ABSTRACT

Unions (also known as labour or trade unions) are organisations formed by workers to act as a check and balance on the power of employers. Unions perform this role by using the collective strength of their members to give workers a voice in the workplace. Workers use this voice to improve their wages, benefits and working conditions. This chapter will address the subject of unions and the role they play in the social and economic systems of the United States (US). The main developments in the evolution of these organisations over the last 250 years will be identified and discussed. These developments will be analysed through a review of the scholarly literature, which has grown substantially over time. The chapter will also address the pressing question of whether unions can overcome the substantial challenges they currently face and continue to play an important role in American society.