Legal Definitions - craft union

A craft union is a type of labor organization that represents workers who share a particular skill, trade, or craft, regardless of the industry or company they work for. Its membership is typically composed of individuals who have undergone specific training, apprenticeships, or certifications to master a specialized skill. The union focuses on protecting and advancing the interests of its skilled members, often negotiating for fair wages, benefits, and working conditions specific to their trade.

• Imagine a group of highly skilled electricians who specialize in installing and maintaining complex industrial wiring systems. They might all belong to the "International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers," a union that represents electricians across various construction projects, manufacturing plants, and utility companies. This union focuses on issues specific to electrical work, such as apprenticeship standards, safety protocols for high-voltage environments, and pay scales for different levels of electrical expertise.

  Explanation: This illustrates a craft union because its members are united by their shared, specialized skill in electrical work, not by working for the same employer or in a single industry. The union advocates for their specific trade-related interests.

• Consider certified dental hygienists who perform professional teeth cleanings, X-rays, and preventative care. These hygienists, working for different private dental practices, public health clinics, and corporate dental chains, could be members of the "National Dental Hygienists' Union." This union would negotiate for industry-specific patient safety standards, continuing education requirements, and compensation structures that reflect the critical and specialized nature of their healthcare role.

  Explanation: This is a craft union because it brings together individuals who possess a highly specialized and certified skill (dental hygiene), even though they might be employed by different companies or organizations within the broader healthcare sector. Their collective bargaining power is based on their shared professional expertise.

• Think about professional stagehands and theatrical technicians who are experts in lighting, sound, rigging, and set construction for live performances. Whether they work for Broadway productions, local theaters, or touring concert venues, they might be part of the "International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees." This alliance would address concerns like fair wages for show runs, safety standards for complex stage machinery, and access to specialized training for new theatrical technologies.

  Explanation: This example demonstrates a craft union by showing how professionals with distinct, specialized technical skills (stagecraft) form an organization to protect their interests across various employers and work arrangements within the entertainment industry.