New England Online > Economy > Sectors & Industries > Guilds and Federations
Professional Guilds and Federations
By law, all workers must belong to a Professional Guild in New England. The Guilds aim to regulate the quality of work produced by members and also allow for a single voice to a particular industry on an issue. Membership in a Guild is essential before a person can practice in a particular industry in New England. This is extended to professional trades like law, medicine, nursing, teaching and even farming.
Perhaps confusingly, some Guilds are in turn members of larger Guilds, although these tend to be known as an Industry Society instead. A good example would be the Poultry Producers Guild (pictured, right) which is a member of the Royal Agricultural & Grazing Society of New England. Therefore, it is rare for individuals to be members of an Industry Society, but they would belong to a Guild that was a member of such a body.
Organisation
Most Guilds are not Trade Unions, and play little or no part in the negotiation of wages or conditions. Those Guilds that do are known as Trade Federations, and exist in industries where having two organisations has proven unacceptable. An example of this is the Professional Sports Federation, which acts as a Guild for it's members, and also negotiate with the various professional sports bodies for improved wages and conditions. Such bodies are rare, since it would be a conflict of interest for employer and employee to negotiate such arrangements internally to a Federation.
The Guilds have also provided a framework for the government to regulate the sale and ownership of certain products to certain groups or interests. For example, the sale and ownership of large four wheel drive vehicles are restricted to members of certain Guilds. A Guild must maintain a clear and accurate record of membership which is audited by the Guilds Integrity Commission every year. This allows the Commission to determine if an individual is in violation of the law by owning a restricted product.
Membership
Once a person is a member of a Guild, they remain so for ten years, after which time they must prove that they are still working in an area that is represented by that Guild. If not, they must resign. By law, Guilds can only charge $25 a year membership to a Guild. A person may join multiple Guilds, especially if that person is employed in part-time or casual work across many industries.
Many Guilds act as as learned societies and research centres for the academic disciplines underlying their professions.
Notable Guilds
Royal Academy of New England -
Royal Society of Accounting & Finance -
Royal Agricultural & Grazing Society - The RA&GS is the largest industry society with over 18,500 members. The society represents most of New England's primary industry sector, with most member guilds representing farmers, graziers, fishermen and timber harvesters. The society hosts several major functions every year, with the largest being the Royal National Exhibition and the annual King's Speech.
Royal Society of Grocers & Merchantmen -
Royal Industrial & Manufacturing Society -
Royal Society of Law -
Royal Society of Medical Scientists -
Royal Society of Artists, Planners & Designers -
Royal Society of Civil Servants -
Royal Society of Tradesmen -
Guilds & Industry Societies of New England
Royal Academy of New England · Royal Society of Accounting & Finance · Royal Agricultural & Grazing Society
Royal Society of Grocers & Merchantmen · Royal Society of Law · Royal Industrial & Manufacturing Society
Royal Society of Medical Scientists · Royal Society of Artists, Planners & Designers · Royal Society of Civil Servants
Royal Society of Tradesmen
