"A Trade Union (Labour union), ... is a continuous association of wage-earners for the purpose of maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment" ch. I

Over the last three hundred years, trade unions have developed into a number of forms - with differing political and economic regimes influencing them. The immediate objectives and activities of trade unions vary, but may include:

• Provision of benefits to members: Early trade unions, like Friendly Societies, often provided a range of benefits to insure members against unemployment, ill health, old age and funeral expenses. In many developed countries, these functions have been assumed by the state, however the provision of legal advice and representation for members is an important benefit of trade union membership.
• Collective bargaining: Where trade unions are able to operate openly and are recognised by employers, they may negotiate with employers over wages and working conditions.
• Industrial action: Trade unions may organise strikes or resistance to lockouts in furtherance of particular goals.
• Political activity: Trade unions may promote legislation favourable to the interests of their members or workers as a whole. To this end they may pursue campaigns; undertake lobbying; financially support individual candidates or parties (such as the Labour Party in Great Britain) for public office.

History

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Beginning in the eighteenth century, much of Western society, with most changes occurring earliest in Great Britain, witnessed a transformation from an agrarian culture with craft based production, to the first industrial revolution. Within this transformation several changes provided much of the impetus for the rise of the trade union.

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LABOR UNIONS all over the world can play a big part by demanding that the leaders of every nation get this very important discussion going.
I_Love_Humanity (John DeSantis) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:52:31 -0000
LABOR UNIONS all over the world can play a big part by demanding that the leaders of every nation get this very important discussion going.
#Unions, AFTER #HCR? Government Arbitrated #Collective Bargining Next? #tcot #tlot #labor #aflcio #rnc #dnc The direction you choose?
4dbryan (Dan Bryan) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:50:12 -0000
#Unions, AFTER #HCR? Government Arbitrated #Collective Bargining Next? #tcot #tlot #labor #aflcio #rnc #dnc The direction you choose?
Charlie Carlsen: Lack of education ovwr what unions have done, and what they do for labor in the industries. #whatisfilm
haroldPDX (Harold Phillips) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:51:05 -0000
Charlie Carlsen: Lack of education ovwr what unions have done, and what they do for labor in the industries. #whatisfilm
The first definitive guide to LA's labor unions, labor products and labor-friendly services -now available @ http://ow.ly/zyP6
UnionPlus (Union Plus) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:45:30 -0000
The first definitive guide to LA's labor unions, labor products and labor-friendly services -now available @ http://ow.ly/zyP6
Did labor unions stopped Puerto Rico today like they said they would. I wouldn't know, I was too busy working.
comatoso (comatoso) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:38:08 -0000
Did labor unions stopped Puerto Rico today like they said they would. I wouldn't know, I was too busy working.
The enemy of labor contract workers is the "Management Rights" article in the contract- too much leeway makes the job suck. #unions
SYGMA848 (Keenan C. Pickett) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:05:02 -0000
The enemy of labor contract workers is the "Management Rights" article in the contract- too much leeway makes the job suck. #unions

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