Final answer:
A labor union is an organization of workers aiming to improve their bargaining power with employers through collective bargaining. It represents its members in negotiations over wages, working conditions, and benefits, and uses tools like strikes to address labor demands. Union influence and membership in the U.S. have seen fluctuations due to economic and legislative changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
A labor union is a group of workers that band together to negotiate with employers regarding wages, working conditions, and other facets of employment. These negotiations aim to redistribute the balance of power from employers to the employees, and are often referred to as collective bargaining. Labor unions operate collectively, much like a monopoly, to represent their members' employment interests effectively
Organized labor has been a key part of the American workforce, especially since the legalization during the Great Depression. As a tool for influencing labor markets, unions can manage the supply of labor and push for protective policies. Critical mechanisms used by labor unions include collective bargaining and the strike, an organized cessation of work to pressure employers to meet workers' demands.
In the context of the United States, union membership has witnessed a decline over recent years due to various factors such as globalization, changes in the industrial landscape, and certain labor laws that make it challenging to organize unions effectively.