Labour Relations
TYPES OF TRADE UNIONS
Despite the fact that the overall goals of every trade union are the same there exists different types of trade unions distributed throughout the whole labour force in Kenya. These types include:
1. Craft Trade Unions
These have also been referred to as traditional types of trade unions. These start where workers are skilled in certain crafts in a similar occupation band together to form a union. These workers get together to fight for better terms for their technical skills.In fact the evaluation of labour movement in the USA is accredited to the craftsmen in similar occupation banded together voluntarily to protect their job. However, craft types of trade unions are not as popular now as they used to be. An example of a craft trade union in Kenya is the National Union of Teachers (KNUT).
2. General Type
These types of trade unions are organized or have members irrespective of the workers skills. They have been known to comprise of workers from the lowest level, e.g. cleaners to the highest level of unionisable staff. Examples of this kind of trade union are the Commercial, Food and Allied Workers Union and the Dock Workers Union.
3. Industrial Type
These are open to membership of certain industries who have affiliated themselves to particular trade unions irrespective of the occupation or craft of the members. Examples that can be cited here would be the Motor Industry Workers and also the Petroleum Workers Union.
4. Occupational Type
This is the latest type of trade unionism. It has its rooting from the issue that management staff are not unionisable. Thus the occupational type of trade unions has its leanings towards white collar jobs. The members affiliatable to such trade unions can comprise of clerical staff, juniors and middle managers. The occupational trade unions then take care of the grievances of the low and middle management. In fact there has been a short-coming, in that for an individual to sue a company, he has to be outside the government of that company, i.e. the top management and this puts top managers in a fix.