A union is an organization that represents a group of employees within a particular company or industry. It is formed to negotiate with the employer on behalf of its members regarding various employment-related matters, including wages, working conditions, benefits, and job security.

The primary goal of a union is to ensure that its members receive fair treatment and compensation for the work they do. Unions negotiate collective bargaining agreements with employers that outline the terms and conditions of employment, including wages, hours of work, benefits, and grievance procedures.

When a union is formed , employees who wishes to join the union  pays union dues to cover the costs of negotiations and representation. Union’s representatives work with the employer to negotiate on behalf of the employees, and members may vote on whether to accept the terms of the proposed collective bargaining agreement

The need for union involvement varies depending on the country and its labour laws and practices. However, there are some countries where unions play a particularly important role in protecting workers’ rights and advocating for better working conditions. Here are a few examples:

1. Developing Countries: Developing countries often have weaker labour laws and regulations than developed countries. This can make it more difficult for workers to organize and negotiate for better wages and working conditions. In addition, many workers in developing countries are employed in industries such as agriculture and manufacturing, which are often characterized by poor working conditions and low wages. Unions can help to address these issues by advocating for better labour laws, organizing workers, and negotiating with employers for better wages and benefits.
2. Countries with High Income Inequality: Countries with high levels of income inequality, such as the United States, UK, Australia often have weaker labour protections than countries with more equitable income distributions. Unions can help to address this by advocating for better wages, benefits, and working conditions for all workers. This can help to reduce income inequality and create a more fair and just society.
3. Countries with High Levels of Informal Employment: Many countries have high levels of informal employment, which means that workers are not covered by labour laws and regulations. Countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan etc unions can play an important role in organizing and advocating for these workers. By organizing informal workers, unions can help to improve working conditions, negotiate for better wages and benefits, and help to bring these workers into the formal economy.
4. Countries with Weak Labour Laws: Some countries have weak labour laws and regulations, which can make it more difficult for workers to organize and negotiate for better wages and working conditions. In these countries, unions can help to advocate for stronger labour protections, such as minimum wage laws, overtime protections, and the right to organize and bargain collectively.

In conclusion, unions are organizations that represent groups of employees within a company or industry to negotiate on their behalf with employers on employment-related matters. They negotiate collective bargaining agreements outlining terms and conditions of employment. Unions provide workers with collective bargaining power, job security, legal representation, and advocate for workplace safety regulations. However, they also have cons such as union dues, conflicts with management, limited individual negotiation, and slower decision-making. With the use of democratic elections and increased practise of transparency can weed out corruption within the union.