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RUNNING HEAD: ROLE OF UNIONS AND UNION BEHAVIOUR
ROLE OF UNIONS AND UNION BEHAVIOUR
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ROLE OF UNIONS AND UNION BEHAVIOUR
Table of contents
Introduction    2
Role of major union involved in NSW train workers’ dispute in early 2018    2
Critically analyse the role played by the Rail, Tram and Bus union    3
Positive attributes to the roles of unions    5
Contribution that could help in further betterment of the union    7
Implications of the union’s role in this dispute for the continuing relevance of unions in contemporary Australian society    8
Rationale    10
Conclusion    11
Recommendations    11
References    12
Introduction
Union can also be referred as labour union or organisation of workers who work collaboratively to achieve common goals. Unions play a major role in a work apprehension and acts as an intermediary between the business and its members that provides the union with employment. In international context, union works caters to resolve labour issues and saves the employer’s time through collective bargaining. There are certain rules that are helpful in resolving issues by being the voice of the workers during the bargaining negotiations. The study deals with major role of union in NSW train workers and analyse the functions executed by the rail, tram and bus unions. Additionally, the analysis is further supported by relevant theories and models that initiates positive attribute to the roles of the unions. Along with this, rationale in context of the union workers and the synthesis of the theoretical framework and caters to critically analyse the issues that are that are related with industrial practices in relation to Australia. Moreover, the communicating skills of the unions to produce robust and arguments are taken into consideration.
Role of major union involved in NSW train workers’ dispute in early 2018
NSW Train Workers to strike after Sydney Trains fails to resolve pay dispute
There was no agreement reached to avert a planned train strike at the end of the respective month that is despite of four hours of negotiations between the Sydney Trains and Unions. Wages of the workers remained at the edge point (Abc.net.au, 2018). The issue of money was not addressed in details and there was a discussion of another meeting on Friday between the unions of NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance. After the meeting, it was decided that there would be further negotiations taking place on Monday.
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) NSW secretary Alex Claassens claimed that in this condition, the strike of 24-hour would be commenced on January 29 (Monday). It was commented that, “The money will be the last thing we talk about when we know what the package looks like," he told reporters in Sydney” (Abc.net.au, 2018).
On Wednesday, train workers of NSW took initiatives to announce that they are going to strike for 24 hours from 12:01 am on 29th January.
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union put forth an argument that it was necessary to take up necessary industrial actions after the failure of NSW and Sydney trains and negotiated to a fair agreement with the workforce of the unions (Abc.net.au, 2018).
Pay Demands of the Unions
The unions were seeking for annual increment of 6% but the government refused to do so and claimed that there would be increase by 2.5%. The union on this note of the government became rebellious and the Union NSW Secretary Mark Morey said that the unions are required time for a day and also said that they are constructive today and would remain to be constructive throughout the future time (Abc.net.au, 2018). The secretary said that they are they are hoping for sensible outcomes from a certain situation. The outcome would be reached by the workers and enable them to vote on its basis.
Mr Claassens said that scheduling is considered to be one of the sticking points of the workers and the workers were thinly spread during the current rollout of the new timetable (Abc.net.au, 2018). The secretary also said that there was shift in the position of the position of the train management of Sydney. Furthermore, there was a desire of reliable and safe operating rail service. The chief executive wanted their members to be properly compensated for the work they are doing (Abc.net.au, 2018).     
War of Words
There was a war broken out in the week of January between union secretary of NSW, Alex Claassens and the Transport Minister of NSW and Andrew Constance. Mr. Claassens was too arrogant in his approach towards the unions. Mr. Constance rejected the suggestion and named the strike as "extraordinary" and "weird behaviour from a union boss" (Abc.net.au, 2018).
Critically analyse the role played by the Rail, Tram and Bus union
There can be industrial conflicts found in employment relationship. There are 3 different stages that are used for analysing conflicts within an industry:
Description: this stage is useful for identifying symptoms
Explanation: Explanation is the process for diagnosing causes
Prescription:     Prescription offers solutions to the conflicts within the industry.
Industrial Conflicts
Unitarism refers to the employment relationship that is based on harmony and states that the conflicts are temporary and result of aberrant behaviour. As observed by Lewis & Vandekerckhove (2018), Pluralism is the structure of employment relationship that encompasses potentiality for conflicts that is legitimate and inevitable. Additionally, Radicalism is the reflection of class conflicts and crucial feature of capitalism. The interest of employers and the workers may collide contradictory and antagonistically (Redman & Snape 2016). Employees expect increased compensation in return of the effort provided by them. The workers seek for opportunities to develop themselves in their professional field.
Strikes
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, industrial disputes are defined as withdrawal of work by group members. As analysed by Valizade et al. (2016), the refusal is made in order to enforce particular demand to express grievance. The increase in proportion of strikes and working days lost the managerial policies and other working conditions. In smaller workplace, the industrial actions are more and stop-work meetings are most crucial form of industrial action. The following graphs displays about the loss of working days due to industrial disputes per 1000 employees in Australia.
Figure 1: Industrial Disputes-historical trends
(Source: Valizade et al. 2016)
Rhodes and Steers Diagnostic Model
Rhodes and Steers Diagnostic Model is a diagnostic model that represents attendance of employees. According to the model, it has been found that it is necessary to provide flexibility and discretion in the management. As observed by Angrave et al. (2017), it is also pivotal to provide wide range of opportunities for job enlargement and multi skilling with participation in decision making process. Voluntary absenteeism is the personal characteristics of employee, nature of work, level of satisfaction and organisational pressures that lays an adverse effect on the motivation of the workers (Ivlevs & Veliziotis 2017).
Figure 2: Rhodes and Steers Diagnostic Model
(Source: Ivlevs & Veliziotis 2017)
Positive attributes to the roles of unions
Unions have a substantial impact on the compensation and lives with unionized and non-unionized workers (Blackwood, Terry & Duck 2015). There are current data that affects the wages, fringes, total compensation and workplace protections.
· Wage inequality: Unions reduces wage...