During negotiations, what role does a labor union typically play?

In the context of labor relations, a labor union primarily acts as a representative for employees during negotiations with management. Their main goal is to advocate for workers' rights, benefits, and working conditions. By facilitating discussions, labor unions can help bridge the communication gap between employees and management, ensuring that the concerns and needs of workers are communicated effectively. This role is critical, as it allows for a collective bargaining process, where unions negotiate on behalf of their members for contracts that cover wages, benefits, job security, and other employment terms.

The other options, while related to labor unions, do not encapsulate the primary role of unions in negotiations. For example, while providing legal advice may be a service offered by some unions, their central function during negotiations is not primarily legal counsel. Collecting dues is a necessary function for operational purposes, but it does not represent a role in the negotiation process itself. Similarly, implementing workplace policies falls under the purview of management, not the unions. Thus, the key function of unions during negotiations is to facilitate discussions and advocate for the workers they represent.