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

Collective bargaining negotiations are scheduled to start next year, with the growing likelihood of a lockout after the 2026 season.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 8, 2025

Collective bargaining agreements would supersede the law, so teachers, nurses and other unionized workers would be covered by whatever their contracts say about off-hours communication.

From New York Times • Mar. 30, 2024

Collective bargaining is an official process in which trade unions negotiate with employers on behalf of their members.

From BBC • Nov. 21, 2023

Collective bargaining doesn’t just benefit union members; it has spillover effects, improving jobs across sectors and regions.

From Slate • Jan. 11, 2023

Collective bargaining is an advantage to working men; it tends to give them some share in the control of the industry to which they contribute.

From Practical Argumentation by Pattee, George K.