The Function Positioning Of Chinese Trade Unions From The Perspective Of Labor-management Cooperation

With the reform of the economic system and the development of the labor market in the new period,fundamental changes have taken place in Chinese labor-capital relations,which means that enterprises and workers have gradually become independent interest subjects.Correspondingly,during a series of related reforms of the trade union system,the role of Chinese trade unions has quietly changed.Therefore,trade unions are highly expected in the process of constructing a harmonious labor relationship because of ensuring the production of enterprises and gradually strengthening the protection of employee rights.However,the rapid growth of labor disputes and the frequent participation of non-union in collective labor action have made this dual role of trade unions widely questioned in recent years.Particularly,the functional positioning of Chinese trade unions has become the focus of society.For this reason,based on the characteristics of the trade unions’ function and the actual situation in China,this paper discusses the functional positioning of trade unions in China from both theoretical and empirical perspectives.In terms of theory,firstly,this article analyzes the reasons why Chinese trade unions need to change functional positioning based on the practice of Chinese trade unions.At present,Chinese trade unions are more inclined to safeguard corporate interests,which the functions are performed in the form of submission.This type of trade unions will seriously hinder the construction of harmonious labor relations and affect the normal development of the economy and society.Secondly,according to a series of practices of Chinese trade unions,this article proposes the criteria for judging the function positioning of Chinese trade unions,that is,Chinese trade unions needs to optimize the benefits of both employers and employees.Finally,referring to the monopoly union model and the efficiency contract model,this paper analyzes three trade unions modes（yield,confliction,and labor-management cooperation）.It is considered that the cooperative trade unions can optimize the benefits of both employers and employees,which is more in line with the orientation of China’s trade union functions in the future comparing with the other two modes.In terms of empirical research,this article compares the effects of trade unions with different types from the perspective of employee rights and corporate interests.In terms of employee rights,this paper uses the 2016 China Labor-force Dynamics Survey Data（CLDS）and the instrumental variable method to test the degree of influence of unions on employee rights under different functional orientations.The empirical results show that the union can play a role in protecting the employee rights,and optimize the employee rights under the function of labor-management cooperative functions.In terms of corporate interests,this article uses the 2012 National Private Enterprise Survey Data（CPES）and the instrumental variable method to test the degree of influence of unions on corporate interests under different functional orientations.The empirical results show that on the one hand,all kinds of trade unions can effectively promote the improvement of corporate profits;on the other hand,the labormanagement cooperative functional positioning has the greatest effect on the improvement of corporate profits.Therefore,the labor-management cooperative trade unions can optimize the benefits of employees and enterprises.It will not only promote the harmony and stability of society,but improve the enthusiasm of employees to work and thus improve corporate benefits better if the employee rights will be protected well.And it will ultimately make the society and economy better,which is in line with the CPC and government’s work objectives.In order to ensure the scientificity and robustness of the empirical results,this paper does some robustness tests and expansive analysises.The results also show that the labor-management cooperative mode is the best choice for the functional positioning of Chinese trade unions.Finally,this paper puts forward several targeted suggestions for the purpose of effectively promoting the functional transition of trade unions to labor-management cooperative functions.