Explanation:

- Voluntary Association: Trade unions are groups that members join willingly, without coercion, to advocate for their rights.

- Common Goals: Members of trade unions share common objectives such as better wages, working conditions, and job security.

- Intermediary: Trade unions often act as mediators between employees and employers to negotiate and resolve disputes.

- Individual Actions: Trade unions focus on collective actions rather than individual actions to leverage unified strength for negotiation.

Answer: Option 4- Individual actions is not characteristic of trade unions, as they emphasize collective effort rather than focusing on single member issues.