A union is an association responsible for representing the interests and rights of workers in their companies and defend them from abuses of which they may be subjected.

Currently, in all democratic countries there is a law of freedom of association. This means that workers have the right of association and assembly.

History and the birth of trade unions

The origin of the union goes back to the Industrial Revolution, although fully aware of the labor movement does not arise until the nineteenth century. In this era highlighted names like those of Marx and Engels and events such as the creation of the International Association of Workers.

The association was established in London in 1864, was dissolved because of internal clashes between anarchists and Marxists. However, he returned to resurface in 1889 as the Second International.

In Spain the birth of their first majority union was in 1888 with the creation of UGT in the hands of Pablo Iglesias. Then came the CNT, anarchist union created in Barcelona in 1910. For its part, CCOO was born around 1960, although its legalization would not come until 1977.

Day of Workers

The symbol of the workers' movement is the International Day of Workers. It was established by the Second International in honor of some unionists murdered in Chicago on May 1, 1886 during their participation in a strike to claim the 8-hour working day.

This date is used today by the unions to protest in the streets demanding the improvement of their conditions and respect for their rights.

Types unions

The main classification can be done to the unions is depending on the kind of workers who provide their services:

·  Enterprise: uniting workers in the same company.

·  In interplant: bringing together workers from various companies or sectors.

·  Industrials: formed by workers in a given industry, regardless of the motion to play.

·  Corporate: uniting workers performing certain trades.

Main functions of trade unions

Among the main roles that trade unions should pay to workers are as follows:

·  Defending workers' rights.

·  Ensure compliance with the labor laws in force.

·  Denouncing the failure of the labor laws.

·  Inform workers.

·  To contribute to the training and equipping workers.

·  Advising or defend in legal proceedings to members.

Internal organization of unions

The unions are divided internally on territorial federations and unions, in order to better serve the needs of the various sectors and regional professionals:

·  Federations: uniting workers in a single sector within a generalist union federations such as the UGT and CCOO education, which provide services to all teachers.

·  The territorial unions: that the divisions are set by national unions Provinces or Communities. Thus, the Union territory of Andalusia is concerned by the oil sector, and yet the Asturias center of their concerns in mining.

Remarks

The unions also can be classified according to their membership or not of a political party. For example, in Spain there UGT and CCOO unions as dependent respectively PSOE and IU. Others, however, are independent of any political organization.