Workers Union

A Workers Union is an association of workers, which creates a monopoly on the labor power of its members. Unions may be stratified into specific employers or industries. This monopoly on a type of work controls the allocation of workers, which enables collective bargaining with the employer, be it the state or a corporation. Unions receive dues from their members, and they pool this money to perform actions such as strikes and creation of media.

Unions under capitalism

In capitalism, workers unions fight to improve the working conditions of their members. They may or may not engage in radical political education. In What is to be Done?, Lenin states that the purpose of unions is to create contact with the working class for a revolutionary purpose. He points out the limitations of "Economism" wherein the stated goals of the union lie within the framework of capitalism.

Unions under socialism

Under socialism, unions become a much more powerful type of organization, which engages in contact with the state to perform political actions on behalf of their workers. The counter-revolutionary union Solidarity is responsible for the re-establishment of capitalism in Poland.