Trade Union

A trade union is an organization made up of workers in the field in the general interest of its members. They help workers with issues such as pay-punishment, good work environment, working hours and benefits. They represent a group of workers and provide a link between management and employees.

A modern definition from the Australian Bureau of Statistics states that a trade union "is an organization consisting primarily of employees, with its core activities including negotiation of pay rates and terms of employment for its members."

The most common purpose of these associations or unions is to "maintain or improve their employment conditions". These may include wages, rules of work, occupational health and safety standards, grievance procedures, employee status regulation including promotions, termination terms and employment benefits. The basic principles that govern these trade unions.

As an organized movement, trade unionism (also called organized labor) began in the 19th century in Great Britain, continental Europe, and the United States. In many countries trade unionism is synonymous with the term labor movement.