What is a trade union? How can a trade union support the works council?

Employees and other people (such as pensioners, students, job seekers, etc.) are organised in trade unions.

Everyone who joins a trade union is a member. Trade unions are not only responsible for one company, but for an entire industry or several industries.

Trade unions are collective bargaining parties and negotiate collective agreements with individual employers or the employers' association of an industry.

Trade unions often actively support the establishment of a works council. The trade unions offer seminars for elected works councils on all important topics relating to works council duties. They also support the works councils by providing information and advice. Works councils and staff councils are often trade union members. This is not mandatory, however.