Economic Reasons
For higher wages, increased benefits, shorter hours and improved working conditions are certainly important reasons for joining a union.
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Job security
One basic human need is security. In the work environment, employees find themselves in a dependent relationship on their bosses and on what they probably view as impersonal organizations. They want to know that their jobs will exist in the future and that they will be protected against unfair or arbitrary treatment.
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Social Reasons
Men and women are social beings. Therefore, workers have a strong need to be accepted by their peers, to belong, and to go along with others. Some unions offer attractive benefits, such as insurance, housing schemes, free conferences, annual get together etc to promote networking and social interactions.
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Participation
Many workers have explained their union membership in terms of their desire to obtain a voice in decisions that affect them in their working environment. To other workers who feel lost in our large, complex, industrial society, the union is viewed as a last hope that they will be able to influence their destiny.
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Compulsion
Aside from social pressure to join a union, some workers become union members simply because the employment contract requires them to do so. It would appear that unions serve a broad network of employee needs.
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Recognition
Some employees have found that the union structure offers them an opportunity to gain recognition not available to them in the business organization. For example, a worker with little education may serve on a shop committee or even be elected as a position of influence, such as steward or officer in the local.