Who can join a union?
Anyone can, but a union must be predominantly composed of workers (Article 2). Q4: Do unions have a right to refuse membership? Yes. Unions are private voluntary associations, and have the right to exclude people. However, no exclusion can be based on considerations of race, religion, sex, family origin or creed (Article 5). Q5: What are the purposes of the Trade Union Law? To quote Article 1 of the Trade Union Law: The purposes of this law are to elevate the status of workers by promoting their being on equal standing with their employer in their bargaining with the employer, to protect the exercise by workers of autonomous self-organization…that they may carry out collective action…and to encourage the practice of collective bargaining… for the purpose of concluding collective agreements. This is a very strong statement of affirmative action on behalf of unions, whereby union activity is not just tolerated, but promoted as something desirable for society. We should know this law, and
