The trade union is an association, either of employees or employers or of independent workers. It is a relatively permanent combination of workers and is not temporary or casual. It is an association of workers engaged in securing economic benefits for its members.

According to Section 2(b) of the Trade Unions Act of 1926, a trade union is any combination of persons, whether temporary or permanent, primarily for the purpose of regulating the relations between workers and employers, or between workers and workers and for imposing restrictive conditions on the conduct on the conduct of any trade or business, and includes the federation of two or more trade unions.

The employers association or professional bodies were not included in any of the above definitions. The employees unions are different from that of the employers or professional bodies. The employees unions are primarily concerned with the terms and conditions of employment of their members. The employers associations on the other hand are concerned among other things with influencing the terms of purchase of services in favour of their members. Hence, the two should not be placed in one category.

Thus trade unions are a major component of the modern industrial relation system. A trade union of workers is an organization formed by workers to protect their interests. i.e. improve their working conditions etc. All trade unions have objectives or goals to achieve, which are contained in their constitution and each has its own strategy to reach those goals.

3.1 Evaluate the phenomenon which advocates that strong unions lead to stable workplace, provide examples to authenticate your answer.