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The Lendosan Confederation has a substantial number of labour unions. They are divided into two basic types:
- Ordinary unions,
which have much the same role as they do in other countries: protecting
the rights and interests of their members, particularly when it comes
to employment disputes and other similar issues. In Lendosa, unions are
typically based around working-class occupations, particularly those
involving physical work.
- Guilds, which tend to cater to those professions which require a relatively high
level of training, such as doctors, engineers, and lawyers. A
modern Lendosan guild, in addition to providing the basic employment
advocacy function of a union, also serves its members in other ways.
Many offer their members subsidised training and professional
development courses, job-seeking assistance, insurance, and financial
services. They can also have a significant amount of political
influence.
Historically, the
division between unions and guilds was relatively clear-cut -
working-class occupations had unions, while educated professionals had
guilds. In recent years, the line has become somewhat blurred, however
- because guilds tend to have higher presstige and status, many unions
have reconstituted themselves as guilds, despite sometimes not meeting
the normal criteria. Some professions have a union and a guild existing
side by side.
Unions and guilds are usually registered with the government's Commerce
Section. While registration is not compulsory, it has distinct
advantages - in particular, it should be noted that only registered
unions and guilds gain the protections and rights conferred by Lendosan
employment law. Unions and guilds in Lendosa are not particularly
powerful, as compared to some countries - while employment law gives
substantial scope for union involvement, strikes and other such direct
action is usually problematic.
A list of particularly prominent unions are guilds is below. (Inclusion
on the list is an indication of public profile, rather than size).
- Architects' Guild
- Qualified architects. Has a special rolle under law, being responsible
for maintaining the register of qualified practitioners.
- Bankers' Guild
- Originally just bankers, but now includding accountants, economists,
and other professionals whose work involves money and finance.
- Doctors' Guild - Doctors and other medical professionals, including nurses and dentists.
- Drivers' Guild (formerly Drivers' Union) - Professional drivers of road vehicles, including trucks, buses, and taxis.
- Educators' Guild - Teachers and university professors.
- Engineer's Guild - Qualified engineers.
- Farmers' Union - Independent farmworkers (but not, on the whole, farm owners)
- Foresters' Union - Lumberjacks and other employees of the forestry industry.
- Lawyers' Guild
- Lawyers. Has a special role in the judiicial system, being responsible
for testing and approving qualified legal practitioners.
- Mariners' Guild (formerly Mariners' Union) - Sailors and ship officers.
- Miners' Union - Mineworkers.
- Newswriters' Guild - Journalists. Has legal responsibility for enforcing a code of ethics in the news media.
- Pilots' Guild - Airline pilots.
- Railworkers' Union - Any employee of the railways, including engine drivers, conductors, and track workers.
- Retailers' Guild - Mostly shop assistants and supermarket staff, but expanding into restaurant workers as well.
- Stevedores' Union - Dockworkers and other port employees.
