Jimmy Reid

Arthur Scargill's leadership of the miners' strike has been a disgrace. The price to be paid for his folly will be immense. He will have destroyed the N.U.M. as an effective fighting force within British trade unionism for the next 20 years. If kamikaze pilots were to form their own union, Arthur would be an ideal choice for leader.

Scottish Activist

Andre Braugher

You can't separate the phenomenal birth of unionism in the United States of America from the Pullman porters. This same small group of men, who grew to be 10,000 strong, was also the organizational foundation for the civil rights movement and all of the gains that were made in the '40s and the '50s. That, and the black church.

American Actor

Gerry Adams

Republican patience with how unionism deals with the political institutions, and with key issues like equality and human rights, will be tested because, obviously, there will be a battle a day on these matters. So lets face up to all of this with our eyes wide open.

Irish Politician

Bill Shorten

To the best of my knowledge, when I became national secretary and, indeed, Victorian secretary, the - my predecessors in the union had detected wrong activities, activities which aren't in the best traditions of the AWU or, indeed, trade unionism.

Australian Politician

Frances O'Grady

In the U.S. the powerful critics of austerity such as Paul Krugman and Robert Reich rightly identify the decline of 'labor' as a problem, and renewing trade unionism part of the solution. Our opportunity is to make the same case in the UK.

British Activist

Leon Jouhaux

This led me to understand that trade unionism, the instrument of working-class liberation and of social change could, and indeed should, be also an instrument of industrial progress.

French Leader

Rose Schneiderman

All the time our union was progressing very nicely. There were lectures to make us understand what trades unionism is and our real position in the labor movement.

Polish Activist

John Fleming

It's all about secular unionism, the advancement of atheism, which they even tried to create in this law - Democrats did - an atheistic chaplaincy.

American Politician

Richard Attenborough

I believe in trade unionism, and I believe in democracy, in democratic trade unionism.

English Actor

Charles Kennedy

I'm a lifelong believer in trade unionism.

British Politician

Unionism in labor often involves collective actions, such as strikes, to improve worker rights.

Labor Movements

Unionism has deep roots in the history of workers' fight for fair conditions, originating in the industrial revolution.

Historical Struggle

A key aspect of unionism is negotiating wages and conditions collectively for a large group of workers.

Collective Bargaining

Political unionism refers to countries or states joining together, not necessarily becoming identical in policies.

Unity Not Uniformity

Political unionism emphasizes the increased influence and security that come from forming larger alliances.

Strength in Numbers

Political unionism can stir strong national emotions, both for and against merging sovereignties.