Commentary: What's the role of unions?

TCL's mining operations at MAYO, Central Trinidad

It's official according to this evening's news. A strike at TCL. 

Some things about this and similar situations intrigue me. 

Is there a second function of the unions, other than to pressure for wage increases? And am I right in thinking union leaders continue to get their senior level salaries, whether the workers are earning or not?

Clearly unions have no interest ever, anywhere, in owning/managing the business and other entities they lobby for pay increases for their worker/members. 

That would make no sense, right? 

Even on a world scale where some unions generate multi, multi-millions in dues income, their one concern in improving the pay and working conditions of the membership. And on a general basis, government workers tend not to be as lucrative as does the private sector entities, in these aspects.

I cannot help therefore also speculating on the real relationship between union heads and their counterparts in senior management. 

As politicians typically maintain a sotto voce camaraderie from one side of the house to the other, do "bosses" hold off on pay improvements for long enough to make it seem their cronies in the unions are doing a damn fine job, and therefore warrant their pay, perks and improve the image of that particular union so their efforts at recruitment are enhanced?

Just askin'

John Lindsay 27 February 18:48