This resource booklet was prepared by classroom teachers for use with social studies students at the secondary school level. Ideas and concepts that social studies teachers need to know in order to present the role of labor unions in the current economy are reviewed. These concepts include the principle of scarcity, trade-offs, how wages are determined, collective bargaining, and the role of unions in the community. The curriculum is divided into ten segments dealing with: (1) the history of unions in the U.S.; (2) who belongs to unions, and reasons for belonging; (3) relations between employer and worker; (4) workers' demands; (5) means for achieving these demands; (6) the rights of public employees to unionize and strike; (7) athletes and unions; (8) social activities of unions; (9) duties and roles of union officials and other employees; (10) ways unions may affect the lives of secondary school students as they move into the job market. In each segment, relevant facts are presented through tables or graphs, excerpts from newspaper and magazine articles, and/or anecdotal accounts. Vocabulary necessary for understanding the material is listed. Suggestions are offered for presenting the material to students at different grade levels in social studies courses with various emphases. Also included is a brief list of unions in the New York City area. (GC)