---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The unions still have a job to do…"
description: "\"The unions still have a job to do, representing their members' interests to governments and parliaments. And I think collective agreements still have a..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/jacques-delors-20495_agreement_the-unions-still-have-a-job-to-do-repres_2969069.jpg"
---

#  The unions still have a job to do, representing their…

![“The unions still have a job to do, representing their members' interests to governments and parliaments. And I think collective agreements still have a role, alongside markets and laws.” quote by Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/jacques-delors-20495_agreement_the-unions-still-have-a-job-to-do-repres_2969069.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/jacques-delors-20495_agreement_the-unions-still-have-a-job-to-do-repres_2969069.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/jacques-delors-20495_agreement_the-unions-still-have-a-job-to-do-repres_2969069.jpg)

> “The unions still have a job to do, representing their members' interests to governments and parliaments. And I think collective agreements still have a role, alongside markets and laws.”

[Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Unions protect workers by representing them to governments; collective agreements complement markets and laws.

**In simple terms:** Unions give workers a voice in policy.

Key Takeaway

Support collective bargaining.

Themes

labor politics representation

Mood

analytical concerned

Type

political informative

When to use this quote

- negotiations
- policy advocacy
- workplace rights

Key Concepts

social contract collective bargaining

Questions to Reflect On

- What balance between markets and unions is ideal?
- How can unions adapt to modern economies?

A Different Perspective

Overreliance on unions may stifle flexibility.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Agreement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreement/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Parliament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parliament/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Unions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unions/)

## Related quotes

> [“A collective agreement may be operating in a very high way, but most of the agreements you’ve claimed that we wish to attend to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-selig/a-collective-agreement-may-be-operating-in-a-very-high-way-but-most/)

[Paul Selig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-selig/)

> [If politicians continue to promote separatism in Australia, they should not continue to hold their seats in this parliament. They are not truly representing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-hanson/if-politicians-continue-to-promote-separatism-in-australia-they/)

[Pauline Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-hanson/)

> [My objective is that before the end of the millennium Europe should have a true federation. The Commission should become a political executive which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/my-objective-is-that-before-the-end-of-the-millennium-europe-should/)

[Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/)

> [The push and pull of representing your world responsibly and your artistic license is a tricky balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eden-robinson/the-push-and-pull-of-representing-your-world-responsibly-and-your/)

[Eden Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eden-robinson/)

> [Representing the U.S.A. is one of the greatest honors of my life, and being able to do it as my authentic self makes it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rippon/representing-the-u-s-a-is-one-of-the-greatest-honors-of-my-life-and/)

[Adam Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rippon/)

> [I agree with you, Mr. Chairman, that the working men are the basis of all governments, for the plain reason that they are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-agree-with-you-mr-chairman-that-the-working-men-are-the-basis-of/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [Art is - representing the beautiful. There must be Art in everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/art-is-representing-the-beautiful-there-must-be-art-in-everything/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [To be sure, the ancient belief that the dream reveals the future is not entirely devoid of truth. By representing to us a wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/to-be-sure-the-ancient-belief-that-the-dream-reveals-the-future-is/)

[Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/)

> [That's what I care about is the people I work with and representing them and helping to make their music apparent for the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/that-s-what-i-care-about-is-the-people-i-work-with-and-representing/)

[Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/)

> [For the greater beauty of the instrument, the balls representing the planets are to be of considerable bigness; but so contrived, that they may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rittenhouse/for-the-greater-beauty-of-the-instrument-the-balls-representing-the/)

David Rittenhouse

> [Representing England makes me emotional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kieran-trippier/representing-england-makes-me-emotional/)

[Kieran Trippier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kieran-trippier/)

> [With \*NSYNC, we shopped our deal for a year in America, sang a capella in everybody's office, then moved to Germany for almost two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jc-chasez/with-nsync-we-shopped-our-deal-for-a-year-in-america-sang-a-capella/)

[JC Chasez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jc-chasez/)

> [You know this baseball game of ours comes up from the youth - that means the boys. And after you've been a boy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-this-baseball-game-of-ours-comes-up-from-the-youth-that/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Instead of explaining the sober facts of mechanics and electricity, I want to say a few words about the debt which we owe to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-bloch/instead-of-explaining-the-sober-facts-of-mechanics-and-electricity-i/)

[Felix Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-bloch/)

> [I think I'm innocently representing a certain belief in motion pictures, and, well OK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/i-think-i-m-innocently-representing-a-certain-belief-in-motion/)

[Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/)

## More by Jacques Delors

> [My objective is that before the end of the millennium Europe should have a true federation. The Commission should become a political executive which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/my-objective-is-that-before-the-end-of-the-millennium-europe-should/)

[Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/)

> [I cannot resign myself to thi decline of Europe, and of France.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/i-cannot-resign-myself-to-thi-decline-of-europe-and-of-france/)

[Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/)

> [This weakening is worsened by the widening distance between the governed and their governments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/this-weakening-is-worsened-by-the-widening-distance-between-the/)

[Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/)

> [I would not be opposed to devising a new system of pensions, in which one part was based on collective provision, but which also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/i-would-not-be-opposed-to-devising-a-new-system-of-pensions-in-which/)

[Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/)

> [...within ten years 80% of our economic legislation, perhaps even fiscal and social as well' would come from the EU.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/within-ten-years-80-of-our-economic-legislation-perhaps-even-fiscal/)

[Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/)

> [The problem of how we finance the welfare state should not obscure a separate issue: if each person thinks he has an inalienable right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/the-problem-of-how-we-finance-the-welfare-state-should-not-obscure-a/)

[Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/)

> [This desire for equity must not lead to an excess of welfare, where nobody is responsible for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/this-desire-for-equity-must-not-lead-to-an-excess-of-welfare-where/)

[Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/)

> [The European model is, first, a social and economic system founded on the role of the market, for no computer in the world can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/the-european-model-is-first-a-social-and-economic-system-founded-on/)

[Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/)

> [The countries that share this conception should be able to go further together, without excluding the others, since they can still live in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/the-countries-that-share-this-conception-should-be-able-to-go-further/)

[Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/)

> [I cannot resign myself to the decline of Europe, and of France.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/i-cannot-resign-myself-to-the-decline-of-europe-and-of-france/)

[Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/)

> [If you don't have collective agreements between unions and employers, governments have to legislate more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/if-you-don-t-have-collective-agreements-between-unions-and-employers/)

[Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/)

> [The unions may continue to decline, but if they do, it'll be their fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/the-unions-may-continue-to-decline-but-if-they-do-it-ll-be-their-fault/)

[Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/)

> [Contrary to what people say, my wife never turned me away from the presidency. She told me to reflect on it and do what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/contrary-to-what-people-say-my-wife-never-turned-me-away-from-the/)

[Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/)

> [The problem with a purely collective system is not only that it requires economic growth, and the right sort of demographic trends, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/the-problem-with-a-purely-collective-system-is-not-only-that-it/)

[Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/)

> [My problem is how to find the best way of being useful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/my-problem-is-how-to-find-the-best-way-of-being-useful/)

[Jacques Delors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/)

[Explore all 30 Jacques Delors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/)

## More Agreement quotes

> [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

> [There's no way to have a peace agreement unless the mediator or negotiator looks at both sides from an equal basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/there-s-no-way-to-have-a-peace-agreement-unless-the-mediator-or/)

[Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/)

> [Biochemists and biologists who adhere blindly to the Darwinism theory search for results that will be in agreement with their theories and consequently orient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-paul-grasse/biochemists-and-biologists-who-adhere-blindly-to-the-darwinism-theory/)

[Pierre-Paul Grasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-paul-grasse/)

> [In coming to that agreement, my party had a clear philosophy throughout. In Northern Ireland, we should have institutions that respected the differences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/in-coming-to-that-agreement-my-party-had-a-clear-philosophy/)

[John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/)

> [Identity is not negotiable. An identity you have achieved by agreement is always a prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-john-harrison/identity-is-not-negotiable-an-identity-you-have-achieved-by-agreement/)

[M. John Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-john-harrison/)

> [I am formally accountable to the steering board of the PIC, and I meet with nine ambassadors from the PIC every week. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-ashdown/i-am-formally-accountable-to-the-steering-board-of-the-pic-and-i-meet/)

[Paddy Ashdown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-ashdown/)

> [Because countries often have differing political and economic systems, agreements are needed to protect those invested in trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/because-countries-often-have-differing-political-and-economic-systems/)

[David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/)

> [As long as I sit at Henry Clay's desk, I will remember his lifelong desire to forge agreement, but I will also keep close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/as-long-as-i-sit-at-henry-clay-s-desk-i-will-remember-his-lifelong/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [Gaia's main problems are not industrialization, ozone depletion, overpopulation, or resource depletion. Gaia's main problem is the lack of mutual understanding and mutual agreement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/gaia-s-main-problems-are-not-industrialization-ozone-depletion/)

[Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/)

> [We recognize that NAFTA is a three-country agreement, and we need a three-country negotiation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/we-recognize-that-nafta-is-a-three-country-agreement-and-we-need-a/)

[Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/)

> [At Ohio State University, to avoid being guilty of 'sexual assault' or 'sexual violence,' you and your partner now apparently have to agree on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/at-ohio-state-university-to-avoid-being-guilty-of-sexual-assault-or/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [Whatever you perceive, you always make a story with yourself as the main character, and that dictates your life. Then when you read 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/whatever-you-perceive-you-always-make-a-story-with-yourself-as-the/)

[Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/)

> [ Look at what I am proposing, and we \[wih Bernie Sanders\] have a vigorous agreement here. We both want to reign in the excesses… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/look-at-what-i-am-proposing-and-we-wih-bernie-sanders-have-a-vigorous/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [I spoke on the phone with President Rouhani of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The two of us discussed our ongoing efforts to reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-spoke-on-the-phone-with-president-rouhani-of-the-islamic-republic/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Netanyahu made all sorts of claims. This was going to be a terrible deal. This was going to result in Iran getting 50 billion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/netanyahu-made-all-sorts-of-claims-this-was-going-to-be-a-terrible/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

[Browse all 1,138 Agreement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreement/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The unions still have a job to do, representing their members' interests to governments and parliaments. And I think collective agreements still have a role, alongside markets and laws.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jacques Delors"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/the-unions-still-have-a-job-to-do-representing-their-members/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Agreement"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/the-unions-still-have-a-job-to-do-representing-their-members/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/jacques-delors-20495_agreement_the-unions-still-have-a-job-to-do-repres_2969069.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/jacques-delors-20495_agreement_the-unions-still-have-a-job-to-do-repres_2969069.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/jacques-delors-20495_agreement_the-unions-still-have-a-job-to-do-repres_2969069.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The unions still have a job to do, representing their members' interests to governments and parliaments. And…” — Jacques Delors",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Jacques Delors",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-delors/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The unions still have a job...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/the-unions-still-have-a-job-to-do-representing-their-members/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-delors/the-unions-still-have-a-job-to-do-representing-their-members/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
