collective bargaining

American  

noun

1. the process by which wages, hours, rules, and working conditions are negotiated and agreed upon by a union with an employer for all the employees collectively whom it represents.

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collective bargaining British  

noun

1. negotiation between one or more trade unions and one or more employers or an employers' organization on the incomes and working conditions of the employees

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collective bargaining Cultural  

1. Negotiations by representatives of a group of employees, often a labor union, pertaining to conditions of employment, such as wages and working conditions.

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Etymology

Origin of collective bargaining

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

collective bargaining

Yet the Padres and Angels sold before their owners found out whether they could secure the salary cap the league insists is a primary objective in collective bargaining.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026

Doing so would be a violation of Article 13 of the NBA collective bargaining agreement.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

The strike comes after a two-day dispute in February over collective bargaining and the use of volunteers at the airport.

From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026

The lawsuit said that the bonuses violate a decades-old law that stipulates collective bargaining between unions and the mayor—not legislation—determines compensation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026

After collective bargaining failed, Carnegie shut down its Homestead plant and locked out the union workers.

From "Fannie Never Flinched" by Mary Cronk Farrell