Explain any three weapons that can be used by a trade union and any two weapons that can be used by an Employers' Association during a trade dispute.

Answer Details

During a trade dispute both sides have industrial weapons they can use to force the other to concede.

Three weapons of a trade union

• Strike action: workers collectively and deliberately withdraw their labour and refuse to work until their demands are met. Because production stops and the employer loses output and revenue, the strike pressures management to negotiate.
• Collective bargaining: the union negotiates jointly on behalf of all members over wages and conditions. Bargaining as one body gives the workers far greater strength than any individual worker negotiating alone.
• Picketing: striking members stand at the entrance of the workplace to persuade other workers and suppliers not to enter or do business with the firm, thereby tightening the effect of the strike.

Other union weapons include the go-slow, work-to-rule, overtime ban and boycott.

Two weapons of an Employers' Association

• Lock-out: the employers shut the workplace and prevent workers from coming in to work, so that the loss of wages pressures the workers to accept the employers' terms.
• Dismissal or replacement of workers: the employers may lay off or sack the agitating workers and hire new hands, or refuse to re-employ ring-leaders (blacklisting), thereby weakening the union.