THE ROLE OF THE TRADE UNIONS IN THE CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY

Ovaj rad analizira utjecaj i djelovanje sindikata na nacionalnoj i na međunarodnoj razini. Una-toč važnoj ulozi koju su imali kroz povijest, sindikati su danas suočeni s negativnim trendom sindikaliziranosti posebice među mladom radnom snagom. Cilj ovog rada je približiti pozitivnu sliku o sindikatima kao organizacijama koje su unaprijedile život većine radnika, uz naglasak na to da su oni i dalje važni u životu ljudi. U prvome dijelu rada dan je povijesni pregled razvoja sindikata te sindikalnih prava i sloboda. Nadalje, objašnjena je njihova organizacijska struktura, te je naglašena važna uloga sindikalnog vođe kao čovjeka koji može, ukoliko posjeduje poželjne osobine, oživjeti sindikate i povećati njihovu brojnost. Sindikati se uz sve to suočavaju i s glo-balizacijom, koja ih je natjerala da šire granice svoga djelovanja izvan nacionalnih okvira ali i dovela do njihove nestabilnosti. Zbog toga su u neprestanom procesu učenja i prilagođavanja novim pojavama koje im ona donosi kako bi mogli ispuniti svoju glavnu i najvažniju svrhu – štititi radnike.This paper analyzes the impact and activity of trade unions at the national and international level. Despite the important role they have had throughout history, unions are now faced with a negative momentum of trade unionism, especially among the young workforce. The aim of this paper is to bring out a positive image of trade unions as organizations that have promoted the lives of most workers, also emphasising their importance in people's lives now that they are still important to people's lives. In the first part of the paper, there is a historical overview of trade unions and trade union rights and freedoms. Furthermore, their organizational structure has been explained, and the important role of a trade union leader is emphasized as a man who can, if he possesses desirable traits, revive trade unions and increase their number. Unions are also faced with globalization, which has led them to spread the boundaries of their actions ou-tside the national frameworks, but also to their instability. That is why they are in a continuous process of learning and adapting to the new phenomena that come to them to fulfill their main and most important purpose - to protect workers