business agent

American  

noun

1. a paid union official who represents a local and its membership in dealing with an employer.

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Etymology

Origin of business agent

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

Meta had been testing the business agent in some countries in a limited capacity before Wednesday’s launch and said it already has one million businesses using it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026

“It’s important that we get the women working right away when they get out,” said Heather Kurtenbach, a formerly incarcerated business agent at Ironworkers Local 86 in Tukwila.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 14, 2024

Local 829, the scenic artists’ union, put Drabinsky on its “boycott list” because of “continued inaction and lack of communication regarding the significant payments and benefits,” said Carl Mulert, the local’s national business agent.

From New York Times • Aug. 1, 2022

So I’ve known how to navigate throughout all that, throughout my career as a rank-and-file member and as a business agent.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2022

The most ordinary business agent, though he may be convinced of the corruption of his firm, will take good care to keep this fact from the public.

From Mother Earth, Vol. 1 No. 3, May 1906 Monthly Magazine Devoted to Social Science and Literature by Goldman, Emma