- The union represents the collective interests of workers by negotiating with employers on issues such as wages and working conditions.
- Trade unions are specific to industries and work like democracies.
- Trade unions have local branches, each of which receives a charter from a national level organization.
- US law requires an employer to negotiate in good faith with a union; however, the employer is not required to agree to any specific terms.
- Some union contracts have been criticized for being too difficult to fire incompetent, abusive and violent employees.