However it is also true that unions are an essential ingredient in maintaining a fair and balanced society. Without the influence of unions, workers would have no voice or power in our society. The NUW, and other unions like us, did not come about by accident. They were formed by concerned workers who wanted to defend themselves from exploitation and improve their lifestyle. Workers organise themselves into unions to solve problems that individual workers can't solve themselves.
Unions exist because groups have more power and strength than individuals.
Power is hte ability to require an employer to do things they otherwise wouldn't do. Union power is based on the use of collective action to solve problems. But not everyone has the same problem at the same time. If we only acted on problems that affected us personally we would be unable to improve everyone's conditions, for example men may not support maternity leave, and young workers may not support proposals to improve pensions or superannuation. To operate, unions need solidarity.