DISCUSSION
Oracy Ground Rules
1) Always answer with 'because' - Every opinion needs reasoning
2) Use sentence stems - "I think...", "In my opinion...", "The evidence shows..."
3) Speak clearly - Loud and proud so everyone can hear
4) Build on ideas - "I agree with X because..." or "However, I think..."
5) Challenge respectfully - Question ideas, not people
WORK
📜 Getting You Thinking: The Tolpuddle Martyrs
Imagine this: It's 1834 in Tolpuddle, Dorset.
Farm workers' lives are getting worse - longer hours, dangerous conditions, and their pay keeps getting cut. They're struggling to feed their families.
Six brave workers decide to form a trade union to fight for fair treatment. But here's the shocking part: they were arrested and sentenced to SEVEN YEARS transportation to Australia - essentially exile and hard labor - just for trying to organize.
How would you feel if standing up for your rights meant being sent to the other side of the world?
The campaign to free the Tolpuddle Martyrs sparked a massive nationwide protest. Petitions were organized, protest meetings were held across the country, and eventually public pressure won - they were pardoned and returned home in triumph.
Today, people still celebrate the Tolpuddle Martyrs with an annual festival. Why? Because their struggle established that the freedom to join a trade union is a basic human right.
🟡 TURN AND TALK #1: Why did the Tolpuddle farm workers decide to join together to fight their cause? What gave them strength?
Sentence stems:
- "They joined together because..."
- "Working alone would have meant..."
- "By organizing as a group, they could..."
- "This shows that collective action..."
DISCUSSION
⚙️ The Origin of Trade Unions
The Tolpuddle Martyrs weren't alone. Throughout the 1800s, workers across Britain were fighting for their rights in incredibly difficult circumstances.
The Struggle for Workers' Rights
Life for workers in the 1800s:
- Brutal hours: 12-16 hour working days, 6 days a week
- Dangerous conditions: No safety regulations - accidents and deaths were common
- Poverty wages: Barely enough to survive, let alone support a family
- No protection: Employers could sack you at will with no notice or compensation
- Punishment for protesting: Going on strike was illegal - you could face imprisonment or hard labor
Key Moments in Trade Union History
Early Organizing: Workers in specific trades (engineers, miners, agricultural laborers) began forming organizations. These were often local groups focused on their particular industry.
Trades Union Congress (TUC) Founded: Established in Manchester as a way for all these separate groups to link up and work together on a bigger scale. This coordination gave workers much more power.
Over 1 Million Members: Trade union membership exploded to over a million people - a massive number for the time. Workers realized there was genuine strength in numbers.
Legal Protection: Trade unions are now legally recognized organizations that play a crucial role in protecting workers' rights, negotiating pay and conditions, and resolving workplace disputes.
The key principle: People at last had the right to fight for their rights by collective action.
WORK
💼 People's Rights Today
Trade unions have played a huge part in developing the workplace rights we have today. But how do they actually work in modern Britain?
Collective Bargaining
What it is: When employers have to negotiate with a group of workers (usually through their trade union) rather than dealing with individuals one by one.
What they negotiate:
- Pay and pay rises
- Working hours and shift patterns
- Health and safety conditions
- Holiday entitlement
- Pension contributions
Why it works: Instead of every single person trying to argue for a pay rise on their own (and probably failing), the union speaks for the whole group. This gives employees much more power.
Staff Associations
What they are: Similar to trade unions but usually specific to one company or organization. They represent their members in discussions with management.
How they're different: Staff associations tend to be less confrontational than trade unions and focus on working collaboratively with employers rather than through strikes or industrial action.
Their role: Still provide that crucial collective voice - employees working together rather than alone.
When Negotiations Fail: The Right to Strike
Sometimes, negotiations reach a deadlock. Employers and unions can't agree. This is when strikes happen - but there are strict rules:
The Strike Process:
- Negotiations must break down completely - Strike is always the last resort
- Union members must vote - A democratic ballot is held
- Majority must agree - Strike only goes ahead if most members vote for it
- Collective withdrawal of labor - Workers stop working together to put pressure on employers
The power: When large numbers of employees stop working simultaneously, it gives them significant leverage in negotiations. Employers face serious disruption and financial losses.
🟡 TURN AND TALK #2: Why do you think employers didn't want workers to organize into trade unions in the 1800s? Why do some employers still oppose unions today?
Sentence stems:
- "Employers opposed unions because..."
- "From the employer's perspective..."
- "However, from the workers' perspective..."
- "This creates a power balance where..."
- "The main conflict here is between..."
WORK
❌ What If It Goes Wrong?
Not all employment relationships work out. Sometimes people lose their jobs - but there are important differences in how and why this happens.
Dismissal (Being Sacked)
What it means: The employer ends your contract because of something about YOU or YOUR actions.
Reasons for Dismissal:
- Inability to do the job: You're unable to perform your duties properly, even after support and training
- Misconduct: Unacceptable behavior in the workplace such as:
- Fighting or violence
- Theft or dishonesty
- Discrimination or harassment
- Persistent lateness or absence
- Serious health and safety breaches
Key point: Dismissal is about your performance or behavior as an individual employee.
Redundancy
What it means: Your job itself is no longer needed by the employer. It's NOT about you personally.
Reasons for Redundancy:
- Company restructuring: The organization changes how it operates
- Site closure: An office, factory, or branch shuts down
- Technology changes: Your role is automated or no longer required
- Financial difficulties: The company needs to cut costs
- Merger or takeover: Duplicate roles are eliminated
✅ Redundancy Pay:
If you're made redundant, you're usually entitled to financial compensation:
- Ages 22-41: Approximately one month's pay for each year worked
- Over 41: Higher rates apply
- Example: Work for 5 years? Get roughly 5 months' pay
Purpose: Provides a financial cushion while you find new employment.
DISCUSSION
⚖️ Resolving Conflict at Work
Disagreements and problems crop up in every workplace. The question is: how do you sort them out fairly?
Step 1: Trade Union Support
If you're a union member:
- Talk to your union representative first
- They can give expert advice on your rights
- They can represent you in meetings with management
- They might help sort things out informally
Union reps are trained in employment law and experienced in workplace disputes.
Step 2: ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service)
What ACAS does:
- Independent organization that helps employers and employees resolve disputes
- Acts like mediators - neutral third party
- Tries to find solutions everyone can agree on
- Uses conciliation - helping both sides reach common ground
ACAS helps avoid escalating to formal legal proceedings.
Step 3: Employment Tribunal
When all else fails:
- A special court specifically for employment law disputes
- Can make legally binding decisions
- Can order compensation if employee was treated unfairly
- Can order reinstatement (giving your job back)
IMPORTANT: You usually MUST try ACAS conciliation before going to tribunal.
The Process in Order:
1. Problem arises → 2. Talk to union (if member) → 3. Try informal resolution → 4. Contact ACAS for conciliation → 5. If still unresolved → Employment Tribunal
"Quite a few steps involved... Definitely a process there."
DISCUSSION
🔥 Task: Class Debate
AGREE (Employer's Rights):
- Employers take all the financial risk - they invest their money and could lose everything if the business fails
- They create jobs and provide livelihoods for workers and their families
- Employers need authority to make decisions quickly without constant negotiation
- They have the right to manage their business efficiently and profitably
- Bad employees can damage a company - employers need power to dismiss them
- Too much worker power could make businesses uncompetitive
- If workers don't like the conditions, they can find another job
DISAGREE (Workers' Rights):
- Workers create the wealth - without employees, businesses couldn't function
- Employers have far more power than individual workers - unions balance this
- History shows unregulated employers exploit workers (child labor, dangerous conditions, poverty wages)
- Everyone deserves dignity, fair pay, and safe working conditions
- Collective bargaining leads to better outcomes for everyone
- Workers can't "just find another job" - they have families to support, bills to pay
- Strong worker protections create more stable, productive, loyal workforces
🟡 TURN AND TALK #3: What do you think is the most crucial safeguard for workers in today's world? Is it trade union membership, employment law, ACAS, or something else?
Sentence stems:
- "I believe the most important protection is... because..."
- "Without [protection], workers would..."
- "The evidence from history shows..."
- "While employers have the right to..., workers also deserve..."
- "The balance of power should be..."
WORK
📝 Exam Practice
Question 1 (Foundation):
Describe TWO reasons why workers in the 1800s formed trade unions.
Tip: Think about working conditions and collective power
Question 2 (Intermediate):
Explain the difference between dismissal and redundancy. Give examples of situations that would lead to each.
Tip: Dismissal is about the person; redundancy is about the job itself
Question 3 (Higher - Extended Response):
"Trade unions are no longer necessary in modern Britain because workers already have legal protections."
To what extent do you agree with this statement?
In your answer you should:
- Consider the role of trade unions today
- Consider what legal protections exist for workers
- Refer to examples from history and modern workplaces
- Reach a justified conclusion
WORK
🎥 Deepen Your Understanding
Watch these videos to explore workers' rights further:
The Tolpuddle Martyrs Story
The full history of how six farm workers changed British labor rights forever.
Watch on YouTube
How Trade Unions Work Today
Understanding collective bargaining, strikes, and modern union organization.
Watch on YouTube
Your Rights at Work
A guide to UK employment law, dismissal, redundancy, and resolving disputes.
Watch on YouTubeDISCUSSION
🎯 Exit Task
Choose ONE task to demonstrate your understanding:
Option 1: Historical Letter
Write a letter from one of the Tolpuddle Martyrs while in Australia, explaining to your family back home why you formed a trade union and what you hope it will achieve for future workers. Include emotions, historical details, and the bigger picture.
Option 2: Advice Leaflet
Create an advice leaflet for young people starting their first job. Explain: What are trade unions? Why might you join one? What are your rights? What should you do if there's a problem at work?
Option 3: Timeline Poster
Design a visual timeline showing the journey from the Tolpuddle Martyrs (1834) to workers' rights today (2025). Include key dates, events, and explain how each milestone improved workers' lives.