Trade unions have always stood at the intersection of justice, economics, and politics. At their noblest, they are defenders of the powerless, securing dignity for workers and levelling the playing field in unequal societies. At their worst, however, they can become blunt instruments — paralysing industries, destabilising governments, and weakening the very societies they claim to serve.
The story of unionism is not a simple tale of good or bad; it is a mirror reflecting both the heights of human solidarity and the dangers of unchecked power.
History offers undeniable proof of unions as engines of progress in the areas of:
Worker Rights and Safety: The eight-hour workday, paid leave, workplace safety laws, and bans on child labour did not fall from the sky. They were fought for, often bitterly, by unions like the American Federation of Labour in the early 20th century. Without them, millions would still toil in unsafe, exploitative conditions.
Social Justice: In apartheid-era South Africa, unions such as COSATU became more than labour organisations — they were political lifelines, uniting ordinary workers in the fight for freedom and equality.
Economic Stability: In Germany and across Scandinavia, unions have often chosen cooperation over confrontation. Their collective bargaining systems balanced fair wages with industrial competitiveness, proving that unions can drive both social justice and economic growth when they see themselves as partners, not adversaries.
But power without restraint can destroy. The darker side of unionism has also left scars such as:
Industry Destruction: In Britain during the 1970s and 80s, rigid strikes in coal, steel, and shipbuilding hastened the collapse of entire industries. Unions fought to preserve yesterday’s jobs but, in doing so, they destroyed tomorrow’s opportunities. Whole towns never recovered.
National Paralysis: In Nigeria, prolonged strikes by academic and other public sector unions have repeatedly ground education and public services to a halt, stranding millions of students and eroding human capital. The cost of lost years far outweighs the wage disputes at the centre of such strikes.
Political Overreach: In France, waves of strikes have sometimes forced governments to abandon vital reforms. What begins as a labour demand can escalate into national gridlock, where a few thousand paralyse the lives of millions.
These examples expose the paradox – unions created to protect workers can sometimes destroy industries, weaken competitiveness, and impoverish future generations.
How Unions Can Always Be A Force For Good
The solution is not to weaken unions but to reimagine them through:
Balanced Bargaining, Not Siege Warfare – Unions must embrace partnership unionism, negotiating for both fair wages and long-term business viability. A dead company cannot pay living wages.
Accountability and Transparency – Union leaders should be held to the same ethical and financial standards as politicians and CEOs. Misused strike funds and politically motivated shutdowns betray the very workers unions claim to defend.
Future-Proof Advocacy – Instead of clinging to dying industries, unions should lead in reskilling workers for the green economy, the digital age, and new frontiers of work. A union that protects jobs today while preparing workers for tomorrow becomes indispensable.
Is A Regulator Needed For Unions?
Unions wield enormous power — over industries, education, even governments. Yet unlike corporations or banks, they often operate with minimal oversight. A regulatory authority for unions could: Enforce transparency in union elections and finances; mediate disputes before they erupt into crippling strikes; ensure union actions align with the public good, not narrow political ambitions; encourage policies that safeguard both workers and national productivity.
Such oversight need not strangle independence. Just as central banks regulate financial systems without killing capitalism, a regulator could preserve union freedom while ensuring they never cross the line from advocacy to anarchy.
Guardians Of Progress Or Agents Of Decline?
Unions are among the most powerful forces in society. They have won workers their dignity, shaped nations, and defended freedom. But left unchecked, they can also destroy industries, paralyse economies, and destabilise governments.
The question is not whether we need unions. We do. The question is: What kind of unions will shape the future? Those that cling to outdated fights and paralyse progress, or those that embrace accountability, partnership, and forward-looking advocacy?
Unions must evolve — not into wrecking balls, but into guardians of both workers and industries. Only then can they remain what they were meant to be – allies of fairness, justice, and sustainable growth.
*Dr Okoroafor wrote from the United Kingdom
