Page 106 - Cambridge IGCSE Business Studies

Cambridge IGCSE Business Studies Section 2 People in business

ACTIVITY 7.9

Possible strike action in the sugar industry reached between industry workers and the
has been avoided following an agreement Mauritius Sugar Producers’ Association.

Source: Adapted from http://allafrica.com/stories/201006181068.html

The subway system in Brazil’s biggest city The management of the public company
was halted on Wednesday when around which runs the subway system have offered
8000 subway workers went on strike in sup- workers a 7% rise.
port of their demand for a 20% pay rise.

Source: Adapted from www.vosizneias.com/106816/2012/05/23/sao-paulo-brazil-brazil-subway-workers-go-on-
strike-in-sao-paulo

Members of SOMU, the Dock workers trade ahead of the harvests for corn and soya bean
union in Argentina, went on strike on Thurs- which are both vital to the local economy.
day for better working conditions. Their ac-
tion have slowed the country’s ports just

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Source: Adapted from www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/01/argentina-grains-strike-idUSL2E8E183X20120301

1 What is meant by ‘trade union’?
2 Identify and explain two benefits to subway workers in Brazil of being a member of a trade union.
3 Why do you think MSPA has signed an agreement with sugar industry workers?
4 What is meant by ‘working conditions’?
5 Do you think the strike action taken by dock workers in Argentina will help them to achieve an improvement in their
working conditions? Justify your answer.

TEST YOURSELF
1 What is the main purpose of a trade union?
2 Why might an employee not join a trade union?