09-07-2012, 10:02 AM
Important Theories of Trade Unionism
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1. Political Revolutionary Theory of Labour Movement of Marx and Engels: This theory is based on Adam Smiths theory of labour value. Its short run purpose is to eliminate competition among labour, and the ultimate purpose is to overthrow capitalist businessman. Trade union is pure simple a class struggle, and proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains and they a world to win.
2. Webbs Theory of Industrial Democracy: Webb’s book ‘Industrial democracy’ is the Bible of trade unionism. According to Webb, trade unionism is an extension of democracy from political sphere to industrial sphere. Webb agreed with Marx that trade unionism is a class struggle and modern capitalist state is a transitional phase which will lead to democratic socialism. He considered collective bargaining as the process which strengthens labour.
3. Cole’s Theory of Union Control of Industry: Cole’s views are given in his book “World of Labour” 1913. His views are somewhere in between Webb and Marx. He agrees that unionism is class struggle and the ultimate is the control of industry by labour and not revolution as predicted by Marx.
4. Common’s Environment Theory: He was skeptical of generalisations and believed only that which could be proved by evidence. He agreed that collective bargaining was an instrument of class struggle, but he summarised that ultimately there will be partnership between employers and employees.
5. Mitchell’s Economic Protection Theory of Trade Unionism: Mitchell, a labour leader, completely rejected individual bargaining. According to him unions afford economic protection to.
6. Simons Theory of Monopolistic, anti-Democratic Trade Unionism: He denounced trade unionism as monopoly founded on violence. And he claimed monopoly power has no use save abuse.
7. Perlman’s Theory of the “Scarcity Consciousness” of Manual Workers: He rejected the idea of class consciousness as an explanation for the origin of the trade union movement but substituted it with what he called job consciousness.