Trade union: Difference between revisions

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A labor union, (also called a labor organization or trade union), is a legal entity comprised of employees or workers having a common interest (such as all the assembly workers for one employer, or all the trades workers in a particular industry) who form a union for the purpose of collectively negotiating with an employer (or employers) over wages, hours and other terms and conditions of employment.

The concept of labor unions began early in the industrial revolution. More and more people left farming as an occupation and began to work for employers, usually in appaling conditions and for very low wages. The labor movement arose as an outgrowth of the disparity between the power of employers and the powerlessness of individual employees.

Labor unions were illegal for many years in most countries. There were severe penalties for attempting to organize labor unions, up to and including execution. Despite this, labor unions were formed and began to acquire political power, eventually resulting in a body of labor law which not only legalized organizing efforts, but codified the relationship between employers and those employees organized into labor unions.

Some countries such as Sweden have strong, centralized unions, where every type of work has a specific union, which are then gathered in large national unions. The largest Swedish union is LO, Landsorganisationen. LO has over 2.1 million members, which is more than a fifth of Sweden's population.

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	A '''labor union''', or ], is a legal entity comprised of employees or workers		A '''labor union''', (also called a ''labor organization'' or ''trade union''), is a legal entity comprised of employees or workers

	having a common interest (such as all the assembly workers for one employer, or all the trades workers		having a common interest (such as all the assembly workers for one employer, or all the trades workers

	in a particular industry) who form a union for the purpose of collectively negotiating with an employer		in a particular industry) who form a union for the purpose of collectively negotiating with an employer

	(or employers) over wages, hours and other terms and conditions of employment.		(or employers) over wages, hours and other terms and conditions of employment.



	The concept of labor unions began early in the industrial revolution.		The concept of labor unions began early in the industrial revolution.

	More and more people left farming as an occupation and began to work for employers,		More and more people left farming as an occupation and began to work for employers,

	usually in appaling conditions and for very low wages.		usually in appaling conditions and for very low wages.

	The labor movement arose as an outgrowth of the disparity between the power of employers		The labor movement arose as an outgrowth of the disparity between the power of employers

	and the powerlessness of individual employees.		and the powerlessness of individual employees.



	Labor unions were illegal for many years in most countries.		Labor unions were illegal for many years in most countries.

	There were severe penalties for attempting to organize labor unions, up to and including execution.		There were severe penalties for attempting to organize labor unions, up to and including execution.

	Despite this, labor unions were formed and began to acquire political power, eventually resulting		Despite this, labor unions were formed and began to acquire political power, eventually resulting

	in a body of ] which not only legalized organizing efforts, but codified the relationship		in a body of ] which not only legalized organizing efforts, but codified the relationship

	between employers and those employees organized into labor unions.		between employers and those employees organized into labor unions.



	Some countries such as ] have strong, centralized unions, where every type of work		Some countries such as ] have strong, centralized unions, where every type of work

	has a specific union, which are then gathered in large national unions.		has a specific union, which are then gathered in large national unions.

	The largest Swedish union is ], ''Landsorganisationen''.		The largest Swedish union is ], ''Landsorganisationen''.

	LO has over 2.1 million members, which is more than a fifth of Sweden's population.		LO has over 2.1 million members, which is more than a fifth of Sweden's population.



	See also ], ], ]		See also ], ], ]