administrative groups (Turner et al, 2001). Prevalently, the international union key goal is to engage itself in the revolutionary struggle that will ensure there is advancement in the economic, social and intellectual. The above means that the working class can independently govern and manage the process of production and distribution of resources.
Similarly, the discussed union fights against dictatorship, political parties and parliamentary system, since the above plays less interest in solving the problems affecting the workers. The mentioned union believed it is its sole mandate to advocate for problems and challenges affecting the working class.
Interesting point to note is the fact that both international and national union used similar styles to fight for the rights of the workers. To start with, the union organized several strikes to ensure workers economic conditions were improved before they resume to their daily operations. Secondly, the mentioned unions organized boycotts as such forced the government or the employer to urgently address the issues affecting the workers. Thirdly, at some instance the unions informed its workers to sabotage major task, as such, ensures the work operations comes to a halt. Lastly, the unions at some instance use the legal system to ensure that rights of the working class are granted (Morely et al, 2006).
Membership
A point to note is the fact both the international union and the national union has its members; the members of the mentioned union are charged with a responsibility of ensuring their interest and concerns are valued. The fact is the members of the union were charged with the mandate of ensuring they wisely elect the right leadership to lead the union. The national union has fewer members as compared to the international union (Gindinji, 1995). This is brought about by the fact that international union has a global outlook while the national union has a nation outlook. Reportedly, the international union has millions of its member’s world wide. A point to note is the fact members of the national union varies from one nation to another. For instance members of National Union of Angolan workers cannot be the same as the members of the National Union of Workers of Guinea-Bissau.
Conclusion
References
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Herod, A. (2002). The practice of international labor solidarity and the geography of the global economy. Economic Geography.
Morely, M., Gurnningle, P. and Collings, D. (2006). Global Industrial Relations. Routledge.
O’brien, R. (2000). Workers and world order: the tentative transformation of the international union movement. Review of International Studies.
Turner,L., Katz, R., and Hurd, R. (2001).Rekindle the Movement: Labor’s Quest for the Relevancy in the Twenty-First Century. Cornell Universirty Press.
