Most trade unions are independent of employers but have close working relationships with them. Union members include nurses, school meals staff, hospital cleaners, professional footballers, shop assistants, teaching assistants, bus drivers, engineers and apprentices. Nearly seven million people in the UK belong to a trade union. The typical activities of trade unions include providing assistance and services to their members, collectively bargaining for better pay and conditions for all workers, working to improve the quality of public services, political campaigning and industrial action. A trade union is a group of employees who join together to maintain and improve their conditions of employment.