The tasks of a trade union

A trade union is committed to improving working conditions and representing the interests of its members. A trade union is a so-called collective bargaining party. This means that it can conclude collective agreements with the employers' association or an individual employer. To do so, it conducts collective bargaining negotiations, for example for higher wages, shorter working hours and more holiday days. The trade union can take industrial action to achieve its objectives in collective bargaining negotiations. These include the threat of strikes, so-called warning strikes and actual strikes.

Trade unions in Germany are organised by sector or industry. Eight trade unions have joined forces to form the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB). The DGB does political work for the trade unions. It fights to improve working conditions in Germany.