business unionism

American  

noun

1. the trade-union philosophy and activity that concentrates on the improvement of wages, hours, working conditions, etc., rather than on the general reform of the capitalistic system.

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Example Sentences

Among the reasons: the American Federation of Labor pushed aside those who sought to overturn capitalism and the Teamsters’ Dave Beck, who designed “a brilliant strategy of business unionism that promised profits and reduced competition to employers in exchange for good wages … for workers.”

From Seattle Times

This is the underlying basis for the "business unionism" that's been so damaging to the labor movement.

From Salon

This is representative of a model of business unionism that many have openly critiqued in the UAW, namely the assumption that the interests of employers are one and the same as the interests of employees.”

From Salon

“Strategies of backroom deals and political negotiations–the failed model of ‘business unionism,’ which still dominates the labor movement today–have left rank-and-file members demobilized and union leaders without much leverage,” writes New York City educator and writer Megan Behrent.

From Salon

But over and above these changes in structure there hovered a new spirit, a spirit of class struggle and of revolutionary solidarity in contrast with the spirit of "business unionism" of the typical craft union.

From Project Gutenberg