There are multiple views on the kind of impact trade unions have on organisations and their employees. The existing literature, however, is not critical or well researched. This study examines the effect of trade unions on job security, training and development, discrimination as well as the long-term performance of organisations. It uses multiple units of analysis to absorb select organisational contexts based on broad themes and voices of employee collectives and employees. It shows how unions can play a positive role by ensuring improved corporate governance and service conditions, though these organisations have a tendency towards internal fragmentation, discrimination and a high degree of political intervention.
