What is Trade Unions

This case study follows the career of Robert Peters (pseudonym), a middle level manager who faces numerous challenges as a team manager during his fledgling years. He is constantly questioning his role as the managerial representative who has to take care of his team members, their interests, and professional welfare. Scenarios such as the ethicality of senior management in ordering their lower level managers to spy on the employees during unfolding of trade unions activity, employees' rights during various change processes, disciplinary actions taken on employees which may lack human compassion, and issues pertaining to equity due to bias and nepotism are explored. This is an effort to understand the unequal quotient between labor and management, hidden depths in human resources (HR) role and functions, and ethical dilemmas which HR managers confront during their corporate career. This case study will enable readers to critically reflect on the responsibilities of HR, including its challenging role as the intermediary between the labor and management.