From an opposition movement trade unions have become a recognised institution deeply rooted in our economic and political system. Trade union members' perception of their union, their motives for joining and participating or leaving the unions and also the aims they expect their unions to pursue have all altered. Professor van de Vall's 1970 text questions what problems processes of change in society, change in the unions and change in their membership have created. The author first examines the economic, sociological, psychological and political differences between the nineteenth century and the 1960s. He then delves into trade union movement's organisational structure and how it changed. Arguing that the union's ties with its members were declining the author considers why this was the case and investigates the role automation plays in this process. This analysis of labour's problems rests basically upon research in Western Europe during the late 1960s, and uses the United States data for comparative purposes.