Trade Union

Those trade unions that possess the economic power to threaten continued production of goods or services, and that actually have the political right to exercise such power, have helped to raise the standard of living of both their members and others. Genuine success, however, is ultimately determined by the ability of the employer and the society to absorb the consequences of granting union demands. In democracies, for example, unions have made significant gains during periods of economic expansion; during recessions, however, unions turn to governments for programmes to ensure alternative job opportunities, income maintenance, and other forms of relief. Recently, trade union membership and influence have been declining across the developed world. In developing nations, workers’ organizations are more limited in their influence.