As discussed on https://www.fedee.com/ article Trade Union Trends Across The World. “Over the last twenty five years there has been a widespread decline in trade union membership throughout most of western Europe. Since the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, unionisation in many eastern European states has collapsed at an even more dramatic rate. In Poland, for example, today’s 13 % level of unionisation is in marked contrast to that of the Soviet-controlled era, when almost all workplaces were unionised. Most of those who remain trade union members in Poland work for former state-owned companies.

In only 8 out of the current 27 member states of the European Union (EU) are more than half of the employed population members of a trade union. In fact, the EU’s four most populated states all have modest levels of unionisation, with Italy at 37%, the UK 25%, Germany 18% and France at only 8%.

 
And in the "The Weakening State of Labour Unions” article by Janet McFarland, The Globe and Mail. “Although four million Canadians are members of unions, organized labour is nonetheless facing shrinking coverage across Canada's work force. Unions are coping with growing pressure from employers and governments to accept wage freezes and reduced benefits, while they are also being asked to become active partners in boosting company productivity and improving work processes. Labour leaders are confronting growing hostility about their role from both governments and broad swaths of the non-unionized public. In this difficult and complex climate, we talked to leaders in labour, business and education about their take on the challenges and new roles facing unions this Labour Day.” https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/the-weakening-state-of-canadian-labour-unions/article4515873/
 

b. I used to work for a municipal government, in another province, and I had to pay union dues and was automatically a member of the local union for public employees. I thought this would afford me some protection and shield me from the bully behaviour and poisoned work environment in which I found myself. As the situation worsened and attempts to solve the situation on our own were ignored or met with further bullying, the hope was that the union would be able to represent our concerns and issues to management and effect some short term and long-term changes.  However, to make a 3-year long story short, nothing changed. I eventually went on a leave of absence because of anxiety and stress caused by the work conditions. I was extremely disappointed with the unions ineffectiveness and inability to make any changes for the better for any of us. I don’t believe that I was being bullied or treated badly because of my gender. I believe the threat was because there was little understanding or respect for the job that we were doing. However, I don’t think this different from what many people experience in other countries where management of public service workers set a hostile and derogatory tone .

 

 

c. I found it very interesting that South American countries and Asian countries have had slight increases to union memberships. “Whilst trade union membership has declined in Europe and North America it has tended to grow in a number of other regions. Running with this trend have been Brazil (stable since 2006). New Zealand (stable since 2004), South Africa (stable since 1999), Australia (since 2010), Costa Rica (since 2001), India (since 2004), South Korea (since 2005), Syria (since 2000), Chile, Columbia, (slight increase), and China, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan (longer term major increases). Figures are also highly erratic for Peru – but an increase seems to have taken place since 2002. Many of the regions where trade unionism has grown have been production centres for outsourced goods and services. As the supply of available skilled labour in Asia and South America declines workers have begun to assert their economic power. The is been strengthened by improvements in communications via the social media – which have made it much easier to organize industrial action. This has become such a problem that China has been forced to introduce legal restrictions on “the use of the Internet to disturb social order”.” https://www.fedee.com/ . What I find most interesting is how the internet, social media and other communications are making these movements possible, and I find it quite scary how some governments actively pursue ways to disable communications to disrupt people coming together and having a voice.

 

d. I am most likely to remember, that, despite hundreds and thousands of people who want to effect positive changes to their lives and the lives of others, profits are still what most companies are interested. Wages are usually consider a company’s “biggest cost” and with that company’s do not see the value of the wage earners work, ongoing contribution and mentoring potential.