Final answer:
Trade union members are typically part of the proletariat class, which is the working class in a capitalist society. These workers sell their labor to the bourgeoisie, who own the means of production. Trade unions form as a collective response to this social and economic dynamic, seeking to represent and protect the interests of the working class.
Step-by-step explanation:
Trade union members most commonly belong to the proletariat class. This class is made up of the industrial working class who sell their labor power because they do not own the means of production. Members of the proletariat are employed by the bourgeoisie, who are the capital owners and include the middle-class merchants, lawyers, and other professionals, as well as the capitalists, who control large industries and the financial system.
The relationship between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie is central to Marxist theory, which is deeply concerned with the conflicts and power dynamics that arise from this economic system. Trade unions, therefore, originate within the proletariat as a form of collective bargaining power to counter the domination of the bourgeoisie and to represent the proletariat's interests in a capitalist society.
Marxist theory explains how the proletariat, through trade unions and political movements, could potentially challenge the capitalist system, leading to a revolution and a reorganization of society. The ultimate aim of this movement would be to eliminate social classes by centralizing the means of production in the hands of the collective proletariat, instead of a few bourgeoisie capitalists.