Why do trades Unions still exist?

[R1Geezer]

They serve no useful purpose, disrupt progress, most members tend to be work shy socialists who hate their employers and tend to think the world owes them a living. Thankfully they have only a little power these days but why haven't they been consigned to history? Ok they were necessary 100 years ago but now they are purely a negative force.

[stokemaveric]

decades of the unions fighting for workers rights summed up wrongly i 1 paragraph...

[modeller]

It has been estimated that the majority of disputes are not between management and employees but rather at local level between employees and their immediate superiors, and that is where the local Union rep. can act as mediator.
What goes wrong is that many reps. get puffed up with their own importance and some become little Hitlers. who unfortunately have the ability to rally large numbers of supporters, with the result that many of our industries were destroyed.
However R1 Geezer most employees still need the Unions to fight for them when the can't fight for themselves.

[brenda]

The only thing that a working man/ woman has is the right to withdraw their labour.That is what a union is for , to support , guide and prevent worker exploitation.

[saxy_jag]

I think most of it's been said here - Unions provide legal advice (and support, in some cases), education and support at when you think the world is against you. I don't always hold with some of the decisions my union makes on behalf of its members - in fact, I'm thinking of changing unions - but I wouldn't be without one.