Depending upon the local context, employees can successfully oppose changes in the arrangement of municipal services. Within unions, there are at least two groups of concerned people: union staff and union members. If the union is somehow simply dissolved, union staff will be without a job. Given that they are the intermediaries between management and employees, this can heavily influence the negotiations. However, recognising that the basic goal of a union to improve the welfare of its members is usually taken seriously, staff's concern for impacts upon the union's members - often reinforced by employee members at the negotiating table - must be taken seriously. The ability of employee representatives to reach an acceptable agreement will almost always involve a membership vote.