Public Speaking Essay

PUBLIC SPEAKING INTRODUCTION When we heard the word, ‘public speaking’, what came to mind is standing in front of a crowded room packed with people and talking to them. The image alone sometimes create an enormous effect on most people, causing nervousness, and maybe even fear. Before we jump to that, let’s look at the definition of the word itself. According to Merriam Webster online dictionary, the words Public Speaking has a meaning of â€Å"the act or process of making speeches in public,† or â€Å"the art of effective oral communication with an audience.† Next, what is an audience? An audience is defined as â€Å"a group of listeners or spectators.† From the definitions, we can draw a conclusion that in public speaking, there is an act of both speaking and listening. So what differentiates public speaking from a conversation? While both public speaking and conversation involves a direct and face-to-face encounter, usually public speaking is more of a ‘one-wayâ €™ talking. Although nowadays most speakers claim that they want an interactive session, but usually the audience is given a specific time to do so. Next, in terms of language, public speaking uses a formal language. Because they are speaking in front of a group of people, speakers need to adress their audience in a more formal way. Third, and most importantly, public speaking needs to be structured. They need to have a tight grasp on their topic and do their research thoroughly. The reason the topic ‘Public Speaking’ is chosen is because it is something that everyone needs to do at some point of their lives. It is also based on the In conclusion, public speaking can be defined as the act of making a speech in front of a group of listeners, and is different from conversation in terms of approach, language, and structure. TYPES OF PUBLIC SPEAKING Naomi Rockler-Gladen, a former professor at Colorado State University, wrote on the website suite101 that there are three types of public speaking; informative, persuasive, and ceremonial. These types also defines the purposes, or the reasons the speech is made. More details on the three types of public speaking will be explained below. The first type, informative. Informative has the meaning of giving information, to inform. An informative speech has a purpose to inform, or give knowlegde to its audience about  something that they probably did not know of before. The end goal of an informative speech would be to equip the audience with a brand new knowledge that they can apply to a particular aspect of their lives. The important thing to watch about giving an informative speech is to not put in too much information. Imagine an empty bucket being filled with water. If being filled with too much water then the water will leak out for sure. The same thing applies to the audience. The ‘leaking’ must be avoided at all costs, so the information has to be kept simple, yet useful. The second type is persuasive speech. A speaker giving a persuasive speech needs to be able to persuade the audience to do, or believe in something. Usually, the speaker would try to change the mindset, perception, or behavior of the audience for their own good. Giving an informative speech is not an easy thing to do. The speaker needs to be really passionate about the cause they’re giving, in order to convince and persuade the audience to follow suit. The second thing that can be done is to look for common ground with the audience, try to relate to what they might agree on. Third, try to aim for a smaller scope of issue for a start. As mentioned before, a speaker is given a time limit to deliver his or her speech, and it will not be easy to change one’s mind in such a short time. Third, and last type is a ceremonial speech. There are so many ceremonies in our li ves, starting from graduation, engagement, wedding, to funeral. Usually this kind of speech is given to congratulate, or in the case of a funeral, remembering the dearly departed. Thus, the given speech tends to be less formal and more personal than the other types of speeches. The important thing to watch about giving a ceremonial speech is to be appropriate. No matter how well you know the person you are giving speech about, try to not say bad things about them, even if it is meant to be a joke. The point here is to make them feel special, not to bring them down, especially in front of a large group of people. From the three types of speeches mentioned above, we can draw a conclusion that all kinds of speeches will have have to cause some kind of an effect for the audience. Informative speech needs to result in the audience understanding or knowing something they did not know before. Persuasive speech is aimed to change someone’s perspective about something or to ask them t o do something, and ceremonial speech should be more personal, and make someone feel special and included in a certain ceremony. PREPARING The key of perfecting anything is through practice, and public speaking is no exception. However, merely practicing will not be sufficient to have a successful public speaking. Aside from practicing, there are also several things that can be done to prepare oneself for the often-dreaded experience. The first thing is to know who the audience will be. Try to get as much information as possible regarding this particular area. Age, gender, cultural brackground, sexual orientation, and religious views are among the most crucial things that a speaker needs to know. These informations will be very helpful to the speakers to determine their style of speaking, the approach that they are going to use, and to avoid offending a particular group. There are three questions that needs to be kept in mind when working on the speech: To whom am I speaking? What do I want them to know, believe, or do as a result of my speech? What is the most effective way to composing and presenting my speech to acco mplish that aim? (Lucas, 2004). The next thing that can be identified is the venue. Knowing the ‘battlefield’ in advance will give the speakers a huge advantage. They would be able to plan beforehand, for example, where they want to stand, and if they wish to walk around, what pattern would be best so the audience will not get too distracted, and how they are going to face the audience. Every speakers need to have a tight grasp on their topics. Therefore, they need to do a thorough research before they present their topic to their audience, especially if they are giving an informative speech. Speakers can acquire their materials from many different resources, whether it be the books from the library, the internet, or even their own knowledge and experiences. At the end of every session, usually the audience are given the time to ask questions regarding the topic, and the speaker needs to be able to answer them. There are two words that most speakers always have with the m during their seminar or presentation; visual aids. They are usually in the form of a Power Point presentation, which can include texts, audios, and videos. The essence of having a visual aid, aside from making the presentation more interesing, is so that the audience can have a better understanding of the topic. Speakers can include the main points of each of their ideas instead of the whole sentence in their slides, to keep the audience from getting bored. Last, as  mentioned above, practice is necessary. Sparing some time to practice will help build confidence, which is an important thing to have in delivering a speech or presentation in public. It will also help determine the length of the presentation, whether it is too long or too short from the given time. From the explanations above, it can be concluded that there are five things that needs to be prepared in public speaking, which are; knowing the audience, identifying the venue, doing a thorough research on the topic, ha ving a visual aid, and practicing. These five elements of preparation could be the key to ensuring the success of public speaking. PRESENTING When all the preparation has been done, comes the real challege; presenting. There are a few aspects speakers need to pay attention to while giving their speech. Language is the main aspect a speaker needs to pay attention to while giving a speech. Whether their purpose is to inform or persuade, language is their tool, their weapon. Therefore, how the use the language is crucial to the success of their speech. Language needs to be used clearly. Words are not limited to a universal meaning, which means that not everyone interprets a word in the same meaning or understanding. A speaker needs to choose their words carefully and make it clear to the audience what they mean of it. Language also needs to be used appropriately. When giving a speech, audience looks up to the speaker to give them something new, something useful. Thus, the speaker needs to know how to deliver their speech to fulfill the audiences’ expectation. Audience tends to prefer if their speaker can deliver their speech without any form of notes or texts. Speaking from the memory shows a great deal of confidence, and that will gain more respect from the audience. However, there is no harm from getting help from notes or flashcards. This can help the speaker remember and focus on their main points, and also keep their speech organized. Language and delivery alone will not be sufficient if the speaker does not have the right body language. Body language includes personal appearance, movement, gesture, and eye contact. The phrase â€Å"don’t judge a book by its cover† is often heard but rarely practiced. First impression will always matter in the way one person looks at another, so a speaker needs to dress appropriately. The movement and gesture of a speaker also affects the audience, for  example, if the speaker keeps pacing around the room, it willl distract the audience from the topic and confuses them. Sometimes, when a speaker is feeling nervous, he or she will tend to make move their hands around or play with their hair, etc. This should be avoided at all costs, as mentioned above, to avoid making the audience feels distracted. Eye contact needs to be maintained to hold the audience. Lucas explained in his book that when speaking in front of a small audience, you can look briefly from one person to another, but in a larger audience, it is better to just scan through the audience rather than look at each person directly. It has been mentioned above that it is best if the speaker could prepare visual aids beforehand. While presenting a visual aid, the speaker needs to be clear, but by doing so, they also need to still be connected to the audience, and not be too immersed in their own visual aids. The visual aid itself should be made as large and as intersting as possible. While closing the speech or presentation, speakers can restate their main points, just to remind the audience of the important things that has been said. They can also end it with a s pecial message and encourage the audience to ask questions. Speaking in public is all about confidence. Wearing the right clothes, movements, gesture, maintaining eye contact, and having visual aids can enhance the speakers’ confidence, and in return, will gain the respect and trust from the audience. BBIBLIOGRAPHY Lucas, Stephen. The Art of Public Speaking. 8th ed. Boston, MA: McGraw Hill, 2004. Print. Osborn, Michael, and Suzanne Osborn. Public Speaking. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2006. Print. Rockler-Gladen, Naomi. â€Å"Public Speaking Class Tips: Writing Great Speeches for Your Speech Course | Suite101.com.† Naomi Rockler-Gladen | Suite101.com. 13 Jan. 2007. Web. 10 Oct. 2011. .

Napoleon Psychoanalysis

Psychoanalysis of Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte is a man that is to be admired but pitied at the same time. He has lived his life almost in desolation, yet at the same time he has managed to make a legacy. Napoleon is very ambitious, yet at the same time he is very lonely and withdrawn. He believes that whatever he does will benefit his country and its people. Napoleon is very hard working, and he just wants his dreams to become reality. For example, he began his apprenticeship when he was 16, and he was learning how to deploy men, and assemble guns, and he eventually became an expert at it.Napoleon shows a lot of willingness to learn, and all he wants is to become famous in society. He wants to play a role in the Revolution. In addition, he seized all of the chances that had been thrown his way, and this is what allowed him to gain everything that he did. Napoleon just wanted to enter French society, and be given a chance to help his people. He worked hard to get to the posi tion he was at. Napoleon did what he needed to change reality, and he worked to make life better. People disliked Napoleon because of his ambitions and his pride.For example, at the Royal Military College in France, Napoleon was a loner because of his dignity. He was bullied because of his thick accent and because he was poor while the other kids were all nobles. This loneliness had a very large impact in his life and his career. In addition, when Napoleon entered into Corsican politics, Paoli–one of the politicians- thought he was too obsessed with power, which caused him to distrust Napoleon. Napoleons endless yearn for power was the reason for others to not have any faith in Napoleon. When something interests Napoleon, he becomes obsessed with it, and he did not relent.Napoleon, himself, was the reason for his isolation from others because he always looked at everyone around him as less superior than himself. Napoleon Bonaparte was very resourceful when it came to achievin g his goals. He had a very strong thirst for power. Because of his thirst and resourcefulness, many people viewed him as a hero. Napoleon lived a very admirable life because of his hard work and his ambitions. At the same time, he lived a very wretched life because of his desolation. In many people’s eyes he was a legend, but in others’ eyes he was a tyrant.

Changing world of work and choice and opportunity structures affecting Essay

Changing world of work and choice and opportunity structures affecting careers. WORK, SOCIETY & ORGANIZATIONS - Essay Example 141). Writers point to medieval guild masters or even earlier nomadic tribal leaders as ancient prototypical managers, but from George’s definition one might be tempted to say that mothers comprised the first managers in human history. A â€Å"manager† is difficult to categorically define. George’s definition centers on managers as motivators, working to achieve goals through people. Managers are also organizers: Daniel A. Wren called management â€Å"the activity which performs certain functions in order to obtain the effective acquisition, allocation, and utilization of human efforts and physical resources in order to establish some goal† (Trent, 1973, p. 141). Militarism and Mechanization was formalized by Frederick the Great in the 17th century. He revolutionized warfare, and he is generally acknowledged as an early efficiency expert. He was credited with redirecting the structures and processes of waging war, and creating the elements of the machine o rganization as it applies to the military establishment. Elements of his management style included the institutionalization of authority by creating a system of ranks, establishing identity by uniforms, the standardization of regulations, task specialization among the troops, and the use of command language to reduce miscommunication and specialized training (MacDonogh, 2001). This management style is of course essentially still used to some extent in military and police organizations, although it is much tempered by contemporary HR practices in its treatment of people. Scientific Management Frederick Winslow Taylor, an engineer and self-styled consultant, conceptualized the link between corporate profitability, industrial productivity, and cost-efficiency. Under scientific management, productivity is increased and unit cost is reduced when workers become more task efficient. In turn, workers become more efficient if they are rewarded for higher volume productivity, and punished for low volume productivity. This management theory is also known as Taylorism. The principle of scientific management espouses the elimination of rule-of-thumb methods, and to instead use measurement techniques to determine the optimum methods that optimizes the use of time, effort, and resources. Jobs are broken down into sequential tasks, and each task is engineered for greater efficiency. Then the workers are trained in the new tasks using scientific methods. There is division of labor and responsibility among managers and workers, where management sets the goals and policies, and workers execute the tasks. Finally, discipline is maintained to coordinate task execution (Taylor, 2008). The world’s largest restaurant chain is an avowed follower of Taylorism. McDonald’s employs the scientific method in its corporate operations, where all tasks are worked out and standardized, and all employees worldwide are rigorously trained in this system. Tasks are broken down and num bered, so that the crews related to their customers according to a prepared script, and those who man the kitchen abide by a numbered set of procedures. Even the cooking machinery are specially designed to operate at pre-determined time settings. The result is a rigid quality level that ensures McDonald’s products are prepared and serve in exactly the same way the world over. Formal bureaucracy was conceived by Max Weber in the early 1900s. This was done in reaction to the prevailing management style then, where organisations were run according to the whims and

Discuss the impact of global warming, and the possibility of stronger Essay

Discuss the impact of global warming, and the possibility of stronger and more frequent storms on the emergency management field - Essay Example Climate change is a very different matter. The greenhouse effect is a natural atmospheric process caused by the presence of certain gases in the atmospheric process caused by the presence of certain gases in the atmosphere that prevent the infrared radiation emitted from escaping from the earth's surface to space. As a result, the temperature of the atmosphere increases, until a new equilibrium between in going solar radiation and out going infrared radiation is reached. The process is analogous to the way in which a greenhouse increases the temperature inside. The gases that absorb out going infrared radiation are called green house gases (GHG's). Some GHG's are that exists naturally: carbon dioxide (Co2) and small quantities of Methane (CH4). Thus the greenhouse effect has always been with us. In its absence, the earth's mean temperature would be 30C lower than it is, which would mean the end of life on the planet, an ice covered places. The progressive gradual rise of the earth's average surface temperature, thought to be caused in part by increased concentrations of GHG's in the atmosphere, is called global warming, which is commonly described as climate change, although global warming is only one of the changes that affect the global climate. Our main concern is that since the industrial revolution there has been a considerable increase in emissions of GHG's resulting in considerable increase in their concentrations in earth's atmosphere. The natural balance of the greenhouse effect is currently lost. One to this serious nature of climate change a widely recognized organization IPCC was setup in 1988. The scientific evidence that human activities are changing the climate of our planet has been studied by a working group of the intergovernmental panel on climate change, or IPCC, an international scientific body intended to provide policymakers with an authoritative view of climate change and its causes and affect. The IPCC includes three working groups: (i) Working group 1 (WG1) assesses the scientific aspects of the climate system and climate change (ii) working group 2 (WG2) assesses the vulnerability of Socio-economic and natural system of climate changes and options for adopting it; (iii) working groups 3 (WG3) assess es the options for limiting GHG emissions and otherwise mitigating climate change. Every few years, each working group publishes an assessment reports. The fourth of these reports (called AR4) was published this year. Working group 1 has already its part of AR4 (IPCC, 2007 a). Some of their findings are: Global atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide have increased markedly as a result of human activities since 1750 and non for exceed pre-industrial value. The global increases in carbon dioxide concentration are primarily to fossil fuel use and land-use change, while those of Methane and Nitrous oxide are primarily due to agriculture. (ii) Warming of climate system is unequivocal, as is no evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice and rising global mean sea level. (iii) At continental, regional and

Energy Use & Developing an Energy Plan Research Paper

Energy Use & Developing an Energy Plan - Research Paper Example The Energy Policy Act of 2005 has helped a lot in encouraging use of sources that have more positive outcomes than others by loan guarantees and incentives given. Introduction Energy in a system may take on various forms such as; kinetic, heat, potential and light. The law of conservation of energy says that energy may neither be destroyed nor created. Hence, the sum of all the energies in the system is a fixed. A pendulum is commonly used in illustrating law of conservation of energy (Messenger et al, 2007). The different energy sources have advantages and disadvantages. It’s clear that no source of energy is completely positive or negative. Therefore, it is important for consumer and all stakeholders in general should weigh the pros and cons of the different source so as to come up with the most beneficial source that is less harmful to the environment. 1. The law of conservation of energy, which is a law of physics, was first developed in the 19th century. It states that en ergy amount in total, is an isolated system stays fixed over time. In this law, it is said that total energy is conserved over time. Furthermore, it means in an isolated system that energy is localized and can vary its location on the inside of the system. Moreover, it implies that energy form can change within the system. This is to say, chemical energy can convert to kinetic energy, although it can be neither destroyed nor created. Furthermore, two initially isolated systems can be in a logic manner composed into a single isolated system if they have no mutual or external interaction. In this case, the total amount of energy of the composite system is same to the respective sum of the total energy amount of the composite system. Consequently, system energy is said to b additive (Messenger et al, 2007). Similar the internal energy is called extensive quantity for a homogenous system in its own thermodynamic equilibrium. The definition of energy was broaden in the 20th century. Mate rial particles which possess rest mass, were generally approved as containing equivalent energy amounts. Moreover, they are not conserved and perish into kinds of energy that lack rest energy such as potential and kinetic energy. A good illustration is that a positron and electron can perish together into photons of electromagnetic radiation. In addition, non-material kinds of energy can die into ponderable matter. This type of transformation process within an isolated system, neither total mass nor the total energy vary over time, even if the matter content may change. Moreover, energy conservation and mass conservation, all this still applies as a law in its own right. 2. Natural gas, coal and fossil fuel are the world commonly used energy sources. About 65 billon barres of petroleum is consumed in the world each day. It is projected that the consumption will increase to 99 billion barrels per day by 2015. There is about 5,149.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserve is not us ed up. This is more than oil but less than coal. Furthermore, 23.3% of natural gas is used in the United State. Moreover, natural gas has several advantages; its less polluting since it burns clean as compared to oil and coal, it also produces 70% less carbon dioxide compared to fossil fuels, it is not a pollutant thus it helps in quality improvement of water and air, another advantage is that natural gas has

Case Study Analysis Annotated Bibliography Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Case Study Analysis - Annotated Bibliography Example He also argues about the issue of organization and how it affects public administration. In this book, Bekkers et al (2006) tried to look at the problem of innovation and how it relates to public administration. The authors look at the process of innovation in the context of IT. They relate this to the use of IT in the public administration and how the technology can be used to create collaboration between the public and government. This book was important in this study with regard to understand the issue of technology and how it could be used to enhance public services. Denhardt (2011) looks at public administration departments as an organization and then tries to apply the theory of organizational learning. What he is trying to identify is if the government departments can acquire a learning model. The author also looks at the various models that can be used for public administration. The author looks at some of the most effective ones, especially in light of organizational learning. This book was very useful in this study because it provides a new dimension of organizational learning to the debate of effective public administration. Fang (2002) looks at the issue of government and how technology has assisted in the delivery of services by the government. Ho looks at both the upside and the downside of things with regard to IT technology in delivery of public services. This journal article is especially important as a source of information on how the challenges of using technology in the implementation of public administration. Garson (1999) tackles the issue of information technology in the context of public administration in the following regard. One, he tackles the issue of contemporary technology in public administration. More importantly, the book discusses the issue of information privacy with regard to the use of electronic service delivery. This is important in understanding how IT relates to public administration and many challenges

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Research Paper

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - Research Paper Example Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) binding to TrkB is an important component of phospholipase Cg, mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (MAPK/ERK) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathways, all transducing signals into and out of cells. With roles in transmitting signals, changes in BDNF will thus be highly manifested as changes in memory, behavior, and cognition. Bipolar disease (BD) is a pathologic condition of the nervous system caused by both environmental and biological factors. It affects structures in the brain that affect mood, cognition, and behavior such as the limbic system, striatum, pallidum, thalamus, and cortex. Particularly, highly implicated in the development of the disease is the impairment of neuronal survival and synaptic plasticity, as mediated by BDNF, high quantities of which are found in the cortex, limbic structures, olfactory bulb, and cerebellum. Briefly, these parts are important in attention, memory, smell perception, and emotions, respectively. Because BDNF is found at high concentrations on brain areas highly affected during BD, many studies have looked into its particular characteristics with and without the disease. Because of the multiple pieces of evidence implicating BDNF to BD, several studies have looked into BDNF at a genetic level to better understand the disease. Many studies have found that a change from val66val to val66met is highly critical in the development of BD. In particular, val66met was found to cause lower cognitive task scores, partly because it results to lower volumes of the limbic system (hippocampus and parahippocampus), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and temporal lobe as compared to that of the val66val variety. Â  

Interview a local Customer Service provider Essay

Interview a local Customer Service provider - Essay Example ues that are raised by the customers including the difficult one in a manner that will leave the customer satisfied so that he or she does not cancel their contract with the company. 7. What is the best experience you have had providing customer service? The best experience that I have had in providing customer service to the clients of the company is definitely getting referrals from the customers that were served satisfactorily and enjoyed the services and products that are provided by the company. Such situations allow my colleagues and I to take ownership of each customer experience while cooperating to work as a team in order to make the delivery of the promises of the company while remaining friendly and helpful as well as thoughtful. 8. What is the worst experience you have had providing customer service? The worst experience I have had so far in dealing with dealing with the customers involve cases were the customers do not understand the terms of their contracts and end up thinking they are being ripped off or decide to withdraw their contracts altogether. In situations such as these, I try my best to explain the terms to the customer in a manner they can understand and regardless of their decisions after this, I assure them that the company will continue to keep their best interests at heart. 9. Have you been trained to deal with customers? If yes, how long was the training and what type of training did you receive? Yes, I have been trained to deal with customers so that I can provide better services that will make sure the customers are retained in the company. I was trained to be familiar with most of the assistive devices such as wheelchairs and listening devices among others which may be used by the clients with variable capabilities in order to make it easier for them to access the company’s goods and services. 10. If you have not been trained to deal with customers, do you feel that this type of training would help you to provide better

Financial Market Homework Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Financial Market Homework - Essay Example Financial markets are usually divided into capital markets and money markets. The capital market involves exchange of long term finance (Robert, 2009). This includes stock market, which facilitates financing through issuing stocks and also exchange of stock ownership and the money market which facilitates debt financing and investment (Rose, 1994). Currently the financial sector has additional markets to facilitate financing such as commodity markets derivatives market, futures markets and foreign markets. Financial markets provide borrowers with funds to facilitate their investments (such as corporations and government institutions to obtain funds in order to finance their current operations or to finance expansion and growth) (Wurgler, 2000). It also provides the lenders a platform to channel their surplus funds in productive way (such as financial institutions that have excess funds to lend on short term and long term basis), facilitates credit creation (usually done by commercial banks through issuance of loans), provides liquidity to institutions and government organizations and promotes savings culture (the commercial banks provides financial savings services) In Qatar, the financial market is controlled by Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). This is the serves as the state’s sovereign wealth fund that specializes in both local and international investments. Usually QIA manages the financial surpluses from oil and natural gas companies (which run into millions of dollars) Additionally, Qatar Holding, a branch of QIA that is in charge of international investment, receives more than $30 billion from the state. These funds are invested internationally in Europe, Asia Pacific, and United states It is estimated that QIA has assets worth over $170 billion (Hall, Kerr & Hammond, 2013). This value is expected to increase as the country continues to invest in expansion

The Social Contract of John Locke Essay Example for Free

The Social Contract of John Locke Essay Introduction The concept of the social contract comes from Socrates, as described by Plato in Crito. â€Å"Then the laws will say: ‘Consider, Socrates, if we are speaking truly that in your present attempt you are going to do us an injury. For, having brought you into the world, and nurtured and educated you, and given you and every other citizen a share in every good which we had to give, we further proclaim to any Athenian by the liberty which we allow him, that if he does not like us when he has become of age and has seen the ways of the city, and made our acquaintance, he may go where he pleases and take his goods with him. None of us laws will forbid him or interfere with him. Anyone who does not like us and the city, and who wants to emigrate to a colony or to any other city, may go where he likes, retaining his property. But he who has experience of the manner in which we order justice and administer the state, and still remains, has entered into an implied contract that he will do as we commend him. And he who disobeys us is, as we maintain, thrice wrong; first, because in disobeying us he is disobeying his parents; secondly, because we are the authors of his education; thirdly, because he has made an agreement with us that he will duly obey our commands; and he neither obeys them nor convinces us that our commands are unjust; and we do not rudely impose them, but give him the alternative of obeying or convincing us;—that is what we offer, and he does neither (Philosophy, 2011).† According to social contract theory (SCT), morality consists in the set of rules governing behavior that rational people would accept, on condition that others accept them as well (Kary, 2000). There are several implications of SCT. These implications are things that are necessary for the survival of any society (Kary, 2000). 1. Protection of life and property. This will create the need for a police force. So as to insure that murders, assault, theft and vandalism crimes are not committed. 2. Rules that would be needed to secure the benefits of social living. This is creating consequences for the breaking of contracts (e.g. promises) and a general requirement of truth-telling. 3. Protection of society against outside threats. This implication creates the need for an army. 4. Other  important stuff – these are things that are arguably, should be a part of the social contract (i.e. it would be in everyone’s interest to have them include (Kary, 2000). The caveat to that is, a society might be able to survive (if not thrive) without them. The author will discuss the different theories but more specifically John Locke’s social contract theory and how it relates to the criminal justice system and security agents. Four Main Social Contract Theories There are four critical social contract theories that the author will discuss, compare and contrast. They are: consent of the governed, natural law and constitutionalism, tacit consent and voluntarism. Consent of the Governed â€Å"Consent of the governed† is a phrase from the United States Declaration of Independence. It is synonymous with a political theory wherein a government’s legitimacy and moral right to use state power is only justified and legal when derived from the people or society over which the political power is exercised (Bookman, 1984). This theory of â€Å"consent† is historically contrasted to the divine right of kings and has often been invoked against the legitimacy of colonialism (Bookman, 1984). There are several types of consent: unanimous consent, hypothetical consent and overt versus tacit consent (Bookman, 1984). The details of each type of consent are not discussed in this project, but are mentioned so that the reader is aware that they exist. Natural law and Constitutionalism Natural law is a law or body of laws that derives from nature and is believed to be binding upon human actions apart from or in conjunction with laws established by human authority. Constitutionalism in its simplest form is â€Å"a complex of ideas, attitudes, and patterns of behavior elaborating the principle that the authority of government derives from and is limited by a body of fundamental law. Tacit Consent. The (law) tacit is passive approval of someone’s wrongdoing. Also it is also described as secret approval or connivance. Another way of saying this is  when one does not actually state their agreement, but does not raise any objection (in voice or in writing) to a certain course of action (i.e.; by standing mute). Voluntarism. Voluntarism is use of or reliance on voluntary action to maintain an institution, carry out a policy, or achieve an end. It is also a theory or doctrine that regards the will as the fundamental principle of the individual or the universe rather than the intellect as the fundamental agency or principle in human activities and experience. John Locke’s Social Contract Theory Social Contract Theory. Social contract is the convention between men that aims to discard the state of nature. Under state of nature people live without government or written laws. People live under principles of justice that all normal people can see through reason, they include right to life, liberty and estates. Most people seek to follow these principles but the problem is lack of explicit written laws that leads to uncertainty and difficulty to resolve disputes (Nyamaka, 2011). Nyamaka (2011) discusses the solution to the problems under state of nature becomes a social contract where people agree to obey the state, let the state make and enforce laws and people pay the state for its services. The state sets up legislatures, impartial judges and enforcers. Within this agreement the government’s duty is to protect everyone’s rights and if the government violates the social contract, people may overthrow it (Nyamaka, 2011). There are two fundamental ideas that are expressed in the social contract in which the human mind always clings the value of liberty; the idea that â€Å"will† and not force is the basis of government; and the value of justice or the idea that â€Å"right† and not â€Å"might† is the basis of all political society and every system of political order. Key Principles Now in looking at social contract theory through the reasoning eyes of John Locke’s we find that he argued that sovereignty resided in the people for whom governments were trustees and that such government could be legitimately overthrown if they failed to discharge their functions to the people (Nyamaka, 2011). Locke worked to erect effective safeguards against  violations of natural law by the government. He consistently voiced the idea that sovereign did not take all rights; the principle rights remained with the people. Locke also argued that sovereignty did not reside in the state (government) but with the people, and that the state was supreme, but only if it was bound by civil and natural law (Kary, 2000). It is to be noted that Locke believed in the governed as the basis of sovereignty and the state of the guarantor of individuals’ liberty. It needs to be understood that to Locke, under social contract power was surrendered not to the sovereign but to the comm unity. He said, â€Å"there and there only was a political society where everyone in the society had quitted his natural power, resigned it up into the hands of the community† (Nyamaka, 2011). In using the â€Å"there and there only†, Locke was emphasizing the importance of the WILL of the people in forming a political society (Nyamaka, 2011). In this society/community every member surrendered his/her natural power with free will explicitly or implicitly and resigned it in the hands of the community in exchange for the discharge of functions to the people, therefore a political society becomes with power to preserve property and punish offences (Kary, 2000). Moving through this process the author will now look at how John Locke’s theory relates to the Bill of Rights. The U.S. Bill of Rights. In looking at John Locke’s social contract theory, one sees in this process that the power cannot be more than that of the people or more than the power that the people had in a state of nature before they entered into a society and gave it to the community for nobody can give more than what he/she has. In looking at John Locke’s explanation of the term community signifies the government of the people by the people for the people, understanding this means that community rights will/should prevail over individual rights and the rights are surrendered in to community because the sovereign is the people and only comes for the people. Hence, hands of the community mean the governor who is governing by the WILL of the people (Nyamaka, 2011). Criminal Justice System and Security Settings The social contract theory established the written law of the people, constituting the fundamental goods and evils according to agreed morals.  Though Locke’s ideals of liberty were primitive in the seventeenth century, creating a contract to govern due process was the foundation for the government statues. Locke’s influence for a fair and consistent government is present with the Constitution of the law. The greater good of the community was intended with the written set of rules to govern society’s checks and balance of power by political absolutism.  Some would or may say that Locke’s theory was flawed in the seventeenth century; it enlightened the idea of a legislative body for the people and introducing the importance of a written rule of law to create a contract for society to maintain an ordered and structured means of living. Personal Rights and Ethical Standards and Obligation Personal rights are the rights that a person has over their own body. Among personal rights are associated rights to protect and safeguard the body, most obviously protected by the torts of assault and battery. Ethical standards are a type of moral philosophy. They are simply defined as principles that promote values such as good behavior, fairness, kindness and trust. Obligation is the act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie (Jackson, 2002). When it comes to social contract theory one will in some way give up some of their rights and lower their ethical standards so as to feel some level of safety within the community that they live (Jackson, 2002). Conclusion In conclusion, it is important to recognize that although individuals have a right of self-defense in the of nature, when they enter into society under the social contract, the pooling of that right transforms it into a duty to defend the community, and therefore to risk or sacrifice one’s life, liberty, or property if such defense should require it (Shankman, 2004). References Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. (2004, October 15). Retrieved 08 09, 2013, from lep.utm.edu: http://www.iep.utm.edu/soc-cont/#SH3b. Bookman, J. T. (1984). Lockes Contract: Would people consent to it. American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 357-68. Cook, V. (2000, August 26). Epicurus. Retrieved 08 09, 2013, from www.epicurus.net: http://www.epicurus.net/en/principal.html. Jackson, A. (2002). Science of Ethics. Retrieved from Arthur M. Jackson: http://www.arthurmjackson.com/Mentor.html. Kary, J. (2000). Contract Law and the Social Contract: What Legal History Can Teach Us About the Political Theory Hobbes and Locke. 31 Ottawa Law Review 73. Nyamaka, D. M. (2011). Social Contract Theory of John Locke (1632-1740) In the Contemporary World. Selected Works, 1-15. Philosophy, S. E. (2011, January 20). Standford Enclyclopedia of Philosopy. Retrieved from Standford.Edu: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/contractarianism/#3. Shankman, K. (2004). Natural Law Constitutionlism and the Culture of Death. Catholic Social Science Review, 61-79. Skinner, Q. (1978). The Foundations of Modern Political Thought: Volume 2: The Age of the Reformation (Vol. 2). Cambridge: Cambridge University.

Introduction To Trade Union

Introduction To Trade Union According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO) there are around 535,500 employees on the Mauritian labour market in the first quarter of 2012. These workers are the human resource of our country and they deserved to be treated as valuable asset. However, in our lucrative oriented era, where the pursuit of profit triumph over the human rights and freedom of these workers. Hundreds of workers have no say in their working conditions; many are helpless in front of the managerial level, others are intimidated, or dismissed when their basic objective is to prone the human rights of freedom of association, collective bargaining and industrial democracy. On this basis, it has been none a coincidence to perceive the rise of trade union movements and understood that these movements had been on a perpetual alert and are continually fighting for their members to make the human right prevail before profits. The history of Trade Unions is a history of struggles for greater social justice and against tyranny, both in societies and at the workplace. The need for Trade Union in our country begun with the Industrial Revolution, where the rise of factories and the deskilling of labour led to workers seeking security through collective bargaining agreements. Trade Unions in Mauritius operate within the framework of the Industrial Relation Act 1973 (IRA). Of course, these trade unions around the country have the same purpose and objectives which is the welfare of the workers. Haniff Peerun the president of MLC confederation told us that: Mauritius Labour Congress being a Confederation always sees to it that all labour laws are respected and that all workers rights are respected. On the same basis, Mr X leader of the National Trade Union Congress told us that; the role of his organisation is to help promote and protect the rights of workers in the country. Trade unions give employees a number of important privileges that they would not otherwise possess as individuals. This is the reason why trade unions need to safeguard that their determinations to defend their labours match the efforts of managers looking to destabilise the employees. In addition, psychological contract and employers- employees relationship is also taken into consideration, by helping in the flow of communication as well as renegotiation through collective bargaining. 1.2 Aims and objectives This investigation will focus on the role and responsibilities of Trade Union movements in our country and the extent to which they are efficient and effective in both the public and private sector. The four specific objectives of this study are: Evaluate the perception of usefulness of trade unions as well as its accessibility in private sector as well as public sector. Assessing the employees intention to rely on Trade Unions and measure the gauge of satisfaction in a Unions member perspective Investigate the methods used by the Trade Union movement to negotiate better working conditions, for negotiation, leadership and securing economic benefits. Finding out how the Trade Union deal with certain crisis that arises in the workplace and the concrete involvement of the Trade Unions for their members 1.3 Background of study Mauritian development promises to promote standards of living for its population by bringing about a greater productivity through the diffusion of technological innovation as well as updated methods in exploiting equipment and the human resources, superior specialization, enhanced access to credit and capital as well as cheaper goods and services. At the same time, policies, laws and acts were amended for the welfare of the citizen, for instance the Industrial Relation Act 1973 or employment rights act 2008. However with the sole vision of making the country a world- wise competitive one, little importance is given to the concrete implementation of those laws on a daily basis. On that basis, Trade Union movements were launched in Mauritius, so as to voice out the workers rights. The chief target of the project is to identify the effectiveness of the roles and responsibilities of trade unions in our Mauritian system. It briefly examines the evolution of these movements in the country, by going back on their very start. In addition, a highlight of the intervention of the Trade Unions in our various sectors and how their concrete actions contribute to their members. The document will also enlighten the functions and importance of trade union in the Mauritian context as well as providing reasons to enrol as a Trade Union member. Analyzing the different challenges face by the Trade Unions such as the recent PRB issue, Labour laws, decent work, living condition among others, in the point of view of the trade unions, federation and confederation.Comparing the old managerial style to the new one, the paper will also bring emphasis on why the popularity of Trade Union has diminished. An overview of the future role of trade union will be discussed in order to see if t hese movements will resist the major changes of globalization as well as financial crisis. As a group of students, we implemented a top-down, quantitative approach to our research, which allowed us to analyse the various roles of trade unions in Mauritius, as this was considered the most appropriate method for studying the topic; we evaluated the hierarchy of trade union; Confederation, federation and finally Trade Unions. We identified the Mauritius Labour Congress as the main Confederation, the National Trade Union Congress and the Mauritius trade Union labour as federation and various other trade unions which are affiliated to the federation. Adhering to the concept of interviews and surveys, our observations were pooled to provide a broader and more precise representation than that provided by a sole investigation technique. Chapter 2: Roles and Responsibilities of Trade Union 2.1 Definition of Trade Union Trade Union is defined in the Employment Relations Act 2008 as an association of persons, whether registered or not, having as one of its objects the regulation of employment relations between workers and employers The Trade Union or Labour Union movement is a continuous and voluntary association whose membership comprises of salary earners, employees and union leaders. Those members have bonded together motivated by a simple motto Unity makes strength. Workers will therefore utilise trade unions as their representative voice when dealing with employers or on the board of directions. Independently, the workers do not bear the power to defy the top management. Therefore they grouped and seek to institute their terms and conditions of employments. When they realised that negotiating as an individual, the manager would be more powerful, due to the fact that an individual would not matter as much a group in regard of running an organisation. According to Cunnison, Trade Union is a monopolistic combination of wage earners who stand to the employers in a relation of dependence for the sale of their labour and even for the production, and that the general purpose of the association in view of that dependence is to strengthen their power to bargain with the employers The main role of trade union is to ensure the welfare of its members such as safeguarding the interests of its members, protecting the reliability of its trade, achieving higher wages by securing economic benefits. It also optimises the working conditions at the workplace and guarantees a job security while protecting members against unfair dismissal at workplace. Through its leadership, trade union engages in collective bargaining, whereby labour contracts are negotiated with the employers. Also it acts as a recruiting manager, the Union leaders interfere with the recruitment and selection of the company, its intention is to maximise the number of employees an employer can hire. 2.2 Hierarchy of Trade Unions There is a hierarchy in Unions, we had identified; the confederation, the federations and the trade unions. Regarding the confederation, there are one main which is Mauritius Labour Congress and it is affiliated to the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU).In the category of federation there are; National Trade Union Confederation (NTUC) which is affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the Mauritius Trade Union Congress (MTUC). Finally, the trade unions which are affiliated to the NTUC; The Federation of Civil Service Unions, Federation of Progressive Unions, Federation des Travailleurs Unis, Confederation Mauriciennes des Travailleurs, General Workers Federation and Federation of Free Workers. Confederation: The Mauritius Labour Congress The MLC is the largest registered and recognized central organization of workers in the country. It was created in 1963 from a merger of the Mauritius Trade Union Congress and the Mauritius Confederation of Free Trade Unions. It represents over 45,000 members through its 56 affiliates, which directly and indirectly covers 125 individual trade unions. The MLC was the unique national confederation affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) representing workers from practically all sectors such as Sugar Industry, Civil/Public Service, Para-statal Bodies, Aviation, Docks, Banking, Insurance, Tea, Transport, Hotel and Tourism, EPZ, Local Authorities and the private sector. We had an interview with Mr Haniff Peerun, the president of the confederation who told us that the vision of the organisation was to defend the rights of workers on the labour market. According to him, the aim and objectives of his trade union were: Adequate salary compensation to be paid to workers Make proposal to the government on budget To train the trade union members and affiliates To raise their voice whenever the rights of workers and consumers are at stake. Federation: The National Trade Union Confederation The National Trade Unions Confederation (NTUC) is a national trade union center in Mauritius and is affiliated with the Confederation. Which have two primary affiliates in the name of Federation of Civil Service Unions, and the Organization of Artisans Unity. It is composed of 20 members who represent all categories of workers within the public sector and its members are organised in branches, each branches having an executive committee, consisting of a president, secretary and a treasurer. The Vision of the confederation which has been identified after an interview with the leader of the organisation came out to be: To be a respected partner and a reference in trade unionism To be at the forefront of change, leadership and sound industrial relations. Moreover, according to him the aim and objectives of the Union are: Our main objective is to maintain mobilisation of our members and also organise those whom we represent. We also aim to help to make the public service more responsive to the needs of the people : Mauritius Trade Union Congress (MTUC) The Mauritius Trade Union Congress (MTUC) is a national trade union center in Mauritius affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation. It was founded by Emmanuel Anquetil in 1946. It comprises of 29,000 members and is have Mr Dewan Quedou as president. 2.3 Structure of Trade Union The trade unions structure is divided into several parts, namely: The Annual Delegates Congress It is the authority which governs the federation. The Executive Council It comprises of one representative of each affiliates which is usually the secretary or the president and the Bureau members and two observers per affiliates. Once every two months they conduct meeting regarding applications for affiliates from trade unions and affiliation of the Federation to any local, regional or international organisation promoting the interest of the workers and to discuss disagreements between different affiliates. Meeting can be scheduled on the demand of the President or the Bureau or of the members of the Executive Council too. The Bureau It comprises of the President, the General Secretary and the eight elected members. Among them, one is the 1st Vice president and another is the 2nd vice president, a 3rd as Assistant Treasurer and a fourth one who is the organising secretary. President He represents the Federation and he is the spokesman of the federation. General secretary The General Secretary arranges meetings and draw up the minutes of the meeting. Along with the General Secretary, Deputy General Secretary and the Assistant General make up the Secretariat of Federation. Treasurer He is in charge of the accounts of the federation. Organising Secretary He is in charge of organising events like training sessions, seminars, workshop among others. Public Relation Officer He deals with the media for conferences, coverage, reports and other information that will be published by the media. 2.4 Nature and Scope of Trade Union The existence of an influential and recognised trade union is a pre-requisite to the industrial development pace of the country. With modernization in different sectors and the formation of new one such as the technological one as well as the tourism sector, human resources were required. However, mistreatment of the Mauritian labour force appears. This is where the trade union emerged; they ensured that the human rights of their members are respect as per the laws and the constitution. Trade Unions are currently considered as a sub-system which attends a precise sub-groups interest. When defending a particular sector they consider themselves as an integral part of the organisation in respect to the feasibility, growth and development of the community of which they formed part of. The influence of Trade Unions is of key importance for their members in the following ways: First, they are more effective and efficient when the need of negotiation is required between employers and employees by attempting to create a win-win situation. They facilitate the flow of communication between workers and the management, by providing the guidance and support to both of them. The Union leaders will seek a health and safety in the working environment. In addition, they also act as an educational institution; they provide different types of courses to their members. They also accelerate the pace of economic development for instance; they act as a recruiting and selecting agent for the unemployed workers, managing conflicts in the organisation, inculcating corporate social responsibilities to the members among others. 2.5 Objectives of trade unions. The main body of a trade union usually consists of individual workers, sometimes professionals and past workers. Their primary aim is to ensure that the employment conditions of employees are respected and that fair working conditions are offered. However, trade unions also engage in issues like: Negotiation One of the main targets of trade unions is to negotiate with employers about the matters affecting their members and other employees at work. If a union is formally recognised by an employer, it can negotiate with the employer over terms and conditions. These negotiations are commonly known as collective bargaining. Any trade union works to protect and advance the interests of its members. One of the ways it achieves this is by collectively bargaining with employers about the pay and conditions under which its members work. The negotiation process normally deals with matters such as working rules and regulations, complaint procedures, hiring principle, dismissing or promoting employees, workplace safety and policies etc. Some trade unions even have the power to negotiate rates of pay, bonuses for target achievement, employment conditions and job descriptions on behalf of the employees. For collective bargaining to be effective, unions and employers need to agree on how the arrangement is to operate. The objective of that collective bargaining or negotiation process is to settle with a mutual agreement also known as collective agreement between the management and the trade union. Representing Body Employees and other workers have the right to be accompanied at a disciplinary or grievance hearing. They can either choose a co-worker or a union representative. Often, the union representative, will be a workplace representative who is also a co-worker and will support the employee on the board meeting. Information and Advice If someone forms part of a union he/she can also ask them for advice. Unions are experts at solving problems at work. Trade unions provide staff with information, advice and guidance about any work related problems. Member Service Trade unions provide its members with a variety of services such as training, insurance, financial assistance and legal advices, sickness benefits, education facilities in some cases, guarantee of satisfactory work conditions in areas such as health and safety as well as equal opportunities. Voice in decision affecting Workers Trade unions act as a spokesperson for the staff. When matters concerning an individual employee or a group of workers arise, the trade unions job is to voice out the problem in order to negotiate for a solution. In case no agreement is settled or respected, the trade union members may enforce strikes or resistance to lockouts. They can also intervene in order to resist schemes of the management which reduce employment, e.g. restructuring and automation 2.6 Types of Trade Union Craft or Occupation Union. This type of union was the earliest type developed, it comprised of employees of a particular craft or skill regardless of place of work. The advantage of craft unionism is the sense of solidarity, as there is a feeling of common interest between the members. In addition, as this union bears skilled workers, they have a good economic position for collective bargaining. On the other side, more and more new mechanical devices were being developed, the need for large numbers of skilled workers decreased. One- Shop Union or House Union The one-shop union organizes all workers in the same establishment or factory. This type of union has the advantage of being relatively easy to organize because all workers share a common goal in securing a good collective agreement for their particular factory. However, as it is small, it has little bargaining power and it is easily dominated by management. Common Employer Union. The common employer union is basically the same except that it organizes across establishments owned by the same employer. It suffers from basically the same disadvantages as a one-shop union. 2.7 Characteristic of Trade Union Trade unions have shown remarkable progress since their inception in Mauritius and as the union is an essential and dynamic aspect of the society it bears special characteristics such as: Trade Union come together for common goals and interest The members have some materials of collective interest such as improving working conditions, better wages, benefits, job security among others. The trade unions have the right to contest a managerial decision, if they considered that their members are at risk with the outcome. Trade Union is an association of workers and salary earners: Unions are essentially a cooperative labour marketing association whose aim is to safeguard human rights on one or more labour market. In addition, they also bear a hand in the progress of the society, cultural interest and political views of its members. Trade unions have been implemented so as each sector of the working class bear a specific union. Mauritius therefore bears different Union association such as: Agricultural Research Extension Unit (AREU) Mauritius Labour Congress (MLC) Mauritius Trade Union Congress (MTUC) National Trade Union Confederation (NTUC) Trade Unions are basically voluntary organizations: Members of any trade union are voluntary in nature. They are completely free to become a member of a Trade Union or not; none is constrained to subscribe to a Trade Union. If any individual is forced to join a Union, the very essence of trade of trade unionism is defeated. Unions are egalitarian bodies: The Unions are self-governed; this is the reason why they can effectively act in our society. The union leaders are voted by the members and perform as per the Trade Union Act. The Trade Union is a continuous association Union is not a daily affair. In order to work effectively for their adherents they ask a long term membership Constant evolution in the characteristic of Trade Union With this dynamic era, the union continually update their techniques and amend their work. With new complications in the workplace, the unions need to find infinite approaches so as to serve the union members. Rapport with the Management: The unions have the responsibility to improve the employers and employees relationship. They go through the process of negotiation and collective bargaining with the direction of the members organisation concerning their problems. In so doing, the employer and employee relationship is enriched and enhance the quality and welfare of the employees. 2.8 Functions of Trade Unions Broadly speaking, trade unions perform two types of functions: Militant Function Amongst the various activities performed by trade unions is the betterment of the position of their members in relation to their employment. The aim of such activities is to ensure that all the clauses of the hiring and psychological contract are respected. When the union fails to accomplish these aims through collective bargaining and negotiation, in extreme conditions they adopt drastic measures in the form of go-slow, strike, boycott, work sabotage etc. to make the management react and reconsider their requests. Hence, these functions of the trade unions are known as militant or fighting functions. Fraternal Function Another actions performed by trade unions are to provide help to its members in needy times, and improving their efficiency. Trade unions try to nurture a spirit of cooperation, mutual aid and promote friendly relationships and sharing of knowledge and culture among their colleagues. In some cases, they also arrange for legal assistance. Besides, these, they undertake many welfare measures for their members, e.g., school for the education of children, library, reading-rooms, in-door and out-door games, and other recreational facilities. These activities, which may be called fraternal functions, obviously depend on the availability of funds, which the unions raise by subscription from members and donations from outsiders, and also on their competent and enlightened leadership. Another broad classification of the functions of unions may be as follows: Intra-mural activities: These deals with whatever happens on the site of work and has direct impact on employees e.g. wages, strikesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Extra-mural activities: These activities help the employees to maintain and improve their efficiency or productivity e.g., methods intended to foster a spirit of cooperation, promote friendly relationsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Political activities: Modern trade unions also take up political activities to achieve their objectives. Such activities may be related to the formation of a political party or those reflecting an attempt to seek influence on public policy relating to matters connected with the interests of working class Other Functions Trade unions have a number of functions, one more important than the other depending on the situations; however the five main general principles developed have been: The service function The representative function The regulatory function The government function The public administration function The service function This involves the delivery of services and assistance to the union members. The representative function This implies that the trade union will act like a delegate for the members at the workplace. The regulatory function This enables trade unions to actively participate in rule-making over the workplace. This can be done either: directly multi-employer collective bargaining e.g. through the Joint Industrial Council Or indirectly through regulatory legislation The government and public administration function Trade unions engage with the government to assure that they can accomplish their respective function within the law. Trade unions also play an important role in: improving bottom-up communication in order to increase commitment of employees in meeting the organizations objectives negotiating improvements to pay and working conditions to retain the people encouraging companies to invest in training and development for better performance and personal as well as professional development of employees acting as a positive change agent thus gaining employees support for the smooth running of the organization Protecting the interests of employees by taking active participation in the management. safeguarding organizational stability, growth, and leadership Chapter 3: Trade Union at Work 3.1 Need for trade Union Trade Unions contribute much in the industrial peace; they are required for different purpose such as effective communication between employees and employers as they are the mediator between them. They also make sure that the divergence of opinions is taken into consideration and of course do not turn out into conflicts. They also bear a great responsibility in safeguarding the interests of their members. They are the protector, the counseling, the mediator, coach, and keep an eye on the environment in which their members evolves every day seeking a healthy and safe working place. Reasons why Trade Union is useful at work: Trade unions aid to enhance the pace of economic growth in many ways; through the recruitment and selection of workers instructing discipline among the workforce Trying to inculcate the organisation culture of the organisation to the new employee settling industrial clashes in a rational manner helping in social adjustments: new working conditions, abiding to new rules and policies Trade unions are a portion of society and are concern with the national integration: Encouraging and preserving national integration through the minimization of industrial conflicts. Incorporating a sense of corporate social responsibility in workers Attaining industrial peace To ensure job security and right pay for the members: One of the main reasons why the employee decides to join a union is principally for security, especially in the private sector where people are unsure of their job position. Employees desire to get paid according to their qualifications and skills. To express the complaints of employees to the managerial level: Though some employees do have grievance again the employers, they do not convey their thoughts as they fear of getting dismissed Employees do not like to be subjected to arbitrary and capricious actions by management. When difficult situation happens, employees may notice that they have little or no influence in job-related matters, thus becoming prime targets for unionization Facilitate the flow of communication between employers and employees Enhance the employer and employee relations Facilitate decisions making through the process of collective bargaining and negotiations 3.2 Reason for joining a Trade Union Individuals in various sectors of Mauritius choose to join a union in order to protect by the laws and regulations which abide the union. They might have different reasons joining and these reasons will tend to change over time. At the start of ones career, the main reason is for job security and working conditions, and when having experience it is for a better salary or benefits. Remember that independently, the workers do not bear the power to defy the top management. Therefore they grouped in order to make Unity stand still in front of managers. Other reasons can involve dissatisfaction with management, need for a social outlet, opportunity for leadership, forced unionization and peer pressure. Other important reasons for joining trade union: Greater Bargaining Power: As said before, when trying to bargain alone, the employee will not make the difference but if the whole organisation voices out it will me more tangible; a Strike by a union is a powerful tool that often causes the employer to accept the demands of the workers for better conditions of employment. Minimize Discrimination in decisions concerning wages, working conditions, promotion among others. There might be favouritisms if the manager appreciates more one employee than another. Discrimination can arise in term of racism, culture, religion, gender, origins and names. Sense of Security: employees join unions so as to have adequate security in term of accidents, injury, illness, unemployment, but also obtaining; retirement benefits and compelling the management to invest in welfare services for the benefit of the workers. Sense of Participation: so as to be involved in the decision- making of the organisation and influence the results through collective bargaining. Sense of Belongingness: some join because their co-mates are members others under group pressure. This may be an aspect of respect for those who are not members. Platform for self-expression: the workers want to be taken into consideration by the managerial level. Thus Trade unions provide such a forum to convey feelings, ideas, complaints and opinions. Betterment of relationships; workers believe that unions can satisfy the main need for suitable equipment for proper maintenance of employer-employee relations. Unions help in betterment of industrial relations among management and workers by solving the problems peacefully. 3.3 Pros and Cons of Trade Union Advantages of Trade Union Trade Union can increase the salary of its members as well as benefit through negotiation. Represent the workers in front of the employers and society Protect against exploitation Uphold health and safety legislation Trades unions can give representation to workers facing legal action. Can voice out for better working conditions Ask for training, learning and development of knowledge, skills and abilities Build the employee and employer