labor union

noun

: an organization of workers formed for the purpose of advancing its members' interests in respect to wages, benefits, and working conditions

members of a labor union with job protection under a collective bargaining agreement with the employer

—Seth Sandronsky

Examples of labor union in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

During his speech, Biden noted that Americans stood up to oligarchs in the past by rising up and forming labor unions. —Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 18 Jan. 2025

But some consumer groups and labor unions representing American mechanics have raised concerns about it. —Niraj Chokshi, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025

Since then, farmers, labor unions and civil rights groups have been fighting over the rules protecting American labor under the H-2 visa, which Congress established on behalf of farmers and other employers in 1952 – generally replacing the Bracero program. —Gabrielle Clark, The Conversation, 14 Jan. 2025

The proposition failed despite having the support of Democratic leaders, advocacy groups and labor unions. —Char Adams, NBC News, 13 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

labor union

noun

: an organization of workers formed to protect the rights and advance the interests of its members concerning wages, benefits, and working conditions

Legal Definition

labor union

noun

: a labor organization usually consisting of workers of the same trade that is formed for the purpose of advancing its members' interests (as through collective bargaining) in respect to wages, benefits, and working conditions see also craft union, bargaining unit

Note: Labor unions and employers are subject to the provisions of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA or Wagner Act), as amended by the Labor Management Relations (Taft-Hartley) Act and the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure (Landrum-Griffin) Act. The NLRA authorized the establishment of the National Labor Relations Board, the federal agency which administers the provisions of the Act.