Syllabus: Cambridge - IGCSE Business Studies
Module: 2.2 Organisation and Management
Lesson: 2.2.4 Trade Unions

Introduction

This article supports the delivery of Cambridge IGCSE Business Studies (0450), specifically section 2.2.4 Trade Unions within Unit 2: Organisation and Management. As outlined in the , students are expected to understand the role of trade unions in protecting workers’ interests, how they engage in negotiations, and how they affect employer-employee relations.

The topic sits at the intersection of business theory and workplace reality, making it ideal for fostering both commercial awareness and workplace readiness. It also connects directly to Gatsby Benchmark 4, by linking curriculum content to career understanding, and Benchmark 5, through opportunities to explore real-world employer relations.

Key Concepts

According to the Cambridge IGCSE specification, students should be able to:

• Define trade unions and explain their main objectives.

• Understand how trade unions support employees, including negotiation over pay, working conditions, and grievance procedures.

• Analyse advantages and disadvantages of trade unions for both employees and employers.

• Explore methods used by trade unions, such as collective bargaining, industrial action, and legal channels.

• Assess the impact of trade union activity on business operations, productivity, and employee morale.

This content supports deeper thinking about employer-employee relationships, and links directly to human resource management practices in the real world.

Real-World Relevance

Trade unions have played a central role in shaping employment laws and workplace practices globally. Recent examples include:

• The UK junior doctors’ strikes (2023–2024), where the British Medical Association (BMA) negotiated for better pay and working conditions, illustrating collective bargaining in action.

• Amazon warehouse workers in Coventry joining the GMB union and striking for recognition, showing how new sectors are becoming unionised to improve conditions.

These real cases provide concrete illustrations of negotiation, industrial action, and stakeholder management, and they help students critically assess how trade unions influence the balance of power in employment.

How It’s Assessed

Students are assessed through structured questions and case study-based scenarios. Typical formats include:

• Short-answer knowledge checks (e.g., “What is a trade union?”)

• Explain-style questions requiring two linked points (e.g., “Explain two benefits to an employee of joining a trade union”)

• Analysis and evaluation questions using case studies (e.g., “Consider whether the presence of a trade union benefits a business more than it harms it”)

Key command words include explain, analyse, consider, and evaluate. High-mark questions require applied understanding, so classroom discussions around real-world examples are crucial for exam success.

Enterprise Skills Integration

This topic naturally lends itself to the development of essential enterprise and workplace skills:

• Decision-Making & Problem-Solving: Students evaluate potential business responses to trade union demands.

• Communication & Negotiation: Role-play activities where students simulate union-employer discussions promote confidence and critical thinking.

• Stakeholder Analysis: Learners assess the needs and influence of different groups, enhancing commercial awareness.

Using Skills Hub Futures resources, such as “Employer Challenge” scenarios or “Workplace Simulation” tools, can turn theory into practice with zero prep time.

Careers Links

Understanding trade unions supports multiple career pathways:

• Human Resources – employment law, employee relations, conflict resolution

• Law – labour law, mediation, advocacy

• Public Sector – teaching, NHS, civil service (all with active union involvement)

• Business Management – managing people and handling disputes

Mapped to Gatsby Benchmark 4 (curriculum to careers) and Benchmark 5 (encounters with employers), this topic can be extended using employer case studies and union guest speakers through Enterprise Skills’ employer network.

Teaching Notes

Common Pitfalls:

• Students often assume trade unions are “anti-business” – encourage a balanced view.

• Misunderstanding the difference between strike and lockout – clarify definitions early.

Teaching Tips:

• Use real-life video clips or news articles from recent strikes.

• Run a role-play activity: divide the class into union and management teams to negotiate terms.

• Embed formative assessments using mini case studies.

• Use employer case study materials provided in the Skills Hub platform to show workplace connections.

Extension Activities:

• Investigate trade union membership trends across different countries or sectors.

• Research a specific trade union and present how it operates.

• Explore international perspectives by comparing UK and global union approaches.