Bernstein answers this question only by allusion. Konrad Schmidt , however, attempts to deal with this detail in the manner of Bernstein. Therefore trade unions, social reforms and, adds Bernstein, the political democratisation of the State are the means of the progressive realisation of socialism.
Trade unions enable the proletariat to utilise at each instant, the conjuncture of the market.
Trade unions cannot suppress the law of wages. They have not, however, the power to suppress exploitation itself, not even gradually. It is clear that in the technique of production, the interest of the capitalist agrees, up to a certain point, with the progress and development of capitalist economy. It is his own interest that pushes him to make technical improvements. But the isolated worker finds himself in a decidedly different position.