Prospective Maltese Workers and Trade Union Values Literature review

Prospective Maltese Workers and Trade Union Values - Literature review Example Until 1964, Malta was under the colonial rule of the British Empire, and it is for this reason, that its trade union values even after gaining independence, tend to reflect the rules and values of UK. At present, Malta has one of the world’s highest national union membership densities, though without any regional distinctions, of a specific type. This is largely owing to the fact that the small size of the country and the associated membership base, have led most of the Maltese trade unions to feel that affiliations to a confederate structure, are not essential. The chief religion of the state, the Roman Catholic Church, also plays a major source of inspiration for the functioning of the various trade union organisations in this country. In this context, we will first examine the trade unions in general, their values, and relevance in the modern labour market scenario. 1.1 What are Trade unions, their values, and relevance in the modern industrial relations â€Å"Trade union means any organisation, whose membership consists of employees, which seek to organise and represent their interest birth in the workplace and society and, in particular, seeks to regulate their employment relationship through the direct process of collective bargaining with management† (Salaman, 1987). ... This kind of an alliance, which is based on social partnership values, have helped in the creation of a new dimension in the study of industrial relationships, which has made it possible for starting â€Å"social dialogue[s], and [forging] cooperative relationships between employers and unions† (McLaughlin, 2007, 9). The members in the social partnerships, within industrial relations, define and identify their own requirements within the framework of their democratic structures and elected heads, which are based on the nature of the specific problems that they face in their country of operation. These requirements must necessarily portray the scheme, preferences, and orientations of the members, which form a part of the social partnership values. Within trade union values, partnership aspires to be a â€Å"relationship of equals, based on mutual respect, trust and understanding, where diversity and differences are recognised and accepted† (ibid). A look at the Trade Uni on Principles within the Madrid charter (final) shows us that trade unions accept partnerships as ‘two-way’ alliance which is also a learning experience for all the concerned parties. Partnership is founded on resolutions for the preservation of solidarity and inter-organisational cooperation, and is based on values that are stable and mutual, while its functional principles relate to the safeguarding of the rights of employees, and the democratic organisations that represent these employees. According to the trade union values, when these organisations have access to public or government resources, they become accountable to the general public. In such