closed shop

noun

1. a factory, office, or other business establishment in which union membership is a condition of being hired as well as of continued employment.

closed shop

noun

1. (formerly) an industrial establishment in which there exists a contract between a trade union and the employer permitting the employment of the union's members only Compare open shop union shop

closed shop

1. Technically, a business in which employees must join a labor union before being hired. This practice is now illegal. The term is used synonymously with union shop.

Word History and Origins

Origin of closed shop¹

An Americanism dating back to 1900–05

Example Sentences

You may think this signals a closed shop, but remember who went on to win the Premier League that season...

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In Newport, some of the closed shops still have the shutters down, but others appear to be back in business.

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Leaving school at 16, he joined the Financial Times where, much to his annoyance, the operation of the closed shop forced him to join the print union, Natsopa.

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The presidential election is effectively a closed shop; candidates must be nominated by at least 20 members of the Oireachtas, or national legislature, or by at least four of Ireland’s 31 elected local councils.

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The government's proposed new football regulator would create a "closed shop" of top sides, West Ham United vice chair Karren Brady has warned.

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