unions

     

A trae union or labor union is an organization of workers who have banded together to achieve common goals in key areas such as wages, hours, and working conditions, forming a cartel of labour. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members (rank and file members) and negotiates labour contracts with employers. This may include the negotiation of wages, work rules, complaint procedures, rules governing hiring, firing and promotion of workers, benefits, workplace safety and policies. The agreements negotiated by the union leaders are binding on the rank and file members and the employer and in some cases on other non-member workers.

Trivia about unions

  • In 1941, after the National Labor Relations Act, Henry Ford had to accept these groups in his factories
  • In 2007, 12.1% of U.S. wage & salary workers were members of these, down from 20% in 1983