A trade union is a social group organized by workers to protect their rights and interests. The emergence of trade unions can be traced back to the Industrial Revolution, when workers began to realize their power and interests and began to organize to fight for their rights through collective action.
The responsibilities and functions of trade unions are multifaceted. First, unions negotiate with employers on behalf of workers, negotiating on issues such as wages, working hours, benefits, etc., for better working conditions and treatment. Secondly, trade unions also provide legal aid and counselling services to workers to help them defend their rights and interests. In addition, trade unions also organize various activities, such as training, cultural activities, etc., to improve the quality and skills of workers and promote their all-round development.
Generally speaking, unionized businesses are usually larger ones with a larger number of employees. This is because the main role of a union is to negotiate with employers on behalf of employees and to negotiate better working conditions and benefits packages for employees. Larger enterprises with a large number of employees are usually more prone to problems with employee rights, so the existence of labor unions is more necessary to protect the rights and interests of employees.
In addition, unions are usually only present in specific industries or regions. This is because different industries or regions have different working conditions, benefits, and labor regulations, and only by having a deep understanding of the local or industry situation can we better advocate for the rights and interests of employees. As a result, trade unions are often spontaneously organized by employees in the same industry or in the same region.
It is important to note that the existence of trade unions does not necessarily mean that the relationship between enterprises and employees is necessarily strained. In fact, the existence of trade unions can promote communication and exchanges between enterprises and employees, helping both parties to better understand each other's needs and concerns, so as to establish a more harmonious and stable relationship. Therefore, it is very important for enterprises to establish a good cooperative relationship with trade unions.