Types of Trade Unions

• Trade Unions can be categorized into different groups
• Below is a list of various trade unions and their descriptions:

Craft Unions

• Union representing workers who share the same skill-set or who perform identical tasks,
• these workers might be working in different industries; for example, electricians and plumbers.
• An example in Zimbabwe is the:
• Zimbabwe Catering & Hotel Workers’ Union (ZCHWU) and Zimbabwe Metal, Energy & Allied Workers’ Union (ZMEAWU)
• They were traditionally created to preserve jobs for members of their craft/skill
• This has changed with the continued rise in the use of technology

Industrial union

• These represent workers in the same industry regardless of their skill or profession or work they do
• An industry is any general business activity or commercial enterprise that can be isolated from others, such as the railway, manufacturing,tourism industry or the entertainment industry.
• This can include a union for drivers, teachers, caterers etc
• Examples include:
• Cement, Lime & Allied Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe (CLAWUZ)
• Zimbabwe Pulp & Paper Workers’ Union
• Zimbabwe Domestic & Allied Workers Union (ZDAWU)
• Zimbabwe Chemicals & Plastics Allied Workers’ Union and
• Zimbabwe Textile Workers Union (ZTWU)
• General Agriculture & Plantation Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe (GAPWUZ)

General Union

• Are broad ranging unions which represents workers from all industries and companies, rather than just one organisation or a particular sector, as in a craft union or industrial union
• Some are known as super unions which can be formed by a merger of various unions to overlook the welfare of all workers
• These are also known as federation unions
• An example is the :
• Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU)
• Commercial Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe

Occupational Unions

• Occupational Unions represent a particular occupation or group
• For example teachers, police, fire fighters etc
• Zimbabwean Examples include:
• Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA)
• Zimbabwe Union of Journalists
• Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ)

White-collar unions

• These represent non-manual occupations for example teaching, banking etc
• Examples include:
• Zimbabwe Banks & Allied Workers’ Union (ZIBAWU)
• Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA)

NB As clearly demonstrated  trade unions can fit in more than one group.

To access more topics go to the O Level Business Notes