What is the primary purpose of unions in the labor market?

The primary purpose of unions in the labor market is to increase wages and improve working conditions for their members. Labor unions are organizations formed by workers to collectively negotiate with employers over terms of employment. This collective bargaining process allows workers to leverage their collective power to secure better pay, benefits, and safer, fairer work environments.

Unions aim to address power imbalances that can exist between individual workers and employers, giving workers a unified voice to advocate for their rights and needs. These negotiations can lead to contracts that specify wages, health and safety standards, working hours, and other important conditions of employment.

While unions may take actions that could lead to increased hiring or provide support such as legal counsel, these are generally seen as secondary roles. The core mission remains focused on enhancing the economic welfare and working conditions of union members.